New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-06
NEW ORLEANS WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 1876.

Within the same period, 998 claims on the
part of citizens Of the Mexican republic
against the United States were referred to
the commission. OF these 63I were
dismissed or disallOwed, and In lbI
cases awards were made in favor OF
the claimants against the United States,
amounting in the aggregate to $loo,-
498 Al. Bv the terms of the convention,
the amoant Of these awards is to be de-
Quoted from the amount awarded in favor
of our cirizans against Mexico, and the
balance only to be paid by Mexico to the
United States, leaving the Upited States to
make provision for this proportion OF the
awards in favor of its own citizens. in
vite your attention to the legislation which
wiE be necessary to provide for the pay
ment.
In this connection I am pleased to be able
to express the acknowledgment due to Sir
Edward Thcrntcn, the umpire of the COM
mission, who has given to the consideration
of the large number of claims submitted to
him much time, unwearied patience, anu
that fairness and intelligence which are
well known to belong to the accomplished
represeu tative of Great Britain, and which
are likewise recognized by the representa-.
tive in this country of the republic OF
Mexico.
Monthly payments of very small part
of the amount due by the
GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA
To citizens of the United States, on account
Of claims Of the latter against that govern
ment, continue TO be made with reasonable
punctualiry. That government has pro-
posed to change tho 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 ia supposed, properly be accepted, at
~ ho hn1 M
certificates of the indebtedness of Vene-
zuela. These are 60 much dispersed that i,
would be difficult. if not impossible, to as
certain their disposition on the subject.
In former messages have called the at.
tention of Congress to the necessity OF
legislation with regard to
FRAUDULENT ,NArURALIzATION
And to the subject of expatriatiOn and the
election of nationality. The numbers OF
persons of foreign birth seeking home in
the United States, the ease and facility
with which the honest emigrant may, after
the lapse of 9 reasonable time. become pos
sessed of all the privileges OF citizenship OF
| the United States, and the frequent Occa-
eions which induce such adopted citizens to
return to the country of their birth, render
the subject of naturalization and the safe
guards which experience has proved neces-
sarv for the protection of the honest natu-
| raiized 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 nsturaliza. ion Ia ued, afJrd constant
source of difficulty. l suggest no addl-
tional require ments to the acquisition of
citizenship beyond those now existing, but
I invite the earnest attention of Congress
| to the necessity and wisdom of some pro-
| visions regarding uniformity in the records
| and certitioates and providing against the
| frauds which frequently take place and tor
| the yacating Of record OF naturalization
| obtained in fraud. These provisions are
needed in aid and for the protection OF the
| honest Gil zen of foreign birth, and for the
| want of which he is made to suffer not In
| frequently.
The United States has insisted upon the
| right OF expatriaticn and has obtained
| after long struggle an admission OF the
| principle couteuded for by acquiescence
| therein un 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 olti-
| zens have formerly owed allegiance as
! we'll as 70 the United States, that certain
| fixed and definite rules should be adopted
! governing such cases and providing how
| expa1riation may be accomplished. While
| emigrsnts in large numbers become citi-
| zens Of the United States, it is also true
| that persons, both native born and natur-
| allied, 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 ceass to be entitled to
| the protection of the United States, but
| continue Oh convenient occasions to assert
! claim to protection in the absence OF pro-
| visions on these questions.
And In this connection l again invite
| your attention to the necessity OF leglsla-
| ticn concerning The marriages of American
| citizens con t racted abroad, and concerning
| the status of American women who may
marry foreigners, and Of children born OF
| American parents IN q foreign country. The
| deIicate and complicated questions cOntln
| ually occurring with reference to natural.
| izatiOu, expatristion, and the status OF such
| persons ~ / have above referred to, induce
| me to urge immediate legislation in this
connection. 1t is believed that other gov.
erpments are in advance of the United
States upon this question, and that the
practice now adopted 10 entirely unsatis-
factory.
Congress, by an act approved the third
day OF March, 1875. authorized the inhab
itants Of
THE TERRITORY OF COLORADO
To form a 81 ate government, with the name
OF the State of Colorado, and therein pro-
vided for Inc admi- sion of said State, when
| formed, into the Union upon an equal foot
| ing with the original States. A coHstltu
/! ton having been adopted and ratified by
| the people of that State, IND the acting
! Governo or having certified to me the facts,
! as provided by said act. together with a
copy of such constitution and ordinances,
.rr, 4hk.Y
visions OF tne said act of Congress having
, been dnly eomplird with, Issued proclg'
maticn u0on the first OF August, 1876. q
! copy Of which is hereto annexed.
| The suport vi the Secretary OF War shows
that
Has been actively employed during the
year in subduing, at the request OF the In
dian Buresn. certain wild bands of the
Sioux IuolaE nation. and in preserving the
| peace at She South during the election.
TIE COMMISSION constituted under the
act OF July "a 1876, to consider and report
on the whole subject OF the
REFORM AND REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY,
Met in August last, and has collected q
large mass OF stati-tics and opinions bear
ing IN the subj CT before it. These are now
under consideration, and their report ls
Progressing am advised, though, by the
president of the commission, that il will be
lmpr acticshlo TO comply with the clause OF
the act requiring the report 70 be presented
through me t. Congress- ON the first day of
THE session, a. there has not yet been time
for that mature deliheratiOn which the i'm
pCrtanee Of the subject demands. There
fore, | ask thai the time for making the re-
port be extended to the twenty-Dinth day
u January. 1877.
L. accordance with the resolution of Au-
gust Is, 1876. the army regulations pre-
pared under the net OF March l, 1876, have
net been promulgated, but are Beld until