Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-03

name to such decisions as may not receive
the acquescence of both the arbitrators ap-
pointed by the respective Governments.
i The commissioners appointed pursuant to
the authority of Congress to examine into
the nature and extent of the forays of tres
passes from that country upon herds OF Texas,
have made a report, which will be submitted
for your consideration. The Venezuelan
Government has been apprised of the sense
of Congress in regard to the award OF the
Joint Commission under the convention OF
the 25th of April, 1866, as expressed in the
act of the 18th of February last. 1t is ap-
pretended that that Government does not
realize the character of its obligations under
that convention. As there IS reason to be-
lieve, however, that this hesitancy in recog-
nizing them springs in part at least from real
difficulty in dlscharging them in connection
with its obligations to other Governments,
the expediency oil further forbearance on our
part is believed to be worthy of your consid-
Grafton.
The Ottoman Government and that OF
Egypt have latterly shown disposition to
relieve foreign consuls of the judicial powers
which heretofore they have exercised In the
Turkish dominions by organizing, other tri-
bunals. AS Congress however, has by law
provided for the discharge OF judicial func-
tions by consuls of the United States N that
quarter, under the treaty Of 1880, have not
felt ready formally to accept the proposed
change without the assent OF Congress, whose
decision upon the subject at as early pc
riod IS may be convenient, is earnestly re-
quested.
PROTECToRATE FOR ST. DOMINGO.
| transmit herewith for the consideration
and determination of Congress, an applica-
ton of the Republic of Santo Domingo, to this
Government to exercise protectorate over
that Republic.
| NEW TREATIES.
Since the adjournment oil Congress the fol-
lowing treaties with foreign powers have been
proclaimed: A Naturalz alton Convention
with Denmark; Convention with Mexico
for renewing the Claims Commission; Con-
venton of Friendship, Commerce and Extradl
ton with the Orange Free State, and a NJ
turalIzation Convention with Ecuador.
A recommendation was made IN my mes
tage of December, 1870, that Congress
authorize the Postmaster General to issue
all commissions to officials appointed through
his Department, ri
AMERICANS ABROAD.
| invite the earnest attention of Congress
to the existing laws of the United States re-
" specting eXpatriation and the election of ma
tionalty by individuals Many citizens of
the U. S. reside permanently abroad with
their families under the provisions OF the act
> approved Feb. 10, 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 a
pretension to the protection of the United
States against the claim of military service
of the Government under whose protection
they were born and have been reared; in
some cases naturalized citizens of the United
States have returned to the land of their birth
with intent to remain there and their child
rem, the issue OF a marriage contracted there
!, after their 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 ser
vice 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 tourists to deter
mine how lar the doctrine of perpetual allie
glance, derived from our former colonial re-
lations with Great Britain, was applicable to
: American citizens. Congress then wisely
swept these doubts away by enacting that
any declaration, instruction, opinion, order
or decision OF any officer of this Government
which denies, restricts, impairs or questions
; the / ght of expatrlation is inconsistent with
the fundamental principles of this govern
ment; but Congress did not Indicate In tina;
stitute, nor has it since done 50, what acts
, are to be deemed to work expiration. For
my own guidance 10 determining such ques-
F tlons, required under the provisions OF the
, Constitution obtained the opinion, in writ
ing, of the principal officer in each of the
executive departments upon certain questions
relating TO this subject.
f The result satished,me that further legisa-
r ton has become necessary. | therefore com
= mend the subject to the careful consideration
of Congress, and | transmit herewith copie;
OF the several opinions of the principal off ;ers
e of the executive departments, together with
t other correspondence and pertinent infor-
= nation on the same subject.
The United States, who led the way in the
= overthrow of the ieudal doctrine of perpetua
= allegiance, are among the last to indicate
how their own citizens may elect another
e nationality The papers submitted herewith
Indicate what is necessary to place US on q
1 par with other nations in liberality of legisla
/ ton on this International question.
We have already in our treaties assenteC
to the principles which would need to be en-
\ bodied in the laws intended to accomplish
: such results. We have agreed that citizen.
2 of the United States may cease to be citizens
q and may voluntarily render allegiance to
other powers. We have agreed that resi-
e dence in a foreign land without intent to re
2 turn shall OF itself work expatriation. W.
e have agreed IN some instances on the length
= of time necessary for such intent | invite
: Congress now to make out and define wher
: and how expatration can H. accomplished; tt
t regulate by law the condition of American
4 women marrying foreigners to fix the statu:
= OF children born In foreign country, oil
American parents. residing more or less per
/ manently abroad; and to make rules. for de
termlning such other kindred points as may
t seem best to Congress.
CONCENTRATIONS FOR SPANISH REPUBLIC.
In compliance with the request of Con-
l gress, | transmitted to the American Minis
q ter at Madrid, with instructions to present
it to the Spanish Government, the joint res
olution approved on the Sd of March last
rendering TO the people of Spain, in the
, name and on the behalf of the American
people, the congratulations OF Congress up
! on the effort to consolidate in Spain the prin
4 ciples of universal liberty in a republican
form Of Government. The existence of this
- new Republic was inaugurated by striking
J the letters from the slaves at Port Rico
4 This beuifcent measure was followed by The
release of several thousand persons illegally
held as slaves in Cuba. Next the Captain
General of that colony was deprived OF the
| no nf
= at Madrid which had pertained to the offcs
. since 1925. The sequestered estate of Ameri-
can citizens which had been the cause O
: long and frequent correspondence were or
breed to be restored to their owners AL
these liberal steps were taken in the face 0
i violent opposition directed by the reaction
e Iary shareholders OF Havana who are yainl U