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xjoL L. ' -~ 1 A ^r■ r»ytt» v Bg,y Jt. Ivl- o 5t :t.'/L B tSc B o 1ST, EDITORS AN D PROPRIETORS. "* -r* . • Ji:\ . i r i ■ — -‘ >■' * - 1;r in Advance. ,,m ka r 1S i N <r—Persquare of tenliues, each ;ii 1,1. ■? * ■>'<• M.-,i Hiui others fui all >ver $ 35,twent/-liveper cent.off. LEtiAL AOVEllTISIXU. /-nn.iry's.—Citationsfor tetter t ol ad- <.Mtionjjwardi&ushlp'iiStc ou , , s B ad notice 2 Ot) M .mi lent or letters oi dism’u frontadni’n o 00 ltl .> i :' l >r idtersof dism'uofguara’u 3 50 itioufer leave to scli'Lanu 5 uo ......) Debtors au<l Creditors 3 00 .if ii i'id, per s[iiarc of ten lines 5 00 la sonal, ;i.;r sij., ten days j ho ••..• — Each levy otlcu lines, or less.. 2 50 t'lit^orc sales of ten lines or (css 5 00 :. v ■ j,i." tor’s saVes. per sq. (2 months) 5 00 orcclosin e ol mortgage and otli- e r in mth'y's, per square 1 00 •<tmy notice*,thirty days... 3 00 I’.-,a lies ot Respect., liosolntions by Societies, i .itiur'KiSiAto.,exceeding six tines, to be charged . ,■ v u lien 1 advertising. •/= 11! -1 <>f La id, by Administrators, Execn- r ,la u Jians, are required by law, to be held , .b first Tuesday in ihe.inonTu, between the the forenoon and three in the af- oart-iiouse in the county in which ■ j. j i jrtY ia s uated. if a so i.cs must be given in a public 1 ‘ Id lay s previous to tile day of sale. , ,<e f ■ ' --Me of personal property must be . ;l iii. inner 10 days previous to sale day. -^ £ i d-cotors and creditors of an estate ii n f a, »o be published 40 days. ; , . v t application will be made to the ). Hilary for leave to sell laud, must be , i ..isiic 1 far two months. ms for letters of A1 ministration, Guar* , i, .. i, ifci-.., must Pc published 30days—for dis- ,,;aa fro a A l.nmistratlon, month!y six months ; j,smission 1 rum guardianship, 40 days. far foreclosure of Mortgages must be ;,'i •! ntjtiihlg for font mouths—for establish- >sl ,i ip ars./ur the full s puce of three months — ;i ,i.lading titles from Executors or Auminis- -itars.where bond lias been given by the de- >*!«1. Mil- full space of three mouths. Charge, ; j i.) > i-s quare of ton lines t\<r each insertion. Pai.matioas will always be continued accord ■<’ . ujai. the legal requirements,unless oth ,! vise ordered. ’I) ; l 1 i \, I t ill) « 111X111) O s i itJci;:\ x« Jo f:iU Jt Jcxxu xib. \ 41 Third Street, Macon, Georgia. MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, No. 50. hPUc JOHN HARIG, SAVANNAH, GA., WHOLESALE & RETAIL DEALER IN Wime Candies, FRENCH CONFECTIONERY, Chocolades, Fruits, Nuls, Syrups and Cordials.—Foreign and Domestic doys and Fancy Goods.— Tin and Mechanical Toys, Chi- na and. IVax Dolls ami Doll Heads. China Vases anil Ornaments, RUBBER GOODS, . AGCcmleons and other Musical Instru meats, Cutlery, Pocket-Books, Work-Boxes, Dressing Cases, Fancy Baskeis, Willow- Ware, Fire-Works, &c., &c., &c. A line Tnifty Arctic’ Soda Fountain with finest Fruit Syrups. CY” Orders from the Country 'promptly attended to and solicited. Our motto is, FAIR. DEALING and GOOD GOODS. Coiner of Broughton & Whitaker Streets, SAVANNAH, GA. April '20, 1869 10 tf o:o:o- Iv£ amifac turers ©r S a d.d les.Uarness, Collars & c. AND 1 Wholesale* and ZAstaii Scalers IN tSaadlery, Hardware, .ETooIs &c- o:o Harness, Skirting, Lace, Sole; Upper, Belting, Patent and Enameled Leather, Enameled Cloths, Calf and Lining Skins. Our Saddles, Harness &c., are of our own Man ufacture ; and we refer to those who have used our work, concerning its merits. I To Manufacturers, we would say : Our stock j of Leather and other Goods in our line, is j Large, and we aim to please in Price as well as j Quality. _ j We offer a great, variety of Whips, from which the most fastidious cannot fail to make a selec tion. As also, Horse and Saddle Blankets, Bug gy .Ma s ,Ve i • Ti-T; • .1. - r , ’ - ^ J;' | , ; -i'l ■ '*v ’Ft : ; v*.-- - ia ?! •J 1 a.- .YJ ‘ T:..i L bp mr • J r THE MM & BAULK ORGAS CO. WINNERS OF THE PARIS EXPOSITION MEDAL, Who have uniformly been awarded HIGHEST HONORS At Industrial Exhibitions IN THIS COUNTRY, , So that their work is the acknoiclcdged standard of excellence in its department, respectfully an nounce that, with extended and perfected faeili- ties, and by the exclusive use of recent improve ments, they are now producing ijet more perfect Or<runs than ever before, in great variety as to style and piice, adapted to all public and private uses; for Drawing Booms, Libraries, Music Rooms, Concert Halls, Lodges. Churches, Schools, &c , in plain and elegant cases, all of which they nr- enabled by their unequalled facilities for man ufacture to sell at prices of inferior work. The recent improvements in these Organs have so increased their usefulness and popularity that they are unquestionably the most desirable in struments obtainable for family use, as well as Churches, Schools, &c., while the prices at which they can be afforded ($50 to $1,000) adapt them to the means and requirements of all classes.— They are equally adapted to secular and sacred music, are elegant as furniture, occupy little space, are not liable to get out of order, (not requiring tuning once where a pianoforte is tuned twenty times) are very durable, and easy to learn to play upon. The M. & II. Organ Co. are now selling FOUR OCTAVE.ORGAN'S for $50 each; FIVE OC TAVE ORGANS, FIVE STOPS, with two sets of VIBRATORS for $125, and other styles at proportionate rates. For testimony to the superiority of their Organs, the Mason At Hamlin Organ Co respectfully 're fer to the musical profession generally ; a majori ty of the most prominent musicians in the coun try, with many of eminence in Europe, having given public testimony that the Mason & Hamlin Organs c-xeel all others. A circular containing this testimony in full will be sent free to any one desiring it, also a descrip tive circular, containing full particulars respect ing these instruments, with correct drawings of the different styles and the lowest prices, which are fixed and invariable. Address* THE MASON &. HAMLIN ORGAN CO, 59d Broad wav,New Y ork; 154 Tremout st., Boston November 3d, Idol) 48 3t sn ardist o-.t? o isr Iflitlual rife Insurance O O J?JZ IP AIVY. RICHMOND, VA. EjP Persons desiring to insure their lives wil call upon R- M. ORME, Jr.,Ag’t. Milledgeville, May 19,1868 20 tf ‘‘Our Patent Adjustable Plough Back band, commends itself to the Planter, by its being adapted to large or small animals, and obviating the necessity of moving it to the loins, when sliai- Hiv ploughing is desired. I We buy Hides, Furs, Wax, Wool, Moss and Tallow. September 28, ISG9 39 3m j Frost, IEBIslcIu Go., liolesale & Retail Manufacturers cf & Dealers in iFXiJRS'r CLASS © OF EVERY VARIETY. 69 BOWER Y, near Canal St., N. Y. steamboats, hotels and public buildings. Furnished at the Shortest Notice. ■W goods purchased of our house, guaranteed as represented. p ‘- w. Fiiost. Jas. black. Geo. Skyder. September 21- I8«9 ■ X3r~ G-.W. JONES, Btealdent enlist. ALL DENTAL opera tions performed with skill and care. Artificial teeth ^inserted inall styles known *to the profession. Old cases, not comforta- bly worn, can be made so. Sold Plates taken in part pay mentfor Den- rations. dtfice. East Rooms Darien Bank building, idgeville Oct. 13,1868. 41 tf Low J?T*ices. W HITE DINNER SETS,_ NEW LIMOGE Shapes, 157 pieces, $26. Smaller size sets proportionately low in prices. WHITE TOILET SETS, 11 pieces, $3 20. WHITE TEA SETS, 44 pieces, $4 00. GOOD WATER GOBLETS, per dozen, $1 50. GOOD WINE-GLASSES, per dozen, $1 00. All other goods in our line equally low. Goods packed for the country, or forwarded by Express, C. O.D. WASHIXUTOW MADLLYS, Middle Cooper Institute Block, Third and Fourth Aves., between 7th and 8th Sts., NEW YORK. ZW Send for Illustrated Photograph and Cata logue of Limoge Dinner, Tea and Toilet Sets, mailed free. October 19, 1869- 42 3m T. W. WHITE, fjLtta /'ficif-a t - i£a u±, MILL ED GE VILLE, GA., Will practice in this and the adjoining counties. 13?^ Applications for Homestead Exemptions under the new law, and oiher business before the Court of Ordinary, will receive proper attention. - - 41 tf October 13.18(58 Take Notice. a LL PERSONS indebted to Joseph Lane, or i<L to Joseph & Wu. N. Laue, are hereby no tified that such claims must be adjusted on or before August, 1869, next return day, or they v ill certainly be placed iu the hands of an attorney for collection. We can no longer pay our liabilities with vague promises of debtors. Our debtors MUST have iiii’icy- Forbearance has at last ceased to be a vir tue ; we therefore enrnestlij urge all wh-J are in terested to come forward without delay, settle, and thereby save us the unpleasant duty, and themselves the expenses that must incur, of sue- iuw out their claims. JOSEPH LANE. Milledgeville, Ga., June 8, 1869 23 tt A PROCLAMATION. G-eorgia- By RUFUS, B BULLOCK, Governor of said State. To the Vtople of Georgia: The tecent renewal of active hostilities against the person and property of colored citizens and white Republicans by the orgamzed'bauds of secret as sassins in certain portions of the State, seems to indie ate a concert of action and a purpose on the part of said organizations to persist in defying the civil law. It thereforo behooves tho good people of this State to see to i: that the .couiuionweahh be not further injured and defamed by the acts of per sons who, it is believed, are wholly without inter est in, or regard for, the welfare of the State. It is the duty of every county, town, or muni cipal corporate authority to ensure perfect protec tion for life aud property to every resident vvithiu their borders; and, whereas, iu many cases, the locai officials fail to exercise efficient means to se cure this result, the good citizens within such limits—those having a material interest at stake, or the best interest of the State at heart—should see to it that prompt measures are at once taken under the civil law to arrest and bring to punish ment the members of these organizations of se cret robbers and assassins. Under the statutes at present in force, the Executive is prevented from taking active measures for the suppression of civil disorders, and it is therefore all the more important that every good citizen should feel it his individual duty to become a peace officer, and to aid in securing to every inhabitant that'perfect protection guaranteed by tbe Constitution, and without which we cau never enjoy either civil lib erty or material prosperity. Outrages such as have heretofore iv*id are n- w again disgracing our State, cannot be tolerated or excused without involving the whole community. The time has arrived when these outrages must cease, or the good people of the whole .State will be held responsible for llieir continuance. To the end that no motive may bo wanting to stimulate the people to action in bringing to pun ishment the violators of the law, I hereby offer a reward of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS each for the arrest, with evidence to convict, of the person or persons engaged in the murder of Hon. Joseph Adkins, white, a Republican Senator of the 19th District. Aud of the person or persons engaged in the murder of Dr. Benjamin Ayer, white, a Republi can Representative from the county.of Jefferson. Aud of the person or persons engaged iu the outrage •ommitted upon the person of William Hardeman, white, of the county of Oglethorpe when, on or about the 31st day of October last, he was tied to a tree and brutally whipped, the out rage having been committed by a body of dis guised men for no other reason, as is alleged, than that Hardeman was charged with being a Radical. And of the person or - 'persons engaged in the outrage committed upon the-person otHon. Abra ham Coiby, colored Representative from the county.of Greene, who, on or about the 30th day of October last, was taken from his bed at night and cruelly beaten, the outrage having been com mitted by a body of twenty-five or thirty disguised melt for tbe reasou, as is alleged, that, he, the said Colby visited Atlanta and requested of the milita ry authorities protection for the free dm hit's school, located in the town of Greenesboro’, iu the eouuty of Grevne. And of the person or Spsrsons engaged in the depredation upon the office of the. Assessor of in ternal Revenue for the United States Government in the town of Washington, county of Wilkes, on or about the night oi tho !3:h .instant, when, as is alleged, the office was broken open, and books, papers, &c., scattered and destroyed, and notices left warning tho Assessor to leave the District. And of the person or persons engaged in th6 assault upon the house of the Hon. Eli Barnes, colored, Republican Representative from the county of Hancock, when, as is alleged, a body of masked men at or about the hour ot ! o’clock on the night of tho 10th instant, surrounded his resi dence and by threats of personal violence forced him to leave the county. • And of the person or persons, who, at or near the hour ol 10 o’clock on tins night* of the 15th instant, fired ten or twelve gunsbo’s into a camp of colored laborers, on llie lino of the Ma con & Brunswick Railroad, in the county of Tel fair, whereby one man was killed and another se verely wounded. « And of the person, or persons, who, on.Thurs- day night of „Court week, October term, about midnight, said to be a body of sixty men in dis guise, surrounded the residence of the Sheriff of the county of Hancock, demanded and obtained from him the keys of the jail and released from the jail one James Oxford, white, a notorious out law, awaiting his trial for the murder of John Taylor, a respectable citizen of said eouuty. Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at the Capitol, in the city of Atlanta, this 29th day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred arid sixty-nine, and of the independence of the United States the ninety-fourth. RUFUS B. BULLOCK, Governor. By the Governor: David G. Cai j iso, Secretary of State. December 7, 1869 49 4t PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. “j* JL Haul in you COTTOJ\ & AND HAVE IT Grinned. & Tacked AT THE STEAM COTTON GIN ON McIntosh Street—West of Wayne. YVrth. Care <5c- Speed. Separate rooms for each lot of Cotton. OY’ First Comers first Served.,^) Terms.—•$ 1 00 per hundred in, the bale, or the Seed pays the toll. JOHN JONES. Milledgevilie, Sept. 7, 1869 36 tf G. T. WIEDEMAN. In the New Building opposite the Hotel. HAVE JUST received a a nice selection of Watches, Jewelry, Diamonds, Clocks, Silver A, Plated Ware, Guns, Tistols, Cutlery, Musical In struments & Walking Canes. SPECTACLES fitted by the urc of tho Optimeter. Call and ex amiue my Goods. I will show them to you with great pleasure, and will warrant each article as represented. Particular attention paid to the REPAIR of tine Watches and Jewelry. Milledgeville, Oct. 12,1869 41 tf LOOK HERE. rjHIE BEST VINEGAR in the city, is for sale at L. N. Callaway’s, for $1 per gallon. Milledgeville, September 7, 1869. 36 tf To the Senate and House of Representatives: la coming before you for the lirst time as Chief Magistrate of a great'na Lion, it is with gratitude lo ihe Gi\er ol all good for ihe many benefits we en joy. We are blessed with peace a; home, without entangling alliances a- broad lo lorbode trouble ; with territo ry unsurpassed in fertility—of area e- qual lo the abundant sup ort of five hundred millions of people, abounding in every variety of useful mineral, in quantity sufficient to supply the world for generations, exuberant crops, vari ety of climate, adapted to the produc tion of every species of earth’s riches, suited lo the habits, tastes and require ments of every living thing. A popu lation of 40,000,000 of free people, speaking one language, facilities lor ev ery mortal to acquire education, insti tutions closing to none the avenue to fame oi any fortune that may be cov eted; freedom of pulpit, press and school; revenue flowing into the na tional treasury be}’ond requirements of the government. Happily, harmony is being rapidly ! restored within our own borders; tnan- ! ufaclures hitherto unknown inourcoun- j try are {-springing up in all sections, producing a degree of national inde pendence unequalled by any other pow er. These blessings and countless others are entrusted to your care and mine for safe keeping, for the brief pe riod of our tenure of office. In a short lime we must each of us return to ihe ranks of the people, who have conferred our honors, and account to them for our stewardship. I earnestly desire that neither you nor I may be condemned by a Iree and enlightened constituency, nor by our consciences. Reconstruction—What he says about Ga. Emerging from a rebellion of gigan tic magnitude, aided as it was by the sympathies' and assistance of nations with which we-were at peace, eleven Stales of the Union were four years ago left without legal Stale govern ments. A national debt had beef! contract ed ; American commerce was almost driven from the seas; the industry of one-half the country had been taken from the control of capitalists and plac ed where all labor rightfully belongs, in the keeping of the laborer. The work of restoring State Governments loy’al to the -Union, of protecting and fostering free labor and providing the means for paying the interest on the public debt, has received ample atten tion from Congress. Although your efforts have not met with success in all particulars that might have been de sired, yet, on the whole, they have been more successful than could have been reasonably anticipated. Seven States which passed ordinances of se cession, have been fully restored to their places in the Union. The eighth (Georgia) held an election at which she ratified her Constitution, republican in form, elected a Governor, members of Congress, a State legislature and other officers required. The Governor was installed, the Le gislature met and performed all acts then required o! them by the recon struction arts of Congress. Subse quently, however, in violation of the constitution which they had just rati fied, as since decided by-the Supreme Court of-the State, they unseated col ored members of the Legislature and admitted to their seats some members who are disqualified by the third clause of the fourteenth amendment—an arti cle which they, themselves, bad con tributed to ratify. Under these circum stances, I would submit to you wheth er it would not be wise, without delay, to enact a law authorizing the Gover nor of Georgia to convene the mem bers originally elected to the Legisla ture, requiring each to take (fie oath prescribed by the reconstruction acts, and none to be admitted who are ineL igible under that clause of the amend ment. The Freedmen. The freedmen, under the protection which they have received, are making rapid progress in learning, and no com plaints are heard of lack of" industry on their part, where they receive fair re muneration for their labor. The means provided tor paying the interest on the public debt, with all other expenses of the government, are more than ample. The loss of our commerce is only the result of the late rebellion, which has nol received sufficient attention from you. To this subject I call your earnest attention. I will not now sug gest plans by which this object may be effected, but will, if necessary, make H the subject of a special message dur ing the session of Congress. Virginia, Mississippi and Texas. The March term of Congress, by a joint resolution, authorized the Execu five to order elections in the States of Virginia, M ississippi and Texas, to submit to them Constitutions which each had previously framed, and to submit the Constitutions either entire or in separate parts, to be voted upon At the discretion of the Executive, under this authority, elections were called in Virginia. The election took place'on the Glh of July. The Gover nor and Lieutenant Governor elected have been installed ; the Legislature met and did all required by this reso lution and by all ihe reconstruction acts of Congress, and abstained from all doubtful authority. I recommend that her Senators and Representatives be promptly admitted to their seats, and that the State be fully restored to its place in the family of Stales*. Elections were called in Mississippi and Texas, to commence on the 3@iii of November—two Jays in Mississippi and lour days in Texas. The elections have taken place, but the result is noi known. ~ > It is hoped that the acts of the Legis latures ot ih'-se Slates, when they meet, will be such as lo receive yuur approval, and thus close the work ol 1 1 X reconstruction. The Currency—Specie Payment. Among the evils growing out of ihe rebellion aud not referred to, is that of an irredeemable currency. It is an evil which 1 hope will receive your most earnest attention. It is a duty— one of the highest duties—of the gov ernment to secure to citizens a medium of exchange of fixed and unvarying value. This implies a return to a spe cie basis, and no substitute 1 for it can be devised. It should be commenced now and reached at the earliest prac ticable moment consistent with a fair regard to the interests of the debtor class. Immediate resumption, if prac ticable, would not be desirable, li would compel the debtor class to pay beyond their contracts, the premium on gold at the date of their purchase, and would bring bankruptcy and ruin to thousands. Fluctuation, however, in the paper value ot the measure of all values, gold, is detrimental to ihe interests of trade. Jt makes the man of busieess an involuntary gambler, for jin all sales where future payment is to j be made, hath parties speculate as to j what will be the value of rite currency j to be paid and received. Receipts and Expenditures. The report* of the Secretary of the Treasury shows the receipts of the government for tbe fiscal year ending Jane 30, to be $370,943,747 ; expen ditures including interests, bounties ect., to be $321,490,-597 ; estimates for tiie ensuing year are more favorable to the government and will nodoubt show a much Larger decrease of the public debt. The receipts in .the Treasury beyond expenditures have exceeded the amount necessary Lo place the cred it of the sinking fund as provided by law ; to lock up the surplus in the Treasury and withhold it from circu- On the :96th of March last, the Unit ed Slates schooner, Lizzie Major >vas arrested on high seas bv a Spanish frigate, and two passengers taken and carried prisoners to Cuba. Represen tations of these facts were made to the Spanish Government as soon as official information reached Washington, and tire two passengers were set at liberty^ and the Spanish Government, assured the Untied Stales that the Captain ol the frigate in making ihe capture had acted without law; that lie had been reprimanded, and that the Spanish au thorities iu Cuba would nut sanction any act that would violate the lights or ation, would lead to such a contrac- j treat with disrespect ihe sovereignty of lion of currency as to cripple trade and j this nation. The question of the seiz- serioosly afiecl ihe prosperity of the country. Under these circumstances, the Sec retary of the Treasury and myself heartily concurred in the propriety of using all surplus currency in the Treas ury in purchasing .government bonds-, thus reducing the interest bearing in debtedness of ihe country, and of sub mitting to Congress the question of the disposition to he made ot bonds so pur chased. Bonds now held by the Treas ury amount to $7-5,009.000, including those belonging to the sinking fund. I recommend that the whole be placed to the credit of the sinking fund. Recommends the Creation of a Commis sioner of Customs, Revenue. Your attention is especially directed to the recommendations of the Secre tary of the Treasury for ihe creation of the office of Commissioner ol Cus toms and Revenue; for increased sala ry of certain classes of officials, and the substitution of increased national bank circulation to replace the out standing three per* cent, certificates; ami most especially to ins recommend ation for the repeal of the laws allow ing shares of fines, penalties, forfeit ures, etc., to officers oi'llie government ty ll u- w the j 1 earnestly recommend to you, then, J such legislation as will insure a.gradu- j or 10 informers, j al return to specie payments, and put j Internal Revenue i an immediate stop to the fluctuation in ; value of currency. The methods to j secure the former of these result’s are | as numerous as speculators on politi- ! cal economy. To secure tlie latter, 1 : sec but one way, and that is to author* I ize the treasury to redeem its own pa- ! per at a fixed price, whenever present ed. and to withhold from circulation al! currency so redeemed until sold again ! for gold. The vast resources of the j nation, both developed and undevel- joped, ought to make our credit the best on earth. With a less burden as taxation than citizens have endured for six years past, the entire public debt could be paid in ten years, but it is not desirable that the people should be taxed to pay it in that time. The Public Debt. Year by year the abiiitv to pay in creases in rapid ratio, but burden of interest ought to be reduced rapidly as soon as it can. without violation of con tract. The public debt is represented in great part by bonds, having from five to twenty aud from leu to forty years to run, bearing interest at the rate of six a id five per cent, respect ively. It is optional with the govern ment to dispense with these bonds at the earliest period after their expira tion in tha least time mentioned upon their face. The time has already ex pired when a great part may be taken up, and rabidly approaching when all may be. It is believed that all which are now due may be replaced by bonds bearing a rate of interest not exceeding four and a half per cent., and as rapid ly as the remainder become due that they me}’ be replaced in the same way. To accomplish this, it may be necessa ry lo authorize the interest to be paid at either of three or four of the money centres of Europe or by any assistant treasurer of the United Stales at the option of holder of bond. I suggest this subject for the consideration of Congress, and alsosimultaneously with this proposition redeeming our curren cy as before suggested at. its market value at the time the law goes into ef fect, increasing the rate at which cur rency’ will be bought and sold from day to day or week to weekjxt the same rate of interest as gold nays upon its bonds. The Tariff—Tuxes—Reduction Recom mended. The subject of tariff and internal tax ation will necessarily receive your at tention. The revenues of the country are greater than the requirements, and may with safety be reduced ; but as the funding of the debt in a lour or four and a half per cent, loan would reduce the annual current expenses largely ; thus, after funding, justifying a greater reduction •of taxation than would be now expedient. I suggest the post ponement of Lhi3 question until the next meeting ot Congress. It may be advisable to modify taxation and tariff in instances where unjust or burden some discriminations are mads by the present law, but a general revision of tiie laws regulating this subject, I re commend postponement for the pres ent. I also suggest a renewal of the tax on incomes, but at a reduced rate, say three per cent., and this tax to ex pire in three years—with the funding of the national debt, as here suggested. 1 feel sale in saying that taxes and revenue from imports may be reduced safely from sixty to eighty millions per annum at once, and may be still fur ther reduced from year to year, as the resources of the country develop. The office of Commissioner of Inter nal Revenue, one of the most arduous and responsible under the government, falls little short of Cabinet position in its importance and responsibilities. I would ask for it, therefore, such legis lation as in your judgment wiil place the office upon that footing of dignity commensurate with its importance, and with a character and qualifications of that class of men required to fill it properly. Foreign Relations— Cuba. As the United States is freest of all ure of the brig Mary Lowell, at ma, by Spanish authorities, is now tjie snbjeet of correspondence Ire tween tin’s Government, Spain and Great Britain. The Captain General of Cuba about May las;, issued a proclamation author izing the search of vessels on the high seas. Immediate. remonstrance was made against this, whereupon the Cap tain General issued a new proclama tion and limited the search to vessels of the United States authorized by the treaty of 1G99. This proclamation, however, was immediately withdrawn. I have always fell that the most in timate relations should be cultivated between the United Slates and inde pendent nations on this continent. It must be weil worth considering wheth er the new treaties between Us and them may not be profitably entered in to, lo secure more intimate relations, friendly, commercial and otherwise. The Darien Canal. The inter-oceanic canal, to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, thro* the Isthmus of Darien, is one in which commerce is greatly interested. In structions have been given cur minis ters to the United States of Columbia, to endeavor to obtain authority for a survey, to determine the practicability ot the undertaking. In order to com ply with the agreement of the United States to the annexed commission at Lima, for the adjustment of claims, it becomes neccessary to send a commis sioner and secretary to Lima. The good offices of the United States to bring about peace between Spain and the South American Republics liaviig been accepted by Spain, Peru and Chili, a Congress has been invited to be held in Washington during the present winter. Nicaraugua. A grant has been given to Europe ans oi an exclusive right of transit over nations, so, too, ils people sympathise j the territory of Nicaraugua, to which with all people struggling lor liberty Costa Rica has given its assent, which aud self-gov.ernmewt. Dot, while so | , s alleged conflicts with vested rights sympathising, it is due to our honor Lq citizens of the United Slates. The that \vc should abstain from enforcing Department of State has now this sub ject under consideration. The Spanish Gunboats. The minister of the Peruvian Gov ernment lias made representations that there was war between Peru and Spain and that Spain was constructing in or near New York thirty gunboats, which dmiiiisltalion with these ques- ! might be used by Spam lo release her For more than a year a valua- naval force at Cuba, Jo operate agaiust Peru. Orders were given to prevent their departure. No further steps have been taken by the representative of the our vews upon unwilling nations, and from taking an interested [tart, with in vitation, in quarrels between different nations, or between governments and their subjects. Our course should al ways be iu conformity with strict jus tice and law. In international and lo cal affairs, such has been the poliev of the non: ble province of Spain, ami a near neigh bor of ours, in whom all our .people cannot but feel deep interest, has been snuggling for independence and free- j Peruvian Government to prevent the dom. The people and government of j departure of these vessels, and I, not the United States entertain the same feeling authorized to detain the prop- warm feelings aud sympathies for the erty of a nation with which we are at people ot Cuba, in their pending strug- i peace, on mere Executive order, the gie, that they manifested throughout | matter was refeired to the Courts, the previous struggles between Spain! The conduct of the war between the and her former colonies in behalf of j allies and Republic of Paraguay, has the latter; but the contest has at no | made intercourse with that country time assumed conditions which amount to war, in the sense of inlet national law, or which would show the evidenc es of a de facto political organization of insurgents sufficient to justify a recog nition ol belligerency. The •principle is maintained, however, that this na tion is its own judge when to accord rights of belligerency either to a peo ple struggling'to Iree themselves trom a government they believe lo be op pressive, or to independent nations ai war with each other. The United Slates have no disposition to interfere with the existing relations of Spain to her colonial possessions on this con tinent. They believe that in due lime Spain and other European powers will find their interest in terminating those re lations and establishing their present dependencies as independent powers. Those dependencies are no longer re garded as subject to transfer from one European power to another. When the present relation of colonies ceases, they are to become independent pow ers, exercising the right of choice and of self-control in the determination of their future condition and indications with other powers. The Uni led States, in order to put a stop lo bloodshed in Cuba, and for ihe interest of the neigh boring people, proposer! good offices to bring the existing condition to a ter mination ; but the offer nut being ac cepted by Spain, on the basis on which we believed it could be received by Cuba, it was withdrawn. It is hoped that the good offices of the United States may yet prove advantageous for the settlement of this unhappy strife. Meanwhile, a number of illegal expe ditions against Cuba have been broken up. It has been the endeavor of the Administration to execute the neutrali ty laws, no matter how unpleasant the taste, made so by the suffering we have endured from lack ol like good faith towards lis by other nations. difficult. It has been deemed advisa ble to withdraw our representative from there. The Alabama Claims, i!)?. Towards the close of the last admin istration, a Convention was held in London for the settlement of outstand ing, claims between Gre.at Britain and the United States, which failed to re ceive the advice and consent of the Senate. The time and circumstances attending the negotiation of that treaty were unfavorable to its acceptance by the people of the United States, and its provisions were wholly inadequate for the settlement of grave wrongs sus tained by this government. Injuries resulting to the United States by rea sou of the course adopted by Gieat Britain during the war, increased the rates ot insurance, in diminution ot transports and exports and other ob structions to the domestic industry and progress ; in its effect on the foreign, commerce of the country ; in the de crease and transfer lo Great Britain of our commercial marine ; in the pro-* gress of the war and the increase of ils cost, both in treasure and the del ing of ils supptession, could noi be ad justed and satisfied, as ordinary com mercial claims which continually arise between commercial nations. And yet the Convention treated them simply as such ordinary claims, from which they differ more widely in the gravity of their character than the magnitude ot their amount. Great even as is that difference, not a word was found in the treaty and not an inference could be drawn from it, to remove the sense of unfriendliness of the course of Great Britain, in our struggle for existence, which had so deeply and universally impressed itself upon the people of this country, that a Convention thus mis conceived in ils scope, and inadequate in its provisions, would not have pro duced the hearty, cordial settiemerri of /