The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-12-04


are advanced by citizens or subjects of
other powers. It is desirable to have
these claims also examined and disposed
of.
Official information being received from
the Dutch government of a state of wars
between the King Of the Netherlanders
and the Sultan of Acheen, the officers Of
the United States who were near the seat
of war were instructed to observe an i'm.
partial neutrality. It is believed that
they have done SO.
The joint commission under the conven-
ton Of Mexico of 1868 having again been
legally prolonged, has resumed it's bust
ness, which it is hoped may be brought to
an early conclusion. The distinguished
representative Of her Britannia Majesty at
Washington has kindly consented, with
the approval Of his government, to assume
arduous and responsible duties Of umpire
in the commission and to lend the weight
of his character and name to such decis-
ions as may not receive the acquiescence
Of both the arbitrators appointed by the
respective governments. The commission
ers appointed pcrsuant to the authority of
Congress to examine into the nature and
extent of the forays by trespassers from
that country upon the herds of Texas have
made report, which will be submitted
for your consideration. ~'@
The Venezuelan government has been
apprized of the sense Of Congress in re-
gard to the awards of the joint commission
under the convention Of 25th of April, 1866,
.as..expressed in the act of the 25th of Feb
ruary last It is apprehended that that
government does not realize the character
Of its obligations under that convention.
AS there is reason to believe, however,
that its hesitancy in recognizing them
springs, in part at least, from real diff
Guilty in discharging them, in. connection
with its obligations to other governments,
the expediency of further forbearance on
our part is belieued to be worthy Of your
consideration. s'F e
The Ottoman government and that of
Egypt have shown disposition to relieve
foreign consels of the judicial power
which heretofore they have exercised in
the Turkish domiona by organizing other
tribunals. AS Congress, however, has by
law, provided for the discharge of judi
cial functions by consuls of the United
States in that quarter, under the treaty of
1880, have not felt at liberty formally
to accept the proposed change without the
assent of Congress-, whose decision upon
the subject at as early a period as may be
convenient is earnestly requested.
I transmit herewith for the consideaa-
ton and determination Of Congress an APP
splication Of the republic Of Santo Domin-
60 to this government to exercise a pro-
tectorate over that republic.
Since the adjournment of Congress the fol-
lowing treaties withforeignpowers havebeen
proclaimed A naturalization con-
vention with Denmark; conven-
ton with Mexico for renewingthe claims
commission; a convention of friendship p,
commerce and extradition with the Orange
free State, and,a naturalization convention
with Ecuador.
renew the recommendation made in
my message Of December, 1870, that Con-
gress authorize the Post-M Master General
to issue all commissions to officials appoin-
ted through his department.
THE: RIGHT OF ExPATRIATIoN.
Invite the earnest attention of Con-
gress to the existing laws of the United
States respecting repatriation and the e.
lection Of nationality by individuals
Many citizens Of the United States reside
permanently abroad with their families
under the provisions Of the act approved
February 10, 1855, the children of such
IL, L. i
be citizens of the United States. but the
rights of citizenship are not to decend to
persons whose fathers never resided in the
United States. It thus happens that per-
sons who have never resided within the
United States have been enabled to put
forward pretension to the protection of
the United States against the claim to mil
itary service of the government under
whose protection they were born and have
been reared In some cases even natural
lied citizens of the United States, have
returned to the land of their birth with
intent to remain there, aad their children,
the issue of a marriage contracted there af-
ter their return, and who have never been
the United States, have laid claim to our
protection when the lapse of many years
has imposed upon them the duty Of Mill
tary service to the only government which
had ever known them personally. Until
the year 1868, it was left embarrassed by
conflicting opinions of courts and of ju-
rists to determine how far the decline of
perpetual allegiance derived from our for.
mer colonial relations with Great Britain
was applicable to American citizens
Congress then wisely swept those doubts
away by enacting that s'Any declaration,
Instruction, opinion, order, or decision of
any officer of this government which de-
MES, restricts, impairs or questions the
right Of expatiation is inconsistent with
the fundamental principles of this govern
ment.'' But Congress did not indicate in
that statute, nor has it since done, what
acts are to be deemed the work expatria-
ton For my own guidance in determin-
ing such questions,[ required under the
provisions ofthe Constitution, the opinion
in writing of the principal officer in each
Of the executive departments upon GER
tain questions relating to this subject
The result satisfies me that further legis-
lation has become necessary. I therefore
commend the subject to the careful consid.
GRAFTON of Congress, and I transmit there
with copies of the several opinions of the
principal officers of the executive DEPART
~, ~, @, -, x.r,4l,