Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-17
NO. 81.

vide a proper remedy and means for the
! vacating of any record thus fraudulently
made, and OF Furnishing the guilty parties
| to the transaction. In this connection !
refor, also, 10 the question of expatriaiion
and the election of nationality 10 the Uni
| ted States which was foremost in uphold
/ ing the right of expatriation and was prin-
| cipally instrumental in overlhrOwi1g the
| doctrine of perpetual allegiance. Congress
has declared the right of expatriation TO be
natural and inherent right of all people;
| but, while many other natious have enact
| ed laws providing what formalilies shall
be necessary 10 work change Of allegi-
| ance, the United STATES has enacted no pro-
visions of law, and has in no respect mark
ed out how and when expatriation may he
accomplished by its citizens. distances
are brought TO the attention of the Govern
ment where citizens of the United States,
either naturalized or native born, have
formally become citizens or subjects of 1or-
eiGn powers, but who, nevertheless, in the
absence of any provisions of legislation on
this question, when involved in difficulties,
or when it seems to be their interest, claim
TO be citizens of the United States, and de-
mand the Intervention Of a Government
which they have long since abandoned,
and 10 which for years they have rendered
no service, nor held themselves in any way
amenable. In other cases naturaized cit
izens Immediately amer naturalization
have returned TO their native country,
cepted offices or pursuits inconsistent with
American citizenship, and evince no in
tent 10 re,urn 10 the United States until
called upon 10 discharge some duty 10 the
country where they are residing, when at
once they assert their citizenship, and call
upon the representatives of the Govern
ment to aid them in their unjust preten-
sions. Ii is but justice TO all bona tide citi-
zens that no doubt should exist on such
questions, and that Congress should deter
mine by enactment of law how expatria-
ton may be accomplished and change Of
citizenship established. also invite your
attention TO the necessity of regulating by
law the status of American women WHO
may marry foreigners, and of defining
more fully that Of children born in a for
eign country of American parents who
may reside abroad, and also some further
provision regulating or giving legal effect
TO marriages of American citizens contract
ed in foreign countries. The correspond
ence submitted herewith shows a few of
the constantly occurring questions on these
points presented 10 the consideration OF the
Government. There are few subjects to
engage the attention OF Congress on which
more delicate relations or more important
Interests are dependent. ..
THE STATE DEPARTMENT BUILDING.
In the month of July last the building
erected for the Department of State was
taken possession of and occupied by that
the archives and valuable papers of the
Government in the custody OF that depart
ment are now safely deposited and proper
ly cared for.
SPECIE RESUMPTION.
The report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury shows the receipts from Customs for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1874, 10
have been Sl63, ,l03, $500; and for the fis-
cal year ending June 80, 1875, TO have been
Sl57, 167, ,722. .35, decrease for the last fiscal
year OF $3.50, "a. Receipts from inter
nal revenue for the year ending June 80,
1874, were Sl02, ,409, 7S4.90, and for The year
ending June 30, 1875, were 1l0,007, ,493.5S,
an increase of 1887 ,70s.6S. The report
also gives a complete history of the work.
ing of the department for the last year,
and contains recommendations for reforms
and for Legislation which l concur in, but
cannot comment on 50 fully as l should
like TO do IL space would permit. L shall
conhne myself 10 a few suggestions which
look upon as vital to the best interests of
the whole people, coming within the pur-
view of the Treasury. mean specie re-
sumption. Too much stress cannot be laid
upon this question, and hope Congress
may he induced, at the earliest day practi-
cable, insure the cousummation of the
act OF the last Congress at its last session,
TO bring about specie resumption, on and
after the first day of January, 1879 at the
lurthesi. II would be great blessing if
this could be consummated even at an ear
lier day. Nothing seems TO me more cell
tain than That a full, healthy, and perma-
nent reaction cannot take place in favor of
the industries and financial welfare of The
country until we return 10 measure of
values recognized throughout the civilized
world. While VIC use currency not equiv
alent 10 this standard, The worlds recog-
nized standard, specie becomes a commod-
| ity like the products of the soil, the sur
| plus seeking Il market wherever there is
"A nd for Ind nFafe
we should want none, nor should we have
| any were it not that Customs dues must be
| paid in coin, and because of The pledge TO
pay the Interest of the public debt in coin.
| The yield of precious metals would flow
| out for the purchase of foreign produc-
lions, and leave the United States "hewers
of wood and drawers of WATER" because OF
wiser legislation on The subject of finance
by the nations with whom we have deal
iDgs. 1 am not prepared to say that can
| suggest the best legislation TO secure the
| end most heartily commended. 1t will be
| a source of great qualification to me to be
| able TO approve any measure of Congress
| looking effectively toward securing re-
sumption. Unlimited initiation would
| probably bring about specie payments
more speedily than any legislation looking
TO the redemption of legal tenders in coin,
but it would be at The expense of honor.
| The legal tenders would have no value be-
yond settling present liabilities, or, prop
erly speaking, repudiating them. They
would buy nothing after The debts were all
| settled.
MEASURES PREPARATORY TO RESUMPTION.
There are few measures which seem TO
| me important in this connection, and
| which commend TO your earnest consid-
| Grafton:
First-A repeal of so much Of the legal
| tender act as makes these notes receivable
| for debts contracted after date TO be fixed
1 q. a.lnE luNa -. 49,
| of January, 1877. We should then have
| quotations at real values, not fictitious
ones. Gold would no longer be at pre-
MUM, but currency at discount.
healthy reaction would set in at once, and
| with il desire TO make the currency equal
TO what il purporis to be. The merchants,
| manufacturers, and tradesmen of every
calling could do business on n fair margin
of profit, the money TO be received having
an unVaTying value. Laborers and all
others who work for stipulated pay or sal
| ary would receive more for their income,
because extra profits would no longer be
charged by the capitalist TO compensate for
the risk or a downward fuctuation In the
value of the currency.
iSecond-That the Secretary of the Treas
| ury be authorized to redeem say not 10 ex-
ceed 81, 100000 monthly of legal-tender
notes by issuing in their stead a long bond,
bearing interest at the rate of three and
slxty-t!ve hundredths per cent per annum,
| of denominations ranging from $50 TO 81 900
each. This would in lime reduce the legal
tender notes TO a volume that could be kept
afloat without demanding redemption In
large sums suddenly.
Ihird-That additional power be given
to the Secretary of the Treasury 10 accu-
mulate gold for final redemption, either by
increasing the revenue, curtailing expen-
ses, or both. II is preferable to do both,
and recommend that a reduction of ex-
pendtures be made wherever II can be
done without impairing Government obli-
cations or crippling the due execution
thereof One measure for increasing the