Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-12-14

zion. Of these claims 81 were dis
missed or disallowed, and in l67
cases awards were made in favor oil
claimants against the United States
amou ing to 150,498.41. BY the
terms of the convention, the amount
of the awards is to be deducted
from the amounts awarded in favor
of our citizens against Mexico, and
the balance only to be paid by Next
co to the United States, leaving the
United States to make provisions for
their proportion of the awards in
favor of its own citizens. | invite
your attention to the legislation
which will be necessary to provide
for the payment.
In this connection, am pleased
to be able to express the acknowl-
edgements due to Sir Edward Thorn
ton, the umpire of the Commission,
who has given to the consideration
of tho large number of claims sub.
mitted to him, much time, unequaled
patience, and that frmness and in
teIligenee which are we'll known to
belong to that accomplished repre-
sentative of Great Britain, and
which we likewise recognized by the
representative in this country OF
the Republic of Mexico.
Monthly payments of q very small
part of
THE VENEZUELAN CLAIMS.
The amount due by the Govern
ment of Venezuela to the citizens of
the United States on account of
claims of the latter against that
government continue to be made
with punctuallty. That government
has proposed to change the system
which it has hitherto pursued in this
respect by issuing bonds for part of
the amount of the several claims.
The proposition, however, could not,
it is supposed properly be accepted,
at least without the consent OF the
holders of the certificates of the in
debtedness of Venezuela. These are
go much depressed that it would be
difficult, if not impossible, to ascer-
tain their disposition ON the subject.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION.
In a former message | have called
the attention of Congress to the me-
cessity of legislation with regard to
fraudulent naturalization, and TO the
subject of expatriation and the cleo
ton of nationality. The number of
persons of foreign birth seeking a
home in the United States the ease
and facility with which the honest
omigrant may, after the lapse of a
reasonable time, become possessed
of all the privileges Of citizenship of
the United States. and the frequent
occasions which induce such adopted
citizens to return to the country OF
their birth, render the subject OF
naturalization and the safeguards
which experience has proved neces
sary for the protection of the honest
naturalized citizen of paramount i'm
portance. The very simplicity IN
requirements of Law on this question
afford opportunity for fraud, and the
want of uniformity in proceedings
and records of the various courts and
in the forms of the certificates OF
naturalization issued afford con-
slant source of difficulty. [ suggest
no additional requirements to the ac-
QUESTION of citizenship beyond those
now existing, but invite the earnest
attention of Congress to the neces-
sity and wisdom of some provisions
regarding uniformity in records and
certificates, and providing against
the frauds which frequently take
place, aud of tho vacation Of rec
ord of naturalization obtained in
fraud. These provisions are needed
in and for the protection OF the hon
est citizens of foreign birth, and for
the want of which he is made to suf-
fer repatriation. Not unfrequentIy
the United States has insisted upon
the right of repatriation, and has OBJ
tanned, after long struggle, an ad-
mission of the principle contented
for by acquiescence therein on the
part of many foreign powers and by
conclusion of treaties on the subject.
It is, however, but justice to the
Government to which naturallzed
citizens have formerly owed al,
legiance, as to the United States,
that certain fixed and defined rules
should DO adopted, governing such
cases and providing how expatria>
ton may be accomplished. While
emigrants in large numbers become
citizens of the United States, it is
also true that persons, both native
and naturalized, are citizens of the
United States, either by formal acts
or as effort of q series of facts and
circumstances, abandon their citizen.
ship and cease to be entitled to the
protection of the United States, but
continue, on convenient occasions,
to assert claims to protection, in the
absence of provision on these ques-
tions and in this connection / again
invite your attention to the neces-
sity of legislation concerning the
marriages of American citizens con-
tracted abroad, and concerning the
status of American women who may
marry foreigners, and the children
born of American parents in for
eign country. The delicate and
complicated questions continually &C.
curing with reference to naturallza-
ton, expatristion, and the status OF
such persons as l have above refer
red to, induce me to earnestly direct
your attention again to these sub
jects
In like manner, | repeat my rec
ommendation that some means be
provided for the hearing and determ-
ination of the just and subsistin G
claims of aliens upon the govern
ment OF the United States within a
reasonable limitation, and of such as
may hereafter arise. While by ex-
listing provisions of law the Courts Of
Claims may be in certain cases re-
sorted to by an alien claimant, tSHss
absence of any general provisions
| governing all such cases. and the