The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-12-12


existing laws with reference TO cXpatriatiun,
and the election Of nationality, Formerly,
, amid conflicting opinions and decisions, il
was difficult TO exactly determine how far the
doctrine of perpetual allegiance was apple.
able to citizens of the United States Con
crrss, bv thu act of the 9th of July, 1868, as.
serted the abstract right of eXpatriation as Il
fundamental principle Of this Government.
Notwithstanding such assertion, and the ne
cessity of frequent application OF the princi.
pie, no legislation has been had defining what
acts or formaliies shall work repatriation,
or when citizen shall be deemed to have
renowned 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 aid, and the protection of the
United States To persons concerning the good
faith or reality of whose citizenship there Is
at least great question. In some eases, the
provisions of the treaties turn' sh some guide !;
in Others it seems left TO the persons claim,
ing the benefit of citizenship while living in
a foreign country, contributing in no man
ncr to the performance ofthc duties OF a cti-
zen Of the United States, and without intcn-
ton at any time to return and undertake those
duties, to use the claims of citizenship OF the
United States simply as shield from the per.
Torrance Of the obligations OF citizen else.
where.
The status of American children born Of
American parents residing IN foreign coun-
try. LOT American women who have married
aliens; of American citizens residing abroad,
where such question is not regulated by trca.
", are all sources OF frequent difficulty and
discussion. Legislation, on these and SINH
lar questions, and particularly defining when
and ipIar what pirpnno : pNnofrili ion
can be accomplished, or is to be presumed, Is
especially needed.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION.
In this connection | earnestly call the at
tention of Congress 10 the difficulties arising
from fraudulent naturalization. The United
States wisely, freely and literally, offers It's
citizenship to all who may come IN good
faith to reside within its limits, on their com
plying with certain prescribed reasonable
and simple formalties and conditions.
Among the highest duties of the Government
is that to afford firm, efficient and ettectual
protection to all its citizens, whether native.
born or naturaized. Care should be taken
that right carrying with 1t such support
from the Government should not be traudu-
lently obtained, and should be bestowed only
upon full proof of compliance with the law.
There are frequent instances of illegal and
fraudulent naturalization, and of the unauth.
orlzed use of certificates thus improperly OBJ
tanned. In some cases, the fraudulent char.
acter of the naturalization has appeared
upon face of the certificate itself; in
others, examination discloses that the holder
had not complied with the law; and, in 9th
erS, certificates have been obtained where the
persons holding them not only were not en-
Titled to be naturalized, but had not even been
within the United States at the time of the
pretended naturalization. Instances of each
of these classes of fraud are discovered at our
Legations, VIXEN the certificates of naturali-
cation are presented, either for the purpose
of obtaining passports, or in demanding the
protection of the Legation. When the fraud
is plain on the face of such certificates, they
are taken up by the representations Of the
Government, and 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 the passports, or demanding
the protection of the Government, the fraud
sometimes escapes notice; and such certifi-
Gates are not unfrequently used in transac
tons of business, TO the deception ard injury
Of innocent parties.
Without placing any additional obstacle IN
the way of the obtainment of citizen ship by
he worthy and well.lntentioned foreigner
who comes in good faith to cast his lot with
us, earnestly recommend further legislation
to punish fraudulent naturalization, and to
secure the ready cancellation of the rec ord of
every naturalization made in fraud.
TREATIES
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 Il treaty o: commerce
and navigation with Peru, and one of COM
merce and Consular privileges with San Sal.
vador,-all ofwhich have been duly proclaim
ed las has also a declaration with Russia with
reference to trademarks.
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary of the Treasury,
which by law is made directly TO Congress,
and forms no part of this message, will show
the receipts and expenditures of the Govern.
mentt tor. the last fiscal year. the amount re.
ceivcd from each source of revenue, and the
amount paid out for each of the Departments
of the Government. twill be observed from
this report that the amount of receipts over
expenditures has been but 1884, $50 30 for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1874; and that
for the cdrrent fiscal year, the estimated re.
ceptS over expenditures will not much cX.
coed $9,0O0O00. In view of the large nation
al debt existing, and the Obligations To add
per cent. per annum TO the sinking ftlnd,-a
sum amounting now to over $34,000,00O per
annum,-I submit whether revenue should
not be increased or expenditures diminished
to reach tins amount Of surplus. Not to pro
vide tor the sinking fund is partial failure
to comply with the contracts and obligations
Of the government. At the last session of
congress, very considerable reduction was
made in rates OF taxation, and the number of
articles subjected To taxation; the question
may well be asked whether or not, in some
instances unwisely.
In connection with this subject, too, ven.
ture the opinion that the means of collecting
the revenue, especially from imports, have
been so embarrassed 10y legislation as to make
it questionable as To whether or not large
amounts are no, lost by failure to collect, to
the direct loss Of the Treasury, and TO the pre-
judice Of honest importers and taxpayers