Connecticut western news., 1873-12-12

and determinaIion Of Congress an application ot the Re public of Santo Dominao to ths gov. ernment to exercise @ protectorate over that republic.
 Since the adjournment of Congress the fol. lowing treatles with foreign powers have been proclaimed: A naturalization convention wlth Denmark: a convention with Mex'co for re. newing the Claims Commissions; convention the Orange Free State, and a naturalization convention with Ecuador.
 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
 I renew a recommend atlon, made in my message of December, 1870, that Congress au" thorize the Postmaster-General to issue all commissions to. othulals appointed through hlS Department.
 Tinvlte the earnest attention of Congress to the existing laws of the United States respect " by individuals. Many citizens of the United States reside permanently abroad with their families under the provisions of the act ap- proved February To- 1885. The children of such persons are fo be deemed and taken to be citi- zens of the United States. but the rights or cltIzenshlp are not to descend to persons whose fathers never resided ln the UOlted States. It thus happens thar persons wno have never TO- sided within the Unirad States. have been en- abled to put forward pretenslon to the pro tectlon Of the United States agalnst the claitn of military service of the government under whose protection they were born and have cltizens of the United States havearetHrned to The land of their birth with intent to remaln there. and thelr children. the issue of 8 mar
 
 who have never been Tn the Uuited States. have laid clam to our protection when the lapse of many years has Imposed upon them the duty of military service to tue only gov ernment which had ever known them per son0ly.
 Until the year 1868 1t was left embarrassed by conflicting oDinlous of courts and of juTisIs to determlue how far tho doctrine of perpetual RlieRlance derived from our former colonial relations with Great Britain was applicable to American citizens. Congress then wisely kwnnf hv ffno Shof any declaration, instruction, opinion, order or decision of any officer of thls government which denies, restricts, impairs or questions the right of expatriatlon, is inconsistent with tho fundamental principles of thls govern. ment; but Congress dld not indicate Ia that statute, nor has it since done so, what acts are to be deemed to work expatriatlon, for my own guidance in determining such questions required under the provisions of the Coustltu, ton, the opinion, tn writing, of the principal officer In each of the Executive Depart ments upon certain questions relating to this sub- ject The result satisfies me that further leglslaton has become necessary. I, there, fore, commend the subject to the careful con- slderatlon of Congress, and transmit here- with copies of the several opiulons of the principal officers of tue Executive Depart ments togeGher with other correspon uence and prominent information on the same suo- ject.
 The United States. who led the way in the overthrow of the teudal doctrine of perpetual allegiance are among the last to indicate how Lhelr own clClzcns may elect another natiou- allty. The papers submitted herewith indi cate what is necessary to place us on par with other leading nations Tn lberalty of leg lslaliOn on thls lnternatlO question.
 We haVe already In our treaues assented to the principles which would need to be em. bodied ln laws intended to accomplish such results; we have agreed that citizens of tue United States may cease to be citizens and may voluntarily render allegiance to other powers. We have agreed that residence in @ foreign laud without intent to return, shall of itself WorK expatraCiol. We have agreed in some Instances upon the length Of tune neces sary for such intent.
 1lnVite Congress now to work out and de- fne when ana how expatrlation can be accom-. pIished; 10 regulate by law the condition of American women marrying foreigners, to fix the status of children born Tn a fOrelgn coun. try. of American parents residing more or less permanently abroad, and to make rules for determining snch other 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. rld, With instructions to present 1t to the Spanish government, the joint resolution ap. proved on the 3i of March last, tenoerlng to the people of Spaln ln the name and on behalf of Lhe American people, the congratulations of Congress upon the efforts to consolidate In Spain tho p1lDcples ot universal liberty in a repuohc2q form Qtgoyerument. -.