Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-12-05

| ton of the Swiss Government the Envoy OF
| the United States attended as delegate but
| refrained from committing this Goveranent
1 to the results. even by signing the recon-
| nlendatorY protocol adopted. The interest,"
| ing and important subject of international
| copyright mas been before you for several
| years. Action is certainly desirable to effect
| the object in view, and while there NAV be
| question as To the relative advantage of
treating it by legislation by specific treaty,
/ the matured views of the Berne Conferences
| can not fail TO aid your confederation Of the
| subject.
TURKISH RELATIONS.
The termination of the Commercial treaty
| Of 1862 between the United States and Tnr-
key has been sought by that Government.
| While there is question as to the sufiiciency
OF the notice of termination given, yet as
| commercial rights of our citizens in Turkey
| come under the favored nation guarantees
| of the prior treaty of 1880, and as equal
| treatment is admitted by the Porte, no in
l convenience can result from tie assent OF
| this Government to the revision of the Otto
man tariffs, in which the Powers have been
| invited TO join.
misunderstanding eur citizens in Tur-
key may be affected by the Porte's non
acquiesesncs in the right of repatriation and
| by the imposition of religious tests q
condition of residence. in which this Gov
| eminent can not concur. The United States
must mold, in their intercourse with every
| power, that the status of their citizens is to
be respected and equal civil privileges ao-
corded TO them without regard to creed, ami
affected by no considerations save Lhoss
growing out of domiclliary return to tina
land of original allegiance or OF unfulhllei
personal obligations which may survive I'M
der municipal laws after such voluntary re-
turn.
The negotiation with Venezuela, relative
TO the rehearing of the awards of the mixed
com mission, constituted under the treaty OF
1866, was Resumed, in visw of the recent ac-
Quiescence of tue Venezuelan army in the
principal point advanced by this govern-
ment-that the effects of the old treaty could
only be set aside Dy the operation of q new
convention. A result in substantial accord
with the advisory suggestions contained i'll
the joint resolution of March B. 1888, has
been agreed upon and will shortly be sub
miIted to the Senate for ratification.
FUNDS HELD IN TRUST.
Under section 1859 of the Revised Stat
utes all funds held in trust by the United
States and the annual interest accruing
thereon, when not otherwise required by
treaty, are to be invested IN stocks Of the
q nited States bearing rate of interest not
less than five percentum per aHnun1. There
being now no procurable stocks paying so
high rate of interest. the letter of the stat
ute Is at present inapplicable, bus its spirit Is
subserved by continuing TO make invest
msnts of this nature III current stocks bear
ing the highest interest now paid.
The statute, however. makes no provision
for the disposal of such accretions, it being
contrary to the general rule of this Govern
ment to allow interert on claims. / recon-
mend the repeal of the provision in question,
and disposition under uniform rule of
the present accommodations from investment
Of trust funds.
LAWS OF NATURALIZATION.
The inadequacy Of existing legislation 10
citizens and naturalization demands your
confederation IA hlla raRnOuiviny iCh II
of repatriation. no statute provision exists
providing means for reuouncing cilizen-
ship by an American citizen, native born or
naLuralized, nor for terminating and vacating
an improper acquisition of citizenship.
Even fraudulent decree of nat
uralization can net now be can
celled. Ths privilege and franchise OF
American citizenship should be granted with
care, and extended TO those only who intend
in good faith to assume its duties and respen-
sibiIiIies when attaining It's privileges sud
benefits. 1t should be withheld from those
who merely go through the forms of natur-
alization with the intent of escaping the
duties of their original allegiance, without
taking upon themselves those of their new
status, or who may acquire the rights of
American citizenship for no other than q
hostile purpose toward their original govern
ments. Those evils have had many fragrant
Illustrations.
] regard with favor the suggestion pus
forth by ons of my predecessors that pro-
vision may be made for central bureau of
record of the decTess of naturalization
granted by the various courts throughout
the United States now invested with that
power.
The rights which spring from domicile in
the United States, especially when coupled
with declaration OF intention to become q
citizen, are worthy of definition by statute.
The stranger coming hiLher with intent 10 re-
main, establishing his residence in our midst.
contributing to the general welfare, and by
his voluntary act, declaring his purpose
to assume the responsibilities of citizenship,
thereby gains tRchoGts statue which
legislation may properly define. the laws
of certain States and Territories admit
domiclled alien TO the local franchise, con-
ferring On him the rights OF citizenship to a
degree which places HIM in the anomalous
position of being citizen OF State and yet
not of the United States, within the purview
of Federal and International law.
It is important within the scope of nation
al legislation 30 define this right of alien
domicIls as distinguished from Federal
naturalization. The commercial relations of
the United States with their immediate
neighbors, and with Important areas Of
traffic near our shores, suggest especially
liberal intercourse between them and Us.
TREATIES UNDER TRIAL.
Following the treaty CT 1888 with Mex
leo, which rested ON the basis OF q reciprocal
exemption from customs duties, other sim
liar treaties were initiated by my predeces-
sor. Recognizing the need of less INSTRUCTED
traffic with Cuba and Porto Rico, anu met by
the desire of Spain to succor languishing in
terests in the Antilles, steps were taken to
attain those ends by treaty of commerce.
A similar treaty was afterwaTd signed by
the Dominion Republic, and subsequently
overtures were made by Her Britannia
Majesty's Governments for q like mu-
tual extension of commercial inter-
course with the British West Indian
and South American undergraduates, but
without re suit. Ga taking Office | with
drew for REORGANIZATION ths treaties signed
with Spain and Santo Domingo, then pend
ing before the Senate. The result has been
TO satisfy me of the inexpediency of entering
into engagements of this character not COW
erIDg the entire traffic.
These treaties contemplated the surrender
by the United States of large revenues for
inadequate consideration. Upon sugar alone
duties were surrendered to an amount far
exceeding all the advantage offered in ex-
change. Even were it intended to relieve
our consumers. it was evident that SO long
as the exemption but partially covered our
Importation, such relief would be lliusory.
To rehnqulSn a revenue essential seemed
highly improvident at time when new and
large drains upon the Treasury were con-
templated. Moreover, embarrassing ques-
tons would have arisen under the favored
nation clauses of treaties with other nations.
As further objection, il is evident that
tariff regulation by treaty dim nIshes that
indepensht CONT oil over its own revenues
which is essential for the safety and well
fare of any government. An emergency,
calling for increase of taxation, may
at any time arise, and no engagement
with a foreign power should exist TO nam
thu action of fha (TOVarualRnt Ry tina |