New-York tribune., 1874-04-23
WASHINGTON.
TIE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ABROAD.

LIE klGH1S OF ClIILENo ABhOhD'
THE BILL OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
DISCUSSED IN THE HOUsE-JUDGE HoARs Ex-
PLANAToRY REMARKs-MR. cox ARGUES IN oP-
POSITION TO THE MEASURE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUsE.l
WAsHINGToN April 22.-The important bill of tho
Foreign Affairs Committee to define the rights OF
citizens of the United States residing IN foreign
countries received hours preliminary discussion
IN the House to-day The bill originated IN the
State Department, but has been very thoroughly
considered by the Committee and changed in many
particulars. Its primary object is to define the con-
ditions under which the Government may be re-
leased from obligations to the native naturalized
citizen who acquires domieile in foreign country
with intent to remain there. Ii meets the
case of people who by residence abroad,
shirk all the duties of citizenship at home and at
the same time claim the protection of our Govern
ment to relieve them from the responsibilities and
obligations imposed by the laws of the countries
where they reside. There are thousands of such
people and they give our Ministers and COnsuls in
Unite trouble. A large proportion of them are ma
tVes of foreign countries who after acquiring ctl-
zenshp in this country, go back to their native land
with the property they have accumulated to spend
the remainder Of their lives there and who claim
for themselves and their children immunity from
military duty and other obligations, because of their
naturalization in this country.
The bill provides that citizens residing abroad
continuously for two years shall not be regarded as
subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States, un-
less they file at the United States Legation, or
Consulate. in the country where they live written
declaration OF their intention TO return, which dec
laration must give certain prescribed information
about the birthplace, previous residence. &C., OF
the persons. These registers to be sent to the
State Department and annually laid before Con-
gress. Persons engaged in commercial pursuits are
not TO be regarded as d0miciled abroad however
long they may remain unless they do not intend to
return. Children are to follow and have the domi-
Gle and citizenship of the father during minority
naturalized citizen becoming domiciled in the
country of his nativity is to forfeit his citizenship
unless otherwise regulated by treaty.
Judge Hoar, in explaining the bill, said that the
purpose it had in view was TO provide a simple and
easy means of determining who are entitled TO the
protection Of the United States 1t recognized the
American doctrine of the right Of every human
being to elect the nation to which he would belong,
and also acknowledged the right of every American
citizen to 20 where he pleased in pursuit of happi-
ness. At the same time it provided rule to ascer-
tain what citizens had by their conduct voluntarily
renounced their nationality.
Mr.. Cox made written speech against the bill,
and argued that it would discourage emigration, by
making American citizenship less valuable, and that
it was Objectionable by reason of its establishing
supervision over our citizens abroad. He was es-
peciay hostile to the portions of the measure appl
cable to naturazed citizens, and appeared to think
that it was preferable that the Government should
be put any amount of trouble account of such Of
these citizens as 60 back to their old homes to hive,
rather than to limit their privileges even to the
very moderate cxtont proposed. The discussion VIII
be resumed tomorrow,