Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-05
THE TEXAN FoRAYs.


the herds of Texas, have made report
which will be submitted for your consider
alton.
VENEZUELA UNABLE TO SETTLE.
The Venezuelan Government has been
apprised of the sense of Congress In regard
to The awards of the Joint Com mission, un-
der the Convention of the 25th of April,
1866, as expressed in the act of the 25th OF
February last. 1t Is npprehended that the
government does not realize the character
of its obligations under that convention.
There Is reason to believe, however, that It's
hesitancy in recognizing them springs in
part, at least, from real difficulty in dis
charging them In connection with lis obi
cations TO other governments. The expcd-
ency of further forbearance on our part Is
believed to be worthy of your considera-
ton.
CoNsULs IN TURKEY AND EGYPT.
The Ottoman government and that OF
Egypt, have latterly shown disposition
to relieve foreign consuls of the Judicial
powers which heretofore they have exer-
cised in the Turkish dominons, by organ
izing other tribunals. As Congress, how
ever, has by law provided for the discharge
of judicial functions by consuls of the
United States in that quarter under the
treaty of 1880, l have not felt at liberty 10
formally accept the proposed change with
out the assent of Congress, whose decision
upon the subject, at as early period as
may be convenient, Is earnestly requested.
sANTo DOMINGO WANTS PRoTECToRATE.
l transmit herewith for the consideration
and determination of Congress an applica.
ton of the Republic of Santo Domingo to
this government to exercise u protectorate
over that republic.
NEW TREATIES.
Since the adjournment of Congrt ~ the
following treaties with foreign powers have
hppn nrOplnimp6 A main rnliZntiOn
vention with Denmark n convention with
Mexico for reviving the claims commits
sion; convention of friendship, com
merce, and extradtion with Orange Free
State, and q naturalization convention with
Ecuador.
POWER TO ISSUE COMMISSIONS ASKED FOR
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
/ renew recommendation made in my
message of December, 1870, that Congress
authorize the Postmaster-G General TO issue
all commissions to officials appointed
through His department.
RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ABROAD.
invite the earnest attention of Congress
to the existing laws of the United States
respecting expatriation and the election OF
nationality by individuals. Many citizens
of the United States reside permanently
abroad with their families, under the pro-
visions of the act approved February 10,
1855. The children of such persons are to
he deemed and taken TO be the citizens OF
the United States, but the rights of citizen
ship are not to descend to persons whose
fathers never resided in the United States.
1t thus happens that persous who never re-
sided in the United States have been en-
abled TO put forward a pretension to the
protection of the United States against the
claim of military service Of the Govern
ment under whose protection they were
born and have been reared. In some cas-
ott ,ro1i vaA oil nj nj q
States have returned to the land of their
birth with the intent to remain there, and
their children, the issue OF marriage con-
tracted 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 service to the only gov
eminent which had ever known them per-
sonally. Until The year 1868, ii was lett
embarrassed by conflicting opinions of
courts aud of iurists to determine how far
The doctrine OF perpetual allegiance, deriv-
ed from our former Colonial relations with
| Great Britain, was applicable to American
| citizens. Congress then wisely swept these
| doubts away by enactng that any declare
| ton, instruction, opinion, order or decision
of any officer Of this government which
| denies, restricts, impairs or questions the
right of repatriation is inconsistent with
the fundamental principles of this govern
ment; but Congress did not indicate in
| that statute, nor has II since done so, what
acts are to be deemed to work eXpatria-
| ton. For my own guidance, in delermin-
ing such questions, l required, under the
| provisions of the constitution, the opinion
in writing of the principal officer in each
| of the executive departments upon certain
| questions relating to this subject. The re-
suit satisfies me that uither legislation has
become necessary. l therefore commend
| the subject to the careful consideration OF
| 7 trnpctpif hprayfb rnnias nj
several opinions of principal officers of the
executive departments, together with 9th
| err correspondence and prominent informa-
ton on The subject. The United States,
who led the way in the overthrow of the
feudal doctrine of perpetual allegiance, arc
citizens may elect another nationality. The
papers submitted herewith indicate what
is necessary to place us on par with other
leading nations in liberality on this inter-
national question. We have already, in
our treaties, assented TO the principles
which would need to be embodied in laws
intended TO accomplish such results. We
have agreed that citizens of the United
States may cease TO be citizens, and may
voluntarily render allegiance to other pow
ers. We have agreed that residence in {
foreign land without intent to return, shall
of itself work repatriation. We have n
greed in some instances, upon the length
of time necessary for such intent. in, ito
Congress to mark out and define when ant
how repatriation can he accomplished t'
regulate by law the condition OF American
women marrying foreigners; to fix thu
status of children, born in foreign coun
try of American parents, residing more o
less permanently abroad, and to make rules
| for determining such and other kindred
points as may seem best to Congress.
THE coNGRATULAToRY RESOLUTIONS II
SPAIN.
In compliance with the request of Con
gress, | transmitted TO our minister a
Madrid, with instructions TO present it L
the Spanish Governmhnt, the Joint Resolu
ton. approved on the 30 of March last
rendering to the people of Spain, in tn
name and on behalf of the American PEG
pie, the congratulations of Congress upoi
the efforts to consolidate, in Spain, tine prin
ciples of universal liberty in a republican
form of government. Tho existence o
this new republic was inauguratcd by slrk
, | ing the letters from slaves in Porto Rico
This beneiicent measure was followed b.
! the release OF several thousand persons, II
legally held as slaves in Cuba.
IMPROVEMENT IN CUBA
Next, the Captain General of that colon
was deprived of the power to set aside tn
| orders of his superOrs at Madric, whlc
, | had pertained to the Office since 1925. Th
! | sequestered estates of American citizen
| which had been the cause OF long aud FIRE
quent correspondence, were ordered to b
\ | restored to their owners. All these libera
steps were taken in tho face of violent op
position, directed by the revolutionar
n Shareholders of Havana who are vainl
striving to stay the march of ideas whic
has terminated slavery in Christendon
/. Cuba only excepted. Unhappily, however
1 this baneful influence has thus far succeed
i ed in defeating the efforts of all liberia
i minded men in Spain to abolish slavery !
, Cuba, and in preventing the promised n
Il form In that island.
: THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND sPAIl