Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-12-14

missed or disallowed, and in 1856 cases
awards were made in favor of claimants
against the Mexican Republic, amounting
to, $4, 625, 633. 20. Within the same period
998 claims. on the part of the citizens of the
Mexican Republic against the United States
were referred to the Commission. OF these
claims S3l were dismissed or disallowed,
and in 1877 cases awards
we're made in favor of claimants against the
United States, amounting in the aggregate
to $3.50, 496. Al. By the terms oftne Con-
vention, the amount of these awards is to-
be deducted from the amount awarded in
favor Of our citizens against Mexico, and
the balance only to be paid by Mexico to the
United States, leaving the United States to
make provision for their proportion of the
awards in favor of its own citizens. I in
vite your attention to the legislation which
will be necessary for their payment. In
this connection l am prepared to be able to
express the acknowledgment that Mr..
Thornton, the Umpire Of the Commission,
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 rep
resentative of Great Britain, and which are
likewise recognized by the representatives
in this country and of the republic of Mex
leo.
VENEZUELA.
Monthly payments of a very small part of
the amount due by the Government Of Ven
eZuela to the citizens OF the United States,
on account of the claims of the latter against
that Government, continue to be made with
reasonable ~punctuality. That Government
has proposed TO change the system which it
has hitherto pursued in this respect, by is
suing bonds for part of the amount of the
several claims. The proposition, however,
could not, it is supposed, properly be &C.
cepted, at least without the consent Of the
holders of the certificates of Indebtedness Of
Venezuela. These are so much depressed
that it would be difficult, if not impossible,
to ascertain their disposition on the SUBJ
1ect.
NATURALIZATION.
In another message I have called the at
tention of Congress to the necessity of leg
islation with regard to fraudulent nsturali-
cation n to the subject of eXpatriation
n election of nationality of persons of
foreign birth seeking a home in the United
States. The ease and facility will which
honest emigrants, after q reasonable lapse,
become possessed of all the privileges of
citizenship of the United States, and the
frequent occasions which induce such
adopted citizens to return to the country Of
their birth, render the subject of naturali-
Zaflon and the Safeguards which experience
has proved necessary for the protection of
the honest naturalized citizens, of para
mount Importance. The very simplicity in
the requirements of the law on this ques-
tion affords 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 nsturali-
cation issued affords a constant source
OF difficulty. / suggest no additional re-
quirements to the acquisition Of citizenship
beyond those now existing, but L invite the
aary.on -
sity and wisdom Of some provisions regard
ing uniformity in the records and certiti-
Gates, - and providing against the frauds
which frequently take place, and for the
vacating OF a. record of naturalization OBJ
tanned on 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 mad to suffer not
~unfrequently. The United States has in
sisted upon the right OF repatriation and
has obtained, after a long struggle, an ad-
mission Of the principles commended for, by
the concession thereof on 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 nsturaliZed citizens have formerly
owed allegiance, as well as to the United
States, that a certain, fixed and def
mite rule should be adopted governing
such cases, n providing how repatriation
may be accomplished. While emigrants in
large numbers become citizens of the Unit
ed States, it is also true that persons, both
natiye-bOrn and naturaliZed, once citizens
OF the United States, either by formal acts
or as the effect Of q series of acts and cir
cumstances, abandon their citizenship and
cease to be entitled to the protection Of the
United States, but continue to assert their
claim to protection. In advance of these
provisions, AMI in this connection, / again
invite you attention to the necessity of leg
fGlofinn proaaI.b1ir NJ tho M a rrfoCnc N% A ~
can citizens contracted abroad, and con-
corning the status of American women who
marry foreigners, and of children born Of
American parents in a foreign country. The
delicate and complicated questions
continually occurring with refer
the status Of such persons as l have
referred to, induce me to earnestly
direct our attention again to the subject.
In like manner l repeat the recommended
ton that some means be provided bearing
on the determination OF the just and SUBJ
sisting 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 provisions of
the law the COur Of Claims may in certain
cases be resorted to by an alien claimant,
the absence Of any general provision gov
erning all such cases, n the want of a tri-
bunal skilled in the disposition of such
cases, upon recognized, fixed and settled
principles, either provides no remedy in
many deserving cases., or compels a cOnsid-
Grafton of such claims by Congress or the
Executive Department of the Government.
1t is believed that other Governments are
in advance of the United States upon this
question, and that the practice now adopted
is entirely unsatisfactory.
COLORADO.
Congress, by act approved the Sd OF
March, 1875, authorized the inhabitants OF
the Territory of Colorado to form q
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. A Constitution having
been adopted and ratified by the people OF
that State, and an acting Governor having
certified to me the facts, as provided by
said act, together with a copy Of such Con
stitution and Ordinances, as provided fol
in said act, and the provisions Of said act Of
Congress having been duly complied with,
l issued a proclamation on the LIST of Au.
gust, 1876, a copy of which is hereto an
neXed.
TJU DAEO