Huntsville gazette., 1885-12-12
PRESIDENT s. MESSAGE.
CContinaed from First Pagc.l


needs OF the United States and the Spanish
Antilles and the terms of the agreement are
subjected to conflicting interpretations IN
stituted at Madrid for full treaty not open
70 these objections, and in the line OF the
general policy touching the nelghooriy IN.
which elsewhere advert, and aiming more.
over, at the removal of existing burdens and
annoying restrictions and. although salts
factory termination Is promised, am COM
PEELED to delay its announcements.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.
An International copyright conference was
held at Berne, In September, on the invita-.
tion Of the Swiss Government. The envoy OF
but refrained from committing THIS Govern
ment to the results, even by signing the rec
ommendatory protocol adopted. me inter
tional copyright has been before you for
several years. Action is certainly desirable
to effect the object In VIEW t anu Wne dvsp Inepe
tage of treating 1t by legis slation or specihc
treaty, the matured Views of the Berne con-
ference oan not fail to aid your considera-
fion Of the subject.
The termination of the commercial tire atty
OF 1861 between the United states ana Tur-
key has been sought by that Government
While there Is question as to the suffic lem
cy OF the notice OF termination given, yet,
as the commercial rights OF our citizens In
Turkey come under the favored nation
equal treatment is admitted by the Porte,
no inconvenience can result from the assent
OF this Government to the revision or the
Ottoman tariffs, IN which the treaty powers
have been invited to join: Questions CON
cerning our citizens in Turkey may
Os affected BY the Por;ss .st non, n
expatriation and by the imposition of relig-
iOus tests as n 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 domiciliary return
to the land of original allegiance or OF unfui-
filled personal allegations which may sur
vive under municipal laws, after such volun-
The negotiation with Venezuela relative
to the rehearlng OF the awards Of the mixed
commission constituted under the treaty of
1866, was resumed In view OF the recent
aquiescence of the Venezuelan Envoy on the
principal point advanced "a, BY this MS Govern, 1I,
only be set aside by the operation OF new
convention.
A result in substantial accord with the ad.
visory suggestions contained in the Joint
resolution of March Sd, 1885, has been agreed
upon and will shortly be submitted to the
Senate for ratification.
CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIzATIoN
The nadequscy OF sxsstng legislation tda
mands your consideration. While recogniz-
ing the right of expatiation, no statutory
provisions exist providing means for re-
nouncing citizenship by an American citizen,
native born or naturalzed, nor for termi-
mating and vacatin2 an improper acquiSi-
tion of citizenship; even fraudulent decree
of naturalization can not now be Cancelled.
The privilege and franchise of Am erican cit
izenship should be granted with care and ex:
faith. % to 81 assume sumo its duties and responsibiIi.
ties when attending its privileges any bene
fits. 1t should be withheld from thos who
merely go through the forms OF naturaliza.
ton with the intent of escaping the duties of
their original allegiance without takn, up
on themselves those OF their new statue, or
citizenship for no other than a hostile pur-
pose toward their original governments.
These evils have had many fagrant ilIustra
pnt forth by one Of my predecessors that
provision may be made for a central
bureau of record of the DEGREES Of natursl-
throughout the United States now invested
with that power, The rights that spring
from domiciie IN the United States, especial
ly when coupled with a declaration Of in.
tention to become a citizen, are worthy OF
definition by statute. The stranger coming
hther tn intent to remain esiiansnng f
the general welfare, and by his vol
untarv act decIaring, his purpose
sS sss sea Of
states state which legislation may properly de-
fine. The laws of certain States and Terri
tories admit a domiclled alien to the local
franchise, comforting on him the rights of
citizenship to a degree which places him in
the anomalous position Of being citizen #
State an yet not Of the United States within
the purview OF Federal and international
law. 1t Is important within the scope oil
National legislation to define this right OF
alien domIciie as distinguished from Federal
naturalization.
OUR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
The commercial relations Of the United
States with their Immediate neighborS aud
with important areas of traffi, near our
shores suggest especially liberal intercourse
between them and us.
RECIPROCITY.
Following the treaty of 1885 with Mexico,
which rested on the basis OF a reciprocal ex
smption from customs a!.;ats dnsies other sim,
predecessor Recognizing the nee1
of less obstructed traffic with Cuoa
and Porto Rca and met by the desire of
the Antilles, steps were taken to attain
those ends BY treaty of commerce. A
Dominican Republic. Subsequently over
lures were made by Her Brltanic Majesty's
Government for a like mutual extension of
West India and south American depen
denotes, but without result On TAX
ing ofice I withdrew for re- xamiu alton
the treaties signed with Spain aud San Do
mingo, then pending before the Senate. The
result has been to satisfy me Of the mex
pediency OF entering into engagements of
this character not covering the entire traf-
fic. These treaties contemplated the sur
render by the United States of large
= revenues for Inadequate considera-
tions. Upon sugar alone duties were sur
rendered to an amount far exceeding all the
advantages offered in exchange. Then, were
It intended to relieve our customers it was
evident that so long as the exemption but
partially covered our importation such re-
lief would be illusory. To relinquish a rev.
enue so essential seemed highly improvi.
dent at a time when new and large drains
upon the Treasury were contemplated.
Moreover. embarrassing questions woald
have arisen under the favored nation clauses
OF treaties with other nations.
TARIFF REGULATION BY TREATY. II
AS further objection, 1t is evident that
tariff regulation by treaty diminishes that
Independent control over Its own revenues
which Is essential for the safety and welfare
of any Government An emergency exist
Ing for an increase of taxation may at any
time arise and no engagement with for
eign power should exist to hamper theacton
Of the Government By the fourteenth sec
tion OF the Shipping Act, approve June %,
1854, certain reductions and contingent ex-
emptiOnS from tonnage dues were made as to
vessels enter ng ports Of the United States
from any foreign port in North aud Central
America. The West India Islands, the BAHIA
mas and Bermudus, Me xico. aud the Isthmus
as far as Aspinwail ami Panama the Gov
9rnmeUts of R9lSium. ark