The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-12-07

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that the jurisdiction questions which
have arisen may be readily adjusted, and
that this advance in judicial reform may
be hindered by no obstacle.
THE CONVENTION WITH HAWAI-.
The necessary legislation to carry into
effect the convention respecting CONNER
cial reciprocity concluded with the Ha'
waiian Island in 1875 having been had,
the proclamation to carry into effect the
convention as provided by the act APPROX
ed August Is, 1875, was duly issued upon
the ninth day ofSeptember last. A copy
there of accompanies this message
TURBULENT MEXICO.
The connections which have been pre-.
valent in Mexico for some time past, and
which, unhappily, seem to be not wholly
quieted, have led to complaints ofcitizens
of the United States of injuries by per
sons in authority. 1t is hoped, however
that these will ultimately he adjusted to
the satisfaction of both governments. The
frontier of the United States in that
quarter has not been exempt from acts OF
violence by citizens of one republic on
those of the other, The frequence of
these is supposed to be increased and
their adjustment made more difficult by
the considerable changes in the course of
the lower party of the Rio Grande river
which river is part of the boundary be-
tween the two countries. These changes
have placed on either side Of that river
portions of land which, by existing con-
nectons belong to the jurisdiction OF tie
Government on the opposite side OF the
river. The subject of the adjustment OF
this causes of difficulty is under consider
alton 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.
CLAIMS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
MEXICO:
1t is with satisfaction that am able to
announce that the joint commission for
the adjudication of claims between the
United States and Mexico, under the
convention of 1868, the duration ofwhich
has been several times extended, has
brought its labors to close From the
report of the agent of the United States,
which accompanies the papers transmit
ted herewith, it will be seen that within |
the time limited by the commission, one
thousand and seventeen claims on the |
part of citizens of the United States
against Mexico were referred to the COM
mission. Of these claims, eight hundred |
and thirty one were dismissed or disallow-
ed, and in one hundred and eighty-six |
cases awards were made in favor of the
claimants against the Mexican Republic,
amounting in the aggregate to four million
one hundred and twenty two dollars ann |
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
referred to the Commission. Of these
claims eight hundred and thirty one were
dismissed or disalowed, and in one hun
red and sixty seven cases awards were
made in favor of the claimants against
the United States, amounting in the ag.
grigate to one hundred and fifty thousand |
four hundred and ninety eight dollars
and ffty one cents. By the terms of the
Convention, the amount of these awards
is to be deducted from the amount award
ed in favor of our citizens against Mexico,
and the balance only to be paid by Mex
leo to the United States, leaving the Uni
ted States to make provisions for this
proportion of the awards in favor of its
own citizens. l invite your attention to
the legislation which will be necessary to |
provide for the payment.
In this connection, am pleased to be |
able to express the acknowledgment due
to Sir Edward Thornton, the Umpire of
the Commission, who has given to the
consideration of the large number of
claims submitted to him much time, un-
weared patience and that fairness and
intelligence which are we'll known to be-
long to the accomplished representative
of Great Britain, and which are likewise
recognized by the representative in this
country of the Republic of Mexico.
vENEzUELA's INDEBTEDNESS.
Monthly payments of a very small part
of the amount due by the Government of
Venezuela to citizens ofthe United States
on account Of claims of the latter against
that Government continues to be made
with reasonable punctuality. That Gov
ernment has promised to change the sys
TEN which it has hitherto pursued in this
respect by issuing bonds for part of the
amount of the several claims. The pro
position, however, could not, it is sup
posed, properly be accep ed, at least with.
out the consent of the holders of certif-
Gates of the indebtedness of Venezuela.
These are so much dispersed thatit would
be difficult if not impossible to ascertain
their disposition on the subject.
THE QUESTION OF NATURALIZATION.
In former messages I have called the
attention of Congress to the necessity of
legislation with regard to fraudulent ma
and to the subject Of expatri,
alton and the election ofnationality. The
number of persons of foreign birth seek
ing home in the United States, the ease
and facility which the honest immigrant
may after the lapse of reasonable time,
become possessed of all the privileges of
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 ma
and the safeguards which
experience has proved nesessary for the
protection of the honest naturalized citi-
zen, of paramount importance. The very
in the requirements of law on
this question, affords opportunity for fraud
and the want of uniformity in the pro-
ceedings and records of the various
Courts, and in the forms ofthe certificates
of naturalization issued, afford a constant
source of difficulty. suggest no addi-
tional requirements to the acquisition of
beyoned those now existing,
but invite the earnest atten ion of Con-
gress to the necessity and wisdom of
some provisions in regard to uniformity
in the records and certificates, and provi-
ding against the frauds which frequently
take place and for the vacating of re-
cord Of naturalization obtained in fraud.
Th aoa rrnuiaiona apa uaadad in Gid and