, 1876-12-09

ments to the acquisition of citizenship be-
yond those now existing; but invite the
earnest attention of Congress to the neces-
sity and wisdom of some provision regard
ing uniformity in the records and certifi-
Gates, and providing against the frauds
which frequently take place, and for the
| vacating of the record of naturalization OBJ
tanned in fraud. These provisions are
needed in aid and for the protection of
honest citizens of foreign birth. For want
of this he is made to suffer not unfreqnent-
~. The United States has insisted upon
the right of expatriation, and has obtained,
after long struggle, an admission of the
principle contended for by acquiescence
therein on the part of many foreign pow
ers, and by the conclusion of treaties on
that subject. It is, however, but justice
to the governm ent to which such natural
lied citizen had formerly owed allegiance,
as we'll as to the United States, that GER
tain fixed and definite rules should be
adopted governing such cases, providing
While emigrants in large numbers become
citizens of the United States, it also is true
that persons, both native born and natur-
allied. once citizens of the United States,
either by formal acts or as the effect of a
series of facts and circumstances, abandon
their citizenship and cease to be entitled
to the protection of the United States, but
continue, on convenient occasions, to as
sert their claim for protection.
| In the absence of provision on these
questions, l again invite your attention to
the necessity of legislation concerning the
marriages of American citizens contracted
abroad and concerning the status of Ameri-
can women who marry foreigners, and of
children born of Amercan parents in for
eign countries. The delicate and compli-
Gated questions continually occurring with
reference to naturalization, expatriation
and the status of such persons as have
above referred to, should induce you to
earnestly direct your attention to the sub
ject.
In like manner, repeat my recon-
mendation that some means be provided
for the hearing and determination of the
just and existing claims of aliens upon the
government of the United States within a
reasonable limitation of such as may here
after arise. Under existing provisions of
law the court of claims may in certain
cases be resorted to by aliens, but the alb
sence of any general provisions governing
all such cases and the want of tribunals
skilled in the disposition of such cases
upon recognized, fixed and settled princi-
pies, either provide no remedy in many
deserving cases or compelsa a consideration
of such claims by Congress or the execu-
tive departments of the government. It
is believed that other governments are in
advance of the United States upon this
question, and that the practice now adopt
ed is entirely unsatisfactory.
| ADMISSION OF COLORADO.
Congress. by an act approved the Sd of
March, 1875, authorized the inhabitants
of the Territory of Colorado to form a
State Government, with the name of the
State of Colorado, and therein provided
for the admission of said State, when
formed, into the Union upon an equal
footing with the original States. A con-
stitution having been adopted and re-
ceived by the people of that State, and
the acting Governor having certified to
me the facts as provided bv said act, to-
gether with copy Of such constitution
and ordinances, as provided for in said
act, and the provisions of such act of Con-
gress having been duly complied with, I
issued a proclamation upon the 1st of Au-
gust, 1876, a copy of which is hereunto
annexed.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows that the army has been actively
employed during the year in subduing, at
the request of the Indian Bureau, certain
wild bands of the Sioux Indian nation and
in preserving peace at the South during
the election.
The commission constituted under the
act of July "a, 1876, to consider and re-
port on the whole subject of reform and re-
organization of the whole army in August
last, has called large mass of statistics
and opinions bearing on the subject before
it. These are now under consideration,
and that spirit is progressing. I am ad-
vised, though, by the president of the
commission, that it will be impracticable
to comply with the clause of the act re-
me to Congress on the first day of the ses-
sion, as there has not yet been time for
that mature deliberation which the i'm
portance of the subject demands. There
fore ask the time of making a report be
extended to the Goth day of January, 1877.
In accordance with the resolution of Au-
gust Is, 1876, the army regulations pre-
1 pared under act of March l, 1875, have
not been promulgated, but are held until
after the report of the above mentioned
commission shall have been received and
acted upon. By the act of August Is,
1876, the cavalry force of the army was in
creased by $500 men, with proviso that
they should be discharged on the expira-
tion of the hostilities. On this authority
the cavalry regiments have been strength
ened, and a portion of them are now in the
field pursuing the remnants of the Indians
with whom they have been engaged dur
ing the summer. The estimates of the
war debt are made upon the basis of the
number of men authorized by law, and
their equipments as shown by years of ex-
perience, and also with the purpose, on
the part of the bureau of officers, to pro-
vide for all contingencies that may arise
| during the time for which the estimates