Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-12-11

tionlof nationailty! ForncFlyl amid eanhiciins
opinions and decisions, IL was difficult 10 exactly
dcicrmlne how far the doctrine OF pcrpctual al
legiance was applicable TO the United States.
Congress, by the act Of he 27th Of July 1868,
asserted the abstract right OF cxphtrhiion A. 4
fundamental principle OF this Government Not
wlthstandng such assertion and the necessity
OF the frequent application Of the principle no
legislation has been had defining what acts OF
formalites shall work expatriation, or when a
citizen shall be deemed to have removed or to
have lost his citizenship. The Importance
Of such definition is obvious. The representa-
tives Of the United States In foreign countries
are continualIyralled upon TO lend their aid and
the protection of the United states 10 persons
soea Il S eas G' es re&S aoH in
some cases the provisions Of the treaties fur
nish some guide; In others II seems left to the
persons claiming the benefit of citizenship
while living in foreign country, contributing in
no manner to the performance of the duties of a
citizen Of the United states, and without the In
tention at any time 70 tarn and undertake
OF the United States simply az a shield from the
performance OF the obligations Of cilizen
elsewhere.
The status Of children born of American par.
ents residing in foreign country, OF American
women who have married aliens, or American
citizens residing abroad, where such question is
quent difficulty and discussion Legislation on
these and similar questions, and particularly de-
lining when and under what circumstances expa-
triation can be accomplished, ,or Is TO be pre-
sumed, Is especially needed.
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 citizenship
to all who may come In good faith to reside
within its limits, on their complying with
certain prescribed reasonable and simple formal
itie4 and conditions. Among the nigh
est duties Of The Government is that to
afford firm, efficient and effectual protection ia
all its citizens, whether native born or natural
lied. Care should be taken that right, carry.
ing with 1t such support from the Government,
should not be fraudulently obtained. and should
be bestowed only upon 1ull proof OF a
compliance with the law, as frequent In.
stances OF Illegal and fraudulent naturaiZs-
ton and Of unauthorized use OF certificates
thus improperly obtained come to light.
In some cases the fraudulent character Of the
naturalization has appeared upon the face of the
eeIuncate 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 naturaliled, bat had not even
the pretended naturalization. Instances OF
these classes OF fraud are discovered at
our legations, where the certificates of naturaliza
uon are presented either for the purpose of OBJ
taining passports or demanding the protection
Of the legation. When the fraud is obvious on
the face OF such certificates they are taken up by
the representatives of the Government and for
warded TO the Department of State. But
even the record of the court in which
remains, and duplicate certificates are readily
obtainable. Upon the presentation OF these for
the issue of passports or demanding protection
of the Government the fraud sometimes
escapes notice, and such certificates are
not infrequently used in transactions oil
business, 70 the deception and injury OF
innocent parties. Without placing any ad-
ditional obstacle in the way OF the obtainmcnt OF
citizenship by the worthy and well-intentioned
foreigner who comes in good iaiin to cast his lot
ton to punish fraudulent naturalization and 10
secure the ready cancellation of the record Oi
every naturalization made in fraud.
TREATIES OF ExrRADrrIos.
Since my last annual message the exchange
has been made of the ratification of treaties VI
extradition with Belgium, Ecuador, Peru and
Salvador; also of a treaty OF commerce and n2vi
CATION wita Peru ana one OF commerce and con
sular privileges with Salvador; all Of which have
been duly proclaimed, rs has also q declaration
with Russia with reference TO trademarks.
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY .
Fhe report of the Secretary OF the Treasury
which by law IL made directly to Congress and
forms no part of this message, will show the re-
eeipts and expenditures of the Government
for the last hscal year the amount re.
ceived from each source of revenue, and
the amount paid out for each of the
departments of the Government. 1t will be oh
served from this report that the amount of re
ceipts over expenditures has been but S2,3it,-
SS % for the fiscal year ending June 3l 1874. and
that for the current fiscal year the estimated re-
ceipts over expenditures will not much exceed
s9,UUOUUO. In view of the large national debt eX-
sting, and the obligation TO add per cent. per
annum tu the sinking fund, sum amounting now
TO over S3i,tUO,OOO per annum, | submit whether
the revenues should not be increased or the
expenditures diminished. To reach this amount
Of surplus and not to provide for the sinking
fund ts partia. failure to comply with d. con
tracts and obligations OF the Government AZ
the last session Of Congress a very considerable
reduction was made in the rates Of taxation aud
the number of articles submitted 70 taxation-ihc
question may well be asked whether or not in
some instances unwiscly.
In connection with this subject too
venture the opinion that the means
of collecting the revenue, especially from i'm
ports, have been embarrassed by such legislation
as to make IL questionable whether or not large
amounts are not lost ty failure 10 collect 10
the direct loss of the Treasury and to the preju
dice of the interests of honest importers aud tax
payers
The Secretary of the Treasury in his report
fayors legiflat.on looking to specie payments
thus supporting the views previously expressed
in this message. He also recommends ecoRomy
in appropriation; calls attention TO the loss OF
revenue from repeating the tax on tea or coffee
without beneft to the consumer; recommends
an increase of ten cents gallon on whisky, and
further that no modification be. made in the
Banding and Currency bin passed at the last
session of Congress, unless modification should
become necessary by reason of the adoption o
measures for returning 10 specie payments. In
these recommendations | cordially join.
THE TARIFF.
Iwould suggest 10 Congress the proprfety OF
readiusting the tariff so to increase the reve-
nue. 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 produced at home, IL seems TO me, should
be entered free Those articles Of manufacture
which we produce constituent part Of but dc
not produce the whole, that part which we dc
not produce should enter iree also. 1 will in
stance fine wool, dyes, etc. These articles must
be imported to form part of the manufacture
OF the higher grades Of wooden goods. Chemicals
used as dyes, compoundedin medicines and Used
in various ways in manufactures come under this
class. The introduction, free of duties, Of such
woods as we do not produce should stimulate
the manufacture of goods requiring these
npHt Int
manufactures which we do not produce ourselves,
the tariff upon which increases the cost OF pro
dncing the manufactured article. All corrections
in this regard are in the direction of bringing
labor and capitalinto harmony with each other
and of supplying one of the clements of pros
perty so much needed. -
THE ARMY AND NAVY
The report of the Secretary of War, herewith
attached, and forming part of this message
gives all the information concerning the opera,
lions, wants and necessities of the army, and
contains many suggestions and Fecommenda-
tlOns which 4 cofpmshd 10 your special atten-
tiOn. There is no class OF Government en-
ployes who are harder worked than the army Of
hcers and men; none who perform their tasks
more cheerfully and efficiently, and under circum-
stances Of greater priyation and hardship Legis-
lation ie desirable TO render more efficient this
branch OF the public service. All the recOmmen-
dations Of the Secretary of War | regard as judi
ciOus, and | especially commend 20 your at
tention the following: The consolidation OF
Government aFsenlls; the restoration of
mileage 70 officers travelling nnder orders; the
exemption Of money received from The sale OF
subsistence stores from botng covered into the
Treasury; the use of appropriations for the
purchase of subsistence stores without wait
ing for the beginning of the fiscal year for
which the appropriation is made for additional
appropriations for the collection OF torpedo
material; for increased appropriations for
the manufacture of arms; for relieving the
various States from Indebtedness for arms
charged to them during the rebellion; for drop
ping officers from the rolls of the army without
trial for the Ofense of drawing pay more than
once for the same period for the encouragement
of the plan to pay soldiers by checks, and for
the establishment of prOfessorship of
rhetoric and English literature at West
Point, The reasons for the recommenda,
tions are obvions, and are set forth sufficiently In
the report attaoAed. LalsO recommend that the
staus0f The stah corps OF the army be fixed,
wherr tAi I has not already been done, so that
prOmOdene ma be nude and vacancies filled as
thes .occut neach grade when reduced below the
number TO be fixed by law. The necessity for
such legislation is specially felt now in the Pay
Inc efficiency OF the navy has been largely in
creased during the last year under Tie Impulse
OF the foreign complications which sthftntened
Us al the commencement OF the last session OF
Congress. Most of our etlicieht wooden ships
were put in condition for immadlate service, and
the repairs of our iron-clad fleet were pushed
with the utmost Ngor The result Is
that n,nak nf thasa Iata An .Tnott.o 80, Al