The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-12-17

! the On1Geo states. congress Oy Ine dcl
of the 9th of July, 1868, asserted the alb
stract right of expatriation as a funda
T mental principle of this Government
Notwithstanding such assertion, and the
necessity of the frequent application ot
the principle, no legislation has been had
defining what acts or formalities shall
work expatriation, or when citizen shall
be deemed to have renounced or to have
lost his citizenship. The Importance OF
such definition is obvious. The repre-
sentatives of the United States in foreign
countries are continually called upon to
lend their aid and the protection of the
United States to persons concerning the
good faith or the reality of whose citizen
ship there is at least great question. In
some cases the provisions Of the treaties
furnish some guide, in others it seems
left to the persons claiming the benefit
of citizenship. while living in foreign
country, contributing in no manner to
the performance of the obligations and
duties of a citizen of the United States,
simply as a shield from the performance
of t1e obligations of citizens elsewhere
| The status of children born of American
parents residing in foreign country, of
American women who have married
aliens, of American citizens residing
abroad where such question is not regu-
| lated by treaty, are all sources of fire.
buent difficulty and discussion. Legisla-
ton on these and similar questions, and
particularly defining when and under
what circumstances expatriation can be
| accomplished or is to be presumed, is es-
pecially needed.
In this connection I earnestly call the
attention of Congress to the difficulties
arising from fraudulent naturalization
! The United States wisely, freely and
/ " oft TO oil u6r
may come in good faith to reside within
its limit on their complying with certain
prescribed reasonable and simple formal
tiles and conditions Among the highest
duties of the Government is that to
afford firm, efficient and equal protection
to all its citizens, whether native born or
naturalized. Care should be taken that
right carrying with it such support
from the Government should not be
fraudulently obtained, and should be bes-
towed only upon full proof of a compli-
ance with the law. There are frequent
instances of illegal and fraudulent natu-
ralization and of the unauthorized use of
certificates thus improperly obtained In
some cases the fraudulent character of
the naturalization has appeared upon the
face of the certificate 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 natu-
ralization. Instances of each of these
classes of fraud are discovered at our Lee
cations, where the certificates of natural
ization are presented either for the pur-
pose of obtaining passports or in demand
ing the protection of the Legation. When
the fraud is open on the face of such GER
tifcates, they are taken up by the repre-
sen tatives of the Government and for
warded to the Department of State. But
even the record of the Court in which
the fraudulent naturalization occurred
remains, and duplicate certificates are
readily obtainable upon the presenta-
ton of these, for the issue of passports or
demanding protection of the Govern
ment. The fraud sometimes escapes no !
tice, and such certificates are not unfre- |
quently used in transactions of business,
to the injury of innocent parties. With
out placing anv additional obstacle in the
way of the obtainment of citizenship by
the worthy and we'll intantioned foreign
er, who comes in good faith, I would |
earnestly recommend further legislation
to punish fraudulent naturalization, and
to secure the ready cancellation of the
record of every naturalization made in
fraud.
Since my last annual message the ex-
change has been made of the ratification |
of treaties of extradition with Belgium,
Ecuador, Peru, and Salvador; also, of a
treaty of commerce and navigation with
Peru, and one of commerce and consular
privileges with Salvador, all of which |
have been duly proclaimed, as has also a
declaration with Russia, with reference
to trade marks.
The report of the Secretary of the |
Treasury. which by law is made directly
to Congress, and forms no part of this |
message, will show the receipts and ex-
penditures of the Government for the |
last fiscal year, the amount received from
each source of revenue, and the amount |
paid out for each of the departments of
the Government. twill be observed |
from the report that the amount of re-
ceipts over expenditures has been but |
50, 344, $50 30 for the fiscal year ending
June 10, 1874, and that for the current |
fiscal year the estimated receipts over
expenditures will not much exceed |
S9000,000. In view of the large National |
debt existing, and the obligation to add /
one per cent. to the sinking fund, a sum |
amounting now to S3400O 900 per annum, |
I submit whether the revenues should |
not be increased or expenditures dimin-
ished to reach this amount of surplus |
Not to provide for the sinking fund is |
partial failure to comply with the con-
tracts and obligations of the Govern |
ment. At the last session of Congress a |
very considerable reduction was made in |
the rates of taxation and in the number |
of articles submitted to taxation; the |
question may well be asked whether or
not In some instances unwisely.
In connection with this subject, too. is |
the opinion that the means of collecting |
the revenue, especially from imports, |
have been so embarrassed by legislation |
as to make it questionable whether or
not large amounts are not lost by failure |
to collect to the direct loss of the Treas |
ury and to the prejudice of the interests
of honest importers and taxpayers
The Secretary of the Treasury in his
report, favors legislation looking to spe-
Gle payments, thus supporting the views |
previously expressed in this message |
He also recommends economy in appro-
priation and calls attention to the loss |
of revenue from repeating the tax on tea |
and coffee without benefit to the con-
sumner; recommends an increase of ten |
cents gallon on whisky and further,
that no modification be made in the |
Banking and Currency Bill, passed at the |
last session of Congress, unless modifca- |
ton should become necessary by reason
of the adoption of measures for return
ing to specie payments. In these recon-
mendations l cordially join. l would |
suggest to Congress the propriety of re-
adjusting the tariff, so as to increase the |
revenue, and at the same time decrease |
the number of articles upon which duties
are levied Those articles which enter