The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-12-08

VI SltiLcusIip VI Tue OHiteu States. anu
the frequent occasions which induce
such adopted citizens to return to the
country of their birth, renders the
subject of naturalization and safe
guards. which experience has proved
necessary for the protection of the
honest naturalized citizens of para
mount Importance. The very SIMPLE
| ity in the requirements of law on this
question, afford opportunity for fraud.
and the want of uniformity in the pro-
ceedings and the records of the various
courts, and in the forms of the certifi
Gates of naturalization issued, afford a
constant source of difficulty. Isuggest
NO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
to the acquisition of citizenship beyond
those now existing, but l invite the
earnest attention of Congress to the
necessity and wisdom of some provis
ions regarding uniformity in the rec
ords and certificates, and providing
against the frauds which frequently
take place. and for the vacaiing of a
record of naturalization obtained in
| fraud.
These provisions are needed in aid
and for the protection of the honest
citizen of foreign birth, and for the
want of which he is made to suffer not
unfrequently. The United States have
insisted upon the right of expatriacia-
ton, and have obtained, after a long
struggle, al. admission of the principle
contended for by acquiesence therein
Oh the part of many foreign powers
and by the conclus on of duties on that
subject, it is, however, but justice to
the government to which such natural
lied citizens have formerly owed al
legiance as well as to the United States,
that certain
FIXED AND DEEINATE RULES
should be adopted governing such
cases, and providing how expatriation
may be accomplished while emigrants
ip large numbers become citizens of
the United States. 1t is also true that
persons both native born and natural
lied once citizens of the United States,
either by formal acts, or the effect of
a series of facts and circumstances,
abandon their citizenship, and cease
to be entitled to the protection of the
| United States, but continue on conye-
nient occasions to assert claims to pro-
lection.
FOREIGN MARRIAGES OF AMERICAN
CITIZENS.
In the absence of provisions on these
questions, and in this connection, |
again invite your attention to the ne
cessity of legislation, concerning mar
riages of American citizens contracted
abroad, and concerning the status of
American women who marry foreign
ers, and of children born of American
parents in foreign country.
The delicate and complicated ques-
tions continually occurring with refer
ence to the naturalization, ,expatriation
and status of such persons as have
above been referred to, induces me to
earnestly direct your attention again to
these subjects. In a like manner re
peat my recommendation that some
means be provided for the hearing and
determination of the just and subsist-
ing claim of aliens upon the govern
ment of the United States, within a
reasonable limitation, and of such as
may hereafter arise, while by existing
provisions of law the Court of Claims
may be in certain cases resorted to
by an alien claimant. The absence of
any general provisions 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 deserving cases or compels a
consideration of such claims by Con-
gress or the executive departments of
the government.
1t is believed that the other Govern.
ments are in advance of the United
States upon this question. and that the
practice now adopted is entirely unsat
isfactory.
THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Congress. by an act approved the Sd
of March, 1875, authorized the inhab-
itants of the Territory of Colorado to
form State Government, with the
name of the State of Colorado. and
therein provided for the admission of
said State, when formed, into the
Union, upon an equal footing with the
original States, constitution having
been adopted and ratified by the peo,
pie of that State, and the acting Gov
ernor having certified to me the facts
as provided by said act, together with
a COPY of such constitution and orii
nances as provided for in the said act,
and tie provisions of the act of Con-
grsss having been duly complied with,
| issued proclamation upon the first
OF August, 1876, a copy of which is
hereto annexed.
THE ARMY.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows that the army has been actively
employed during the year in subduing.
at the request of the Indian Burea1.
certain wild bands of the Sioux Indian
nation, and in preserving peace at the
South during the election.
A commission was constituted, under
the act of July "a, 1876, to consider
and report on the whole subject of re-
form and organization of the whole
army, in August last, and has collected
a large mass of statistics and opinions
bearing on the subject before it. These
are nC W under consideration, and their
report is progressing. / am advised,
though, by the president of the com
mission, that it will be imp-acticable
to comply with the clause of the act
requiring a report to be presented
through me to Congress on the first
day of this session, as there has not
been time for that mature deliberation
which the Importance of the subject
demands. Therefore, l ask that the
time of making the report be extended
to the 29th day of January, 1877.
In accordance with the regulation of
August Is. 1876, the army regulations
prepared under the act of March 1,
1875, have not been promulgated, but
are held until after the report of
the above mentioned commission shall
have been received and acted upon.
BY the act of August Is, 1876, the |
cavalry force of the army was increas- |
ed by 2, 500 men. with a proviso that
they should be discharged on the ex
piration of the hostilities. Under this |
authority the cavalry regiments have
been strengthened, and a portion of
them are now in the field, pursuing the
remnant of the Indians, with whom
they have been engaged during the
summer.
TIE ESTIMATES OF THE WAR DEPART
MRET
are made up on the basis of the num-
Der of men authorized by law aud
their reouiremenfs an shovn nv wears