volume -vm.
ALBANY, OREGON, DECEMBER 17, 1875.
NO. 13.
MiltSttfESS. CARDS.
- - T-. ... . -. nm i,n ,-
SAIITQEL. E. YOUNG;
j Wnolegale and Retail Dealer In
UCHY GOODS,
-GiQfntno,
C?.C2EIUES,
f 12315 & SHOES,
TilHESHERS,
REAPERS & MOWERS,
YAGOXS, FiOVS,
SEED DRILLS;
CROADCST SEED
SOWERS, ETC.
. First street, Albany, Oregon.
Terms: . - - " Cash-
t0v7'"" ; .-
American Exchange Hotel.
Cor. Front and Washington sts.
ALBANY, i' - OBEUOX.
THE AMERICAS EXCHANGE HOTEL,
so popular nmler the former management,
will bo transferred on the 1st of October, to Mr.
fi. W. EDDY. Mr. Eddy, in addition to beir.
n first class caterer, is thorough in the hotel
business. - sept. 23;75-tf.
St. Charles Hotel,
Corner Wash Infton and First Ms.,
A LB ANY, OREGON,
Matthews & Morrison,
PROPRIETORS.
Ilonao newly - furnished tltroujrhont. The
beat, the market aftords always on the table.
FrM Coach to and from the House.
P. C. HARPER &. CO.,
Dealers in
fSO Xt. T2- GrO ODS.
Clolblaifr, Boots and Shoes, Hats, firoce
ries, Fanrjr Uoods, olloui, &hteni
and Flwtois, Kails, Roft Mirror.,
Wallpaper, Wood and Willow
Ware, Trunks and Valises,
iNwket Cutlery, ;., Arc,
Sold very low cither for cash, or to prompt pay
1,33 irlst customers on time. : . v
Raising and Hf ovlng-Bnildings.
WE TUB UNDERSIGNED BEG LEAVE TO
announce lo the citizen, of Albany and
uurrotmdios! country that, havlnx otippliert nur
aelres witH'the necessary machinery for rais
ing and removing bnildinws. we are ready at all
times to receive orders for such work, which
we will do in short or ler at lowest rates. We
guarantee entire satisfaction in till work under
taken by us. .
Orders left at the REGISTER offlee promptly
attented to. Apply to
-Alba, . BATJT Y; ALLEN & CO.
Or.. April SX 18J3. . 2fv7
O. S. CO.
3TOTI013.
XT" ROM AN l AFTER DATE, UNTIL FUTt-
titer notice, freight from
PORTLAND- to
WILL BE
ALBANY
ONE DOLLAR PER TO a
All down fni?fht win be delivered at POBT
LAXD or AAl'OKLA
Free oT Dnijagre and Wliarfafje,
At Reduced Rates.
Boats will leave Jj COKVALLIS or
23 "r ory
33 X y
For further paxticnlarft, apply to
BEACU Sc MOCTEITH,
AXmny, ICov. M, -- - Amenta
CHAS. B. MONTAGUE.
ROUT. SI'CAT.LKT.
HOST AGUE & alcCALLEY,
ABE NOW OPENING A MAGNIFICENT
took of v7't-f'f.'fM ' j . "
FALL AliD WINTER GOODS !
. . i - "- - .
selected with care, and bought for coin at-
Scandalooslf Low Figures:
and as we bought low we can and will sell thein
at price that will
Astonish Everybody.
Come and see our selections of - -
nrni Goods,
Japanese , ,
Kbnwls, "
Piques,
' 1trf1Ifate
Marseilles
Poplins, ...
lutm,
Ribbons,' Collars, Collarettes,
Laeea, Azc, Ac,
for the ladles, and our complete lines of
Readymade Clothing,
'! " 1 -" Hosiery,
COttonades, '
Csssimeres,
CIo4ns, ' "
Khoex, ' -Soots,
of all deacrtption tor man and boys. Also, full
auttortuuntii of
Grecsriss, -Crccery - tal - Glassware.
or eTerj-body. - .
The t roods.at the lowest rates every timu.
t-:.:'Come and hue.
Leoaaon. Oregon, OetOlKT 30. ItCL
rurriit!iro-'F'Vcrcrooms.
TIED GRAF,
--i-rhoapiS tf-.e entire interest! of .
.j - -.W ft -in of ( f f A Cxrllar. in
s '-.-"5.'tak" t is i- ronmunuy
ir to'.ive cifij'f'iB of Allmny
i" tjuve sri'H.'icitf y ptttron
i i ."-. i--.. -if iiiy b n
t ,4s i k!'sol Jnr
1 1 i'jkiivinuiii. '"r-d toor'her
JH1 UiiAF.
PRBilDESrS MESSAUE.
l.OSTtSfEi frKOM LAST WEES.
has been it gtiWe. Ami tiding only that
which is right, and honest, flnU of good .re
port, the question oi according of or With
holding the rights of belligerency must be
judged in every way in view ot I lie particu
lar attending facts. Unless justified by
necessity, it is always and justly regarded as
an unfriendly act and a gratuitous demon
stration of moral support to tlie rebellion.
It is necessary, and it is required, when the
interests and rights ot another government,
or, of its people, are so far atTected by a
pending civil conflict, as to require a defini
tion of its relations to the parties thereto.
But this conflict must be one which will be
recognized in the sense of international law
as peUigerency, not so as toeffeet the mere
existence of contending nnued bodies-rttrci
thelroceaslonal conflicts, does ivotetirstitute
war in tire sense referred to. Applying to
the existing condition ot atlairs iti Cuba the
tests recognized by pnbl tests and writers
on international law, and which have been
observed iy uaticjis of honesty and iower,
whei free from sensitive or selfish, or un
worthy motives, I fail to find in the insur
rection the existence of such a substantial
organization real, palpable, and capable ot
the ordinary functions ot government to
wards it own people and other States, with
courts tor the administration of justice, and
a local, habitation, possessing such an or
ganization of force, such material, and
such an occupation ot territory as to take
the contest out ot tha category of a mere
rebellious insurrection, or occasional skir
mish, and place it on tlie terrible footing of
war, to which a recommendation of bellig
erency would aim to elevate it. If the
movement is on land, the insurrection has
not possessed a single port whence it may
send forth its flag, nor has it any means of
communication with foreigii governments
except through the military lines of its ad
versaries. Xo pprehension of any of these
sudden and dilhcuit complications which
arise on tlie ocean is apt to precipitate on
the vessels, both commercial and national,
and on the consular oflicers of other powers
calls for the detinitto'j of the relations to
the partias of the contest. Considered as a
question of expediency. I-regard the ac
cordance of belligerent lights still to be as
unwise and premature as rejrard it to he
at present indefensible as a measure ol
right. Such recognition entails on the
country, according to the l ights which flow
from it, difficult and complicated duties,
and require tlie action from the contending
parties ot strict observance of their rights
and obligations. It confers the right ot
search upon the high seas by vessels of
both parties. It would subject tlie carrying
of arms and munitions of war, which now
may he trasuported freely and without in-,
temiption in vessels of the United States,
to detention and possible seizure. It would
give rise to countless vexatious questions;
it wouiu release the parent Government
from Its responsibility tor acts of the insur
gents, and would invest Spain with the
right to exercise the supervision recognized
by the treaty of 1793. over our cout'merce
on the high seas, a very large part of which
iu its traffic, bet wc-uu the Atlantic ami GttH"
Suites, and between all of tlieni and the
Slates ou tlie J?aci tie. passes through tlie
waters which wash tlie shores of Cuba.
The exercise of this supervision could
scarcely fail to lead, if tiot to abuses, cer
tainly to collisions perilous to (he peaceful
relations of tlie two states. There can he
little doubt as to the r.-sults such suiiervis
ion would before long draw this nation in
to. It would be unworthy the United States
to inaugurate the possibilities of such re
sult by measures of questionable right or
expediency, or by any indirection apart
from any question of theoretical nsht. I
ant satisfied that while the accordance of
belligerent rights to the insurgents iu Cuba
might give them hope and iiMlucement to
protract tlie struggle, it would be a delusive
hope, and would not remove the evils which
this Government and its people are expe
riencing, but would draw -the United States
into complications, which it has.--waited
long and already suffered much, to avoid.
The recognition of the independence or ol
belligerency being thus in my judgment
equally inadmissible, it remains to consider
what course shall be adopted. Should the
conflict not soon be brought to an end bv
acta of the parties themselves, and should
the evils which result therefrom; afflicting
all nations, and particularly the United
States, continue to such event. I am of
opinion tliat other nations will be compell
ed to assume tlie responsibility which de
volves upon mem, and to seriously consid
er the only remaining measures possible,
mediation and intervention. Owing, per
hap. to the largeexpanse of water separat
ing the island from the peninsula, tlie want
of iiarmony, of personal sympathy between
the inhabitants of the colony and these sent
thither to rule them and want ot adaption
of the ancient colonial system of EurojHf to
the present times and to the ideas which
the events of the past century have devei
oped, the contending parties appear to
have within themselves no depository of
common confidence. To suggest wisdom
when passion and rxciremeut have their
sway, and to assume the part of peace ma
ker, iu this view, in the early days of the
contest the good offices of tlie United States
as a mediator were tendered in good faith,
without any selfish purpose, in the interest
of humanity, hi sincere friendship for both
parties, but were refused bjf the Spanish
government. .Mediation r intervention
seem to be the only alternative which must
sooner or later be invoked for the termina
tion of the strife. At the same time, while
thus impressed. I do nc tut this time recom
mend the adoption of any measure ot inter
vention. I shall be ready at ail times as
the equal friend of both partie, to respond
to a suggestion that. the good offices of the.
United States wilt be acceptable to aid in
bringing about a peace honorable to both.
It is due to Spain, so far as this. government
is concerned, .that tlie agency of a third
powr, to which! have adverted shall be
adopted only as a .lastexpedier.t. - Mad it
been the desire of the United Shttes to in
terfere in the a flairs of Ouba,r-repeatcd;op-rfrtunities.
for so doing have been present
ed within the hist few years'. But we have
rentained passive, and have performed our
whole duty and all international obligations
to Spain with friendship, fairness and fidel
ity, and with a spirit of patience and for
bearance which negatives every possible
euggesticn of a desire to interfere or add to
tlie difficulties with which she has been
sumainded. The government of Spain has
recently snotnitted to our minister at Mad
rid certain proposals, which oiay be found
to be the basis, if not actual submission of
terms to meet the reqtiirements'or the par
ticular griefs of which this Government
has felt itself entitled to comptainr ' These
proposals have not yet reached uie In their
full text. On their arrival they will be
considered carefully, and may, i hope, lad
to a satisfactory adjustment of the questions
to which they refer and remove the possi
bility o future occurrences, such as have
given rise to our just complaints. , "
THE MEXICAN BOEDER TKOTTDLES."
Depredations Iy-bsiwhv from, Mexico on
the people ot Texa, near the frontier con
tinue. -Though the maii object Ot excur
sions is robbery they frequently-resnlt in
the murder of quiet and peacabfy disposed
persons, and in some eases, even the United
States postofiices and mail eouimimieationS
have been attacked. , .
Renewed remonstrances iipnn this subject
have been addressed to the Mexican Gov4
ernnsent. hilt Wiihout.rntleh apparent eitect;
The military t'us'ec of this Government dls
posable.for service in that quarter is quite
inadequate to effectually guard the line,
even at the points wherein excursions are
generally made.-
An exierimeiit of an armed vessel on the
Rio Grande for that purpose is on trial, and
it is hoped that if not thwarted by shallow
ness of the river, and other natural obstacles
it may contribute to the protection of the
herdsmen in Texas
THE FKliE ZONE,
So called, several years since established by
ilexico in certain States of that Republic,
adjacent to our frontier,, remains aufidl.
operation.- It U always materially injurious
to dooKSStlc trtiffic while it operates as an
incentive to traders In Mexico to supply
free- of custorti charges, the wants of the
people of both sides of the line, and pre
vents tlie same from being supplied by mer
chants of the United States, thereby, to a
considerable extent, defrauding our revenue
and checking honest commercial enterprise.
DOrXGS OF THE MEX1CAX CLAIMS COMMIS
SION. The proceedings of joint commission
under the convention between the United
States and Mexico, of the 4th July, 1SUS. on
the subject of claims, will soon be brought
to a close. The result of these proceedings
will then be communicated to Congress.
VKXEZrftLA.
I am happy to announce that the govern
ment of V euezuela has, upon further con
sideration, practically abandoned its objec
tions to pay to the United States the share
of its revenue, which some years'; since
it allotted toward the extinguishment
of claims of foreigners generally. In tlie
reconsideration of its former determination,
that government has shown a justice and
self-re.spect which cannot fail to reflect cre
dit upon it in the eyes ot'all disinterested
persons elsr where. It is to be regretted,
however, that its payments on account of
claims of citizens of the United States are
still so meager in amount, and that the
(stipulations of the trea.y in regard to the
sums to be pah, and the periods when these
payments were to take place, should have
been so signally disregarded. . ;
TREATIES AM) CONVENTIONS WITH FOltEIGX
I-OWEK5. -- .
Since mv la-t annual message the ex
change has Irh-ii made of the ratifications of
a trea'ty of commerce and navigation with
Belgium, and of conventions with the Mexi
can Republic for the further extension of
the joint commission respecting claims;
with tlie Hawaiian Islands for commercial
reciprocity, all of which have been duly
proelai tried.
COMMISSIONERS OF ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The court of commissioners of AUibama
claims has prosecuted its important d ities
very assiduously and very -satisfactorily.
It convened and was organized on the 22d
day of July. 174, and by the terms of the
act under which it was created, was to exist
for one vear from that date. The act pro
vides, however, that should it be found im-i
practicable to complete the work of the
court before the expiration of the year, the
President might, by proclamation, extend
the time of its "duration to a period not more
than six months beyond the expiration ct
the one year. - Having received satisfactory
evidence that it would tie impracticable to
complete the work within tlie time origin
ally fixed, I issued a proclamation, a copy
of which is presented herewith, extending
the time of the duration of the court for a
jicriod ot six monthsfrom and after the 22d
day of July last.. ,. A report made through
tlie clerk of the court, communicated here
with shows the condition of the calendar
ou the first of November last, and the large
amount of . wora wmcli ims oeeu accom
plished, j
Thirteen hundred and eighfy-two claims
have been presented, of which eight hun
dred and sixty-nvo uau been cusposeu ol at
the date of the report, .
I am informed that one lAtudred and sev
enty cases were decided during the month
of November. Arguments are tieing made.
and decisions given in the remaining cases
with all the dispatch consistent with the
proper consideration of the questions
submitted. Many of these claims are in
behalf of mariners, or depend on the
evidence ot mariners, whose absence has
deiayed the taking and the return of the
necessary evidence. i
: It is represented to me that it will be im
practicable for the court to finally dispose
of all the cases before it, within the present
limit of its duration. Justice to the parties
claimants, who had been at large expense
in preparing their, claims, and obtaining
evidence in their support, suggests a short
extensioTi to enable the court to dispose of
all claims which .have already been pre
sented. I recommend the legislation which may
be deemed proper to enable the court to
complete the work before it. ' " -
COUKT EOK COXSIDEfilXG CLAIMS OF ALIENS
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
" Also recommend that some suitable pro
vision be made by the creation of a special
court, or by conferring the necessary juris
diction upon such appropriate tribunal for
the consideration and determination ot
claims of aliens against tlie Government of
the United States, which have arisen with
in some reasonable limitation of time, or
which may hereafter ari excluding all
claims barred hy treaty provisions, or other
wise, as it has been found impossible to give
proper consideration to those claims by the
Kxccutive Department of the Government.
Such a tribunal ivould aflVml an opportimity-
to aliens, other than JJriusii subjects, to
present their claims on account of acts com
mitted against tlieir persons or property
during the rebellion. As also to those sub
jects of Great Britan, whose claims having
arisen.subsequerit to the- 8th day of ; April,
1875,, could not be presented to the commis
sion organized pursuant to provisions of the
Treaty ot Washington. m ;
OCEAN TELEGRAPHS. ;
The electric telegraph has become an es
sential and iiulispoiisableageut in the trans
mission ot business and social message. Its
operation on luud. within the limits of
particular States, is necessarily under the
control of the jurisdiction within which it
operates. The lines on the high seas, .how
ever, are not subject to the particular con
trol of any one 'Government, j, f ;; ;v ' '
lit lSWi a concession was granted by the
French government to a Company which
proposed to Jay a cable from the shores of
France to the United States. At that time
there was a telegraphic connectioi) between
the United States and the .'continent of Eu
rope," through the possessions of an associ
ation which had, at the cost of a great out
lay of capital, and at great risk, demon
ettated the , praettcability of maintaining
snch means of communication J The cost
of correspondence, ' by this agency, , was
great, although' possibly not too large; at
the time for rt proper remnneratioii tor so
hazardous and so cosily aii enterprise. It
was nowever,a happy change ujkui a meaus
of couiujuutcatioiij which the progress iu
the social And Commercial ttiferceHtrse of the
world has found to be a necessity, and the
obtaining of this French concession showed
that other capital man tna.c ajreaay to enter
coin petition with assurances of adequate re
turn for thelt' outlay i f 4
Impressed with tl:8 conviction . ihat the
interest not only ol the people of the Uni
te'd States, but of the world at large, de
mand, or would demand, the multiplication
of such means of communication between
separated continents, I was desirous that
the proposed connection should be made.
But certain provisions of this concession
were deemed by me to be objectionable,
particularly one which gave to the compa
ny, for a long term ot years, the exclusive
right of telegraphic communications, by
submarine cable, between the shores of
France and tlie Uulted States..- I could hot
concede that any power Iionld claim the
rijfltt to laud a cable-on tJn-eliores of. the
United states,a:id at the same time deny lite
United States, or to its citizens, equal rights
to land a cable on its shores. The right to
control the condition for tlie laying of" a
cable in waters within the jurisdiction of
tlie United States to connect our shores
with those of any foreign state pertains
exclusively to the government of tlie Unit
ed States, under such limitations and condi
tions as Congress may impose. ?
In the absence of legislation by Congress,
I was unwilling, ou tlie one Iiand, to yield
to a foreign state the right to say that its
grantee might land on our shores while it
denied a similar right to our people to land
on its shores ; and, on the other hand, I
was reluctant to deny to the great interests
ot the world of civilization the facilities of
such communication as were proposed ; I
therefore withheld any resistance to the
lauding of any cable, on condition that of
fensive monopoly part of the-corieession be
abandoned, and that the right of any cable
which may be established by authority of
this government. to land upon French terri
tory.and to connect with French land lines,
and enjoy all the- necessary facilities at pres
ent incident to the use thereof.
The company in question renounced the
exclusive privilege and the representative
-of France was so informed. Understand
ing that this relinquishment was to be con
strued as granting the entire reciprocity
and equal facilities which had been demand
ed, the opposition to the landing of the ca
ble was withdrawn. The cable, under this
French concession, was landed iu the month
of June, 13!0, and has been an efficient and
valuable agent of communication between
this country and the continent. It soon
passed under control however, of I ho :e who
had the management of the cable connect
ing Great Britain with this continent, and
thus, whatever benefit the public might
have enjoyed from the competition between
the two lines, was lost.
Tlie company having greater facilities of
an additional line ami the additional securi
ty, in ease of accident to one of them, ot
being able to .use the other gave it great sta
bility. But the increased facilities and
this additional security, togetlier with con
trol of the combined capital of the compa
nies gave also greater power to prevent
future construction and limit t ne control
of the. telegraphic eommtttiUsittoTi between
two continents to those possessing lines
already laid.
Within a few months past a cable has
lieen laid known as the U. S. Direct Cable
Company, connecting the United States
circctly with Great Britain. As soon as
this cable was reported to be iu working
order the rates of tlie then existing consoli
dated companies were greatly reduced.
Soon, however, a break was announced iu
this new cable, and itii mediately the rates
of the other line, which had been reduced,
were again raised. This cable being now
repaired, the rates appear not to be i educed
by cither line from those formerly charged
by the other company.
Thre is reason to believe that large
amounts of capital, both at home and
abroad, are ready to seek profitable invest
ment in the advancement or this u.setul
and most civilizing means ot intercourse
and correspondence.
They await however, the ''"assurance ' of
Governments for tlie safety of - the means
and contributions which they may make
tributary to the general good.
KEGCLATIOXS FOR OCEAN TELEGRAPHS POST
" :. PONED.
- As these cable telegraphs connect the sep
arate states, there will lie questions as to
their organization and control, which prob
ably can be best, if not solely settled hy
conventions between the respective states.
In the absence, however, ot international
conventions ou the subject, national legis
lation may be secured on many points
which to me appear important, it not indis
pensable, for the protection of the public
against tlie extortions which may result
fiom a monopoly ot the right of operating
cable telegraphs, or from a combination
between several - lines. First : No line
sould be alloncd to land on the shores", of
me i.nueii states under concessions from
another power, which do not admit the
right of any other line or linea from the
United Suites to land and freely connect
with and operate through its land lines.
Second : No line should be allowed to
land on the shores of the United States,
which is not, by treaty stipulations ; with
the government from whose shores it pro
ceeds, or by provision in its charter, or
otherwise, to the satisfaction of this gov-
ernmentT prohibited from consolidating or
amalgamating with any other ? cable tale
graph line, or combining therewith for the
purpose ot elevating and maintaining the
cost of telegraphic communication. . Third:
The lines should be bound to give prece
dence in the transmission ot official messa
ges to the governments of the two countries
between which it may be laid. Fourth: A
po wer should be reserved to tlie two govern
ments, either conjointly or to each, as j re
gards the messages 'dispatched from ; its
shores, to fix a limit to the charges to be
maintained for the transmission of messa
ges, v- i ., :
I preseut this subject fo the earnest con
sideration of Congress in the meantime,
and unless Congress otherwise directs, I
shall not opjose the landing of any cable
which complies with and assents to the
points above enumerated, but will feel it
my duty to prevent the landing 6f any
which does not conform -with the- first and
second points, as stated, and which ? will
not stipulate to concede to this government
the precedence iu transmission of its official
messages, and wilt not enter Jnto satisfacto
ry arrangm&nts as regards Us charges.
?t -i FBACDULENT NATUKLIZ ATION. . , .
Anions: the nr ess lnr and tmnnrbtnt sub
jects to which, In my opinion, the attention
vi loougress snouiu be tiireotea, are tnose
relating to fraudulent naturalization and
expatriation. The. United States, r with
great liberality, offers its citizenship to all
who, in good lait.h, comply with the require
ment of law. These requirements Are as
Simple, and upon aa favorable terms to the
emigrant, as the high privilege to which he
is admitted can or should permhV And I
do not propose any additional requirements
to those which the law how demands , But
the very simplicity and want of necessary
formality in our law. have made fraudulent
uaturlization not infrequent, to tlie discred
it and injury ol all honest citizens who are
iiiiti vc or naturalized. Cases of this ' char
acter are continually brought to the notice
of government by our representatives abroad
and also those ot persons resident in foreign
countries. Most frequently these, if they
had really; remained in thi3 country long
enough to entitle them to become natural
izedj had generally not over passed that
period and have returned to tlie country
of their origin, where they reside, avoidiug
all duties to the United States by their al
sence, and claiming to be exempt from all
duties to the country of their nativity and
of their residence by reasou of their alleged
naturalization. It is due to this govern
ment itself, aiid to a great mass of naturali
zed citizens of the United States, that the
higli-privileges of citizenship of the United
States should not be held by fraud, or iu
violation of the laws, and of the good name
of every, honest citizen. In .many, cases it
has been brought to the knowledge of the
government that certificates of natuializa
tion are had. and protection . or Jnterfer
ence claimed by parties who admit, only
were they not citizens of the Udfed States
at the time ot their pretended naturalization
but that they never resided in the United
States. In others, the certificate.' and re
cord of the court show on their face that
the person claiming to be naturalized had
not resided the required time in the United
States. In others, it is admitted upon ex
amination, that the requirements of tlie
law had not been complied with. In some
case3 even such certificates have been made
matters of purchase. These are not solita
r3T cases, arising at rare intervals, but of
common occurrence, and which are report
ed from all quarters of the globe. Such
occurences con not and do not fail to reflect
upon tlie government, and injure all hon
est citizens.
Such a fraud being discovered, however,
there is no practical means within the con
trol of the government by which the record
of naturalization can be vacated, and should
the diplomatic and consular representatives
of the government to whom it may liave
been presented, there is nothing to prevent
the person claiming to have been naturaliz
ed, from obtaining a new certificate in the
Clace of that which had beeu taken from
im. ,
The evil has become so great and ot such
frequent occurrence, that I cannot too
strongly recommend that some effective
measures be adopted to provide a proper
remedy and that means he provided for
vacating any record thus fraudulently made,
and punishing the guilty parties to the
transaction.
EXPATBIATION AND ELECTION OF NATION
ALITY. In this connection, I refer again to the
question of expatriation and election ot na
tionality. The United States are foremost
in upholding the right ot expatriation, and
was principally instrumental in overthrow
ing the doctrine of perpetual allegiance.
Congress hasdeclared the right of expatria
tion to be the natural, inherent right of all
people. While many other nations liave
laws providing what formalities shall be
necesary to work a change of allegiance,
the United States has enacted the provisions
of no law, and has Jit no respect marked
out how and vvlten expatriation may be ac
complished by its citizens. Instances are
brought to the attention of the government
where citizens of the United States, natu
ralized or native born, have formally be
come .citizens, or subjects of foreign powers,
but who. nevertheless, in the alienee of
any provisions of legislation on this qnesr
tion. when it seems' to be their interest,
claim to be citizens of tlie United -States,
and demand the intervention of a govern
ment to which they have for years,
rendered no service, or placed themselves
in any wav amenable. In othercases natu
ralized citizens at once, after naturaliza
tion, have returned to their native country ;
have become engaged hi business; have
accepted offices or pursuits inconsistent
with American citizenship, and evince no
intent to return to the United States, until
called iixu to discltarge some duty to the
country where they are residing, when at
once they assert their citizenship And call
upon the representatives of the Government
to aid their unjust pretensions. It is but
justice that, on all such occasions, no doubt
should exist oil such questions and that
Congress should determine by tlie enact
ment of law, how expatriation shall be ac
complislied, and change of citizenship be
established. ,, : . -.-
MAKHIAGE OF AMEKICAN WOMEN TO EOR
EIGNEKS. I also invite your attention to the necessi
ty of regulating by law the status of Ameri
can women who marry foreigners, and of
defining more fully that ot children born
in foreign countries of American parents,
who may reside abroad ; and also, ot some
further provision regulating or giving legal
effect to marriages of American citizens
contracted in foreign countries.- The cor
respondence submitted herewith, shows a
few of the constantly occurring questions
on these points, submitted to the considera
tion ot tlie Government. There . are' iev
subjects fc engage the attention of congress
on which more delicate relations are de
pending. -3 .
ARCHIVES SAFELY DEPOSITED.
In the month of July last, the building
erected for the Department 6f State was
taken possession of, and occupied by that
department. lam happy to say that ar
chives and valuable property of the Govern
ment hi custody ofthat department are now
safely and carefully deposited.
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF TREASL'RY.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasu
ry shows the receipts from customs tor the
fiscal year ending June 30. 1874, to have
been fl63.10a.h33 69, and for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1 875, to have been
$157,167,722 33 ; a decrease for the last fis
cal year of $5,936,111 34. Receipts from
internal revenue for the year ending June
30, 1874, were 102,409,784 90 and Tor the
year ending 30th June, 1875., were $ 110,
007,493 53 ; increase. $7,597,708 68, The
report also presents a complete showing of
the working of the department for the last
year, and contains recommendations for
reforms and legislation which 1 concur in
but cannot comment on so fully as I should
like to do if space would permit, but I will
confine myself' to a-few suggestions upon
a subject which I look upon as more vital
to the best interests of the whole people
than any coming within the purview of the
treasury. I mean
"-'' SPECIE RESUMPTION. .
Too much stress cannot be laid or. this ques
tion, and I hope Congress may be induced,
at the earliest day practicable, to insure the
consummation of the act ot the last Con
gress at its last session to bring about specie
resumption on and after the 1st day of Jan
uary, i 879, at the ; farthest. It would be a
great blessing If this could be cosummated
even at aw earlier dayc ? Nothing -seems to
be more certain than that full and perma
nent change cannot take place in favor of
the Industries and financial welfare of the
country until we return to a measure of
values recognized throughout tlie civilized
world. While we have currency not equi
valent to this World-recognized staudard.
specie becomes a- coin modify, like the pro
ducts ot the soil, the surplus seeking a mar
ket wherever there is a demand for it.
Under our present system we should want
wouty nor would have any, were it not
that customs dues must be paid in coin, and J
because ot the pledge to pay the interest of 1
ino puunc aeoc in coin. ... The yield of pre
cious metals would flow oitt tbrtheJpiirchasc.
oi lorcign products, and leave the United
States liewers of wood and draw-era of wa
ter. because oi Wiser legislation oh the
subject of finance by the nations with whom
we have dealings . . . .
t am not prepared to 'say that I can sug
gest the best legislation to secure tlie end
mitst heartily commended.; It will be a
source of great gntttflrxtiou to me to be
able to approve any measure of Congress
looking effectively toward early resumption
Unlimited inflation would probably bring
about specie payments, more speedily than
any. legislation looking to the redemption
of securities in coin ; but it would be at the
expense of honor, and legal tenders would
have HQ value beyond settling present lia
biltles, or. properly speaking, repudiating
them. - They -would -buy -nothing after tlie
debts were all settied.
OTHER IMPORTANT FINANCIAL (MEASURES.
There are a few other measures which
seems to me important in this connection,
and which I commend to your earnest con
sideration : t -
First Tlie repeal of so. much of the legal
tender acts as to make these notes receiva
ble for debts contracted .after a date to be
fixed in the act itself say not later than the
1st of January, 1879. We should then
have quotationsat real values, not fictitious.
Then gold would not only be at a premium:
but currency at a discount. A healthy
reaction would set in at once, and with it a
desire to make the currency equal to what
it purports to be. The nianulacturers and
taradesmen, and every calling could tlo
business on a fair margin at a profit. The
money, to be received having an unvarying
value, laborers, and all classes, who work
for stipulated pay, or salary, would receive
more for their income, because extra profits
would no longer be charged by the mer
chant to compensate tor the risk of a down
ward fluctuation in the value of the curren
cy, Second That the Secretary of the
Treasury be instructed to redeem, say, not
exceeding 5,000,000 monthly of legal ten
der notes, by Issuing instead a long bond
bearing interest at 3.65-100 per cent, per
annum, of denominations ranging from $5
to $1,000 each. This would-reduce legal
tenders to a volume that could be kept
afloat without demanding redemption in
large sums suddenly. Third That addi
tional power be given to the Secretary of
tlie Treasury to accumulate gold for final
redemption, either by increasing tlie leve
uue, curtailing expenses, or both. It is
preferable to do both, and I recommend
that reduction of expenditure be made
wherever it can without imparing govern
ment obligations or crippling the due exe
cution thereof.
TEA AND COFFEE.
One measure for increasing the revenue,
and the only oue I can think of, is the res
toration of the, duty on tea and coffee.
The?c duties would add probably $18,000,
000 to present amount received for imports,,
and would in no way increase the prices
paid for these articles by the consumers.
These articles are the products ot countries
collecting revenue fiom exports, and as we,
the last consumers, decrease the duties, we
proportionally increase the consumption.
DUTIES ON ARTICLES USED IN MANUFAC-
TUUES. - .- '
With this addition to the revenue, many
duiries now collected, and which give but
an insignificant return for collecting, might
be remitted to the direct advantage of con
sumers at. home. 1 would mention those
articles which enter into manufactures ofy
all sorts. All duties paid upon such artU
cies wnen manuiactureu here, must be
paid by consumers. The duties not only
come from consumers at home, but act as
a protection to foi-eign manufacturers of
the same or compeling articles in our- own
and distant markets. -
PROTECTION AGAINST FRAUDULENT CLAIMS.
"I suggest or mention another subject
bearing iipon the question of how to enable
the Secretary of the Treasury to accumulate
balances. It is to devise some better meth
od ot verifying claims against the govern
ment than at present exists. Of claims
growing out of' the late war, nothing is
more certain than a large per centage of
the amounts passed and uaiil are Dartlv or
wholly fraudulent, or are far in excess" of
the real Josses . sustained. The large
amount of losses proven on good testiruonv
according to existing laws, but by affidavits
of fictitious or unscrupulous persons, to
nave been sustained on small farms and
plantations, are not only far beyond - the
possible yield of those nlaccs for anv one
year, but as every one knows who has ex
perience In tilling the soil, and Who has
visited the scenes of these spoliations, are
in many cases more than the persons were
ever worth, including their - personal and
real estate. The report ot the Attorney
Genemrfwhich will be submitted to Con
gress at an early day, will contain a detail
ed history of the awards made of claims
pending of the class here reported.
i ' REPORT OF SECRETARY OF WAR.
Tlie report of tlie Secretary of War ac
companying this message gives a detailed
account ot army operations for the year
just passed, the expenses for maintenance,
etc.. wijth recommendation for legislation,
to which I respectfully invite "your atten
tion. To some of these and of the first
importance, is the necessity of making an
appropriation of $300,000 for the Subsist
ence Department, available before the be
ginning of the fiscal year. Without this
provision troops at points distant from sup
ply points must eltlier fro without food or
the existing law must be violated. ' This is
not attended with cost to the Treasury.
Second : His recommendation ; for the
enactment of a . system of annuities for
families of deceased officers- by voluntary
deductions from the monthly pay of officers.
This again is not attended with burden
upon the Treasury, - and would for tlie
future relieve much distress, which every
old army officer has witnessed in the past
in cases of the officers dying suddenly or
being killed, leaving their families without
even the meaus of reaching their friends, it
fortunate enough to have friends to aid
them. .Third. The repeal of the law abol
ishing mileage and a return to the old sys
tem. i; Fourth. The trial with torpedoes
under the corps of engineers and an appro
priation for the same. . Should war ever
occur between the United States and any
maritime power, torpedoes will be among,
if not the effective, cheapest anxllliary for
defense of harbors and also for aggressive
operations that we can have. Hence it is
advisable to learn by experlmonts tlieir best
construction and a pollen tion as well as their
effect. ; Fifth. ; Permanent organization of
siguiu service corps, ittis service litis
now become a necessity of peace as well as
war, under advancement made by preset: t
able management. Sixth. Renewal otthe
appropriation for completing the oJficial
records of tlie war, etc.
THE CONDITION OF OUR" NAVY
1 At this time is a subject of satisfaction
It does not contain. It is true any. of the
powerful cruising ironclads which make so
much of the maritime strength of some ,
other nations, but neither our continental.!
situation nor our foreign policy require we
should have a large number of ships of thi
character, while this situation and the na
ture f our ports continues to make those
or other nations of but little danger to the
United States under such circumstances.
Our navy does contain, however, a consid
erable number of Ironclads of the monitor
class, which,- though not properly cruisers
are powerful aiid effective for harbor def
enseand tor operations near our own shores.
Of these, a H the single turreted. fifteen in
number, have been substantially rebuilt
their wcoilen beams replaced with iron
hulis strengthened, and their engines and
machinery thoroughly replaced, so tlwS
they are now in a most efficient condition,'
and ready for sea as soon as they can bo
manned and put In commission. The flvo
double-turreted ironclaJs belonging to tlie
navy, by far the most powerful of our ships
tor fighting purposes, are also in baud un
dergoing complete repairs,- aiid could be
ady for sea it' periods varying from foiii?
to Six months.- With thesn mmnlnforl nf-
corditig to the present design, and our two7
iron torpedo boats, now ready, our ironclad
fleet" will be,' for the purposes of. defense ac.
Iinma Vlfl!ll tin ttt,T. fr,tf.A frt.4,4- ..nn 1u M.nrltt.
-brought against it. Our wooden avy,al9o .
cruisers of various sizes, to the liumoer of
about forty, including those now in com
mission, are in the Atlantic and could be
ready for duty a fast as men could be cn--listed.
Ot those not already in commission,'
one-third are, in effect, new ships,' and al-'
though of the remainder considerable re-
paira to their boilera and machinery are'
necessary,' they are or can readily be made'
. t rill. ! - . .!.... . I- '
...WW.. a . . - J .V..O.. . V. V. W v. . . . U . U
than fifty war ships, of which fifteen arc
iron-clads now on hand. On the Atlantic
coast the navy has been brought to this"
condition by a judicious and' practical ap-'
plication of what could be spared from the
current appropriations of the last few years,;
and from, that made to meet a possible
emergency ' two', years .ago. It has been
done quietly, w ithout proclamation r dis
play, and though it has necessarily straight
ened the department in its ordinary expen
diture, and as far as iroh-c.ads are concern
ed, has added nothing to the cruising1 force'
of the navy, the'rcsult Is hot iess satisfacto
ry, because It is tq'be found a great increase)
of real ttian apparent force. The expenses,''
incurred in the maintenance of ajiavaf
foi-ce in all Its brandies are necessarily
large, but such a force is essential to our
Imputation, relations and character, and af
fects seriously the weight of our principles,
and policy throughout the whole sphere of
naval responsibilities. ; The estimates for
tlie support of this branch of the service tor
the next year, amount to a little less in the
aggregate titan those made for the current,
but some additional appropriations are ask
ed for objects not included in the ordinary
maintenance of tlie navy, but believed to bo"
of pressing importance at this time. It
would, in my opinion, be well at once to",
afford sufficient means tor the immediate"
completion of the double turreted monitors;
now undergoing repairs, which must other
wise advance slowly and only as money
can ue spareu troiu current expenses, sup
plemented by these, our navy, armed with:
these destructive weapons of modern war-'
fare, manned by our seamen and In charge"
of our instructed officers, will present a
f orcepow-erful enough for the home pnros-
es ofa responsible though peaceful nation.'
TnE REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL,"
Herewith transmitted, gives a full history
of the workings of the department for tlie
year just passed." It wilt be observed that
the deficiency to be supplied from the gen
eral treasury is increased over the amount
refunded for . the preceding yean In a
country so vast in area as the United States;
with a large population, sparsely settled, it
miist be expected that this important serv
ice will be more or less jS burden on the
Treasury for" many, years r but there is no
branch of the public service w hich interests
the whole i-eople more than that ot CheafV
and rapid transmission of tlie mails to eve-'
ry inhabited part of our ' territory. Next
to tlie tree schools the postoffice Is the great
educator of the people, and it may well ro
ccive the support of the General Govern
ment. The subsidy of $150,000 per annum,'
given to vessels of the Unired States fof
carrying the mails between New York and
Rio De Janeiro, having ceased on the 30tli
of "September last, we are without direct
mail facilities with South America.? This
is greatly to be regretted, and I do .not lies
Itate to recommend the authorization of t
renewal of that Contract, and also that the
service hiay be increased from monthly tat
semi-monthly trips.' -.The commercial ad
vantages to be gained by a direct line, of
American steamships to the South Ameri
can States will far outweigh the expense or
the service. ; By act of, Congress approved.
March 3d. 1875, almost all matter, whether
properly mail matter or not, may be sent
any distance through the mails, in packa
ges not exceeding four pounds In , weight
tor the sum of 16 cents per pound. So lar'
as tlie transmission of real mail matter is
concerned this would seem entirely pi-oner, -
but I suggest that, the la'w be so amended as .
to exclude from the man's merchandise of
all descrintions, and limit this means of
transDortMtion to all articles enumerated
and which may be classed as mall matter
proper. .- . .
THE BLACK KILLS."
The discovery of gold In tlie Black- II II he
a portion of the Sioux Reservation, has had
the effect to Induce a large emigration of
miners to that point. Thus" far the effort
to protect the treaty rights ot the Indians
of that section lias been successful, but the
next year will certainly witness a large in
crease ot such emigration. The treaties
for the relinquishment of the cold fields,"
having failed, it will be necessary for Con-'
gress to adopt iome measures to relieve the?
embarrassment growing out ot the causes'
named.- The Secretary ot the Interior sug
gests that the supplies now appropriated
for tlie subsistence of that people, being no
longer obligatory by the treaty of February
8, but simply a gratuity, may be issued or
withheld at his discretion. :
rxDiAN TEiaatORY.-;
Hie conditions of the Indian Territory tct
which I have referred In several of my Xor
mer anuria! messages remain practically
unchanged. - Tlie Secretary of the Interio
has taken meastfres to obtain a full report
of tlie condition of that territory, and wUl
make it the subject of a special report at an
early day. It may then be necessary to
make a further recommendation in regard
to legislation for the government of that
territory.. ' r ' " . .
THE PATENT OFFICE.
The steady growth " and increase of tlie
business of the Patent Office indicate li -some
measure the growth of the Industrial ;
prosperity of the country. The receipts of
t he offl. are In excess of its expenditures.
and the office generally in a prosperous ,
and satisfactory condition. L -
. THE PUBLIC LANDS. - -
shows that tnero- were z,otuj. acres iess
disposed .ot during this than last year.
More than half ot this decrease wns li I' .id
disposed of under the homestead a. 1 1. -ber-cuttiug
lawn. : Tho causes of t; , t
crease are supposea 10 oe louna iu "
hoppersand the drouths which pref. . f
extensively in some of-tlie1 frontier tues
aud Territories in t!at time as to di :-cx . t