Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-12-08

u Ver0menGS, eiCneT cuuJoiut'y VI " GNU, 90 |
regards the messages dispatched from it's shores |
to fix a limit to the charges to be demanded
for The Transmission of messages
present this subject to the earnest consid- |
Grafton of Congress.
Ia the meantime, and unless Congress other
wise direct, shall not oppose the landing of
any Geographic cable which complies with and
assenis to the points above enumerated, but
will feel it my duty to prevent the landing of
any which does not coniorm to the first and
s,coud points as stated, and which will not
stipulate to concede to this Government the
precedence in the transmission OF its official
messages and will not enter into satisfactory
arrangement with regard to its charges.
THE NATURALIZATION LAWS.
Among the pressing and important subjects
to which, IN my opinion, the attention OF Con-
gress should be directed are those relating to
fraudulent naturalization and expatriatoD.
The United States, with great liberallty, Of
icrs its citizenship to all who, 10 good faith,
comply with the requirements OF law. These
requirements are as simple, and upon as favor
able terms to the immigrant, as the high prlvl-
!ege to which he is admitted can or should
permit. do not propose any additional re-
qulremens to those which the law now de-
lnands. But the very simplicity, and the want
OF unnecessary tormality in our law, have made
fraudulent naturalization not infrequent, to the
dlscrtdit and injury of all honest citizens,
whether native or naturalized. Cases of this
character are continually belug brought to the
notice OF the Government by our representa-
tlves abroad, and also those Of persons resident
10 ether countries, most frequently those who,
it they have remained in this country loug
enough to entltle them to become naturalz.d,
have generally pot mucn oVerpassed that period,
and have returned to the country of their
origin, where they reside, avoiding all duties
to the United States by their absence, and
claiming to be exempt from all duties to the
country of their nativity aud of their residence
by reason of their alleged naturalization.
1t is due to this government itself, aud to
the great mass Of the naturalized citizens who
entirely. DO h in name aud 10 fact, become citi-
ze0s OF the United States, that the high privi-
lcge of citizenship of he United States should
not be held by fraud, or in derogation Of the
laws and of the good name of every honest
citizen: On many occasions it has been brought
to the Knowledge of the Government that GER
uncates or naturallz ton are held and protec-
ton or interference claimed by parties who
admit that DOT only they were not within the
United States at the time of the pretended
natur iIizaton, but that they have ncv2t resided
IN the United States; 10 others the certificate
and record of the court show on their face that
the person claiming TO be naturalizcd had not
resided the required time in the Uoltcd Stat IS;
10 others 1t is admitted, upon examination, that
the requirements otlav have not beer complied
With; 10 some cases even, such certificates have
been matter OF purchase.
These are not isolated cases, arising at rare
Intervals but of common occurrence, and which
are reported from all qualt.rs Of the globe.
Such occurrences cannot, and do not, fail to
reflect upon the Government and iu ure ali
houeSt citizens. Such fraud, being discoy.
cred, however. there is no practicable means
within the control Of the Cover lment by which
the record OF naturalization can be vacat"d;and
should the certificate be taken up, as it usually
is, by the diplomatic and consular Representa-
tlVes Of the government, to whom it may have
been presented, there is nothing TO prevent the
person claiming to have been naturalzed from
ohtaluiug new certificate FROM the court in
place of that which has been taken from him.
The evil has become so great and of such tre-
queDt occurrence that | cannot too caruestly
recommend that some effective measures be
adopted to provide proper remedy and means
Tor the vacat'ug OF any record thus fraudulent
iy made, and OF Furnishing the guilty parties 10
tile transaction.
RIGHTS OF REPATRIATION.
la this connection, refer also to the ques-
ton OF expatrlation aud the election of patton
alItv.
The United States was foremost 10 uphold
Ing the right OF eXpatratl0n, and was princl-
pally instrumental in overi hroWIug the doctrine
Of perpetual allegiance. Congress has declared
the right of repatriation 10 be a natural and
Inherent right Of all people; but while many
other nations have enacted laws providing what
tormalities shall be necessary t. work change
OF allegiance, the ULitcd States have enacted
no provisions Ut law, and have in no respect
marked out how and when expatriaions may
be accomplished by their cit zens. Instances
are brought to the attention Of the Govern
ment where citizens of the United States,
either naturazed or native born, have formal
y become citizens or subjects of foreign Pew
crs, but who, nevertheless, in the absence OF
any provisions of LEGISLATION on this question,
when involved in difficulties, or when 1t seems
10 be their interest, claim to be cltlZ rs of the
United States, and demand the iuterve ntoD Of
aGovcrument which they have long since abaD-
dencd, and to which for years they have rem
drred 10 service DOR held themselves in any
way amenable.
In other cases naturalized ctiz ms, immedi-
ateIy after naturalization, have returned to
their oative country; have become engaged in
business have occupied Offices and pursuits To-
consistent with American citizenship, aud evil
dcucc no intent to return to the United States
until called upon to discharge some duty to
the country where they are residing, when, at
once, they assert their citizenship and call upon
the representative of the Government to aid
them 10 their unjust pretentions. 1tis but JUS
&c to all bona fde citizens hat no doubtshou
exist on such questions, aud that Congress
should determine by enactment of law how ex
patriatlon may be accomplished and change Of
citizenship be established.
STATUS OF AMERICAN WOMEN RESIDENT
ABROAD.
| also invite your attention to the necessity
of regulating by law the status Of American
wolncn who may marry foreigners, and OF de-
Tending more fully that of children born 10