Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-12-17


the abstract right Of expatriation as
fundamental principle OF this Government
Notwithstanding such assertion and the ne
cessty OF the frequentapplicatio of the priD
cple no legislation has been had defining
what acts or formalities shall work expatria-
ton, or when citizen shall be deemed to
have removed or to have lost his citizenship.
The importance Of. such a.. definition
United States in foreign countries are
continually called upon to lend their aid 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 some cases the provisions of the
treaties furnish some guide; in others 1T
seems left to the persons claiming the bcne-
fit OF citizenship while living in a foreign
country, contributing in no manner to the
performance OF the duties Of citizen of the
United States and without the intention at
any time to return and undertake those du-
ties, to use the claim of citizenship of the
United States simply as shield from the per-
formance of the obligations of a citizen else
where
The status of children born of American
parents residing in a foreign country, OF
American women who have married aliens,
or American citizens residing abroad, where
such question is not regulated by treaty, are
all sources Of frequent difficulty and discus
sion. Legislation on these and similar ques-
tons, and particularly defining when and I'M
der what circumstances repatriation can be
accomplished or is to be presumed is espe-
cially 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 III good
faith to reside within its limits, on their com
plying with certain prescribed reasonable and
simple formalities and conditions. Among the
highest duties of the Government is that to
afford a firm, efficient and etiectual protection
to all its citizens, whether native born or nat
uralized. Care should be taken that right,
CARRYING with it such supper from the Gov
eminent, should not be fraudulently obtained,
and should be bestowed only upon full proof
of compliance with the law, as frequent in
stances of Illegal and fraudulent naturaliZa-
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 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 emitted to be natu-
rallied but had not even been within
pretended naturalization. Instances of
these classes Of fraud are discovered at
our legations, where the certificates of
naturalization are presented either for the
purpose of obtaining 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 forwarded to the Depart
ment of State But even the record of the
court in which the fraudulent naturalization
occurred remains, and duplicate certificates
are readily obtainable Upon the pres
entation 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 of business,
to the deception and injury of innocent par
ties. Without placing any additional obstacle
in the way of the obIainment of citizenship
by the worthy and ell-intentioned foreigner
who comes in good faith to cast his lot with
us,sl earnestly recommend further legisla-
ton to punish fraudulent naturalization and
to secure the ready cancellation of the record
of every naturalization made in fraud.
TREATIES OF EXTRADITIoN.
Since my last annual message the exchange
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 COM
merce and consular privileges with Salvador
all of which have been duly proclaimed, as
has also a declaration with Russia with refer
encc to trade marks.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,
The report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, which by law is made directly
to Congress and forms no part OF
this message, will show the receipts
and expenditures of the Government
for the last fiscal year, the amount received
pF upI ln mo, mt
paid out for each of the departments of the
Government 1t will be observed from this
report that the amount OF receipts over
expenditures has been but S2,344, 80 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 S9,0O0000 In view OF the large
national debt existing and the obliga-
ton to add / per cent. per annum to
the sinking fund, 2 sum amounting now
to over S34,00O,00O per annum, | submit
whether the revenues should not be increased
or the expenditures diminished To reach
this amount of surplus and not provide for
the sinking fund is partial failure to com
ply with the contracts and obligations of the
Government. At the last session of Congress
a very considerable reduction was made in
the rates of taxation and the number of arti-
Giles submitted to taXation-the question may
well be asked whether or not IN some in
stances unwisely.
In connection with this subject too, ven
ture the opinion that the means Of collecting
the revenue, especially from imports, have
been embarrassed by such legislation as to
make it questionable whether or not large
amounts are not lost by failure to collect, to
the direct loss of the Treasury and to the
prejudice of the interests of honest importers
and taxpayers.
The Secretary of the Treasury in
his report fayors legislation looking
to specie payments, thus support
ing, the views previously expressed