Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-12-09

occas ons which induce such
adopted citizens to return to the
country of their birth, render the
subject of naturalization and the
safeguards which experience has
proved necessary for the protection
of the honest naturaiized citizen of
paramount Importance. The very
simplicity in.the requirements OF
law On this question afford oppor-
tuni Y for fraud and the want of
uniformity in the proceedings and
records of the various courts, and
in the forms of the 'rtificates of
naturalization issued afford a con-
slant source of difficulty.
l suggest no additional require
ments TO the acquisition of citizen
ship beyond those now existing,
but invite the earnest attention
of Congress to the necessity and
wisdom ofsome provisions regard
ing uniformity in the records and
certificates, and providing against
the frauds which frequently take
place, and for the vacating of q
record of naturalization obtained
in fraud.
These provisions are needed in
aid and for the protection of our
honest foreign citizen, and for the
want of which he is made to suf-
fer not infrequently. The United
;'tates has insisted upon the right
Of expatriation, and has obtained
after a long struggle an admission
of the principle commended for by
acquiescence therein on the part Of
many foreign powers and by the
conclusion of ireaties on that SUBJ
ject. 1t is, however, but justice to
the government to which such
naturaliZed citizens had formerly
owed allegiance, as well as to the
Uaitei States, that cer.ain fixed
and definite rules shonld be adopt
ed governing such cases and pro-
viding how repatriation may
be accomplished. While emf
grants in large numbers become
citizens of the United States, it 10
also true that persons 10th native
born and unnaturaliz d, once citi-
zens Of the United States. either
ny formal acts or as the effect ola
series of facts aud circumstances,
abandon their citizenship and
cease to be- entitled to the pr0tee-
tion of the United States, bnt con-
tinue on convenient occasions to
assert a claim to protection in the
absence Of pr, visions on these
questions. And in this connection
| again invite your attention to
the necessity of legislation con-
corning the marriages of Ameri-
can citizens contract, d abroad and
concerning the status of American
women who may marry foreign
ers. and of children born of Amer
lean parents in a foreign country.
The delicate and complicated
questions continually occurring,
With reference to NATURALIZATION.
expiration and the status of such
persons as / have above referred to
induce me 10 earnestly direc: your
attention again to these subjects.
In like manner [ repeat my
recommendation that some means
be provided for the hearing and
determination of the just ami sub
'isting claims of aliens upon the
,OvernmentsOf the Uuited States
within u reasonable Limitation.
and of such as may hereafter arise.
While, by existing provisions Of
Jaw, toe COnrt of Gains may i'm
certain cases be resortt d 10 by an
alien claimant, he absence of any
general provisions governing an
such cases, and the want Of a
tribunal skilled in the disposition
~ uch eases upon recognized, fi2-
ed and settled principles, either,
provides no remedy in many de-
serving ea,es or compels cOnsid-
Grafton ofsuch claims by Congresf,
or the letutive departments os
the government.
Ii is believed that other gov
ernmenss are in advance Of the
United States upon this question,
and that the practice now adopted
Is entirely unsatisfactory.
Congress by an act approved
he 81 d&y Of March, 1875, author
lied the inhabitants OF the terri
cory o. Colorado to form a state
government, with the name ofthe
state OF Colorado, aud therein pro-
vide fog the admission of said
state, when formed into the Union,
upon az equal footing with The
original states.
A constitution having been
adopted and ratified by the peo-
ple.of that state, and the acting
governor having certified to me
the facts as provided by said act,
together with a copy of such CON-
stitution and ordinances as pro-
vitied for in the said act, and the