The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-03

legally prolonged, has rcSuneu lIs uualheSs,
which 1t Is hoped may be brought to an
early conclusion. The distinguished repre-
sentative of her Britannia Majesty at wash
ington has kindly consented, with the ap-
proval of his Government. TO assume the
arduous and responsible duties of umpire ID
the commission, ard to lend the weight Oh
his character and name to SUCH decisions as
may not receive the acquicsccncc OF both the
arbitrators appointed by the respective GOV
ernments. The commissioners appointed
pursuant to the authority of Congress 10 eX-
anime into the nature and extent oil the To-
rays by trespassers from that country upon
the herds of Texas have made report,
which will be submitted for your con-
sideration.
VENEZUELA.
The Venezuelan Government has been
apprized of the sense of Congress IN
regard to the words of the joint commls-
| sion under the convention of the 10Th oil
April, 1866, as expressed in the act of the
25th of February last. 1t is unprecedented
that that Government does not realize the
character of its obligations under that con-
yention. As there is reason to believe, how
ever, that its hesitancy in recognizing them
springs, in part at least, from real difficulty
in dischargiDg them in connection with
its obligations to other Governments, the ex
pediency of further forbearance on our part
| is believed to be worthy of your consldera'
ton.
| TURKEY AND EGYPT.
The Ottoman Government and that o.
Egvpt have shown 4 disposition to relieve
foreign consnls of the Judicial powers which
heretofore they have exercised in the Turk
jsh dominions by organizing other tribunals
As Congress, however, has by law provided
for the discharge of judicial functions by
consuls of the United States In that quarte
under the treaty OF 1880. l have not felt a
liberty formally to accept the proposed
change without the assent of Congress
whose decision upon the subject at as earl.
q period as may be convenient Is earnestl!
requested.
sASTo DOMINGO.
transmit herewith for the consideration
and determination of Congress an applica
ton of the Republic Of Santo Domingo t.
this Government to exercise prOtectoratt
over that Republic.
TREATIES PROCLAIMED.
| Since the adjournment Of Congress the fol
lowing treaties with foreign Powers hay'
been proclaimed: A. naturalization confen
ton with Denmark; q convention WIFE
| Mexico for receiving the claims commission
q convention Of friendship, commerce, ant
extradition with the Orange free State ant
a naturalization convention with Ecuador.
] renew the recommendation made III ID!
message Of December, 1870, that Congress
authorize the HOStmaster-Gcncrait 10 issue Ill
commissions to officials appointed through
bis Department.
ESrArg1ATIoS AND THE ELECTION OF NATION
ALIrY BY INDIVIDUALS.
Invite the earnest attention Of Congress:
TO the existing laws Of the United States re
snectiug expltriation and the election Of ma
tiona!ity by individuals. Many citizens o
the United States reside permanently abroad
with their families under the provisions oil
| The act approved February 10th, 1855. The
children Of such persons are to be deemed
and taken to be citizens Of the United
States, but the rights Of citizenship are
not to descend to persons whose fathers
never resided in the United States
1t thus happens that persons who have
never resided within the United States have
been enabled to put forward prctension to
the protection of the United States against
the claim 70 military service Of tue Govern
ment under whose protection they were
born and have been reared. In some cases
| even naturliZed citizens Of the Enited
! States have returned TO the land Of their
birth, with inteut to remain there, and their
children, the issue Of a marriage contracted
there after tbeir return, and who have
never been in the United States, have laid
claim to our protection, when the lapse OF
many years has imposed upon them the duty
| of military 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 former
colonial relations with Great Britain was
applicable to american citizens. Con-
.rcss then wisely swept these doubts away
by enacting that ANY declaration, instruc-
ton, opinion. order, Or decision Of any Off
Ger of this Government which denies, re-
strcts. impairs, or questions tue right
of expatraion is inconsistent with
the fundamental principles of this Gov
crnment"; but Congress did not indicate
in that statute, nor has it since done so, what
acts are to be desired to work repatriation.
For my own guidance in determining such
questions Irequired, under the provisions OF
the Constitution, the opinion, in writing, Of
the principal officer in each of the EXectl-
tive Departments upon certain questions re.
lating to this subject. The result satisfies
me that further legislation has become ne
cessary. therefore commend the subject
to the careful consideration of Congress, and
I transmit herewith copies OF the several
opinions of the principal officers of the Elk.
ecutiyc Departments, together with other
correspondence and pertinent information on
the same subject. The United States, who led
the way in the overthrow OF the feuda doc
trine of perpetual allegiance. are among the
| last to indicate how their own citizens may
elect another nationality. The papers sub
mitted herewith indicate what is necessary
to place Us on Il par with other leading na-
lions in rbr,1lity Of legislation on this inter-
national question. We have already in our
| treaties assentcd to the principles which
| would need 10 lie embodied in laws intended
| 10 accomplish such results. We have agreed
| that citizens of the United States may rise
| to be citizens and may voluntarily render al
ceiancc to other Powers. We have agreed
| that residence in foreign land without n
| tent TO return shall Of itself work eXpatri-
alton. We have agreed in some instances
upon the length of time necessary for sue h
continued residence to work presumption
OF such intent. l invite Congress now to
mark ont and define when and how cXpatria-
ton can be accomplished, to regulate by law
the condition Of American women marrying
foreigners, 10 fix the status of children born
in foreign country Of American parents
residing more or less permanently abroad,
and to make rules for determining such
other kindred points as may seem best to
Congress.
SPAIN,
In compliance with the request of Con-
GROSS I transmitted To the American Minis