American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-09

| International boundary lines, and maps ano
records and general reports relating to the Com
| mission, have been deposited in the Department
of State. The official report Of the chief astron
| omer of the United States will be submitted tc
| Congress in a short time.
GREAT BRITAIN.
| reserve for separate communication to Con-
| gress statement of the condition of the ques-
specting the surrender of fu tive criminals
| der the treaty Of 1872 ..,- -l
/ THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT
gave notice under date of January Is 1871 OF
its desire to terminate the Treaty of ls62 concern
ing commerce and navigation, pursuant to the
TnGer his notice he treatw terninated unon m.
9Th day of June. 1876 That Government has in :
vited negotiations towards the conclusion Of a
new treaty. BY the act of Congress of March
"a, 1915, the President was authorized, when he
should receive salts actory information that the
Ottoman Government or that of Egypt had or
ganized new tribunals likely to secure to citi-
zens of the United States the same impartial
justice enjoyed under the exercise of the judicial
functions by the diplomatic and consular officers
of the United States, to suspend the operation
Of the act of June g 1870, and to accept for cit
of new tribunals. Satisfactory in
fsgmati9n hsfying been Eee s Of the
caused proclamation to be issued on the 9th
OF March last. suspending the operation of the
act Of june q, 1850, in Egypt, according to the
ton accompanies this message. The United
States has united with the other powers in tho
the Jurisdiction questions which have arisen may
be readily adjusted and that they may be him
The necessary legislation to carry into effect
the conditions respecting the commerciIi reci-
procity concluded with the
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
in 1878 having been had. the proclamation to
carry into effect the convention as provided by
the act approved August Is 1876, was duly is
sued upon the 10th day of September last A
copy thereof accompanies this message.
The connections which have been prevalent in
to be not wholly quieted yet, have led to com
plants of citizens 81 the United States of injuries
tat shese w nitnaiey be adjasied to the sa
isfaction of both Governments. The frontier of
the Unitei States in that quarter has not been
exempt from acts Of violence by citizens of one
republic on those of the other, The frequency of
these is supposed to be increased and their ad
justment made more difficult by the change in
the course of the lower part of the Rio Grande
River, which river is part of the boundary be-
tweent the two countries. These changes have
placed either side of that river portions OF land
which, by existing conventions. belong to the
jurisdiction Of the Government on the opposite
of this cause of difficulty is under consideration
between the two republics.
AWARD PAID --ts-U "
The Government of the United States of Co.
lombia has paid the award in the case of the
steamer Montijo seized by the authorities of that
has been transferred to the claimants.
MEXICAN JOINT CLAIMs COMMISSION.
1t is with satisfaction that / am able to an
nounce that the Joint Commission for the ADJUST
ment of the claims between the United States and
Mexico upon the basis of the Convention of 1856,
the duration of which has been several times ex-
tended, has brought its labors to a close. From
the report Of the agent of the United States
which accompanies the papers transmitted here
with, it will be seen that within the time limited
citizens of the United States against Mexico
We're referred to the Commission. OF these
1856 cases awards were made in favor of the
amounting 70 81. sss ,ess 90. Within The same
the Mexican Republic AGAINST the United states
were referred to the Commission. OF these
allowed. and ' in az cases OF awards nli
We're made in favor of claimants against the
Cnited states, amounting in the aggregate to
Sl10, AIS Al. By the terms Of the convention
the amount Of these awards is to be deducted
from the amount awarded in favor of our citi-
paid by Mexico to the United States. leaving the
United States to make provision for their pro
lens invite your attention to the lesislsti ito,
which will be necessary to provide for their pay
m men t. In TINS connection am prepared to be
Thornton, the Umpire of the Commission
has given to the consideration of the large num-
wearied patience, and that fairness and intelli.
gence which are well known to belong to the ac-
complished representative of Great Britain and
which are likewise recognized by the representa-
tives in this country and of the republic of Mex
leo.
Monthly payments OF very small part of the
amount due by the Government of Venezuela to
the citizens of the United States, account of
the claims of the latter against that Government
continue to be made with reasonable punctuali.
ty. That Government has proposed to change
the system which it has hitherto pursued in this
respect, by issuing bonds for part of the amount
of the several claims. The proposition, howev
er. could not. 1t u supposed. properly be ac-
err of the certificates of Indebtedness of Vene-
zuela; These are so much depressed that it
would be difficult if not impossible, to ascertain
their disposition on the subject.
NATURALIZATION.
In another message 1 have called the attention
of Congress to the necessity of legislation with
regard to fraudulent naturalization and to the
subject of expatriation and election of nationali
tv Of persons of foreign birth seeking home in
the United States. The ease and facility with
which honest emigrants, after a reasonable
citizenship of the United States, and the fire.
quent occasions which induce such adopted citi-
der the subject of naturalization and the safe
guards which experience has proved necessary
LOT tne Proceeuon OF inc honest natTrailzed citl
plicity in the requirements of the law on this
question "a AFFORD for fraud and
records of the various courts and in the
forms of the certificates of natur-
of difficulty. 1 suggest mol additional REQUIRE
ments to the acquisition of citizenship beyond
tention of Congress to the necessity and wisdom
OF some provisions regarding uniformity in the
records and certificates, and providing against
the vacating of a record of naturaliz alton OBJ
tanned on fraud. These provisions are needed
zen of foreign birth, and for the want. nj which
he is made to suffer not unfrequently. Ne United
States fas insisted upon the right of eXpatria-
ton and has obtained, after a long struggle, an
admission OF the principles cOnten1ed for, by
the concession thereof on the part of many for
eign powers and by the conclusion of treaties on
10
Government to which such naturalized citizens
have formerly owed allegiance well as to the
definite rule should be adopted governing
such cases, and providing how repatriation may
be accomplished. While emgrants in large
numbers become citizens of the United States,
il is also true that persons both native born and
onc- citizens of the United States,
either by formal acts or as the effect of series
of acts and circumstances, abandon their citi-
zenship and cease to be entitled 10 the protection
of TIE United States, but continue on certain
occasions to assert their claim to protection In
advance of these provisions, and in this connec-
ton, 1 again invite your attention to the neces-
sity of legislation concerning the marriages of
American citizens contracted abroad, and con-
corning the status of American women who mar
parents in foreign country. The delicate and
complicated questions continually occurring
with reference to republican repatriation,
and the status of such persons as /
have referred to. induce me to earnestly
direct your attention again to the subject. In
like manner L repeat the recon nendation that
some means be provided bearing on the deter
mination of the just and subsisting claims of
aliens upon the Government of the United States
within a reasonable limitation, and of such as
may hereafter arise. While by the existing pro
visions of the law the Court of Claims may in
certain cases be resorted to by alien claimant,
the absence of any general provision governing
all such cases, and the want of a tribunal skilled
in the disposition of such cases, upon recognized,
fixed and settled principles, either provides no
remedy IN many deserving cases, cOmpels a
consideration IF such claims by Congress or the
Executive Department of the Government. 1t is
advance