The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-12-17


protracted. The unhappy internal dis
sensiOns of Spain command our pro
found 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 negoti-
atlons, defer a further and full com
munication on the subject of the rela-
J lions OF this country and Spain.
THE RIGHT OF ExPATRIATIoN,
have again to call the attention of
congress to the unsatisfactory condition
of the existing laws in reference to expa-
trlation and the election Of nationality.
Formerly, amid conflicting opinions and
decisions, it was ditficlut to exactly de-
termine. how far the doctrine of perpet-
ual ALLEGIANCE was applicable to citizens
OF the United States. Congress sby the
act Of the 29th of July, 1868. asserted
the abstract right of expatriation as
fundamental principle of the govern
ment. Notwithstanding such assertion
and the necessity of frequent applica-
ton OF the principle, no legislation has
/ been had defining what acts or formali-
ties shall work expatriation, or when a
citizen shall be deemed to have renoun-
ced or to have lost his citizenship. The
Importance Of such definition is obvious
The representatives of the United States
| IN foreign countries are continually
called upon to lend their cid 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 question. In come cases the
| provisions of the treaties furnish some
! guide. In others, it seems left to the
! persons claiming the benefit of citizen
ship while living in a foreign country,
| contributing IN no manner to the per.
! formance of the obligations and duties
| OF citizen of the United States, simply
as shield from the performance of the
| obligations of citizen elsewhere. The
status of children born of Ameri-
can parents residing in for
| elgn country, of American women who
| have married aliens, and of American
citizens resididg abroad, where such
! question is not regulated by treaty.
are all sources of frequent, difficult
| discussion. Legislation on these and
smaller questions, and particularly de-
/ tnipg when and under what circum-
| stances eXpatriRtiOn can be accomplish
! ed or is to be presumed, is especially
needed.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIzATIoN,
| In this connection earnestly call the atten-
ton Of congress to the difficulties arising from
fraudulent naturalization. The United States
wisely, freely and literally offers its citizens
| help, to all who may come in good faith to re-
/ side within its limits on the complying with
/ certain prescribed, reasonable and simple
| formaltes and conditions. Among the high
/ est duties of the government is that to afford
! firm, Efficient and equal protection to all its
| citizens, whether native born or naturalized
J 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 |
cOmpG4nce with the law and there are fre-
] quent instances of Illegal and fraudulent nat
uralization, and of the unauthorized use of |
| certificates thus improperly obtained. In some |
! cases the fraudulent character of naturalza- !
ton has appeared upon the face of the certiti-
cate itself. In others, examination disclOses |
that the holder had not complied with the law, !
and in others the certificates have been obtain
ed where the persons holding them not only |
were not entitled to be naturalized, but had |
not been within the United States at the time |
OF the pretended naturalization. Instances of |
each Of these classes of fraud are discovered |
at our egislations where the certificates of nat
urahzation are presented, either for the pur- |
pose OF obtaining passports. or IN demanding |
the protection OF the legation. When the |
fraud is entirely apparent en- the face of such |
certificates, they taken up by the repre-
sentatIves OF the government, ana forwarded |
| 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 |
presentation of these for the Issue of pass !
ports or demanding the protection of the gov |
ernment, the fraud sometimes escapes notice, |
and such certificates are not unfrequently |
used in the transaction of business, to the in
jury of innocent parties. Without placing any |
additional obstacle in the way of the obtain |
ment OF citizenship, by the worthy and well |
intentioned foreigner, who comes in good |
faith, nevertheless earnestly recommend |
fUIther legislation to punish fraudulent nat |
uIalization, and to secure the ready cancella- !
| ton Of the record of every naturalization !
made in fraud
EXTRAD1TIoN.
Since my last annual message, the exchange
has been made of the ratification Of treaties
of extradition with Belgium, Ecuador Peru
and San Salvador; also of treaty Of COM
merce and navigation with Peru, and one of
Salvador, all OF which have been duly pro
claimed as has also a declaration with Russia
With reference to trade marks.
THE FEDERAL TREASURY.
The report of the secretary of the treasury,
which, by law, Us made directly to congress-
and forms no part OF this message, viii show
/ the receipts and expenditures of the govern
ment for the last fiscal year, the amount re-
ceived from each source of revenue, and the
| amount paid out for each Of the departments
/ Of the government. It viii be observed from
this report that the amount of receipts over
expeditures has been but g, ,344, ,S82. 80 for the
/ fiscal year ending June 80, 1874, and that for
! the current fiscal year the estimated receipts
| over expenditures will not exceed 80, COO 900.
THE SINKING FUND BEHIND.
In view of the large national debt existing
/ and the obligation to add one per cent. per
/ annum to the sinking fund, a sum amounting
/ now to over SS4, 900 per annum, I submit
| whether the revenues should not be increased
| or the expenditures diminished to reach this
| amount Of surplus. Not to provide for the
| sinking fund is partial failure to comply with
I the contracts and obligations of the govern
ment.- At the last session of congress a very
] considerable reduction was made in the rate Of
| taxation and in the number of articles sub
mtted TO taxation the question may wen be
wisely.
! In connection with this subject too, the
/ opinion is that the means of collecting the
/ revenues, especially from imports, have been
| embarrassed by legislation aa to make it ques-
| tionable whether er not large amounts are not
lost by failure to collect, to the direct loss Of
/ the treasury and to the prejudice Of the in
/ terests Of honest importers and taxpayers.
BRIsrOw's REooArsIEsDAr1oNs
/ The secretary Of the treasury, IN his report
I favOrs legislation looking to specie payments,
1 thus supporting tho views previously ex-
/ pressed in this message. He also recommends
/ economy in the appropriations and calls at
| tention to the loss of revenue from repeating
/ the tax on tea and coffee without benefit to the
| consumer, He recommends an increase Of so
/ cents 8 gallon ON whisky; and further that no
| modification should become necessary by rea-
son Of the adoption OF measures for returning
! to specie payments. In these recommenda-
| tiOns cordially concur.
| THE TARIFF.
would suggest to congress the propriety Of
/ readjusting the tariff so as to increase the
4 revenue and at the same time decrease the
| number OF articles upon which duties are
/ levied. Those articles which enter into our
manufactures and are not producedat home, it
| seems TO me, should be entered free. On those
articles of manufacture which We produce a
constituent part of, but do not produce the
whole, that part which we do not produce
should enter free also. / viii instance fine
wool dyes, etc. Thsse must be imported to
form part of the manufacture OF the higher
grades of wool goods, Chemicals used as
dyes, compounded in medicines, and used in
various ways in manufactures, come under
this class The introduction, free OF dues. Of
such woods as we do produce should stimulate
the manufacture Of goods requiring the use OF
those we do not p-Oduce, and, therefore, could
be q benefit 10 home production. There are
many articles entering into home manufac-
lures which we do not produce ourselves, the
tariff on which increases the cost Of producing
the manufactured article. All corrections in
this regard are in the direction of bringing
labor and capital in harmony with each other,