The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-08


Those who, if They hare eealaiped ia Il hifsI
couatry long enough ID antstle them te be-.
come naturalized, have generally not much,
oyerpasset that period, and have returned to
the country OF their origin, where thew
reside, avoiding all duties to The
United States by their Absence, and
claiming to be exempt from oil duties to the
country Of their nativity and OF their resi-.
deace by reason of their alleged naturalfza-
ton. 1t Is due 10 this Government ITSELF
and to the great mass of the natnralizesi citts
gems, who entirely, beth la name and la fact,
become citizens of the United States, that the
high privilege Of citizenship OF the United
States should not be held by fraud or in de-
togation of the laws and the good name OF
every honest citizen. On many oeca.,
siors it has been brought to the
knowledge Of the Government that
certificates OF naturalization are held,
and protection or interference claimed, by
parties who admit chat not only they were
not within the United States at the time OF
the pretended naturalization, but that they
have never resided in the United States. In
others the certificate and record of the
court shew on their face that the person
claiming to be paturalized hadinot resided
the required time In The United States; in
others 1t Is admitted; upon examination, that
the requirements Of Law. have not been com.
piled With. To some cases, even such certifi-
Gates have been matter OF purchase. These are
not isolated cases, arising at rare intervals,
but OF common occurrence, and which are
reported from all quarters Of the globe.
Such occurrences cannot and do not fall to
reflect upon the Government and inspire all
honest citizens. Such fraud being dlscov.
cred, however, there is no practicable means
within the control Of the Government by
which the record Of naturalization can be
vacated !; and should the certificate be,taken
up, as it usually is, by the diplomatic and
consular representatives of the Government
| TO whom 1t may have been presented, there is
nothing to prevent the person claiming to
have been naturalized from obtaining new
certificate from the court in place OF that
which has been taken from him. The evil
has become so great aud OF such frequent
occurrence that I cannot too earnestly recon-.
mend that some effective measures be adopted
to provide proper remedy and means for
i the vacating of any record thus frauduently
made and of Furnishing the guilty parties to
the transaction. In this connection / refer
also to the question Of expatriation and the
election of pationslity. ~.
The United States was foremost in up.
holding the right Of expatriatioD, and was
principally Instrumental in overthrowing the
doctrine of perpetual allegiance. Congress
has declared the right Of eXpatriation to be Q
natural and inherent right of ali people:
but while many other nations have enacted
laws providing what formalities shall be
necessary to work change of allegiance the
United States has enacted no provisions OIL
law, and has in no respect marked out how
and when repatriation may be accomplished
by its citizens. Instances are brought to the
attention of the Government where citizens
of the United States, either naturalized OF
native-born, have formally become citizens
or subjects Of foreign powers, but who
nevertheless, in the absence of any provisions
Of legislation on this question, when involved
in difficulties, or when it seems to De
to their interest, claim to be citizens
of the United States and demand the
intervention of a Government which they
have long since abandoned, and to which fol
years they have rendered no service nor helo
) themselves in any way amenable. In Other
cases naturalized citizens Immediately after
naturalization have returned TO their native
. country; have become engaged 10 business
have accepted offices or pursuits inconslsten
with American citizenship, and eVince nc
intent to return to the United States Until
r called upon to discharge some duty tt
2 the country where they are residing
when at once they assert their citizenship
5 and call upon the repres entatives OF the Gov
} eminent to aid them in their unjust preten
, sions. 1t is but justice to all bona tide citi
: zens that no doubt should exist on sucl
! questions, and that Congress should deter
&. mine BY enactment of law how repatriation
!. may be accomplished and change of citizen
# ship be established.
. PROTECTION OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
t also invite your attention to the neces
n sity of regulating by law the status of Anne
J. rcan women whT may marry foreigners, ant
V of defining more fully that OF children borr
5 in foreign country OF American parent
;, who may reside abroad, and also OF SOM
b further provision regulating or giving lega
8 effect TO marriages Of American citizens con
e tracted in foreign countries. The CORE
!. spondence submitted herewith shows few
- of the notwithstanding questions OF
Y these points presented to the consideration
r of the Government. There are few subject
4 to engage the attention Of Congress on which
G more delicate relations or more lmportan
r interests are dependent.
ARCHIVES AND VALUABLE fAFEno Tnof cnb
> CARED FOR.
In the month of July last the building
erected for the Department of State wa
taken possession of and occupied by that ne
,partment. am happy to announce that th'
: Earchiyes and valuable papers of the Govern
Ement in the custody of that Department art
now safely deposited and properly cared for
-&., Z y REyENUE AND FINANCE.
: The report of the Secretary Of the Treasury
= shows the receipts from customs for the fisca
|.year ending June 80, 1874, to have been
IS163, 1O3, 1888 SO, and for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1876, to have been S167, l67, ~. 90 :
: a decrease for the last fiscal year OF So,936,
111.34 Receipts from internal revenue iol
, 1.-The year ending 3Oth of June, 1874, were
slo2, 400, 1890, and for the year ending Se 49,
of June, 1876, $110,007, 4935S; increase, 81,
i sol, 7OS.65. 4.,,sl. ..r-.s .s7,s... ~
The report also shows complete history
of the workings of the Department for tn
2 last year, and contains recommendations 10
5 reforms and for legislation which concur
r in, but cannot comment on SO, fully as
should like to do if space would permit, bu
, will confine myself to few suggestion
which / look upon as vital to the bes
} interests of the whole people. Coming
5 within the purview Of" Treasury" NEAR
, specie-resumption. Too much stress cannot
, be laid upon this question, and hope Con
gress may be induced, at the earliest DAY
practicable, to insure the completion OF the
, act of the last Congress at Its last session to
bring about specie.resumption non and aftel
, the first day Of January, 1872" at farthest
1t would be great blessing il this could Dc
i. consummated even at an earlier day. Moth
ing seems to me more certain than that tull
. l. saksr, mn mn