Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-12-13


The government ofthe United States
OF Columbia has paid the award In
the case OF the steamer Montijo,
seized by the authorities Of that gov
eminent some years since, and the
amount has been transferred to the
claimants. 1t is with satisfaction
| that / am able to announce that the
Joint Commission, for the adjust
ment of the claims between the
| United States and Mexico, under
1 Convention of 1868, the duration of
which has been several times extern
ded, has brought its labors to q close.
From report Of the agent OF the
United States, which accompanies
the papers herewith, 1t will be seen
that within the time limited by the
Commission, 1,0l7 claims on the
part of citizens of the United States
against Mexico, was referred to the
Commission, OF these claims, 1916
were dismissed or disallowed, and
i'm one hundred and eighty.six cases
awards were made in favor. OF the
claimants against the Mexican Re-
public, amounting in the aggregate
to si,l25 ,622.2o. Within. the same
period 998 claims on the part OF citi-
zens of the Mexican Republic against
the United States were REFEREED to
the Commissioners Of these claims;
83l were dismissed and disallowed
| and i'm one hundred. and sixty-seven
cases awards were made In favor OF
| the claimants against the United
States amounting in the aggregate
to $50, 1884. BY the terms OF the
Convention the amount of these
awards is to be deducted from the
| amount awarded in favor OF our cit
liens against Mexico, and the balance
only to be paid by Mexico to the
United States, leaving the United
States 10 make provisions for the
proportions of the awards in favor
of it's own citizens. / invite your
attention to the legislation which
will be necessary to provide for the
payment.
In this connection ] am pleased to
be able TO express the acknowledge
ments due to Sir Edward Thornton,
the umpire of the Commission, who
has given to the consideration OF the
large number of claims submitted
much time and unwearied patience,
and that fairness and intelligence
which are well known to belong to
the accomplished Republics of Great
Britain, and which are likewise rec
ognized by the Representative in
this country OF the Republic of Mex
| leo.
VENEZUELA CLAIMS.
Monthly payments Of a very small
part Of the amount due by the Gov
eminent of Venezuela to citizens of
| the United States on account Of
claims of the latter against that gov
eminent continue to be made with
reasonable punetuality that the gov
eminent has proposed to change the
system 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 con
sent Of the holders Of certificates Of
the Indebtedness Of Venezuela.
These are SO much depressed that it
would be difficult, If not impossible,
to ascertain their disposition on tho
subject.
In former messages j have called
the attention Of the United States
Congress to the necessity Of legisla-
ton with regard to
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION
and to the subject of expectation and
the election of nobility. The num-
Der of persons Of foreign birth seek
ing home in tho United States, the
ease and facility with which the hon
est emigrant may, after the lapse OF
reasonable time, become possessed
of oil the privileges of citizenship of
the United States and I'm the frequent
occasions with which even such
adopted citizens return to the coun-
try Of their birth, render the subject
of naturalization one OF the safe
guards which experience has proved
necessary for the protection OF the
honestly naturalized citizens of par
amount importance. The very sim
plicity in the requirements Of the
| law on this question afford opportu-
| nifty for fraud, and the want OF uni
formity in tho proceedings and rec
ords of the various courts and In the
| forms of the certificates Of naturali-
cation issued, afford constant
source of difficulty. / suggest no
additional requirements to the nc
QUESTION Of citizenship beyond those
now existing, but ] invite the ear
nest attention of Congress to the
necessity and wisdom OF some pro-
vision regarding uniformity in the
records and certificates and provi-
ding against the frauds which fire.
| quently take place, and for the vaca-
| ting Of record of naturalization
obtained in fraud. These provisions
are needed in aid and for the protec-
ton of the honest citizen Of foreign
birth, and for the want of which he
Is made to suffer not unfrequently.
The United States has insisted up
on the right Of
| EXPATRIATION,
\ and hos obtained after long StrlIp-