Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-08

any telesrsphic cable which complies with and
| assents to the points above enumcrated but will
any which does not conform to the first and second
points. stated, and which will not stipuate TO
concede to this government the precedence in the
transmission of its official messages. and will not
enter into satisfactory arrangement in regard to
its charges.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION AND ExPATR1A-
| Among the pressing and important subjects to
which in my opinion the attention of Congress
should be directed, those in relation to fraudu-
lent naturalization and expatriation. The United
States with great berality, ofers its citizenship
TO all who in good faith comply with the require
mcnts OF law. These requirements are as simple
and upon favorable terms 10 the enigrant as
the high privilege to which he is admitted can or
should permit. do not propose any additional
requirements to those which the law now demands,
but the very simplicity and the want Of unnecessary
Formally in our law, have made fraudulent natu-
radiation not inirequent, to the discredit and IN
jury of all honest citizens, whether native or nat
, urszed Cases of this character are continually
being brought TO the notice of the Government by
our representatives abroad, and also those OF per-
sons resident in other countries, most frequently
those who if they have remained in this country
long enough to entitle them to become natural
r zed have generally not much over-passed that
period and have returned to the country OF their
ORIGIN, whefe tEey reside AVOIDING III uuties ~
the United States by their absence, and claiming
to be exempt from all duties to the country OF their
nativity and their residence, by reason OF thelr
alleged naturalization. 1t is due to this Govern
mt Mt itself and to the great mass OF the natural
lied citizens who entirely, both in name and IN
fact BIZ come citizens of the United States, that
, the high privilege of citizenship OF the nlted
q States should not be held by fraud or in dcroga-
= ton 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 certificates OF
naturalization are held, and protection or inter-
ference claimed by parties who admit that they
not only were not within the nited States at the
time of their pretended naturalization, but that
= they have never resided in the United States. In
. other cases these certificates and records OF the
court show on their face that the person claiming
n TO be paturazed had not resided the required
time in the United States. In others 1t is admitted
upon eXamir alton, that the requirements OF law
have not been complied with. In some cases even
n such certificates have been made OF purchase.
e These not isolated cases, arising at rare IN
telvals, but Of common occurrence, and which
are reported from all quarters OF the globe Such
= occurrences do not and cannot fail to reflect upon
y the government aud ipjure oil honest citizens.
Il Such fraud being discovered, however, there IS
~ no practicable means within the control OF the
q gov eminent by which the record of naturalization
. can be vacated aud should the certificate be taken
up, as is usual by the diplomatic and consular
repre- entatives OF the gUvfrurut h, 10 Nh n II
NAV have been presented there is nothing to pre-
Il person claiming to be naturalzed from Oh
). tanning a certificate from the count, IN place
II of that which has been taken from HIM. The eVll
is has become so great and of such frequent occur
n renee that cannot too earne,ly recommend that
b some effective measure be adopted 70 PROVIDE a
II proper remedy and means for the sacating oi any
record thus frauduently made, and OF punshlpg
h the guilty parties to the transactions. in tas
Y connection refer also 10 the question OF eNpatt-
Il alton and the election of nationality
&c The United States foremost in upholdlng
e the right Of repatriation, and was principally IN
# strumcntal in overthrowing the doctrine of ler-
e pc.ual allegiance. Congress has declared the
right of expatriaion to be natural and inherent
e right of all people: but while many other nations
have enacted laws providing what for nalities shall
/. he necessary to WORK change Of allegiance, the
e United States has enacted no provisions OF law
IS aud ha. in no respect marked out how and when
a expatriation may be accomplished by its citizens.
n Instances are brought to the attention OF the gov
J. ernment where citizens Of the nlted states
d either naturazed or native born-have formally
d become citizens subjects Of foreign powers, but
IS who nevertheless in the absence of any provisions
II of legislation this question: when involved 10
h difficulties or it seems to be their interest, claim
70 to be citizens of the United States and demand
1t the Intervention of government which they have
j. long since abandoned and TO which for years they
n have rendered no service nor held themselves III
1t any way auenable. In other cases, persons I'M
:. mediately after naturalization have returned to
% their naive country, have become engaged in
!, business have accepted Offices pursuits iucon-
If sstent with American citizenship, and evince no
l. intent to return to the United States until called
If upon to discharge some duty to the country
where they are residing. when at they assert
ID their citizenship and call upon the representatives
At of the government to aid in their unjust preten-
Is sons 1t is but justice to all bona hde citizens
lie that doubt should exist such questions, and
ls that congress should determine by enactment OF
al law how eXpatIiaton may be accomplished and
. change of citizenship be established. also invite
l. your attention to the necessity of regu laing by
= law the status of American women who may marry
n foreigners, and of defining more fully that OF
Y children born IN foreign country OF American
o parents who may reside abroad, and also of some
q further provision regulating OR giving legal effect
d to the marriage OF American citizens, contracted
in foreign countries. The correspondence sub
e mitted shows few Of the constantly occurring
questions these points presented to the con'id-
= Grafton Of the government. There are few sub
i ects to engage the attention OF congress on
e which more delicate relations or more important
/, interests are dependent
: DEPARTMENT OF STATE Building
. In the month of July last the building erected
for the Department of State was taken possession
: of and occupied by that department. am happy
to announce that the archives and valuable
papers of the government in the custody of that
: department are now safely deposited ard properly
cared for.
THE CURRENCY.
: The report of the Secretary of the Treasury,
shows the receipts from customs for the fiscal year
ending June &c. 1874, have been Sl63, l03, $3.50,
and for the fiscal year ending June 80 1873, TO have
been Sl57 Joy 1872 35a decrease for the last fiscal
Y year of 1896, lll3i. Receipts from Internal
Revenue for the year ending June 80 1874, Sl02,
400 1884 80. and for the year ending June 80 1879,
were $40 007 493 IS; increase s., 597, 10SGs. The
e report also shows a complete history Of the work
ing of the department for the last year, and con
+ tains commentators for reforms in legislation,
/ which l concur in. but cannot comment on so
fully as should like to do, if space would permit
, but will confne myself to few suggestions, which
i look upon as vital to the best interests Of the peo-
: pie; mean specie resumption. Too much stress
o cannot be put on this question, and | hope Con
gress may be induced at the earliest day practical
BILE, insure the contamination Of the act OF last
Congress at last session to bring about specie
e sumpton--on and after the lst day Of January,
' 1879, at furthest. it would be blessing if this
! could be consummated, even at All earlier day.
G Nothing seems to me to be more certain than
' that permanent reaction cannot take place in
1 favor of the industries and financial welfare OF
f the country until return to measure
e Of recognized standard throughout the civilized
G world. While we use currency not equivalent
, TO this standard, the worlds recognized standard,
: specie, becomes a commodity like the products of
the soil. the surpius seeking market wherever