The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-12-18

to American citizens. Congress ther
wisely swept these doubts away by en-
acting that any declaration, instruction
opinion, order or decision of any officer
of this government which denies, re
stricts, impairs or questions
THE RIGHT OF EypATRIATIoN,
| is inconsistent with the fundamental
principle of this government. But con
gress did not enact in that statute, nol
has it since done so, what acts are to bt
| deemed to work expatriation. For my
own guidance in determining such ques,
tions, Irequired, under the provisions
of the constitution, the opinion in writ
ing,of the principal officer in each of the
executive departments upon certain
questions relating to this subject. The
result satisfies me that further legisla
tion has become necessary, / therefore
commend the subject to the considera.
tion of congress- | transmit herewith
copies of the several opinions of the
principal officers of the executive de,
partments, together with other cores.
pondence and prominent information on
the same subject. The United States,
who led the way in the overthrow of the
feudal doctrine of perpetual allegiance,
are among the last to indicate how then
own citizens may elect another national.
ity. The papers submitted herewith in
dicate what is necessary to place us on
a par with other leading nations in lib
erality of legislation on this information.
al question. We have already in oul
treaties assented to the principles which
need to be embodied in laws intended
to accomplish such results. We have
agreed that citizens of the United
States may cease to be citizens, may
voluntarily resume allegiance to Other
powers. We have agreed that residence
in foreign land without intent to re.
turn, shall Of itself work expatriation.
We have agreed in some instances upon
the length of time necessary for such
intent. / invite congress to mark out
and define when and how expatriatior
can be accomplished to regulate by
law the condition of American women
marrying foreigners; ; to fix the status OF
children born in a foreign country OF
American parents residing more or less
permanently abroad, and to fix rules fol
determining such other kindred points
as may seem best to congress.
SPAIN AND CUBA--THE TWO REPUBLICS.
In compliance with the request OF
congress, I transmitted to the American
minister at Madrid, with instructions
to present it to the Spanish govern
ment, the joint resolution approved on
the 3d of March last, rendering to the
people of Spain, in the name and on be-
half of the American people, the CON
gratulations Of congress upon the eff
forts to nsolidate in Spain the prin-
ciples of universal liberty in republi'
can form of government. The eXis.
tence of this new republic was inaugu.
rated by striking the fetters from the
slaves in Porto Rico. This benefcent
measure was followed by the release OF
several thousand persons illegally sold
as slaves in Cuba. Next the captain
general of that lony was deprived OF
the power to set aside the orders of his
superiors at Madrid, which had per.
tained to the Office since 1925. The Sc
questered estates of American citizens,
which had been the cause of long and
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 reactionary Shareholders of Havana,
who are vainly striving to stay
THE MARCH OF IDEAS
which has terminated slavery.in Chris,
tendon, Cuba only excepted. Unhap.
PLY, however, this baneful influence
has thus far succeeded in defeating the
efforts of all liberal minded men in
Spain to abolish slavery in Cuba, and
in preventing the promised reform ii
that island. The struggle for political
supremacy continues. The pro-slavery
aristocracy in Cuba is gradually az
raipning itself in more and more Oper
hostility and defiance of the home gov
ernment, while it still maintains po
litical connection with the republic il
the peninsula, and although usurpins
and defying the authority of the home
government, whenever such usurpatiol
or defiance tends in the direction of op
preston, or of the maintenance of pro
slavery views, it is still power in Mad
rid and recognized by the government
| Thus, IN element more dangerous t.
continued colonial relations betweel
Cuba and Spain than that which in
spired the insurrection at Yara, an ele
ment opposed to granting any relic
from miarule and abuse, with no aspi
ration after freedom, commanding n
sympathies in generous breasts. aiming
to rivet still stronger the shackles o
slavery and oppression, has seize
many of the emblems of power in Gu
ba, and, under professions of loyalt
to the mother country, is exhaustin
the resources of the island, and is doin
acts which are at variance with thos
principles of justice, of liberty, and G
right which give nobility of characte
to republic. In the interests of hu
manity, of civilization and of progress
it is to be hoped this evil influence ma
be averted.
THE STEAMER vIRGTNTUs
was, On the Goth day of September
, 1870, duly registered at the port of Me-
York as a part OF the commercial ms
rine of the United States. On the At
of October, 1870. having received Gel
, tificate of her register in the usua
legal forms, she sailed from the port {
New York, and has not since been will
| in the territorial jurisdiction OF th
, United States. On the 3lst day of o.
) tober last, while sailing under the fla
+ of the United States on the high sea!
, she was forcibly seized by the SPANS
) gunboat Tornado, and was carried int
: the port of Santiago de Cuba, whel
| many of her passengers and crew wei
Y inhumanly, aud so far at least as to thos
Q who were citizens of the United State
G were, without due process of law, pl
. to death. 1t is well established pril
Q ciple asserted by the United STATE
D from the beginning of their nations
g independence, recognized by Grei
e Britain and other maratime powers, an
. | t,IoI by tho aanafa in n rpsolutir