Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-12-13

d hoped that the jurisdiction question
which have arisen may bo readily ad
justed, and that this advance in judica
"a reform may be hindcrcd by no obstacles
a THE CONVENTION WITH HAWAII.
n The necessary legislation to carr
l. into effect the convention respectin
|. commercial reciprocity concluded wit
:. the Hawaiian Islands in 1875 havinI
!. been had, the proclamation to carr,
Q into effect the convention as provides
>. by the act approved August 10, 1876
Q was duly issued upon the 9th day 0
= September Inst. A copy thereof accom-
panics this message.
TURBULENT MEXICO.
, Tho connections which have beef
u prevalent in Mexico for some tim,
past, and which, unhappily, seem I,
be not wholly quicted, h,,7e led to com
plants of citizens oftbe United State
Of injuries by persons in authority. Il
is hoped, however, that these will ulti
mately be adjusted to the satisfaction
Of both governments. The frontier o.
the United States in that quarter hal
not been exempt from acts Of violeBc,
by citizens Of one republic on those oI
the other. The frequency Of these Il
supposed to be increased and their nd
justment made more difficult by the
considerable changes in the course Of
the lower part of the Rio Grande river
which river is q part Of the boundary
between the two countries. These
changes have placed on either side Of
that river portions of land which, by
existing connections belong to the jur-
isdiction Of the Government on the op-
positc side of the river. The subject
of the adjustment of this cause of diff.
Guilty is under consideration between
the two republics.
OUR CLAIMS AGAINST COLUMBIA SETTLED.
The Government of the United States
OF Columbia has paid the award in the
case Of the steamer Montijo, seized by
the authorities Of that Government
some years since, and the amount has
been transferred to the claimants.
1t is with satisfaction that 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 several times ex-
tended, has brought its labors to a
close. From the report Of the agent
OF the United States, which accompa-
nies tho papers transmitted herewith,
il will be seen that within the time
limited by the Commission, one thou.
sand and seventeen claims on the part
OF citizens of the United States against
Mexico were referred to the Commis
sion. Of these claims, eight hundred
and thirty.onc were dismissed or dis
allowed, and in one hundred and eigh-
ty-six cases awards were made In
favor of the claimants against the Mex.
ican Republic, amounting in the aggre-
gate 10 four million one hundred and
twenty-five thousand six hundred and
twenty-five dollars and twenty cents.
Within the same period nine hundred
and ninety. eight claims on the part Of
citizens Of the Mexican Republic
against the United States were refer
red TO the commission. Of these claims
eight hundred and thirty-one were dis
missed or disallowed, and in one hun
dred and sixty-seven cases awards
were made in favor Of the claimants
against the United States, amounting
in the aggregate TO one hundred and
fifty thousand four hundred and ninety.
eight dollars and forty one cents. By
the terms of the convention the amount
Of these awards is TO be deducted from
the amount awarded in favor Of our
citizens against Mexico, and the bal
ancc only to be paid by Mexico to the
United States, leaving the United
States to make provisions for their pro.
portion Of the awards in favor Of its
own citizens. | invite your attention
to the legislation which will be neces.
sary to provide for their payment. In
this connection, am pleased to be able
to express the acknowledgements due
to Sir Edward Thornton, the umpire
Of the commissions who has given to
the consideration of the large number
of claims submitted TO him much time,
unwearied patience and that fairness
and intelligence which are well known
to belong to the accomplished repre-
sentative OF Great Britain, and which
are likewise recognized by the repre-
sentative in this country Of the repub.
lie of Mexico.
VENEZUELAN PAYMENTS.
Monthly payments Of a very small
part of the amount due by the Gov
ernmont of Venezuela to the citizens Of
the United States on account OF claims
Of the latter against that Government
continue TO be made with reasonable
punctuality. That Government has
proposed to change the system which
il has heretofore pursued in this re.
spect, by issuing bonds for part of the
amount of the several claims. The
proposition, however, could not, it is
supposed, properly be accepted, at
least without the consent of the hold
ers of certificates Of the indebtedness
of Venezuela. These are 40 much dis
pcrscd that it would be difficult if not
impossible TO ascertain their disposi-
tion Oh the subject.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION
In former messages have called tho
attention Of Congress to the necessity
OF legislation with regard to fraudu-
lent legislation, and TO the subject Of
repatriation and the election of nation.
ality. The number OF persons OF for
eign birth seeking home in the Uni
ted States, the ease and facility with
which the honest emigrant may, after
the lapse Of reasonable time, become
possessed of all the privileges of citi.
zenship of the United States, and the
frequent occasions which induce such
adopted citizens to return TO the coun- |
try Of their birth, render the subject
Of naturalization and the safeguards
which experience has proved nccessa-
ry for the protection Of the honest nat |
uralixcd citizen OF paramount impor.
tance. Tho very simplicity in tho re-
quirements Of the 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 nat.
uralization issued afford constant |
source Of difficulty. suggest no I'D |
ditional requirements to the acqnisi- |
ton OF citizenship beyond those now |
existing; but | invite the earnest at |
tention Of Congress to tho necessity |