The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-12-14

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united with the other powers in the or
ganizati0n of these courts. 1t is hopet
that the jurisdiction questions which
have arisen may be readily adjusted, an(
that this evidence in judicial tribunal
here NAV be hindered by no obstacles.
The necessary legislation to carry in
to effect the conditions respecting thu
con- mercial reciprocity concluded with
the Hawaiian Islands in 1875 having beer
had, the proclamation to carry into eff
feet the Convention as provided by ths
act approved August 15, 1876, was duly
issued in September last. A copy there
Of accompanied this message.
The cOmmotions which have beer
prevalent in Mexico, for some time past
and which, unhappily, seem to be moi
yet wholly quieted, have led to com.
plants of citizens of the United States
of injuries by persons in authority. II
is hoped, however, these will ultimately
be adjusted to the satisfaction of both
Governments. The frontier of the United
States in that quarter has not been ex.
empt from acts of violance by citizens
of one republic ON those of the other
The frequency of these is sup.
posed to be increased, and their
adjustment made more difficult by the
considerable changes in the course OF
the lower part of the Rio Grand River,
which river is part of the boundary
between the two countries. These
changes have placed on either side OF
that river portion of land which, by
existing convention belong to the juris-
diction of the government on the
opposite side of the river. The subject
of adjustment Of the cause of difficulty
is under consideration between the two
Republics.
The Government of the United States
of. Columbia has paid the award in the
case of the steamer Monitor, seized by
the authorities of that Government, some
years since, and the amount has been
transferred to the claimants.
THE MEXICAN CLAIM COMMISSION.
1t is with satisfaction that l am able
to announce that the Joint Commission
for the adjustment of claims be-
tween the United States and
Mexico, under the convention of
1868, the duration of which has been
several times extended, has brought it's
labors to close from the report of the
Agent of the United States which ac-
companies the papers, transmitted here
with. 1t will be seen that within the
time limited by the Commission, one
thousand and seventeen claims on the
part of citizens of the United States
against Mexico were referred to the
Commission.
OF these claims S3l were dismissed
or disallowed, and in 1856 cases awards
were made in favor of the claimants
against the Mexican Republic
amounting in the aggregate TO
81, ,l25, ,622.2O. Within the same period
nine hundred and ninety-eight claims on
the part of citizens of the Mexican Re
public against the United States were
referred to the commission. Of these
claims, eight hundred and thirty-one
were dismissed or disallowed, and in one
hundred and thirty-seven cases, awards
were made in favor of claimants against
the United States, amounting in the
aggregate to $3.50, 1884. BY the
terms of the Convention the amount
of these awards is to be de-
Quoted from the amount awarded in
favor of our citizens against Mexico, and
the balance only to be paid by Mexico to
the United States, leaving the United
States to make provisions for their pro-
portion of the awards in favor of its own
citizens. l invite your attention to the
legislation which will be necessary to pro-
vide for the payment. In this connec-
ton l am prepared to express the ac-
knowledgment due Mr.. Thornton, the
Umpire of the Commission, who has given
to the consideration of the large num-
ber of claims submitted to him, much
time, unwavering patience, and that fair
ness and intelligence which are well
known to belong to the accomplished
representative of Great Britain, and
which are likewise recognized by the
representative IN this country of the
Republic OF Mexico.
PAYMENT OF THE VENEZUELAN CLAIM.
Monthly payments of very small
part of the amount due by the Govern
ment of Venezuela to the citizens of the
United States on account of the claims
of the latter against that government con-
tinue to be made, with reasonable
punctuality. That government has
proposed to change the sys-
tenn 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 hol-
ders of certificates of Indebtedness Of
Venezuela. These are 80 much depressed
that it would be difficult, If not impossi-
BILE, to ascertain their disposition on the
subject.
NATURALIzA TIoN AND EXPATRIATIoN.
In another message have called the
attention of Congress to the necessity of
legislation with regard to fraudulent
naturalization, and to the subject of ex-
patriation, and the election OF national
ity by numbers of persons of foreign
birth, seeking home in the United
States. The ease and facility with which
honest emigrants may, after the
lapse of a reasonable time, become pos
sessed 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 naturaliza-
ton, and the safeguards which ex-
perience has proved necessary for the
protection of the honest naturalized
citizens, of paramount Importance.
The very simplicity in the re-
quirements of the law on this question
afford opportunity for fraud, and the
want of uniformity in the proceedings
and records of the various courts, and in
the forms of the certificates of naturali-
zation issued, afford constant source of
difficulty. l suggest no additional re-
ouirements to the acquisition of citizen
ship beyond those now existing, but I in
vite the earnest attention of Congress to
the necessity and wisdom of some
provisions regarding uniformity in the
records and certificates, and providing