Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-12-08

| good. As these cable telegraph lines connect
separate States, there questions to their or
| ganzaton and control which probably can be
best, If not solely, settled by conventions between
| the respective States. In the absence, however
| of international conventions on the subject, mu-
nieipal legislation may secure many points which
appear to me important If not Indispensable, for
the protection of the public against the extortions
which may result from monopoly OF the right OF
operating cable kilograms, or from combination
| between several lines
| l. No line should be allowed to land on the
| shores of the United States under the concession
from another Power, which does not admit the
right of any other line or lines formed in the
United States to land and freely connect with and
operate through its land lines.
2. No line should be allowed to land on the
shores of the United States which is not by
treaty stipulation with the Government from
whose shores 1t proceeds, or by prohibition in its
character or otherwise to the satisfaction of this
Government. prohibited from consolidating or
line combining Herewith for the purpose of
regulating and maintaining the cost of telegraph
ing.
3. All lines should be bound to give precedence
in the transmission of the official messages of the
Governments of the two countries between which
ii may be laid.
4. A power should be reserved to the two Gov
ernments, either conformity or to each, as regards
the messages dispatched from its shores to fix a
limit to the charges to be demanded for the trans
mission of messages
present this subject to the earnest cOnsidera-
tiOn of Congress.
In the meantime, and unless Congress otherwise
graphic cable which complies with and assents to
the points above enumerated but will feel il my
duty TO prevent the landing of any which does not
conform TO the first and second points as stated,
and which will not stipulate to concede to this
Government the precedence in the transmission OF
its official messages, and will not enter into sat
istactory arrangement with regard to its charges.
Among the pressing and important subjects to
which, in my opinion, the attention of Congress
should be directed are those relating TO fraudu-
lent naturalization and expatrlat1on.
The United States, with great liberality, offers
its citizenship TO all who. in good faith, comply
with the requirements of law. These require
ments as simple, and upon as favorable terms
to the emigrant as the high privilege to which ne
is admitted can or should permit. l do not pro
pose any additional requirements TO those when
the law now demands But the very simplicity
and the want of unnecessary formality in our law
have made fraudulent naturalization not nfre-
quent, to the discredit and injury of all honest
citizens, whether native or naturalized. Gases OF
this character are continually being brought 10
the notice of the Government by our representa-
tives abroad, and also those of persons resident
In other countries, most frequently those who, II
they have remained in this country long enough
to entitle them to become naturalized have gen
orally not much overpassed 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 exempt from all
duties to the country of their nativity and of their
residence by reason of their alleged naturaliza-
ton.
1t is due to this Government itself and to the
great mass of the naturalized citizens who en-
tirely, both in name and in fact, become citizens
OF the L nlteu states. tnaI the Dlgn privilege Ol
citizenship of the United States should not be held
by fraud, or in derogation of the laws and of the
good name of every honest citizen. On many oc
casions il has been brought to the knowledge of
the Government that certificates of naturalization
are held and protection or interference claimed by
parties who admit that not only they were not
within the United States at the time of the pre-
tended naturalization, but that they have never
resided in the United States in others the certf-
cate and record of the court show on their face
that the person claiming to be naturalZed had not
resided the required time in the United States: in
others it is admitted, upon examination, that the
requirements of law have not been complied WITH
in some cases even, such certificates have been
matter of purchase.
These are not isolated cases, arising at rare in
tervals, but of common occurrence and which are
reported from all quarters of the globe. Such oc
currences cannot, and do not, fail to reflect upon
the Government and inlure all honest citizens
Such fraud, being discovered. 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 it
may have been presented there is nothing to pre-
vent the person claiming to have been naturaliZed
from obtaining q new certificate from the court in
place of that which has been taken from him. The
evil has become so great and of such frequent oc
currence that cannot too earnestly recommend
that some effective measures be adopted to pro-
vide proper remedy and means for the vacating
Of any record thus fraudulently made, and of pun
ishing the guilty parties to the transaction.
In this connection, refer also to the question
of expatration and the election of nationality.
The United States was foremost in unfolding
the right of expatration and was principally ill.,
strumental in overthrowing the doctrine OF per
petual allegiance. Congress has declared the
right of repatriation to be a natural and inherent
right of all people ; but while many other nations
have enacted laws providing what formalities
shall be necessary to work change of allegiance,
the United States have enacted no provisions of
law, and have in no respect marked out how and
when expatriation may be accomplished by their
citizens. Instances are brought to the attention
of the Government where citizens of the United
States, either naturaized natve-born. have
formally became 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 1t seems to
be their interest, claim to be citizens of the Uni
ted States, and demand the intervention of a Gov
eminent which they have long since abandoned,
and to which for years they have rendered no ser
vice nor held themselves in any way amenable.
In other cases naturalized citizens, Immediately
after naturalization. have returned to their native
country; have become engaged in business; have
occupied offices and pursuits inconsistent with
American citizenship and evidence no intent to
return to the United States until called upon to
discharge some duty to the country where they
residing when, at once, they assert their citi-
zenship and call upon the representative of the
Government to aid them in their unjust preten-
sions. 1t is but justice to all bona tide citizens
that no doubt should exist on such questions, and
that Congress should determine by enactment of
law how repatriation may be accomplished and
change of citizenship be established.
l also invite your attention to the necessity of
regulating by law the status of American women
W
fully that of children born in foreign country of
American parents who may reside abroad and
also of some further provisions regulating or
giving legal effect to marriages of American citi-
zens contracted in foreign countries. The CORE
spondence submitted herewith shows a few of the
constantly occurring questions ON these points
presented to the consideration of the Government.
There few subjects to engage the attention
of Congress on which more delicate relations or
more important interests are dependent.
In the month of July last the building erected
for the Department of State was taken possession
of and occupied by that Department. 1 am happy
to announce that the archives and valuable papers
of the Government in the custody of that Depart
ment are now safely and properly cared for.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
ending June 80, 1874 to have been S163 l03 S33 3d.
and for the fiscal year ending June &c. 1875, to ave
been 49,, 49, 35, decrease from the last fiscal
year of $3.50, lll34 Receipts from internal reye-
nue. for the year ending June 80 1874. were sl02-
400 7s4 30, and for the year ending June 80 1875.
were &ll0. 007 49S.5s, increase 1851, 70s6S The
report also shows a complete history of the work
ings ofthe Department for the last year, and con-
tains recommendations for reforms and legislation
which concur in, but cannot comment on so fully
as should like to do II space would permit; but
will confine myself to a few suggestions which /
look upon vital to the best interests of the
whole people, coming within the purview of
Treasury" l mean specie resumption. Too
much stress cannot be laid upon this question: and
i hope Congress may be induced at the earliest
day practicable to insure the contamination of the
act of the last Congress at its last session. to bring
about specie resumption ION and after the lst day
of January, 1871 at furthest.
1t would be great blessing if this could be
summated even at an earlier day. Nothing seems
to me more certain than that a full, healthy and
permanent reaction cannot take place in favor OF
the industries and financial welfare of the eoun-
try until We return to measure of values recog-
nized throughout the civilized world. While we
use currency not equivalent to this standard,
the world g recognized standard. specie. becomes
commodity like the products of the soil, the
plus seeking a market wherever there is a de-
mand for it, Under our presen; system we should
want none. nor would We have any were il not
that customs dues must be paid in coin, and be-
cause of the pledge to pay interest ON the public
debt in coin. The yield of precious metals would
flow out for the purchase of foreign productions
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 dealings. l am not prepared to
say that can suggest the best legislation to Sc
cure the end most heartily recommended.
1t will be source Of great qualification to me
to be able to approve any measure of Congress
looking effectively toward securing resumption
Unlimited imitation would probably bring about
specie payments more speedily than any legisla-
ton looking to the redemption of the legal tenders
in coin. But it would be at the expense of honor.
The legal tenders would have no value beyond
settling present liabilities, properly speaking
repudating them. They would bring nothing
after the debts were all settled. There are few
measures which seem TO me important in this
connection. and which commend to your earnest
consideration. repeal of so much of the legal
tender act as makes these notes receivable for
debts contracted after date to be fixed in the act
ITSELF say not later than the LIST of January 1877
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