National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-12-12

IN believed 10 be worthy 0f your consideration.
MIsCELLANHoUs FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The OTTOMAN government and that of Egy NJ
have lattery shown IA disposition 10 relieve
foreign consuls OF the Judicial powers which
they have exercised IN the Turkish
dOmiDioDs by organizing other tribunals. As
Congress, however. has by law provided Tor
the discharge of judicial functions by consuls
~ the United states In hat quarter under the
treaty OF 1880, l have not felt At lDcrty Tor
mally 10 accept tue proposed change without
the assent OF Congress, whose decision upon
the subject at rs cnrlp peii,d as may be con
venielt IL earnestly requested.
! transmit herewith for The consideration
ana determination ~ Congr6 ss an application
OF the Republic of santo Domingo TO tins gov
ernmeui TO exercise protc,torate over that
republic,
Since the adjournment OF Congress the fol.
lowing treaties with foreign powers have been
A naturalization convention with
Denmark; convention with Mexico for re-
newing tue CLAIMS Commission; "a convention
II friendship. comm rec aud extradIton with
the Orange Free State. ana "a naturalization
convention with Ecuador
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
! renew Recommendation. made In my
message of December, 1870, that Congress ali-
thorize tho POstmastorGencral to issue all
COMMISSIONS to officials appointed through his
Department,
Invite the earnest attention OF Congress to
I he existing laws OF the United States respect.
lux ana tnt erection OF natlOnnll'
" by individuals Many citizens OF the United
states reside permanently abroad with their
families under the provisions OF the act ap-
proved February 10. 1885. The children OF such
persons are 10 be deemed ana taken to be cit-
lcns OF the United states. but the rights of
. are not 70 descend To persons whose
fath RS never resided IN the United states, II
thus happens thar persons who have never re-
sided within u United states. have been en-
lbled TO put forward "A uretenslOn TO the pro-
lection OF the United States against the claim
NJ military service OF the government under
whose protection they were bonn and have
been reared; In some eases even naturallZed
citizens OF the United States hdveSreturned Ia
ihe land of IL, birth with intent TO remain
there, and then 1ildren. the issue OF a mar
rage contract there after their return. aud
" no have never been III the United states
have lald clam to our protection when the
lapse of many wears has imposed upon them
HE duty of military service to the only gov
nrnmcnt which had ever known them per
>onally.
Until the year 1865 1t was left embarrassed
by coutiiCti opinlous OF courts aud OF Jufsls
10 determine how far tue doctrine OF perpetual
allegiance derived from our former colonial
relations with Great Britain was applicable to
American citizens, Congress then wisely
wept these doubts away, by enactng that
any declaration. Instruction, opinion, 0rder or
decision OF any officer OF this government
which denies, restricts, lmpalrs or Qut stIons
the rlght OF cNpatriutiun, is inconsistent with
The fundamental principles OF this govern
nent bat Congress dld not Indicate IN that
statute, nor has II since doue so. v hat acts are
be deemed TO work tNpairiatlon, for my
lwn guidance IN determining such questions
required under the provisions of the Constltu
tlon, the opinion, IN writing, of the principal
officer In each OF the Executive Departments
upon certain questions relating to this sub
rct The result satisfies me that further
legislation has become necessary. |, there
fore. commend the subject 10 the careful con
alteration of Congress. and transmit here
with copies OF the several Opinions OF the
officers of the Executive Depart
lcuts together with other correspondence
md prominent Information on the same SUB
eCt.
The United States. who led the way in the
overthrow of the ieudal doctrine of perpetual
allegiance are among the last to indicate now
.hclr OWE citizens NAV elect another nation
Atty. The papers submitted herewith i0dl-
,ate what is necessary 10 place US gu par
with other leading nations IN liborality OF leg
slaliou ou tins international question
We have already III our treaties assented 10
he principles when would need 10 be EN-.
lodled II laws intended to accomplish such
'esults; We have agreed that citizeus of the
JuiteQ states may cease 10 be citizens and
lowers. We have agreed tnat residence In a |
oregn laud without intent to return. shall OF
tself work eXpatriation. We have agreed In |
Ome instances upon the length OF time neces- /
rIry for such intent.
invite Congress now to work out fand de- |
Inc when ana how explanation can be accom- |
Diisheu, 10 regulate ny law tne COuultlOD OF |
American women marrying fore reiguers, to fix |
he status Of children born III foreign coun |
ry. OF American parents residing more or less |
abroad, aud to make rules for |
determining such other Kindred points as may /
eem best TO Congress.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SPAIN,
In compliance with the request Of Congress |
transmitted to the American Minister at Mad |
nj. with Instructions to present II TO the |
hA trf al n IN n
,royed on the 81 of March last, rendering to |
lt people of SPAN in the name aud on behalf |
4 the American people, the CONCENTRATIONS |
+ Congress upon the efforts to consolidate IN (
pain the principles OF universal liberty III
foIm Of government.
The existence of TINS new republic was III /
ugurated by striking the fetters from the |
laves in Porto Rico. This benrticlent measure
vas followed by the release of several hou-
and persons, illegally held as slaves IN Cuba.
'eXt tie Captain General of that colony was
eprived of the power to set aside the orders
{ ms superlors at Madrid whlCh had pertain
d to the office since 1925 The seQues'ercd |
states OF American cItlzens, which mad been
he cause OF long and treQnent correspondence.
we're orCered to he restored TO Their owners.
Ill these liberal steps were taken in the face !
I violent opposition directed by the reaction
nv Shareholders of Havana, who are vdlnly |
tIivlng to stay the march of ideas which has
slavery in Christendom Cuba only
Xcepted.
Unhappily, however, this baneful influence
as thus far succeeded III defeating the efforts
I all liberal minded men IN spain to abolish
lavery IN Cuba, and In preventing The prom
Sed reform in that island. The struggle Tor
ohtical supremacy continues, the o-slavery
nd aristocratic party in cuba is gradually
itself In more and more open nos
llty and defiance of the home government,
'hle II still maintains political connection
With the republic III the peninsula; and al
hough usurping and detyine the authority OF
be home government wherever such usurpa-
a. .ftrn prt.aV.
ression or of the maintenance of abuses. II Is
till power in Madrid and recognized by the
0vernment.
Thus an element more dangerous TO con-
nued colonial relations between CUBA ana
pam than thar which inspired the lnsurrec-
on at Yara an element opposed to granting
ny rellef from misrue and abuse, Win no as
iIatlons after freedom. commanding no sym
atbies in generous breasts, aiming to rlvet
I'LL stronger the shackles of slavery ana OBJ
resslon. has seized many OF the embiems OF
Ov er in Cuba, and, under professions 0f low
lty to the mother country, is eXhaustng the
e sources of the island ana is dong acts which
re at variance with those principles OF Justice.
liberallty aud of right which give nobility
character to republic.
In the interests OF humanity, or Civillzat1ON !
nd OF progress, 1t Is to be hoped that this ev
lfluence may soon be averted.
THE vIRGINIUs.
The steamer Virginius was, on the 26th day
I September 1873, duly registered at the port
( New York, as part OF the commercial ma
me OF the u. s. On the 4th of October. 1870,
avIng received the certificate OF her register
/ the usual legal form. she sailed from the
ort OF New York. .and has not since been WITH
, the territorial jurisdiction of the United
lates. On the 31st day of October last, while
,ing under the flag of he United states, Oh
ne high seas, she was forclbly seized Dy the
panish gunboat Tornado, and was carried
ito the port of Santiago de Cuba, where many
her passengers and crew were inhumaniy,
nd, so far a; least as relates to those who
ere citizens of United States, were without
ue process of law put TO death.
IL Is a wellestabl1shed principle, asserted
Y the United States from the beginning OF
heir national Independence, recognized by
reat Britain and other maretime powers, and
lated by the Senate IN resolution passed
on the 18th of June 1856 that