Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-12-05

|
| OF military service OF the Government, under
| whose projection they were born and have been
| the United States have returned 10 the land OF
their birth TO remain there and their children, the
Issue Of marriage contracted there after their re,
| turn, and who have never been in the United
! States, have laid claim TO our protection, when the
| lapse OF many years have imposed upon them the
| duty OF military service TO the only Government
| which had ever known them personally. Until
the year 1868 II was left embarrassed by the con-
| nicting opinions OF courts and Of jnrists to de-
allegiance derived from our former colonial reia.
| tions with Great Britain applicable to Ameri-
| can citizens. Congress then wisely swept the
doubts away by enacting that any declaration, in
structon, opinion order or decision Of any officer
| Of this Government, which denies, restricts, i'm
| pairs questions the right Of expatriation is in
consistent with the fundamental principles OF this
Government; but Congress did not indicate In that
statute, nor has il since done so what acts are to
| guidance in determining such questions, | re-
Quired, under the provisions OF the Constitution,
the opinion in writing OF the principal officer in
| certain questions relating to this sub
| ject The result satisfies inc that further legis
9 latlon ili mas become necessary; therefore, com
Uongre rees, and transmit herewith copies Of the
| several opinions Of the principal officers Of the
| respondence and pertinent 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 indi'
iionality. Inc papers submitted herewith
''tS on Wnn par With SiS'''F other ledRding RhSs
nations in liberallty OF legislation on this
International question. We have already in our
| treaties assented to the principles which would
| need to be embodied in laws intended to accom-
plish 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 foreign land,
without intent to return, shall OF itself work ex-
patriatiOn. We have agreed In some instances
| length euch intent
| invite Congress now to mark out and define when
| and how expatriation can be accomplished, to reg
uate by law the condition of American women
marrying foreigners, to fix the status OF children
born in foreign country of American parents re-
| siding more or less permanently abroad, and to
make rules for determining such other kindred
| point as may seems best to Congress-
REPUBLIC OF SPAIN.
In compliance with the request Of Congress-
| transmitted TO the American Minister at Madrid,
with instructions to present it TO the Spanish
Government, the joint resolution approved on the
Sd 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
existence OF this new Republic was inaugnrated by
striking the fetters from the slaves in Porto Rico.
| This benefccnt measure was followed by the re-
lease Of several thousand persons Illegally sold as
slaves in Cuba. Next the Captain General OF that
colony was deprived Of The power to set aside the
tanned to the office since 1925. The sequesered
| tates 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 op
position directed by the reactionary SHAREHOLDERS
OF Havana, who yainly striving TO stay the
| march Of ideas that has terminated slavery in
Christendom, Cuba only excepted. Unhappily,
however, this baneful influence has thus far sue.
all liberal minded men in Spain 10 abolish
| slavery in Cuba, and in preventing the
promised i,,. d. reform in that island The struggle
arisocracy in Cuba is gradually arraying itself In
| more and more open hostility and defiance OF the
| home Government, while 1t still maintains polit
ical connection with the Republic in the peninsula
and although usurping and defying the auth ority
| OF the home Government whenever such usurpa-
tion or defiance tends in the direction Of oppres-
sion or OF the maintenance OF abuses, it is still
power In Madrid and recognized by the Govern
meHt-thus forming an element more dangerous
| to the continued colonial relations between
| Cuba and Spain than that which inspired
| the insurrection at Yarra. An element opposed TO
| granting any relief from misrule and abuse, with
| no aspirations after freedom, commanding no sym
pathies in generous breasts aiming to rlvet still
stronger the shackles of slavery and oppres-
sion, has seized many Of the emblems of power in
| Cuba, and under professions Of loyalty 10 the
mother country is exhausting the resources Of the
| island, and Is doing acts which are at variance
| with those principles OF justice, liberaliiy, and
right which give nobility Of character to Repub-
| ic In the interests Of humanity, of civilization
and OF progress 1t is to be hoped that this evil in
| nuence may be soon ayerted.
| THE vIRGrNIUs DIFFICULTY.
The steamer Nirginius was, on the goth day OF
|
| New York as a part Of the commercial marine Of
| the United States. On the 4th Of October, 1870,
having the certificate Of her register in the usual
| legal form, she sailed from the port of New York,
and has not since been within the territorial juris
diction Of the United States. On the 3st of Octo-
| bcr last, while sailing under the flag OF the United
States on the high seas, she fOrclbly seized by
| the Spanish gunboat Tornado and carried into
| the port of Santiago de Cuba, where many Of
| her passengers and crew were inhumany,
| and so far, at least, as relates to those who
| were citizens OF the United States without due
| process OF law, put to death. II Is a we-estab-
| lished principle asserted by the United States
| from the beginning Of national Independence, re-
| cognized by Great Britain and other maritime
| powers, and stated by the Senate in a resolution
passed unanimously on the 10Th OF June, 1885, that
| American vessels on the high seas, In time of
| peace, bearing the American flag, remain under
the jurisdiction OF the country to which
| they belong. aud, therefore, any visitation,
mOlestatiOn, or detention OF such vessel
| by force on the part of a foreign power is
| In derogation of the sovereignty Of the United
States. In accordance with this principle, the
toralion of the Virginius and the surrender of the
| SURVIVORS OF her passengers and crew, and due
repara!ion to the flag, and the punishment of the
authorities who had been guilty of the illegal acts
| Of violence, were demanded. The Spanish Gov
eminent has recognized the justice Of the demand
and has arranged for the immediate delivery Of the
vessel, and for the surrender Of the survivors of
the passengers and crew. and for salute TO the flag,
| and for proceedings looking to the punishment Of
| those who go may be proved TO have been
| guilty of illegal acts Of violence towards
citizens of the United States, and also to,
| z
| entitled to indemnity. A copy OF a protocol OF
| a conference between the Secretary OF State and
the Spanish Minister, in which the terms of this
| arrangement were agreed to, will be transmitted
| herewith. The correspondence this subject
with the Legation OF the United States is in cipher
| and by cable and needs the verihcation OF the
| actual text of the correspondence II has seemed
10 me to be due to the Importance of the case not
to submit this correspondence until the
s Tex ezpeSted Sa De shortly Tsis''a and Sy %S %
| be submitted when received. In taking leave of
this subject for the present, | wish to renew the
expression Of my conviction that the existence of
African slavery in Cuba is principal cause OF the
lamentable condition Of the Island. do not doubt
that Congress shares with me the hope that it will
| soon be made TO disappear, and that peace and
| prosperity may follow its abolition The embar-
| going OF American estates in Cuba, cruelty TO
American citizens detected In no act Of hostility to
| the Spanish Government, the numbering Of prison.
ers taken with arms In their hands, and finally the
capture upon the high seas of vessel
| bearing United States registry have cul-
| minated in an Outburst Of Indignation that has
seemed for time to threaten war. Pending ne
gotiatOns between the United States and the
Government OF Spain on the subject OF this cap
ture, have authorized the Secretary OF tho Navy
to put our navy on war footing, TO the extent at
least, or the entire annual appropriation for that
| branch OF the service, trusting TO Congress and
the public opinion Of the American people to JUS
| tify my action.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Assuming from the action Of the last Congress
| in instructing the Committee ON Privileges and
Eleclons 10 prepare ana report TO this Congress
Constitutional amendment TO provide better
method Of eleeting the President and Vce-Pr
| dent Of the United States, and also from the
necessity of such an amendment, that
there will be submitted to the State Legis-
latures for ratification such an improvement in our
Constitution, suggest two Others for your consid-
eTaiiOn First, 10 authorize the Executive to ap-
prove Of so much Of any measure passing the two
Houses OF Congress as his judgment may dictate,
without approving the whole the dsapproyed por
ton or portions TO be subjected to the same rules
as now, to witt to be referred back TO the house
In which the measure or measures originated, and
Il passed by two-thirds vote Of the two houses,
then TO become law without the ap.
proval OF the President. / would add 10
this provision that there should be no legislation
by Congress during the last twenty-four hours of
Its sitting except upon veto, In order to give
the Executive an opportunity TO examine and ap.
prove or disapprove understandingly. Second TO
provide, by an amendment, that when extra ses-
sion Of Congress Is convened by Executive proc
lamation, legislation during the continuance
OF such extra session shall be confined TO
such subjects as the Executive may
hiring befOre n from time IN time In ,,.lf