The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-12-09

United States has enacted the provisions
of law, and has, in no respect, marked
out how and when expatriation may be
accomplished by its citizens
Instances are brought to the attention
of the Government where the citizens of
the United dStates-naturalized, or native
born-have formally become citizens or
subjects of foreign powers, but who,
nevertheless, in the absence of any pro-
visions of legislation on these questions,
when involved in difficulties, or when it
seems to be to their interest, claim to be
citizens of the United States, and de-
mand the Intervention of Government
which they have long since abandoned,
and which for years they have rendered
no service nor had themselves in any
way amenable. In other cases natural
lied citizens. Immediately after naturali-
zation,. have returned to their native
country, and have become engaged in
business, have accepted, held offices, or
pursuits, inconsistent with American
citizenship, 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 Govern
ment to aid them in their unjust pre-
tensions. 1t is but justice to bona tfde
citizens that no doubt should exist on
such questions, and that Congress should
determine by enactment of law how ex-
patriation will be accomplished. and
change of citizenship be established.
LAWS OF CITIZENSHIP.
1 also invite your attention to the ne
cessity of regulating by law the status
of American woman who may marry
foreigners, and of defining more fully
that of children born in foreign coun-
try of American parents who may reside
abroad, and also of some further pro-
vision regulating or giving legal effect to
marriages of American citizens con-
traeted in foreign countries. The CORE
spondence submitted herewith shows a
few of the constantly occurring ques-
tions on these points presented to the
consideration of the Government. There
are few subjects to engage the attention
of Congress on which more delicate re-
lations are depending.
SECRETARY BRIsTow's REPORT.
The report of the Secretary of the
Treasury shows the receipts from Gus
toms for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1874, to have been $163, 103, 1888 SO, and
for the present year, ending June 80,
1875, to have been $157, 167, 722 35,
decrease for the last fiscal year of So, 1885,
| Ill "a. Receipts from Internal Revenue
for the year ending the 30th of June,
1874, were S102, ,409,73 80, and for the
year ending the S0th of June, 1875, were
$4,000, ,593 5S, increase 1857, ,703 68.
The report also shows a complete history
of the working of the Department for
the last year. and contains recommends
ons for reforms, and for legislation
which | concur in, but can not comment
on SO fully as I should like to do if space
would permit, but will confine myself to
a few suggestions which l look upon as
vital to the best interests of the whole
people coming within the purview of the
Treasury. mean
| SPECIE RESUMPTION.
Too much stress can not be laid upon
this question, and hope Congress may
be induced, at the earliest day practica-
BILE, to insure the consummation of the
act of the last Congress, at its last ses-
sion, to bring about specie resumption
on, and after the 1st of January, 1879, at
the furthest. 1t would be great bles-
sing if this could be consummated even
at an earlier day. Nothing seems to be
more certain than that full, healthy,
and permanent reaction can not take
place in favor of the industries and fnan-
cial welfare of the country, until we re-
turn to measure of values recognized
throughout the civilized world. While
we use currency not equivalent to this
standard, the worlds recognized stand
ard, specie becomes commodity like
the products of the soil, the surplus seek
ing a market wherever there is a demand
for it. Under our present system we
should want none, nor would We have
any. Were it not that the customs dues
must be paid in coin, and because of the
pledge to pay the interest of the public
debt in coin, the yield of precious metals
would flow out for the purchases of
foreign productions, and leave the Uni,
of water, because of wiser legislation on
the subject of finance by the nations with
whom we have dealings.
am not prepared to say that can
suggest the best legislation to secure the
end most heartily to be commended. 1t
will be source of great qualification to
me to be able to approve any measure of
Congress looking effectively toward Sc.
curing resumption. Unlimited initiation
would probably bring about specie pay
ments more speedily than any legislation
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, or properly speaking, repudi-
ating them. They would buy nothing
after debts are settled. There are a few
measures which seem to me important in
to your consideration. A repeal of SO
much of the legal-tender act as makes
these notes receivable for debts contract
ed after date to be fixed in an act by
itself, not later than the 1st of January,
1877, is one; we would then have quota
tions at real values, not fictitious ones !;
gold would no longer be at premium,
but currency at discount. A healthy
reaction would set in at once, and with
desire to make the currency equal to
what it purports to be, the merchants,
manufacturers and tradesmen of every
calling could do business on fair mar
gin of profit, the money to be received
having unvarying value. Laborers, and
all classes who work for stipulated pay
or salary would receive more nearly their
income, because extra profits would no
longer be charged by the capitalists to
compensate for the risk of downward
fuctuation in the value of the currency.
Second-That the Secretary of the
Treasury be authorized to redeem say
not to exceed two million dollars monthly
of legal-tender notes, by issuing in their
stead long bonds, bearing interest at the
rate of 1926 per cent. per annum, of de-
nominations ranging from $500 to 81, 900
each. This would, in time, reduce the
T legaltender notes to volume that could
be kept ahoat without demanding re-
demption in large sums suddenly.