The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-12-17

part of Spain, can not be controverted
and may make some positive steps on th
part of the other powers matter of sci
necessity. l had confidently hoped q
this time to be able to announce the ar
rangements of some of the importan
questions between this Government an,
that of Spain, but the negotiations hav
been protracted.
The unhappy intestine dissensions o
Spain command our profound sympathy
and must be accepted as, perhaps, caus'
of some delay; an early settlement, il
part at least, of the questions between
the Governments, is hoped. In the mean
time, awaiting the results of the imme
diately pending negotiations, l defer {
further and fuller communication on tht
subject of the relations of this country
and Spain.
/ have again to call the attention o.
Congress to the unsatisfactory condition
of the existing laws with reference tG
expatriation and the election of nation
atty. Formerly, amid conflicting opin.
ions and decisions, it was difficult To
exactly determine how far the doctrine
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
expatriation as a fundamental principle
of this Government. Notwithstanding
such assertion, and that the necessity OF
frequent application of the principle,
no legislation has been had defining
what acts or formalities shall work ex-
patriation, 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 citi-
zenship there is at least great question.
In some cases the provisions of the trea-
ties furnish some guide. In others it
seems to be left to the persons claiming
the benefit of citizenship, while living
in foreign country, contributing in no
manner to the performance of the obli-
cations and duties of citizen Of the
United States, simply as a shield from
the performance Of the obligations of
citizens elsewhere.
The status of children born of Amer
lean parents residing in foreign coun-
try, of American women who have mar
ried aliens, of American citizens resid-
ing abroad, where such question is not
regulated by treaty, are all sources of
difficulty and discussion.
Legislation on these and similar ques-
tions, particularly defining when, and
under what circumstances expatriation
can be accomplished, or can be presumed,
is especially needed.
In this connection, / earnestly call the
of Congress to the difficulties
arising from fraudulent naturalization.
The United States wisely, freely and
literally offers its citizenship to all who
may come in good faith to reside within
its limits, on their complying with GER
tain prescribed, reasonable and simple
and conditions. Among the
highest duties of the Government is to
afford firm, efficient and equal protec-
ton to all its citizens, whether ma
tive born or naturalized. Care should
be taken that right carrying with such
support from the Government should not
be fraudulently obtained, and should be
bestowed only upon full proof of COM
pliance with the law. There are frequent
instances of illegal and fraudulent nat
and of the unauthorized use
Of certificates thus improperly obtained.
In some cases the fraudulent character of
the naturalization of a person has ap-
oeared upon the face of the certificate
tself; in others, examination discloses
hat the holder had not complied with
been obtained where the persons holding
hem, not only were not entitled to be
but had not even been within
he United States at the time of the pre-
ended naturalization. Instances of each
If these classes of frauds are discovered
1t our legations, where the certificates of
are presented either for
he purpose of obtaining passports or in
the protection Of the legation.
When the fraud is plain on the faces of
Iuch certificates they are taken up by
he representatives of the Government
Ind forwarded to the department of the
oodUcs DutoNCH Iuc ICCOiu Vi euO SouicJ
n which the fraudulent naturalization
remains, and duplicate certif
Gates are readily obtainable upon the
of these for the issue of pass
ports or the demanding of the protection
If the Government. The fraud some
lines escapes notice, and such certificates
ire not unfrequently used in the tran
actions of business to the injury of in
locent parties, without placing any ad-
litional obstacle in the way of the
,btainment of citizenship by the worthy
md we'll intentioned foreigner who comes
N good faith, not without. earnestly
recommend further legislation to prevent
naturalization and to secure
he ready cancellation of the record of
Every naturalization made in fraud.
Since my last annual message exchange
has been made of the ratification OF
treaties of extradition with Belgium,
Ecuador, Peru, Salvador; also of treaty
,f commerce and navigation with Peru,
and one of commerce and consular privi-
eges with Salvador, all of which have
been duly proclaimed, as also declara-
ton with Russia in 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
will show the receipts and ex-
penditures for the fiscal year, and the
amount received from each source of
revenue, and the amount paid out for
each of the departments of Government.
1t will be observed from this report that
the amount of receipts over expenditures
has been but 81, ,344, ,882.3O for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1874, and that for
the current fiscal year the estimated re-
ceipts over expenditures will not much
exceed nine millions of dollars In view
of the large national debt existing, and
the obligations to add one per cent. per
annum to the sinking fund, a sum
now to over $34 ZOO, 900 per
annum, / submit whether the revenues
should not be reduced or the expendi-
lures diminished, to reach this amount
of surplus. Not to provide for this sink
ing fund is a partial failure to comply
with the contracts and obligations of the
Government. At the last session of