The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate aud House Of Representa-

especially the latter part of it, been an event
full one to the country. In the midst of grea.
national prosperity financial crisis has
occurred that has brought low fortunes of
great proportion. Political partisanship has
almost ceased to exist, especially in the acri-
cultural regions; and the capture on the high
seas of vessel bearing our flag has at one time
threatened the most serious consequences. and
excited the public mind from one end Of the
country to the other. This, happily now is in
the course OF sa isfactory adjustment honor
able to both nations concerned.
The relations of the United States. however.
with most of the other nations. continue to he
friendly and cordial. With France, Germany,
Prussia, Italy and the minor powers, Will,
Brazil and most of the South American
Republics, and with Japan. nothing has
occurred during the year to demand special
notice The correspondence between the
Department of State and various diplomatic
representatives in Or from those countries is
transmitted herewith.
The money awarded to the United States by
the Tribunal of Arbitration at Geneva was
paid by her Majesty's Government few DAYS
in advance of the time when it would have
become payable according to tho terms of the
treaty. In compliance with the provisions of
the act of March 8, 1873, it was at once paid
into the Treasury, and used to redeem. so far
as it might, tie public debt of the United
States, and the amount so redeemed was in
vested in a 5 per cent. registered bond of the
United States for SIS, ,000, 900, which is now
held by the Secretary of State, subject to the
further disposition OF Congress.
l renew my recommendation, made at the
assembling of the last session of Congress,
that commission be crested for the purpose
of auditing and determining the amounts of
the several direct losses growing ont of the
destruction of vessels and their cargoes by
the Alabama and the Shenandoah, after leay-
ing Melbourne, for which the sufferers have
received no equivalent or compensation.
By act approved on the 14th of February,
the last Congress made provision for COM
peting, jointly With an officer or commissioner
to be named by Her Britannia Majesty, the
determination of SO much OF tho boundary line
between the territory of Great Britain and our
own as WAS left umcomnleted by the COM
missioners appointed under the act of Com
gress of August IL, 1856. Under the pro-
visions OF this act. the Northwest water
boundary of the United States has been
the award of the Emperor of Germany A
protocol aid copy OF the map upon which
the line was thus marked are contained in the
papers submitted here.
The commission organized under the Treaty
of Washington for the settlement and deter
mining of the claims of citizens of either power
against the other arising out of acts commit
the period between April IS. 1861, and April
8. 1865, made its final award Oh the 25th day
of September last. IL was awarded that the
Government of the United States should pav
to the Government of Her Britannia Males
ty, within twelve months from the date OF
the award. the sum of Il, 929, Sl9 in. gold
The Commission disallowed or dismissed
all other claims of British subjects against
the United States. The amount of the claims
presented by the British Government. but
dsallowed or dismissed, Is Understood to be
about 593, ,00000O. 1t also disallowed all the
claims of the United States against Great
britain which were referred to it. recon-
mend the early passing of all act appropriating
the amount necessary to pay this award against
the United States.
l recommend legislation to create special
court to consist of three Judges who shall lie
empowered to hear the claims CT aliens upon
the United States arising out of acts COM
mitted against their persons or property dur
ing the insuyrcction. The recent conference
under treaty of Washington was confined 10
claims of British subjects arising during the
period named in the treaty, but i i under
stood there aye other British claims Of sim
liar nature arising after the 9th of April, 1865,
and it is known that other claims of a Ike
nature are advanced by citizens or subjects of
other powers. 1t is desirable to cave these
claims a'sJ examined a'.d disposed CT
The Commissioners appointed, pursuant TO
the authority Of Congress, to examine iIto the
nature and extent of the forays, BY trespasscrs
from Mexico, upon the herds of Texas. have
made report, which viii be submitted for
your consideration.
transmit herewith. for tie consideration
and determination of Congress, an appl!ca-
ton Of the Republic Of Santo Domingo to this
Government TO exercise protectorate over
that Republic. Since the adjournment OF
Congress the following treaties with foreign
powers have been proclaimed: A naturaliza-
ton convention with Denmark /; q convention
with Mexico for renewing their Claims Com
mission: q convention Of friendsoIp, COM
merce aud extraltion with the Orange Free
State, and a naturalization convention with
Ecuador.
| renew 4 recommendation made III my
message of December. 1870, that Congress
authorize the Postmaster ieneral to is1ue all
com-.li- sicDs to officials appointed through LIS
department.
invite the earpest attention of Congress
to the existing laws Of the United States re-
specLins cxtralition, and the eligibility OF ma
tionalisy by individuals. Many cltiZens Of the
United Statea reside permanently abroad with
their families. Under the provisions Of the
act approved February TO- 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 peTsOus
whose fathers never resided in the United
States II thus happens thst persons WHO
have never resided within the United States
have been enabled to put forward APPREHENSION
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 cases M
naturalized citizens of the United States have
returned TO the land Cf their birth to remain
there. and their children, the Issue of mar
rage contracted there after their return and
who have never been in the United
States, have laid claim TO ou pro-
tection when the lapse OF many
years have imposed upon them
the duty of military service to the only Gov
ernneut which had ever known them person.
ally Until the year 1868 j, was left en-
barrassed hy the conflicting opinions OF courts
end of iur,stB to determine how far the
doctrine of perpetual allegiance derived from
our former colonial relations with Grea:
Britain vas applicable 10 American citizens
Congress then wisely sweptthe DOUBTS away
by eiecting tia. any declaration, instruction,
opinion, order or decision OF any oihcer OF this
Government, which danies, restricts, ilnpairs
or questions the right of expatriation is incon-
kistent with the Fundamental principles OF thus
Government; hut Congress did not lnuicate III
that statute nor has it sirce done so, what acts
are to be deemed to work expatiiation. For my
Own guidance in determining such questions
! required, under the provisions OF the
Constitution, the opinion in writing OF the
principal officer in each of the Executive de-
paItments upon certain questions relating to
TINS subject The result satisfies me that
further legislation has become necessary. l,
therefore, commend the subject to the care
fni consideration of Congress-, and trans
NIT herewith copies of the several opinions
OF the principal officers of the Executive
departments, together with other correspond
enee Ard prominent information ON the same
subject. The United States, who led the way
In the overthrow of tue feudal doctrine OF
perpetual aliegiapce, are among the last to in
dh;ate how their own citizons may elect an
other nationality The papers submitted