The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-12-07

lowed. and on 1S6 cases AWARDS |
we're made in favor Of the claimants |
against the Mexican republic, amounting in the |
aggregate to $4, 1875, 622.20. Within the same
period 998 claims the part of citizens OF the
Mexican republic against the United States
were referred to the commission. or these
claims 831 we're dismissed and disalloWed, and
in 1877 cases awards were made IN favor OF
claimants against the United States. amounting
in the aggregate to 81, 594 984. 10. 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
balance only to be paid by Mexicoto the United
| States, leaving the United States to make
| provisions for their proportion of the awards
| in favor OF it's own citizens. invite your at
| tention to the legislation which will be neces-
sary to provide for the payment. In this con-
| neotion am pleased to be able to express the
| acknowledgements 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, unwearied
patience, and that fairness and intelligence
which are well known to belong to the accom-
plished representative of Great Britain, and
which are likewise recognized by the repre-
| sentative in this country of the republic OF
| Mexico.
( Venezuelan Claims.
| Monthly payments of very small part OF
| the amount due by the Government OF Vene-
zuela to the citizens of the latter against that
| Government continue to be made with reasona-
| BILE punctuality. That Government has pro-
posed to change the system which it has hlth-
erto pursued in this respect by issuing bonds
| for part of the amount of the several claims.
The proposition, however, could not, it is sup
| posed, properly be accepted, at least without
| consent of the holders of certificates OF the IN
| debtedness of VeneZuela. These are so much
| depressed that it would be difficult if not i'm
possible to ascertain their disposition on the
subject.
| Naturalization and ExpatriatI)n.
| In former messages have called the atten-
| ton of Congress to the necessity of legislation
| with regard to fraudulent naturalization and
| the subject CT repatriation and the election OF
nationality of the number OF persons OF foreign
! birth seeking home in the United States ; the
| ease and facility with which the honest emil
grant may after the lapse of a reasonable time
| become possessed of all the privileges OF cltl-
zenship of the United States, and the frequent
| occasions which induce such adopted citizens
| to return to the country OF their birth. Under
the subject Of naturalization, the safeguards
| which experience has proved necessary Tor the
projection Of the honest naturalized citizens
| are of paramount importance.
The very simplicity in the requirements or
the law on this question 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 naturall-
| cation issued, afford constant source OF
difficulty. suggested no additional require
ments to the acquisition OF citizenship, beyond
those now existing but invite the earnest
attention Of Congress to the necessity and WIS
/ dom of some provision regarding uniformity
in the records and certificates, and proVldlng
| against the frauds which frequently take
place, and for the vacating OF record
of naturalization obtained by 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 ls made
to suffer not infrequently. The United States
has insisted upon the right Of cxpatrlatlon,
| and has obtained after q long struggle, an
admission of the principle commended Tor, by
acqulescence therein on the part OF many
foreign powers, and by the conclusion OF
treaties on that subject. It is. however, but
Justice to the Government to which such
naturalized citizens have formerly owed
allegiance as well as to the United States, that
certain fixed and definite rules should be
adopted governing such cases, and providing
how expatriation may be accomplished While
emigrants in large numbers become citizens OF
the United States, it is also true that persons
both native-bOrn and naturalized once
citizens of the United States, either by for
NAL acts or as 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 convenient
occasions to assert claim to Its protectlon.
In the absence of provisions on these queS-
tons, and in this connection, l again invite
your attention to the necessity of legislation
concerning the marriages of American CIT
liens contracted abroad, and concerning the
status of American women who may marry
foreigners, and of children born OF American
parents in foreign country. The delicate
and complicated questions continually occur
ring with reference to naturalization, expatrl-
alton and the status of such persons as have
referred to, induce me to earnestly direct your
attention again to these subjects.
II AFVNNVNN ord
ton that some means be provided for the hear
ing and determination of the just and exist
ing claims of aliens upon the Government OF
the United States within reasonable imta-
ton, and of such as may hereafter arise, while
by existing provisions OF law the Court OF
Claims may in certain cases be resorted to by
an alien claimant. The absence Of any gener-
al 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 consideration OF
such claims by Congress or the executive
department. of the Government.
| It is believed that other governments are In
advance of the United States upon this ques
ton, and that the practice now adopted is en-
tirely unsatisfactory g:,or.do
Congress, by an act approved the Sd OF
March. 1876 authorized the inhabitants of the
Territory Of Colorado to form State Govern
ment 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 con-
stitution having been adopted and ratified by
the people of that State, and the acting Gov
erner having certified to me the facts as pro-
vlded by said act, together with copy of such
constitution and ordinances as are provided
for in the said act, and the provisions OF sald
act of Congress having been duly complied
with, issued proclamation upon the LIST of
August, 1876, a copy of which is hereto an
nexed.
Reform and Reorganization of 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 Bureau, certain wild bands of
the Sioux Indian nation, and in preserving
| ,noaca at the South d11rirlo the election.