The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-08
which he is admitted can or should pc,

40AA~AnOOh0 W gnCoS uh1Ou 4elO Law uVW
demands but the very simplicity and want.
of necessary fermality in our laws have
made srau9u.elt- naturalization not ua-
frequent to the discredit and injury of all
honest citiz ,ns whether native or natural
ICED. Gases Of this character are con
tInually being brought to the notice of
the government by our representatives
abroad and also those OF persons resident
10 other countries, most frequently those
if they have remained in this country
long enough to entitle them to become
na.uralized have generally not passed
much over 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 free from all duties to the country Of
their nativity and of their residence BY
reason of their alleged naturalization. 1t
is due to this government itself and to the
great mass of the naturalized citizens who
en- irely. both in name and 10 fast, become
citizens of the United States
that the high privileges of
citizenship of the United States
should not be held by fraud or 10 deroga-
tion Of the laws aud OF the good name of
every honest citizen. In many cases it
has been brought to the knowledge of the
government tat certificates of noturaIiza-
tIco are held aud our protection or inter-
ference claimed by parties who admit
that not only they were not within the
the United States at the time of the pre-
tended naturally alton hut that they have
never resided in the Unltsd States. In
ntharo tho NorfVHnoka and rnaar1 - h.
court show on their face that the person
claiming to be neturalized had not resided
the required time in the United States.
ln others it is admitted on examination
that the requirements Of law have not
been complied with. In some cases even
such certificates have been made articles
of purchase. These are not isolated cases,
arr siEg at rare intervals, but of common
occurrence aud which are reported from
all quarters of the globe. Such ocsur-
rences cannot, and do not, fail to reflect
on the government and ipjure all honest
cit zsns. Such fraud being discovered,
no gever, there is no practicable means
within the control OF the government by
which the record of naturalization can be
vacated aud should the certificate be tax
en- up, as it usually is, by the diplomatic
an consular representatives. of the gov
eminent to whom it may have been pre-
seuted there is nothing to prevent the
person claiming to have been naturalized
trCn obtaining a new certificate from the
court 10 place of that which has been
taken from him The evil has become so
great aRd of such frequent occurrence
that l cannot too strongly recommend that
some elective measures be adopted to
provide proper remedy and means for
the the vacatlng of any record thus fraud
ulcntly made and of Furnishing the guilty
parties to the transaction. ln this con.
nection refer also to the question of ex
parr;atiou and the election OF nationality
The United Stats was formed in uphold
ing the right of expatriation and was
principally instrumental in overthrowiDl
the doctrine of perpetual allegiance, Con
gross has declared the right of expatria
ton to be national inherent right Of al
people. While many other nations hqvt
laws providing what formallties shall b,
Necessary TO work change of allegiance
the United States has enacted the provis
ions OF no Law and has in no respec
marked out how and when expatriation
may be accomplished by its citizens. To
stances are brought to the attention o
the government where citizens of til
United States, naturaliZed or native born
have formally become citizens or subject
OF foreign powers, but who nevertheless /
the absence of any provisions of legislt
tion on these questIens, when involved /
difficul les or when it seems to b. thei
interest claim to be citizens of tn
: United States and demand the interver
ton OF government which they haV
long since abandoned and to which fc
years they have rendered service nor bel
themselves in any way anenable.
other cases naturaIized citizens immed
atcIy after naturalization have returne
. to their native country, have become al
gagged 10 business, have accepted Offices
pursuits inconsistent With American Gil
zsnship and evidence no intent to retuI
Is to The United States until called upon
discharge SOME duty to the country whel
y they are residing, when at once they a
. Sc, their citizenship and call upon tt
v representatives of the government to a
= them 10 their unjust pretenslOns. 1t
u be Justice to all bona fide citizens tn
DO doubt should exist on such question
10 an 4 that Congress should sdeternine
en- ,ctment of Jaw now expatriation W
{, be accomplished and change of citize
al ship be established. | also invite 20
" attention to the necessity of regulating
Law the status of American women W
&c may marry foreigners and defining mo
W fully that of children born 10 forei
~ country of American parents WHO 10
ne reside abr pad, and also of some furth
Is provision regulating or giving legal eff
to marriages of American citizens CT
81 tracted 10 foreign countries. The CORE
~ poudeuce submitted herewith shows
Al few of the constantly occurring questio
~ on these points presented to the consid
eS alton of the government. There are +
We su iectS to engage the attention OF W
IVY gress IN which more delicate relations
'es DEFENDING.
us In the month of July last the buildi
~ er, cted for the department of state v
9u taken possession of and occupied by Il
.a' dep ,rtment, sm happy to say, that I
Is archives and valuable property of
lts government in the custody of that
partment are now safely deposited a
IN. properly cared for.
ID THE TREASURY.
ION The report of the Secretary of
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