Arizona weekly miner., 1876-12-15
MEXICO.

unhappily seem to be not yet wholly quleted : have led to complaints of citizens of tn, ; United States of injuries by persons in au thority; it is hoped, however, that these vii } ultimately be adjusted, to the satisfaction O , both Governments. The frontier of tn, : United States in that quarter has not beer , exempt from acts of violence by the citizen: of one Republic upon those of the other The frequency of these is supposed to b, increasing, and their adjustment is made more difficult by considerable changes ir
 the course of the lower part of the RiC Grande river, which river is part of the
 boundary between the two countries These
 changes have placed on either side of that
 river portions of land which. by existing
 conventions belong to the jurisdiction of
 the Government on the opposite side of the
 river. The subject of the adjustment of
 this cause of the difficulty is under conSid-
 eration between the two Republics.
 AWARD PAID.
 The Government of the United States of
 Columbia has paid the award in the cass of
 the steamer Montigo, seized by the authori- ties of the Government, some years since, and the amount has been transferred to the
 claimants.
 MEXICAN CLAIMS COMMISSION.
 Ii is with satisfaction that I am able to announce that the joint commission for the adjustment of claims between the United
 States and Mexico, under the convention of
 1868, the duration of which has been sever
 al times extended, has brought its labors to
 a close. From their report, which accompa- nies the papers transmitted herewith, it will i be seen that within the time limited by the
 Commission, 1,0l7 claims on the part of the citizens of the United States against MeXico i was referred to the Commissioners. Of ! these claims S31 were dismissed or disal- i lowed, and in lSG cases awards were made in favor of the claimants against the Mex l ican Republic, amounting to the aggregate 1 of, $4,125622 20. Within the same period 99S claims on the part of citizens of the Mexican Republic against the United States were referred to the Commissioner. Of the claims, S3l were dismissed or disallowsd, and in l31 cases awards were made in favor of claimants against the United States amountig in the aggregate to S15,049,4 ,4Sl. By the terms of the convention the amount of these awards is to be deducted from that amount awarded in favor of our citizens. l invite attention to the legislation which will be necessary to provide for the pay ment In this connection I am pleased to be able to express the acknowledgements due to Sir Edward Thornton, the Umpire of the Commission, who has given to the con slderalion of the large number of claims submitted to him much time, unwearied pa tcnce, and that fairness and intelligence which are we'll known to belong to the ac- complished Representative of Great Britian, and which are likewise recognized by the representatives in this country of the Re public of Mexico.
 VENEZUELA CLAIMS.
 Monthly payments of very small part of the amount due by the Government of Ven ezuela to citizens of the United States on account of claims of the latter against that Government which are still continueing to be made with reasonable punctuality. That Government has proposed to change the system which il has hitherto pursued in the respect by issuing bonds for part of this amount of the several claims. The propo- sition, however, could not, it is supposed, properly be accepted: at least without the consent of holders of the certificates of in- debtedness Of Venezuela. These are so much depressed that it would be difficult, | II not impossible, to ascertain their diSpOsi- | ton on the subject.
 FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION.
 In former messages I have called the at tcntion of Congress to the necessity of lcgis- lation with regard to fraudulcn. naturaliza- ton, and to the subject of eXpritation and the question of nationality. The numbers of persons of foreign birth seeking home Tn the United States, and the case and facili- ty which the honest cmigrant may after the lapse of q reasonable time become possessed of all the privileges of citizenship of the United States, and the frequent occasions which induce such adopted citizens to re- turn to the country of theIr birth, render the subject of naturalization and the safeguards which experience has proved necessary for the honest naturalized citizens of paramount importance. The very simplicity of the requirements of the law on this question af- ord uniformity in the proceedings and rec 'rds of the various Courts, and in the forms 'f certificates of naturalization issued afford constant source of difficulty. I suggest 10 additional requirements to the acquisi- lon of citizenship beyond those now exist ng, but l invite the earnest attention of CongreSs to the necessity snd wisdom of ome provision regarding uniformity in the ecords and certificates. and providing gainSt the frauds which frequently take $ 'lace and for the vacating of record of , ODttlHcu DN ncSe |. provisions are needed in aid and for the pro- . "ction of honest citizens of foreign birth, nd for the want of this he is made to suffer ot unfrequently.
 THE RIGHT OF REPATRIATION. The United States has insisted upon the [ ight of repatriation, and has obtained. . fter long struggle, an adaptation of the :. rinciplc contended for by the acquiescence herein on the part of many foreign Powers. nd by the conclusion of treaties on that ubject. It is, however, but justice to the l iovernments to which such naturalized $ iiizens have formerly owed allegiance, as r 'ell as the United States, that certain { xed and definite rules should be adopted ' overing such cases, providing how expatria- ion may be accomplished. White immi- rants Tn large numbers become citizens of t ne United States, it is also true that persons. C oth native born and naturalized, once citi- . ems of the United States, either by formal n cts or as an effect of series of facts and r abandon their citizenslfin