The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-12-10

states against the claims 10 military
services Of the Government under
whose protection they were born and
have been reared In some cases
even naturalized citizens Of the Uni
ted States have returned to the land
Of their birth, with the intent to re-
main there, and their children, the is
sue Of marriage. after their return,
and who have never been ia the Uni
ted States, have laid claims to cur
protection when the lapse Of many
years had imposed upon them the du-
/ ~ Of military service tothe only Gov
ernment which had ever known tEem
personally Until the year 1858 it
was left embarrassed by conflicting
opinions Of the courts and Of j,rists
to determine how far the doctrine Of
perpetual allegiance, derived from our
fJrmer colonial regulations with Great
Britain, was applicable to American
citizens. Congress. then wisely :wept
those doubts away by enacting that
any declaration, instruction, opinion,
order or decision of any officer Of
this Government which restricts. i'm
pairs or questions the right Of expa-
triation is inconsistent with the fun
damcntal principles Of this Govern
ment But Congress did not indicate
in that statute, nor has j. since done
so, what acts are to be deemed to
work expatriation. For nv own
guidance, in determining such a Ques-
lion, | 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 the sub
ject. The result satisfies me that
further legislation has become neces-
sary. | therefore commend the sub
Ject to the careful consideration Of
Congress, and transmit herewith cop
les Of the several opinions Of the
principal officers Of the executive de-
partments. together with other cor
rcspondsnce and pertinent informa-
ton on the same subject. The Uni
ted States, who led the way in the
overthrow Of the feudal doctrine Of
perpetual allegiance, are among the
last to indicate how their own citizens
may elect another nationality. The
papers submitted herewith indicate
what Is necessary to place Us on a par
with other leading nations in liberali-
" Of legislation on this international
question. We have already. in our
treaties, asserted the principles which
would need to be embodied in the laws
intended to accomplish such results.
We have agreed that citizens Of the
United States NAV cease to be ci,i-
zeas, and may voluntarily render al
legianee TO other powers. We have
sgreed that residence in foreign land
without inten: to return shall Of il
self work expatrialion. We have
agreed in some instances upon the
length Of time necessary for such in
tent i invite Congress now 10 mark
out and define when and how expa-
triation can be accomplished. to regu-
late By law the condition Of Ameri-
can women marrying foreigners, to
fix the status OF children born in q
foreign country Of American parents.
residing more or less permanently
abroad, and to make rules for determ-
ming such other kindred points as
may seem best 70 Congress.
SPANISH REPUBLIC.
In compliance with the request Of
Congress. | transmitted to the Amer
lean Minister at Madrid, with instrue-
tious to present it to the Spanish Gov
ernmeat, the joint resolution approved
on the 81 Of March last. rendering TO
the people Of Spain, in the name and
on behalf Of TIE American people. the
congratulations OF Congress upon the
efforts 10 consolidate in Spain the
principles of universal liberty in a re-
publican form Of government. The
existence Of this new Republic was
inaugurated by striking the fetters
rom the slaves at Porto Rico. This
munileent measure was followed by
the release Of several thousand per-
sons Illegally held as slaves in Cuba.
Next. the Captain General of that
colony was deprived of the power to
set aside the orders Of his superiors
at Madrid, which had pertained to
the Office since 1926. The seduester-
ed estates Of American citizens. which
had been the cause of the long and
fruitiess correspondence, were ordered
10 be restored 20 their owners. and
these liberal steps we're taken in the
face Of a violens opposition, directed
by the reacti0nary shareholders Of
Havana, who are vainly striving to
stay the march of ideas which has
terminated slavery in Christendom.
Cuba only excepted Unhappilv.
however, this baneful influence has
thus far succeeded in defeating the ef-
forts Of ali liberal minded men in
Spain 70 abolish slavery in Cuba and
in preventing the promised reform in
that island. The struggle for politi-
cal supremacy continues there. The
pre-slayeTy and arist0cratic party in
Cuba is gradually arraying itself in
more and more hostility and defiance
Of the home Government. while it
still maintains the political connection
with the Republic in the Peninsula
and although usurpins and defying
the authority Of the home Govern
ment, whenever such Gsurpation OF
defiance tends in the direction of op-
preston or Of the uaintenance Of
abuses, it IS still power in Madrid.
and IS recognized by the Government.
Thus an element more dangerous to
continued colonial relations between
Cuba and Spain than that which in
spired the insurreetion ct Yara, an
element opposed TO granting any re-
lief from misrule and abuse, with no
aspiration after freedom. commencing
no sympathies in generous breasts.
aiming to rivet still stronger the shack
les Of slavery and oppression, has
seized many Of the emblems of power
in Cuba, and under professions of
loyalty to the mother country, is ex-
hausting the resources of the island,
and is doing acts which are at va.i-
anee with those principles of justice,
Of iiberality, and of right which give