Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1885-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
ICon,inued from First Psgc.]

Continued from First Pages
into effect, for which one years additional
time has been secured by suppiem enthfy
article signed In February last. and since
ratified on both sides. As this convention,
so important to the commercial welfare
of the two adjoining countries, has been
constitutionally confirmed by the treaty
making branch, express tho hope that leg.
islatlon needed to make It effective may not
long DO delayed, The large influx OF capital
and enterprise to Mexico from the United
States continues to aid In the development
of the resources and In augmenting the ma.
terlal well being OF our sister Republic.
Lines of railways, penetrating to the heart
peoples into mutually beneficial intercourse,
and enlarged facilities OF transit add to prof.
liable commerce, create new markets and
furnish avenues to otherwise isolated com
munities. l have already adverted TO the
suggestion for the construction OF ship
railway across the narrow formation OF the
territory OF Mexico at Tehauntepee
PERU.
With the gradual recovery of Peru from
the effects of her late disastrous conflict
with Chill, and with the restoration OF civil
authority In that distracted country, IL Is
hoped that pending war aims of our citi
zels will be adjusted. In conformity with
notification given by the Government OF
Peru, the existing treaties of commerce and
extradltion between the United States and
that country will terminate March 3lst, 1856.
RUSSIA.
Our good relationship with Russia con-
tnues. An officer of the navy, detailed for
the purpose, Is now on his way to Siberia,
to those who generously succored the sur
vivors OF the unfortunate 'Jeannette" expe
dition.
1t Is gratifying to advert to the cordiality
of our intercourse with Spain. The long
pending claim of the owners of the ship
"Masonic," for loss suffered through the
admitted dereliction of the Spanish author.
justed by arbitration, aad an idemnlty
awarded. The principle OF arbitration In
SUCH cases. to which the United States
have long and consistently adhered, thus
ton. Other questions with Spain have been
disposed of or are under diplomatic con.
slderation with IA view to just and honor
able settlement The operation OF the
January I'd and February 18th, 1884,, has
been found inadequate to the commercial
needs of the United States and the Spanish
Antilles, and the terms of the agreement are
subjected to conflicting interpretations In
those islands Negotiations have been In
stituted ut Madrid for u full treaty not open
to these objections, and, In the line OF the
general policy touching the neighborly in.
tercOurse of prOximate communities, to
which elsewhere advert, and aiming, more.
over, ut the removal of existing burdens and
annoying restrictions; and, although salts
factory termination Is promised, am COM
PEELED to delay its announcement
TURKEY.
The termination of the commercial treaty
| of 1856, between the United States and Tur-
key has been sought by that Government
While there is question as to the sutfi, len
| cy Of the notice of termination given, yet,
as the commercial rights of our citizens in
| Turkey come under the favored nation
| guaratees OF the prior treaty OF 1880, and as
| equal treatment Is admitted by the Porte,
| no Inconvenience can result from the assent
| OF this Government to the revision OF the
| Ottoman tariffs, in which the treaty powers
have been invited to join. Questions con-
cerning our citizens in Turkey may
be affected by the Portes non:
| expatriation and by the imposition OF relig-
| ious tests as a condition of residence In
| which this Government cannot concur. The
| United States must hold In their intercourse
| with every power that the, status of their
| citizens Is to be respected and equal civil
| privileges accorded to them without regard
| to creed, and affected by No consideration
save those growing out Of domcliary return
| to the land of original allegiance or OF unful-
| filed personal allegations which may sur
vive under municipal laws, after such volun-
| tary return
VENEZUELA
The negotiation with Venezuela relative
| to the rehearing OF the awards OF the mixed
| commission constituted under the treaty of
| 1866, was resumed Ia view of the recent
| aquescence of the Venezuelan Envoy on the
principal point advanced by. this Govern.
ment, that the effects Of the old treaty could
only be set aside by the operation of new
convention.
| A result in substantial accord with the ad-
resolution of March Sd, S3, has been agreed
upon and will shortly be submitted to the
Senate for ratification.
CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION.
The inadequacy of existing legislation
| touching citizenship and naturaliZ alton de.
ing the right of expatiaton, no statutory
| provisions exist providing means for re-
| nOuncing citizenship by an American citizen
| native born or naturalized, nor for termi
| mating and vacatlng an improper acquisi
| ton OF citizenship; even fraudulent decree
OF naturalization can not now be Cancelled
The privilege and franchise OF Am erlcan cit
izenship should be granted with care and ex
| tended to those only who intend, In good
faith, to assume its duties and responsible
| ties when attending its privileges any bene
fits. 1t should be withheld from thos who
| merely go through the forms OF naturaliza
their original allegiance without taking up
on themselves those OF their new statue, OF
who may acquire the rights of American
citizenship for no other than hostile pur
These evils have had many fragrant illu stra
| tiOns. Iregard wi1h favor the suggestion
pnt forth by one of my predecessors that
provision may be made for centra
izatlon granted by. the various court,
| throughout the United States now invested
with that power The rights that spring
| from iomlcile IN the United States, especial
| ly when coupled with declaration OF in
tention to become citizen, are worthy o
definition by statute. The stranger coming
hither W TIL intent to remain, establishing
his residence in our midst, contributing (
l lfnrA aud hxr hi NJ
untarY act declaring his purpos'
to assume the responsibility OF citizen
ship. thereby gives an incohoat,
states which legislation may properly de
fine. The laws of certain states and Terri
tories admit domiciled alien to the loca
franchise, comforting on him the rights o
citizenship to degree which places him II
the anomalous position OF being citizen o
State an yet not of the United States within
the purvlew of Federal and Internationa
law. 1t is important within the scope o
National legislation to define this right o
alien domiciie rs distinguished from Fedora
naturalization
OUR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS
the commercial relations or the Unite,
States with their immediate neighbors aat
with Important areas OF tram, near GU
shores suggest especially liberal intercourse
between them and us.
RECIPROCITY.
Following the treaty of 1888 with Mexico
which rested on the basis OF a reciprocal ex
emption from customs duties, other sim
liar treaties were initiated by IN,
predecessor Recognizing the nee(
OF less obstructei traffic with Cub,
aud Porto Rica, aud met by the desire o
Spain to succor lengulsbing Interests Ii
the Antilles, steps were taken to affair
those ends by treaty OF commerce.
uipSiSsilar. treaty was afterwari signed by thu
subsequently over
lSs Brtanlc Majesty
>s9al extension Q
u the British
kican depen
On TAX