The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-06

claimants against the United States
amounting in the ags, regate to $50, 49,
Al 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 pro-
visions for their proportion of the
awards In favor of its own citizens /
invite your attention to the legislation
which will be necessary to provide for
their payment In this connection I
am pleased to be able to express the
acknowledgements due to Sir Edward
Thornton, the umpire of the Commits
sion, who has given to the consideration
of large number of claims submitted
to him much time, unwearied patience
and that fairness and intelligence which
are well known to belong to the accom-
plished representative of Great Britain,
and which are likewise recognized by
the representative in this county of the
republic of Mexico.
Monthly payments of a very small
part of the amount due by the Govern
ment of Venezuela to the citizens of the
United States on account of claims of
the latter against the Government con-
tinue to be made with reasonable pune
tuality. That Government has proposed
to change the system which it has
hitherto pursued in this respect by issu-
ing bonds for part of the amount of the
several claims. The proposition, how
ever, could not, it is supposed, properly
be accepted at least without the consent
of holders of certificates Of the indebt-
edness of Venezuela These are so
much depressed that it would be diff
cult if not impossible to ascertain their
disposition on the subject.
In former messages l have called at
tention of Congress to the necessity of
legislation with regard to
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION
and to the subject of expatriation and
the election of nationality. The num-
bers of persons of foreign birth seeking
a home in the United States, the ease
and facility with which the honest emf
grant may after the lapse of reasona-
BILE time become possessed 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 naturalization and
the safeguards which experience has PROV
81 necessary for the protection of the
honest naturalized citizens of paramount
Importance. The verv simplicity In the
requirements of 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-
cation issued afford constant source of
difficulty. ] suggest no additional re-
qulrements to the acquisition of citizen
ship beyond those now existing, but |
invite the earnest attention of Congress
to the necessity aud wisdom of some
provisions regarding uniformity in the
records and certificates and providing
against the frauds which frequently take
place and for the vacating of record of
naturalization obtained in fraud These
provisions are needed in aid and for the
protection of the honest citizen of for
eign birth and for the want of which he
is made to suffer not untrequently.
The United States has insisted upon
the night Of repatriation and has OBJ
tanned after long struggle an admission
OF the principle commended for by ac-
qulescence therein on the part of many
foreign powers and by the conclusion of
treaties on that subject. 1t is however
but justice to the Government to which
such naturalized citizens have formerly
owed allegiance, rs well as to the United
States, that certain fixed and definite
rules should be adopted governing such
cases and providing how expatriation
may be accomplished. While emigrants
in large numbers become citizens of the
United States it is also true that per-
sons both native born and naturalized,
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
assert claim to protection in the alb
sence of provisions on these questions
And In this connection / again invite
your attention to the necessity of legisla-
ton concerning the
MARRIAGES. OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
contracted abroad and concerning the
status of American women who may
marry foreigners and of children born
of American parents in foreign coun-
try. These delicate and complicated
questions continually occurring with
referense to naturalization and ex-
pattiation, and the status of such per
sons as have above referred to, induce
me to earnestly direct your attention
again to these subjects. In like man
ner L repeat my recommendation that
some means be provided for the hearing