Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-13

Denmark; q convention with Mexico for r.
newing the CLAIMS Commission; n convention
OF friendship, comm rec aud extraditlon with
the Orange Free State. and a naturalization
convention with Ecuador.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
renew a recommendation. made 10 my
message Of December, 1870. that Congress au-
thorize the POstmasteT-General 70 issue ali
commissions to officials appointed through his
Department.
Invite the earnest attention Of Congress to
the existing laws of the United States respect.
ing repatriation and the election OF natonali-
" byundivlduals. Many citizens Of the United
States reside permanently abroad with their
families under the provisions OF the act APP
proved February 10. 1885. The children Of such
persons are 10 be deemed and taken to be citi.
IONS OF the United States. hut the rights of
citizenship are not TO descend TO persons whose
fathers never resided IN the Unlted.States. 1t
thus happens that persons who have never re-
sided within the United Stases, have been en-
abed to put forward a pretenstOn TO the pro-
lection of the United States against the claim
of military service of the government under
whose protection they were born aud have
been reared; in some cases even naturalized
citizens of the United States have returned TO
the land of their birth with intent to remain
their and then children, the issue of O mar
rage contracted there after their return, and
who have never been In the United Estates,
have Land claim to our protection when the
lapse of many years has imposed upon them
the duty of military service to the only gov
ernment which had ever known them per
sOnally.
Until the year 1868 1t was left embarrassed
by conflicting opinions OF courts aud of jurists
to deter mine how far the doctrine of perpetual
al egIauce derived from our former colonial
relations with Great Britain was applicable to
American citizens. Congress then wisely
swept these doubts away, by enactng that
decision of any officer Of this governmen.
which denies, restricts, impairs or questions
the right OF repatriation, is inconsistent with
the fundamental principles OF this govern
ment; but Congress did not indicate In that
statute, nor has 1t since done so, what acts are
TO be deemed to work expaIriatIOn, for my
own guidance in determining such questions
required under the provisions OF the COnstttu
ton, the opinion, IN writing OF the principal
officer in each of the Executive Departments
upon certain questions relating to this sub
ject. The result satisfies me that further
legislation has become necessary. l, there.
fore, commend the subject to the careful cou-
slderatiOn of Congress, and l transmit here
with copies of the several Opiulons OF the
principal officers of the Executive Depart
ments together with other correspondence
and prominent Information on the same sub
ject
The United States, who led the way in the
overthrow of the feudal doctrine of perpetual
allegiance are among the last 10 indicate how
| their OWE clnz gus may elect another nation
| atty. The papers submitted herewith indi-
| cate what is necessary to place US on a par
| with other leading nations IN llOerality Of leg
lslaiOn on tins international question.
We have already in our treaGles assented- to
| the principles which would need to be eni-
| bodied III laws intended TO accomplish such
| results; we have agreed that citizens of the
| United States may cease TO be citizens and
| may voluntarily render allegiance to other
| powers We have agreed that residence in a
| foreign land without intent TO return shall OF
| ltselI WORK eXpatrlatiOn. We have agreed In
| some instances upon the length OF time neceS-
| sary for such intent.
| Invite Congress now to work out and de-
| fine when ana how eXpatrlation can be accom-
| pIished; to regulate by law the condition of
American women marrying foreigners, to fix
| the Status Of children born IN foreign cOun
| try, of American parents residing more or less
permanently abroad and to make rules for
determining such oCher kindred points as may
| seem best TO Congress.
| CONGRATULATIONS TO SPAIN.
In compliance with the request of Congress
| transmitted TO the American Minister at Mad
rid, with Instructions to present 1t to the
Spanish government, the joint resolution APP
proved on the g. of March last, rendering TO
| the people OF Spain in the name and on behalf
| of the American people, the congratulations
| of Congress upon the efforts to consolidate in
Spain the principles OF universal liberty in a
republican form of government.
| The existence of this new republic was in
| au9urated by striking the letters from the
| slaves in Porto Rico. This beneticlent measure
was followed by the release of several thou
| sand persons, illegally held as slaves in Cuba.
Next the Captain Goneral of that colony was
| deprived of the power to set aside the orders
| of MS superlors at Madrid which had pertain
| ed to the office since 1925 The sequest tered
| estates of American cltiZens which mad been
| the cause OF long aud frequent correspondence,
| were ordered to be restored to their owners.
| All these liberal steps were taken in the face
Of Violent opposition directed by the reaction
airy Shareholders of Havana, who are vainly
| stlivIng TO stay the march of ideas which has
| terminated slavery IN Cnrlstendom, Cuba only
| excepted.
| Unhappily, however, this baneful influence
| has thus far succeeded IN detea ing the efforts
| OF all liberal minded men in SPAN to abolish
| slavery IN Cuba, and 10 preventing the prom
| Use reform i'll that island. The struggle fol
| political supremacy continues, the pro-siaVery
| and aristUcratic party i'll CuDa is gradually
| arraIpn1ng itself i'll more and more open hos
| nifty and defiance of the home government
| whlle 1t still maintains pollClcal connection
| with the republic IN the peninsula ana al
| though usurplng and de!yiDg the authority OF
| The nome government wherever such usurpa
| ton or defiance tends in the direction OF op
| presslon or OF the maintenance OF abuses IL ls
| Still power in Madrid and recoSnlzed oY lhe
| government.
| Thus an element more dangerous TO coz
| tinued colonial relations between Cupa aho
| Spain than thar which inspired tne lhSurrec
| ton at YaTa, an element opposed TO granting
| any relief from mlSrule and abuse, with no as
| DitatlOus after freedom, commanding no sym
| patui III generous breasts, aiming 10 rive
| still stronger the saackies OF slavery ana CD
| preston, has seized many oil the emDlemS o.
| power IN Cuba, ami, under professions OF loV
| atty to the mother country, Is eXhaustng the
resources of the island ana Is DONG acts WhicL
| arc AT variance with those principles OF justice
| Of hberahty aud OF right WHICH give hopillV9
| of character to republic.
| In the interests OF humanity, or clVlllzatlol
| and OF progress, it Is to be hoped that thls EVIL
| influence may soon be aVerted.
THE vIRGINIUs.
The steamer Virglnius was, on the Goth day
Of September, 1873, duly registered at the Dor,
Of New York, AS q part of the commercial ma
rre OF the U. S. On the 4th of October, 1870
having received the certificate of her register
| IN the usual legal form, she sailed from the
port OF New York. and has not since been with
| in the territorial jurisdiction of the United
| States. On the 3lst day of October last, while
| sailing under the flag of the United States, on
| the high seas, she was forcbly sezed by the
| spanish gunbOat Tornado, and was carried
INTO the port of Santiago de Cuba where many
OF nor passengers and crew were inhumanly
and, 40 far at least as relates to those who
were citizens OF United States, were without
due process OF law put to death.
| II is a well-established principle, asserted
~ the United states from the beginning OIL
| their national Independence, recognized nv
| Grea' Britain and other marotime powers, and
| stated by the Seuate IN n resolution passed
| unanimously on the 18th Of June 1856 that
American vessels on the hlgh seas III time Of
| peace bearing the American flag remain under
| The Jurisdiction OF the country to which they
belong, ana therefore any visitation, molesta.
| non or detentlOn of suoh vessel by force, or by
tue exhibition OF force, on the part Of q foreign
power Is IN derogatlon Of the sovereignty OF
| the United States.
In accordance with this principle the restor
atlOn or the Vlrginius aud the surrender oil
the survivors of her passengers and crew, and
a due PREPARATION to the flag, and the punish
ment of the authorities who had been guilty
OF the illegal acts of violence were demanded
| The Spanish government has recognized the
Justice OF the demand. and has arranged fol
the immediate delivery of the vessel and foi
the surrender OF the Survivors of the passen
gers and crew, and for salute to the flag, anC
| for proceedings looking TO the punishment o
| those who maV he UrOVed tO have hppn pnIItx