The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-12-14

! into effect the condition respecting the
commercial reciprocity concluded with
the Hawaiian Islands, i'm 1875, having
been had. the proclamation to carry it
into effect, the convention as provided
by the act, approved August Is. 1876,
was duly issued on the second Tues
day of September last. A copy there
of accompanies this message.
MEXICAN MATTERS.
The commotions which have been
prevalent in Mexicon for some time
past, and which, unhappily, seem to
have not yet been wholly quieted.haye
led to complaints of citiaens of the
United States of inquiries by persons
in authority. 1t is hoped, however,
these VIII ultin itely be adjusted to
the satisfaction of both Governments.
The frontier of the United States in
that quarter has not been exempt from
acts of violence by citizens of one Re-
public on those of the other. The free
quency Of these is, supposed to be in
creased, and their adjustment made
more difficult by the considerable
changes in the course of the RiOGrande
River, which river is a part of the
boundary between 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 other side of the river. The
| subject Of the adjustment of this cause
of difficulty is under consideration be-
tween the two Republics. ..ss @....
| THE UNITED STATES OF COLUMBIA. Z
The Government of the United
States OF Columbia has paid the award
in the case of the steamer Mentijo,
siezed by the authorities of that Gov
ernment some years since, and the
amount has been transferred to the
claimahts. 1877 sail set1 1f HI.aa
i -si 1oHak MEXICAN CLAIMS. lt.,
1t is with satisfaction that l am able
| to announce that the Joint Commits
sion for the adjustment of claims be-
tween the United States and Mexico,
convention of 1863, the duration OF
which has been several times extended
has brought its labors to a close. From
the report of the Agent of the United
States, which accompanies the papers
transmitted herewith, it will be seen
that within the tune limited by the
Commission, l,Ol7 claims on the part
OF the citizens of the United States
against Mexico were referred to the
| Commission. OF these claims S3l
were dismissed or disallowed, and in
1S6 cases awards were made i'll favor
OF the claimants against the Mexican
Republic, amounting i'll the aggregate
to $4.I25,622 20. Within the same
time nine hundred and eighty-ninc
claims ON the part of citizens of the
Mexican Republic againg the United
States were referred TO the Commits
sioners. Of these claims S3l were
dismissed or disallo wed, and in 167
cases awards were made i'll favor OF
claimants against the United States
amounting i'll the aggregate to $780,
1913 Al. BY the terms of the cOuven-
ton the amount 'of these awards is to
be deducted from the amount award
ed in favor our citizens against Mexi.
co, and the balance only to be paid by
Mexico to the United States, leaving
the United S,aieslto make provision
for their proportion OF the awards in
favor OF its own citizens. l invite
| your attention 10 the legislation which
will be necessary to provide Tor the
payment. issti
In this connection / am prepared to
be able TO express the ackn wlemeDt
due Mr., Thornton, the Umpire of the
| Commission, who las given to the
consideration OF the large number OF
claims submitted to him much time, for
the UNIV carried patience and that fair
ness and intelligence which are we'll
known to belong 10 the accomplished
representative of Great Britain, and
which are likewise recognized, by the
| representative in this country OF the
Republic OF Mexico.
The monthly payments of very
small part of the amount due by the
Government of VeneZneIa to citizens
of the United States on account oi
claims, the latter against the Govern
ment, continue to he made with rea-
sonable punctuality. That Govern
ment has proposed to change the sys-
TEN which it has hitherto pursued in
this respect by issuing bonds for parl
OF the amount of several claims. The
proposition. however, could not, it is
supposed, properly be accepted, al
least without the consent of the hold.
ers of certificates of Indebtedness OF
Venezuela. These are so mnch de
pressed that it would be difficult, i
not impossible, to ascertain their dis
position on the subject.
The Foreigner.
WHAT THINK ABOUT HIM.
In another message l have called the
attention of Congress to the necessity
OF legislation with regard to fraudu-
lent naturalization, and to the subject
of expatriation and the election of ma
tionality, numbers of persons OF for
eign birth seeking a home in thu
United States. The ease and facility
with which honest emigrants may at
ter q lapse of IL reasonable time be
come possessed of all the privileges O
citizens of the United States, and the
frequent occasions which induce such
adopted citizens to return to the
country of their birth renders the sub
ject of naturalization the Safeguard
which experience has proved necessa-
ry for the protection of the honest
naturalized citizens, of paramount i'm
portance. The very simplicity in The
requirements OF the law on this ques
ton affords opportunity for fraud, ant
the want of uniformity in the proceed
ings and records of the various Courts
aud in the forms of the certificates u
naturaiiZ ,tion issued, afford a constant
source ot difficulty. l suggest no ad-
ditional requirements 10 the acquisi-
ton of citizenship beyond those now
existing, but invite the earnest at
tention OF Congress TO the necessity
and wisdom of some provisions re
garding uniformity in the records and
certificates, and providing against the
frauds which frequently take place
and for the vacating ofa record of nat
uralization obtained by fraud. These
provisions are needed in aid and fO
the protection of honest citizens o
foreign birth, and for the want o
which he is made 10 suffer not unfre
Quentlv. The United States has i'll
sisted upon the right of expatriation
aud has obtained, after long strug
gle, an admission of the principle con
tended for by acquisition therein Oh
the part OF many foreign Powers and
by conclusion of treaties on ;sat sub