The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-12-17

I iietA AGeAttJ ILLS NOuLAlt
enough to entitle them TO become natuial2
lied, had generally not over passed flat
period, and have returned to the eotintfy
of their origin. where they reside, avoiding
all duties TO the United States By their abA
sence, and claiming to be exempt from all
duties to- the country of their nativity and
of their residence by reason of their alleged
naturalization. 1t is due to this govern
ment itself and to Il great mass of naturali-
zed citizens of the United States, that the
| high-privileges of citizenship of the United
States should not be held by fraud. or i'll
| violation of the laws. and OF the good name
of every honest citizen. In many eases 1t
has been brought to the knowledge OF the
government that certificates of natuiaiiZa-
/ tion are had. and protection or interfer-
ence claimed by parties who admit only
/ were they not citizens of the Unifed States
at the time of their pretended naturalization
but that they never resided in the United
/ States. In others, the certificate and re-
| cord of tine court show on their face that
the person claiming to be naturalizea had
! not resided the required time in the United
| States. In others. it is admitted upon ex-
animation, that the requirements of the
/ law had not been complied with. In some
cases even such certificates have been made
matters of purchase. These are not solita-
| ry cases, arising at rare intervals. but of
| common occurrence. and which are report
| eel from all quarters of the globe. Such
| occurrences connot and do not fail to reflect
upon the government, and injure all hon-
| est citizens.
Such fraud beng discovered. however,
/ there Is no practical means within the con-
| troll of the government by which the record
| of naturalization can be vacated. and should
/ the diplomatic aud consular representatives
of the government to whom it may have
been presented, there is nothing to prevent
| the person claiming to have been naturaliz-
eel. from obtaining Il new certificate in the
! nlqpa Of fhrf az f1itsl, Ia6 fa ban fp0,1
/ him.
The evil has become so great and of such
/ frequent occurrence. that L cannot too
strongly recommend that some effective
measures be adopted to provide proper
/ remedy and that means be provided for
| vacating any record thus fraudHently made,
and Furnishing the guilty parties to the
| transaction.
EXPATRIATION AND ELECTION OF NATION
/ ALTTY.
/ In this connection. refer again to the
question of eXpatriation and election of ma
tionaliiy. The United States are foremost
/ in IpI0ltling the right of expatriation, and
] was principally Instrumental in overthrow-
ing the doctrine of perpetual allegiance.
/ Congress has declared tile right of exl,atria-
/ ton to be the natural, Inherent right of all
people. While many other nations have
| laws providing what formalities shall be
/ necessary to work a change OF allegiance,
the United States has enacted the provisions
| of no law, and has in no respect marked
out how ailtl when expatriation may be ac-
/ complished by its citizens. Instances are
| brought to the attention of the government
| where citizens of the United States. natr-
| rlliZed or native born. have formally be-
| come citizens, or subjects OF foreign powers,
| but who. nevertheless, i'm the absence of
| any provisions of legislation on this Gues-
/ tion. when it seems TO be their Interest,
/ claim to be citizeus of the United States,
and raf
| ment to which they have for years.
/ rendered no service, or placed themselves
| i'll any way amenable. In other cases natIl-
| rallied citizens at once. after naturaliZa-
tioh. have returned to their native country !;
| have become engaged i'll business; have
accepted offices or pursuits inconsistent
/ with American citizenship. and evince 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 representatives of the Government
to aid their unjust pretens:ons. 1t is but
| Justice that. on all such occasions, no doubt
/ should exist oil such questions and that
/ Congress should determine by the enact
/ ment of law, how expatriation shall be ac-
complished, and change of citizenship be
/ established.
MARRIAGE OF AMERICAN WOMEN TO EoR-
EIGSERS.
! / also invite your attention to the necessi-
| ty of regulating by law the status of Ameri-
/ can women who marry foreigners, and of
/ defining more fully that of children born
in foreign countries of American parents.
who may reside abroad and also. of some
further provision regulating Or giving legal
| effect to marriages OF American citizens
| contracted i'll foreign countries. The COR
respondence submitted herewith, shows
few of the constantly occurring questions
on these points. submitted to the eonsidera-
/ s1fEf foxw
/ subjects to engage the attention of congress
on which more delicate relations are de-
pending.
ARCHIVES SAFELY DEPOSITED.
f 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 say that ar
cfives and valuable property ofthe Govern
Inent in custody of that Department. are now
safely and carefully deposited.
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF TREASURY.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry shows the receipts from customs for the
1 fiscal year ending June 80. 1874, to have
been 1853, 103, ,a33 SO, and for the fiscal
/ year ending June 80, 1875, to have been
$l51, ,l64.122 30 decrease TOR the last rs
cal year of $5, 1856, Ill "a. Receipts from
] internal revenue for the year ending June
80, 1874. were $102, ,409, ,7S4 80 and tor the
year ending 30th June. 1875 We're $I1O.-
t 007, ,493 53 increase. S7.591.70S s6S, The
report also presents a complete showing of
the working OF the department for the last
/ year. anu contains recommendations for
/ reforms and legislation which | concur IN
/ but cannot comment on so fully as should
! like to do if space would permit, but will
/ c0nfine myself to a few suggestions upon
/ a subject which look upon as more vital
to the best interests of the whole people
/ than any coming within the purview of the
Treasury. mean
SPECIE RESUMPTION.
/ Too much stress cannot be laid or. this uues-
| tfon, and hope Congress may be induced,
at the earliest day practicable, to insure the
/ consummati0n OF the act OF the last Con-
| gress at It's last session TO bring about specie
resumption on aud after the 1st day of jan
nary. 1879. at the farthest It would be a
great blessing II this could be cosummated
even at an earlier day Nothing seems to
be more certa i4 than chat d full and pernsa-
nent change cannot take place III favor of
the Industries and financial welfare of the
country until we return to measure Of
values recognized throughout the civilized
world. While we hare currency not eul,i
yalent to this world-recognize standard.