, 1876-12-16


OF these claims eight hundred and thirty
one We're dismissed or dissllOwed, and in one
hundred and eighty-six cases awards were
made IN favor of claimants, against the
Mexican Republic, amounting IN the sggre-
gate TO 81, l25. .622 20. Within tine same
period nine hundred and uinrty-eight claims
| on the part of citizsus of the, Mexican Re-
public Against the United S'ates we're refer
red 10 the commissioners. Or these claims
eight hundred and thirry-oue were dismissed
| and disallowed, and in ono brpSTrd and f.ftY-
seven cases awards wers ia.Ade in favor of
claimants against the United States, amnun-
ting IN the agyregs'e t. $50, ,4SS Al BY
| he terms Of the convention the amount Of
| these awards Is 10 he deducted from the
amount awarded In favor of our citizens.
| invite your attention TO the legislation which
will be necessary TO provide for the payment.
Ia this connection | anu pleased to be able
| 10 express the acknowird ymen due TO SIR
| Edward Thornton, the umpire OF the com
| mission, who has given to the cUnsideratiOn
Of the large number of claims submitted TO
| him much tITae, unWearied patience, and
J that firmness and Intelligence which are we'll
known to belong TO the accomplished repre-
| s-n,a,ive Of Great britain, aud which are
| likewise recugu.zed by the representative i'll
Tins country ui The Republic of Mexico
THE VENEZUELA CLAIMS.
Monthly payments of very small part OF
| the amount due by the goV-Enrn-nt of Nrne-
| aueIa 10 the citizens Of The United States on
,:ccJ Junt of claims of the latter against that
! government continue to be made viii,
-Juable puuctaali'y. That government has
proposed to change the system which It las
hitherto pursued in this respect, by Issuing
| buEds for part of rhe amount of the several
claims. The proposition, however, could rot,
| it Is said, properly be accepted. 1T least with
out the conseut of the holders of certificates
Of indeb,rduess Of V,-n. zueIs. These are 50
much dip-rSed that il would be difficult IT
not impossible TO ascertain the disposition on
! the sutj-ct.
| THE NATURALIZATION LAWS.
In former messages have called attention
of Congress To the necessity of legislation
with regard 20 fraudulent naturalization,
ana to the subject of r1pairiation, and elec-
ton of na'ionalry. The number Of p-rsups
of foreign birth seeking home IN the Unit
ed States, ard The ere End facilry with
which the honest emIgraut may, after the
! lapse of rrasunaGle time, become possessed
of all the privileges of cirRrn-hip Of the
| United States, and the frequent occasions
which induce such adopted ci Izens TO return
! to the countrv of their bir' h, render the sub
! Jet of naturalization and the safeguards
! which experience has proved necessary tor
the protection of the honest natuIallzed eli
z.ns of paramount importance. Tbs very
i ! l. L.,
! hl- question afford uniiormi in the pro-
| ceedlngs and records of the various courts,
| and ID the ferns of the crr;Iii.i-t- cf natu-
rsl,Z zion Issued. afford a CONSTANT source
of d ifficulry. | suggrst no additional require
! m-nts 10 the Hcqulsl i9n of ci'E-rshIo beyond
those now existing; but | invite the eafnest
atteuri.u of Congress TO he neces-l'y and
wi~ci IN OF come provI-io rl:trdIng unItoru-
i,y in the records and certificates, and pro-
vidlng against tine frauds which frequently
{ Ike place, aud tor the vacatIug Of the record
Of usturalIz sti0n ub,glHrd II fraud. The
PROVISIONS are needed in aid and for The pro
rec'lou of honest citizens Of foreign bIri h.
For want Of this he L. III ade 10 suiser not I'M
frequently. The United States has insisted
upon the right of expItrlarion, and has OBJ
tained, after long struggle, an admission
OF the principle conIended for by acquirsoence
therein On the part OF many foreign powers,
and bv- the CONCLUSION OF treaties on that sub
i-ct II Is, however, but justice 10 ihe gov
erument to which such nAturaliz q ci'Iz us
have forraerly owed allegianc-, well a. to
,he United States. that certain fixed and de-
| finite rules should be adopted governing such
eases, providing how exps Ration may be ac-
| compli-hed While emigran's i'll large num-
bers b-come citiz-ns of the United ) ates, II
is also true that persons, both native born
and uaruraIiz-d, once citizens of the Unirrd
Safes, either by formal acts as the etfec'
Of a series of facts and circumstances, aban-
don their citizenship and cease 10 be entitled
10 the protection of the United States, but
on convenient occasions, to assert claim 10
protection.
In the absence Of provision on these ques-
tiups. I again invite your attention to the
| necessity Of Legislation concerning the mar
riayes Of American citIzens contracted abroad
and concerning the status of American ~o
men who marry Foreigners, and of children
born OF Am-rican parents IN foreign corn-
rrIes. The delicate and complicated ques-
! tion- con rinnally occurring wIih reference 20
uaturaliz ,,ion, exparriatiOn end the status OF
.nch persons as have above referred TO,
should induce you TO earnestly direct your
! attention to he subject
| In like manner | repeat my r-commenta-
| tim that some means D. provided for the
hearing and determination Uf the Just and
existing claims of aliens upon TIE govern
mept of the United States within reAssiI-
| axle Limitation of such A. may hereafter
arise. Under existing provisions OF law the
court of claims may IN certain ea-7s De re-
sorted TO by our aliens, but the absence oil
any y-reral provisions governing all such
! c,s ard the wan' of tribunals esllled IN
| he disposition Of such cases upon recognized,
| fixed aud settled principles, 81 her provide no
remedy III many deserving casrs or eomPeiS
consideration OF such claims by Congress
| Ar The executive departments OF the govern
m.nr. II Is believ, that other governmenis
| are in giv.ncr of rhe UoI'ed States upon 'hl-
| ou,s,iun. and that the practice nov adj pied
* entirely unsatisfactory.
ADMISSION OF COLORADO.
Conyres-. by an &C approved the 81 OF
| u,,rb 1S75. ,u,horlz rhe inhabitants Of the
,.,r,rorv of Colorado TO form a State govern
nm, with al. name Of tbs State of Coiors-
5o .nS ,h.rein provided for the admls-lon Oh
L
aid State, whrr formed, INTO he oni,n up'
ou au eeral fooring with the original States
l 4 consilIurion havIng been adopted anu TO
csiyei by the peopie of that State. aud the
| sc,in,, Governor having certIri d TO ms me
facts a. provided by said act. together with q
corv Of such cousti ution and Oriinanees, a.
pray,ded for IL said scr, aud the ProV's,on'
or sa,h set of Congre-s having bern duiy
COMPLIED with. I issued proclamation upon
the LIST Of August, 1876, copy OF which Is
hereto annexed.
! REPORT or The SECRETARY OF WAR
The report Of the secretary OF war shows
] ,bt ,ba zr,ov has b-sn actively employed
during the year in sooiuing, at 'he rrq"e-' of
| ,he Indian bureau, certain Wild bands OF the
Sioux Indian narioa and IN preserving peace
| NJ The ) nth during he eleeIion-
! Th- eous7- i--ioD constituted nnder the sc'