The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-06

{ United States against Mexico we
referred TO the Commission. Of Il
claims S3l were dismissed or disallowt
and In lS6 cases awards were made
favor of claimants and against Mex
co amounting in all to $4,000, 122 2
Within the same period 998 claims o
the part of citizens of the Mexican r
public against the United States were n
ferred to the Commission. Of,these 81
were dismissed or dissllowed, aud in on
hundred and sixty seven cases award
were made in favor of the claimant
against the United States, amounting i
all to Sl50,498.4l by the terms of th
convention, and the amount OF Ties
awards is to be deducted from the amour
awarded in favor of our citizens agsins
Mexico, and the balance only to be psi
by Mexico to the United States, leavin,
the United Statea to make pro
vision for this proportion 0
the awards in favor OF its own citizens
invited your attention to the Legislation
which will be necessary to provide 70
the payments. In this connection l an
pleased to be able to express the scknowl
edgments due to Sir Edward Thornton
the umpire of the commission, who ha
given to the consideration of the larg
number of claims submitted to him mucl
time, unwearied patience, and tina
fairness and int hgence which ar
well known to belong 10 the &C
complished representative of Grea
Britain, and which are likewise recog
nized by the representative of thi
country OF the republic of Mexico
Monthly payments of very small par
of the amount due by the government O
Venezuela to the citizens of the United
States On account Of the claims of the
latter against that government, continues
to be made with reasonable punctuality
that the government was pleased to
change its system which it has hitherto
pursued in this respect by issuing bonds
for part of the amount of the severa
claims. The proposition, however, could
not, 1t is supposed, properly BIZ accepted
at least without the consent fthe holder:
OF the certificates of the Indebtedness o.
Venezuela. These are 80 disposed
that it would be difficult, if not impossi
BILE, to ascertain their disposition on thi
subject.
Naturalization Laws.
In former messages, l have called
the attention of Congress to the
necessity of legislation with regard To
fraudulent naturalization, and to the
subject Of repatriation and election OF
nationality. The number of person:
of foreign birth seeking homes in the
United States, the ease and facility with
which the honest emigrant 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 i country of their birth
render the subject of naturalization and
the safeguards which experience has
proved necessary for the protection of the
honest naturallzed citizen of paramount
Importance. The very 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
naturalization Issued, afford a
constant source of difficulty
suggest no additional requirements to
the acquisition of citizenship, beyond
those now existing, but | invite the
earnest attention of Congress to the ne.
c, ssity and wisdom of some provisions
in regard to uniformity in the records
ard certificates, and providing against
the frauds which frequently take place
and for the vacating of record of nat
uralization obtained in fraud. These
provisions are needed in aid and
for the protection of honest citizens OF
foreign birth, and for the want of which
he is made to suffer. Not unfrequently
the United States has insisted on the
right of eXpstriation, and has obtained
alter long struggle an admission OF the
principle contended for by acquiescence
therein on the part of many foreign
powers, and by the conclusion OF
treaties on that subject. 1t is,
however, but justice TO the govern.
ment to which such naturalized
citizens have formerly owed allegiance
rs we'll as to the United States, that GER
tain fixed and definite rules should be
adooted governing such cases and pro.
yiding how expatriation may be accom-
plished while emigrants in large mum.
bsrs become citizens of the United
States. 1t Is also true that persons, both
native born and naturalized, once citizens
of the United States, either by formal
act or as the effect Of series OF acts aud
abandon their citizen
ship and cease to be entitled to the
protection of the United States, but
continue on constant occasions TO
assert claim to protection in the alb
sence of provisions on these questions, and
IN this connection L again invite your
attention to the necessity of legislation
concerning tho marriage OF American
citizens contracted abr Dad and concerning
the status of American women who may
marry foreigners, and of children born
OF American parents in foreign coun-
try. The delicate and compIl-
Gated questions continually occurring
with reference to naturalization, expatri.
alton, and the status of such persons as
have above referred to, induce me to
earnestly direct your attention again to
these subjects. In like manner l repeat
nv recommendation that some means be
provided for the hearing and determine,
ton of the first and subsisting claims OF
aliens upon the government of the Unit
ed Stated, within reasonable Nmlta'
ton. and such as may hereafter
arise, while by the existing
provisions of law the Court Of Claims
NAV be in certain cases resorted to by
aa alien claimant; the absence OF any
general provision governing all SUCH
cases and the want Of tribunal skilled
in the disposition of such cases upon
recognized, fixed and settled principles
either provides no remedy in many de-
serving cases, or compels consideration
of claims by Congress or the executive
DEPARTMENTS Of the government. 1t Is
believed that the other governments arc
in advance OF the United States upon
this question, and that the practice now
:: o.,;ral,- unsatls IN ctOry Con-