National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
(Continned non Iii Pnae. }

country, and by asserting to certain change
in the jurisdiction Of courts In the latter. A
copy of the proclamation upon these subjects
is herewith communicated. There has been
no material change in our relations with the
independent States of this hemisphere, which
were formerly under the dominion of Spain.
THE MEXICAN FRONTIER.
Marauding on the frontiers between Mexico
and Texas still frequently takes place, despite
the vigilance of the civil and military authority
in that quarter. The difficulty of checking
such trespasses along the course of a river of
such length as the Rio Grande, and so often
fordable, is obvious. It is hoped that the
efforts of this Government will be seconded
by those of Mexico to the effectual suppress
sion of these acts of wrong. From a report
upon the condition of the business before the
American and Mexican joint claims commits
sion made by the agent on the part of the
United States, and dated October %, 1874, it
appears that of the ,O17 claims filed on the
part of citizens of the United States, 4SS had
been finally decided, and rs were in the hands
of the umpire, leaving 462 to be disposed of;
and of the 99S claims filed against the United
States, 726 had been finally decided, one was
before the umpire and 271 remained to be dis
posed of Since the date Of such report other
claims have been disposed of, reducing some
what the number still pending, and others
have been passed upon by the arbitrators. 1t
has become apparent, in view of these figures
and of the fact that the work devolving on the
umpire is particularly labOrious, that the COM
mission would be unable to dispose of the en-
tire number of claims pending prior to the
LIST day of February, 1875, the date fixed forit
expiration.
Negotiations are pending looking to the Sc
curing of the results of the decisions which
have been reached and to further extension
of the commission for limited time, which it
is confidently hoped will suffice to bring all the
hnSiDpsE hnfOrn IL IN n final close The
strife in the Argentine Republic is to be de
plOred, both on account of the parties thereto,
and from the probable effects on the interests
of those engaged in the trade to that quarter,
of whom the United states are amOngthe prin-
cipal. As vet, so far as | am aware, there has
been no violation of our neutrality rights which,
as well as our duties in that respect. it shall be
my endeavOr to maintain and observe.
1t is with regret | announce that no further
payment has been received from the Govern
ment of Venezuela on account OF awards in
favor of citizens of the United States. Hopes
have been entertained that if that Republic
could escape both foreign and CiYi! war for
few years, its great natural resources would
enable it to honor its obligations. Though it
is now understood to be at peace with other
countries, a Sc riOus instruction is reported to
lie in progress in an important region of that
Republic.
This may be taken advantage of as another
reason to delay the payment of the dues of our
citizens. The deplorable strife in
CUBA
continues without anv marked changein the rel
alive advantages of the contending forces. The
instruction continues, but Spain has gained
no superiority. Six years of strife give to the
instruction a significance which cannot be
denied. Its duration, and the tenacity of its adj
herents, together with the absence of manifest
ed power of suppression on the part of Spain,
no nd ma " al m
tive steps on the part of other Powers a matter
of selfnecessity. l had confidently hoped, at
this time, to be able to announce the arrange
ment of some of the important questions
between this Government and that of Spain,
but the negotiations have been protracted. The
unhappy intestine dissensions of Spain COM
mand our profound sympathy, and must be
accepted as perhaps a cause of some delay.
An early settlement, in part at least, of the
questions between the Governments is hoped.
In the meantime, awaiting the results of
Immediately pending negotiations. l defer
a further and fuller communication on the
subject of the relations of this country and
Spain. have again to call the attention of
Congress to the unsatisfactory condition of the
existing laws with reference to
REPATRIATION,
and the election of nationality. Formerly,
amid conflicting opinions and decisions, it was
difficult to exactly determine how far the doc
tTine of perpetual allegiance was applicable to
citizens of the United States. Congress, by
the act of the 9th of July, 1868, asserted the
abstract right of eXpatristion as a fundamen-
tai principle of this Government. Notwith-
standing such assertion and the necessity of
frequent application of the principle, no legis-
latiOn has been had defining what acts or for
malities shall work expatriation, or when a
citizen shall be deemed to have renowned or
to have lost his citizenship. The importance
of such definition is obvious. The representa-
tives of the United States in foreign countries
are continually called upon to lend their aid
and the protection of the United States to per-
sons concerning the good faith or the reality of
whose citizenship there is at least great ques-
ton. In some cases the provisions of the trea-
ties furnish some guide; in others, it seems
left to the person claiming the benefits of citi-
zenship, while living in a foreign country, con-
tributing in no manner to the performance of
the duties of q citizen of the United States,
and without intention at any time to return
and undertake those duties to use the claims to
citizenship of the United States simply as a
shield from the performance of the obliga-
lions OF a citizen elsewhere. The status of
children born of American parents residing in
a foreign country; of American women who
have married aliens; of American citizens re-
siding abroad, where such question is not regu-
lated by treaty, are all sources of frequent
difficulty and discussion. Legislation or these
ing when and under what circumstances ex-
patTiatiOn can be accomplished or it is to be
presumed, is especially needed. In this con-
nection earnestly call the attention of Con-
gress to the difficulties arising from fraudu-
lent naturalization
The United States, wisely, freely and liber-
ally offers its citizenship to all who may come
in good faith to reside within its limits, on
their complying with certain prescribed rea-
sOnable and simple formalities and conditions.
Among the highest duties of the Government
is that to afford firm, efficient, and equal pro-
lection to all its citizens, whether native born
or naturaliZed.
Care should be taken that a right, CARRYING
with it such support from the Government, |
should not be fraudulently obtained, and |
should be bestowed only upon full proof of a |
compliance with the law, and yet, frequent in |
stances are brought to the attention of the |
Government of Illegal and fraudulent natural |
ization, and of the unauthorized use of GER |
tificates thus improperly obtained. In some |
cases the fraudulent character of the natural |
zation has appC AIRED upon the face of the GER |
tificate ITSELF in others, examination discloses
that the holder had not complied with the law, |
and in others, certificates have been obtained |
where the persons holding them not only were |
not entitled to be naturalized, but had not even
been within the United States at the time of |
the pretended naturalization.
Instances of each of these classes of fraud |
are discovered at our legations, VIII ere the |
certificates of naturalization are presented, |
either for the purpose of obtaining passports or
in demanding the protection of the legation. |
When the fraud is apparent on the face of such |
certificates they are taken up by the represent |
atiYes of the Government and forwarded to |
the Department of State. But even then the |
record of the court in which the fraudulent |
naturalization occurred remains, and duplicate |
certificates are readily obtainable. Upon the |
presentation of these for the issue of passports
or in demanding protection of the Government |
the fraud sometimes escapes notice, and such |
certificates are not unfrequently used in trans |
actions of business to the deception and injury |
of innocent parties. Without placing any ad- |
ditional obstacles in the way of the obtainment |
of citizenship by the worthy and well-inten. |
toned foreigner who comes in good faith to cast
his lot with ours, earnestly recommend further |
legislation to punish fraudulent naturalization |
and to secure the ready cancellation ofthe record
of every naturalization made in fraud. Since |
my last annual message the exchange has been |
made of the ratification of treaties of extra |
dition with Belgium, Ecuador, Peru, and Sal |
vadoT; also of treaty of commerce and navi- |
cation with Peru and one fcommerce and con-
sular privileges with Salvador, all of which |