The Portland daily press., 1876-12-06
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.

entire boundary between the United States and
me British possessions, except on the portion
| OF territory ceded bv Russia to the United
| States under the treaty of 1876 The work
| entrusted to the commissioners and the officers
| or the army attached to the commission has
been well and satisfactorily performed.
| The original of toe final agreement of the
| commissioners signed upon the 29th of May
| 1876 with the original list of astronomical states
| as observed, the original official list of mOuu-
| ments marking the International boundary line
ana the map records and general report relating
| 70 the commission have been deposited in the
| Depar ment OF State. The Official report of
the commissioner on the part of the United
states, with the report of the chief astronomer
OF the U9,ted States, will be submitted to Con-
| gress within short time.
The Extradition Controversy with Great
Britain.
reserve for separate communication to
congress statement of the condition of the
| question which Lately arose with Great Britain
| respecting the surrender of fugitive criminals.
under the treaty of 1912
The Com mmepciaI Treaty with Turkey.
The Ottoman government gave notice, under
date OF j. annary 15. 1874. OF its desire to ter
| inmate the treaty of 1862, concerning commerce
and navigation. pursuant to the provisions of
| the 2Zd article thereof, under this notice the
terminated upon the 9TH day of June
1876. That government has invited negotia-
| tIons towards the conclusion of a new treaty.
by the act of Congress OF March 23 1874 the
President was authorized when he should re-
eelve satisfactory inform itlon that the Ottsmau
government, or that of Egypt. had organized
new tribunals likely 10 secure to citizensof the
United States the 8 me impartial Justice enjoy
ed under the exercise of Judicial functoos by
diDiomatic and consular officers of the United
States. to suspend the operation of the act of
| Jnoe y, 1860, aud to accept for citizens of the
| United STATES the jurisdiction of the new tri-
bunal- Satisfactory Information having been re-
ceiVed OF the organization of such new tribun-
al in Egypt, | caused proclamation 70 be
issued on the 27th of March last, suspending
the operations of the act of June 22d. 1860, In
Egypt, according to the provision of the act.
A copy of the proclamation accompanied this
message. The United States has uuited with the
other powers in the organization of these courts
aud it is hoped that the jurisdictional questions
which have arisen may Oe readily adjusted aud
tnat TINS advance in judicial reform may be
bindered by no obstacles.
The Hawaiian Treaty.
The necessary legislation to carry into effect
the convention respecting commercial reciproc-
ity concluded with the Hawaiian Islands in
1875 having been had, the proclamation to car
ry into effect the convention as provided by the
act approved August 10, 1876-was duly issued
upon the 9th day of September last. A copy
thereof accompanies this message.
The Mexican boundary Troubles.
The commotions which have beea prevalent
in Mexico for some time past and which un-
happily seem to be not yet wholly quieted,
have led to complaints of citizens of the United
States OF injuries by persons in authority. IL is
hoped, however, that these will ultimately be
adjusted to the satisfaction of both govern
ments. The frontier of the United States ip
that quarter has not been exempt from acts of
violence by citizens of one republic on those of
the other The frequency Of these is supposed
to be increased and their adjustment made
more difficult by the considerable change in the
course OF the lower part of the Rio Grande
river, which river is a part of the boundary be-
tween the two countries. These changes have
placed on either side of that river portions of
land which by existing conventions belong to
the jurisdiction of the government on the op-
poslte side of the river. The subject of the
adjustment of this cause of difficulty is under
consideration between the two republics
The Montijo Award.
The government of the United States of Co.
lumbia has paid the award in the Case of the
steamer Montljo, seized by the authorities of
that government some years since, aud the
amount has been transferred to he claimants.
The Mexican Claims.
It is with satisfaction that am able to an
nounce that joint commission for the adjust
ment of claims between the United States and
Mexico uuder the convention of 1868, the dura.
tion of which has been several times extended,
has brought its labor to close. From a re-
port of the agent of the United States which
accompanies the paper transmitted herewith, il
will be seen that within the time limited by the
commission, one thousand aud seventeen cla ms
of the citizens OF the United States against
Mexico were referred TO the commission. of
these claims S31 were dismissed or disalowed,
and 10 1856 cases awards were made in favor of
tue claimants against the Mexican republic,
amounting in the aggregate TO 81 125, ,622 20.
Within the same period 998 claims on the part
of citizens of the Mexican republic against the
United States were referred to the commission.
lowed. ana IN Isl cases aw s'sssd ssSs d. or dssi,
Of fha olaio otte 4nA
States amounting the aggregate to $780, ,478.-
| Al. By the terms of the convention the amount
| of these awards is to be deducted from the
amount awarded in favor of our citizens
| against Mexico, and the balance only to be
paid to the United States by Mexico, leaving
the United States to make provisions for the
proportion of the awards in favor of its own
citizens. l invite your attention to the legisla-
tion which will be necessary to provide for the
payment
In this connection am pleased to be able to
express the ackn wledgments due to Sir Ed
ward Thornton, the umpire of the commission,
who has gwen to the consideration OF the large
number of claims submitted to him, much
time, anwearied patience, and that fairness
and Intelligence which are we'll known TO be-
long to the accomplished representative of
Great Britain, and which are likewise recog-
nized by the representative in this country of
the Republic of Mexico.
The Venezuelan Claims.
the amount due BY the government of Vsne-
zuela to the government of the United States
on account of the claims of the latter against
that government continue To be made with
reasonable punctuality. That government has
proposed to change the system which il 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 GER
tificates of the Indebtedness of Venezuela.
These are SO much dispersed that it would be
difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain their
disposition on the subject
fraudulent Naturaliza alton.
In former messages l have called the atten-
tion of Congress to necessity OF legislation
wit regard to the fraudulent naturalization
and to the subject of expatriation and the elec-
tion of nationality. The numoer OF parsons
of foreign birth seeking home in the UsIted
States, the ease and freedom with which the
honest emigrant may after the lapse of rea-
sonabe time become posessed of all the privi-
leges of citizenship of the United States and
the frequent occasions which induce such
adopted citizens to return to the country of
their birtn, render the subject of naturalization
and the safeguards which experience has
proved necessary for the protection OF the hon.
est naturalized citizen of paramount import
ance. Toe very simplicity in the requirements
of law on this question afford opportunity for
fraud and the want of uniformity IN the pro-
ceediugs and records of the various courts and
in the forms of the certificates of nat1raliz a
ton issued offer constant source of difficulty
| l suggest no additional requirements to the ac-
| QUESTION of citizenship beyond those now ex-
| sing but invite the earnest attention OF Con
| gress to the necessity and wisdom of some po-
slton regarding uniformity in the records and
certificates, aud providing against the frauds
which frequently take place and for the vacat-
ing of record of naturalization Obtained by
fraud. These provisions are needed in aud for
the protection of the honest citizen of foreign
birth, aud for the want of which he is made to
| suffer not infreduenty.
| The United STATS mas insisted upon the right
of expatriraton and has obtained, after a long
struggle. an adm ssion of the principle contend-
| ed for by acqulescence therein on the part of
many foreign powers and by the conclusion OF
| treaties on that subjacs, 1t is, however, but
| Justice TO the government to which such natur-
| allied citizens have formerly owed allegiance
| as we'll as to tue United States, thai certain
| fixed saud Sdefnlte rules should be adopted
governing such cases and providing how
| expatratiou may be accomplished. While emil
| grants 10 large numbers become citizens of the
| United States it is also true that persons both
| native born and uaturalized, once citizens of
| the Uulted States either By formal acts or as
th9 effect of series of facts and circumstances,
| abandon their citizenship and cease TO be en-
| Titled to the protection of the UDited States,