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DAILY ENQUIitftR-SUJS: COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874. UaUg gtiipiiygr. JOHN If. MARTI2f, • • • Editor. (Ml.l NHl'N, «4. l THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 1874. Ill ’S MESSAGE. POSTAVE. On and arter the first of January next the po tage on fapersmusthe paid by the pub* Halier. This will be ten cents a month (or dallies and ten cents a quarter for weeklies. Our subscrliters will see tho necessity for pay ing up promptly, as all those In arrears will be dropped on the first of January. We are ever willing to accommodate our friends, but It will be Impossible to send out papers not paid fqr In advance. The following will be the subscription terms for the Ekquirxr for the year 1874: Daily, In advanoe $10 00 per annum. Dally and Sunday II On “ “ Sunday, In advance 2 50 “ “ Weekly, •« .......... H0 “ “ Sunday and Weekly, In adv., .3 00 “ “ Sunday served separately by cirrierr in city StO “ “ Clubbing rates have been suspended. All unexplred contracts will be filled at ol I rates, deducting postage for the fraction of the year 1876 through which they run. ANOTHER EXTRA. Advertisers should bear in mind that on the 22nd of February, 187/*, I propose to iasue, for free distribution, an extra edi tion of fifty thousand copies of the Sun day Enquirer—an eight page seventy-two column paper. Send in your “ads” be fore all the space is taken. A. U. Calhoun, Proprietor. Tbs Prssldsal's Message. We devote the larger portion of our apaoe to-day to the publication of this important paper. It contains much in formation of public interest. Tho Pres ident’s views on tho currency question, and his remarks concerning political troubles at the South, are especially im portant. We have no room for comment on any portions of the message to-day. At Jacksonville, Talfsir county, on the 5th inst., William Rrickell was shot and killed by C. W. Campbell, both citizens of that county. It is said that dishonor able condnot by Brickell towards a sister of Campbell was the oanse of the tragedy. We learn from the Constitution that the Comptroller General succeeded in col lecting, last month, the sum of $3(15,000, of which $325,000 was of the general tsx of 1874— being $100,000 more than for November last year. The parsonage of Payne's Chapel, At lanta, was robbed on Sunday night, du ring the absence of tho occupants. Trunks, bureaus, and other furniture were broken into in search of valuable*. It is not yet known how much the thieves secured. On Monday, Gov.’Smith commissioned Nathan Baugh, Justice of the 804th Dis trict, Talbot county ; and offered a reward of $200 each for Win. Lee, Win. Blount, Allen and James T. Padgett, aud Goorgo and Wesley Hun tor, charged with the death of Jackson Brady, brother of the Sheriff of Cliuch county. We havo here tofore alluded to the facts connected with tho killing of Brndy. A dispatch from Union Springs, 8th, to tho Montgomery AVim, reports the nr rout by tho Sheirff of Bul'ook couuty of live negroes charged with poisouing Col. Phillip B. Baldwin on the uight of the 25th of November last. Their names are Horg Baldwin, Will Turner, Douglass Brumby, Fell Baldwin and Pet Li vis tine, the last named a woman. They were tak- on before Squire McPherson, who com mitted them for preliminary trial next Friday. Mu. Lawrence Bkanan, a young man of about nineteen, was killed on Saturday uight at West Point, by Duo Frost, a young nmu of about the same age. Some words had passed between them, whicl^ might have been considered either playful or of a seriously passionate mood, when Frost fired at Itrauan with his pistol, the ball entering his head and kdliug him in a few hours. Brauan was a train hand on the Atlanta «V West Point Railroad, and is said to have been a young mau of very good traits of character. Executive Department, \ Washington, D. C , Dec. 7, 1874 / To the Senate and House of Jleprc.ienU ative*: THE PANIC AND IT* RESULTS. Since the convening of Congrta* on* year ago the nation has undergone a pros tration in bnniness aud Industrie* such a* has not been witnessed with us for many years. Speculation as to the censes for this prostration might be indulged in without profit, because as ratuy theories would be advanced as there would be in dependent writers—those who expreraed their own views, without borrowing, upon the subject. Without indulging in theo ries as to the cause of this prostration, therefore, I will call yonr attention ouly to the fact and to some plain questions as to which it would seem there should be no disagreement. During this prostration two essential elements of prosperity have been most abundant—labor and capital. Both have been largely unemployed. Where security has been undoubted capi tal has been attainable at very moderate rates. Where labor bus been wanted it has been found in abundance at cheap rates, compared with what the necessaries and comforts of life could be purchased with the wages demanded. Two grout ele ments of prosperity, therefore, have not been denied us. A third might be added : our sod aud climate are unequalled within the limits of any contiguous territory un der one nationality for their variety of products to feed and clothe a people, and in the amount of surplus to spare to feed less favored people. Therefore, with these facts in view, it scorns to me that wise statesmanship at this session of Congress would dictate legislation, ignoring the past, directing in proper channels these great olemetilH of prosperity to anv peo ple. Debt—debt ubroad—is the only ele ment that can, with a sound currency, enter into our affairs to cause any con tinued depression in the industries and pronperity of our people. A great con flict for national existence made neces sary; for temporary purposes, the raising of large sums of money from whatever source attainable. It made necessary in the wisdom of Congress—aud I do not doubt their wisdom iu the premises re garding the necessity of the times—to devise a system of nntlonal currency which it proved to be impossible to keep on n par with the recognized currency of the civilized world. This begot a spirit of speculation, involving an extravagance aud luxury not required for the htppiuess or prosperity of a people, and involving, both directly and indiroctly, foreign in debtedness. The currency, being of fluc tuating value, And therefore unsafe to hold for legitimate transaction* requiring money, became a subject of speculation in itself. These two cauaos, however, have involved us in a foreign indebtedness contracted iu good faith by borrower and lender, which should be paid in coin and according to the bond agreed upon when the debt was contracted—gold or its equivalent. The good faith of the Gov ernment cannot be violatod towards cred itors without national disgrace. THE REMEDY. is clearer than that the greater part of the States arising from seta committed burden of existing prostration, for the j against their person«, or property, daring want of a sound financial system, falls | the insurrection. It appears equitabla that upon the workiug man, who must, after opportun ty should be offered to citizens all, pr-.nlnoe 'ha wealth, and the salaried man who superintends andjponduots busi ness, The burden falls upon them in two ways; bv the deprivation of employment, ami by the decreased purchasing power of their salaries. It is the duty of Congtess to devise 'the method of correcting the evils which are acknowledged to exist, aud not mine. But I will venture t j sug gest two or three things which seem to me as absolutely necessary to a return to specie payments. The first great requi site in a return to prosperity is thit the legal tender clause to the law, authoriz ing the issue of currency by the National Government, should be repealed, to take effect as to all contracts entered into after a day fixed iti the repealing act—uot to apply, however, to payments of salaries by Government or for other expenditures now provided by law to bo pxid in cur rency. In the interval ponding between repe d and final resumption provision should be made by which the Hecretary of the Treasury can obtain gold as it may become necejisary from time to time from lit3 date when specie redemption com mences. To this might and should be added a revenue sutfi iently in ex jess of expenses to insure au acouniftlat'.ou of gold iu the Tieasiiry to sustain redemp tion. I commend thi* subject to your careful consideration, believing that a favorable solution is attainable, and that if reached by this Congress that the pres ent and future generations will ever grate fully remember it as their deliverer from the tnraldom of evil And disgrace. Wiih resumption, free banking may ho author ized with safety, giving the full protec tion to bill holders which th?y have under exis.iug laws. Indeed, I would tegarJ free banking as essentia). It would give proper elasticity to the currency. Ah more currency should be required for the transaction of legitimate business, new basks would be started, and in turn banks would wind up their business when it was found that there was a superabundance of curreucy. The experience and judgment of the people can best decide just how much currency it required for tho trans action of tho business of the country. It is unsafe to leave the settlement of this question t j Congress, the Hecretary of the Tieasury or the Executive. Congress should make the regulations under which banks may exist, but should not make banking a monopoly by limitiug the amount of redeemable piper currency that shall be authorized. Such impor tance do I attach to this subject, and so earnestly do I commend it to your atten tion, that I give it prominence by intro dnoiug it at the beginning of the mes sage. FOREIGN RELATIONS. Ambricus has a big sonsation arising from suits brought by Mr. Robert Whee ler, a well kuown young gentleman of that city, lie has brought suit against the warehousemen of Americus, in the sum of $400,000 against llarrold, Johnson A Co' t and $200,000 against tho Farmers' Club aud Grange Warehouse Company, aud threatens suit agaiust the South western Railroad company for probably a larger amount—all for alleged violation of an old statute of the State, which re quires every salesman or other perRou weighing produce to take an oath before some proper officer for the faithful per formance of that duty. The penalty pre scribed by tho statute is $20 for overy bale of cottou, 25 cents for every bushel of oorn, and for other produce one-third its value, recoverable by suit in the Supe* rior Court, one-half to go to the Educa tional fund of tho county, and the other half to tho informer. Kiniuont counsel have been engaged on both sides, and there appears to be a stubborn resolntion to go to trial with tho suits. Alsbsiua Legislature. Tuesday, Hth.—The Senate concurred in the House resolution raising a joint committee to report a bill in regard to a Board of Equalization. The House joint resolution against the Civil Rights bill was referred iu the Somite. The Senate psssod the joint memorial to Congress, sskiug pensions to surviving soldiers of tho Mexican war. The bill to secure good and sufficient bonds for county offi cers was passed—22 to 7. The resolution to recouaider tho vote by which Mr. Do- reeu was allowed to spread his protest on the journals of (he Scuate, was defeated by the casting vote of the Lieutenant Governor. House bill to amend the act for the relief of the University (extend ing the time for payment of indebtedness) was passed. In the House many new bills were in troduced. Among them was a bill by Mr. Greeue, of Lee, to repeal the act estab lishing the City Court for Lee. Bat our commeroe should be eucour- aged, American ship building and carry ing capacity increased, foreign markets sought for products of the soil and man ufactories, to the end that we may be able to pay these debts. Where a new market can be created for the sale of our products, either of the soil, the mine, or the manufactory, a new means is discov ered of utilizing our idle capital and labor to the advantage of the whole* people. But, iu my judgment, tho first step to wards accomplishing this object is to se cure a curreucy of fixed stable value, a ourroncy good wherever civilization reigns—one which if it becomes super abundant with one people will find market with somo other—a currency which h is as its basis tho labor ueuoHHsry So produce it, which will givo to it its value. Gold and silver are now tho rooognized mediums of exchnugo the civ ilized world over, and to this we should return with the least practicable delay. In view of the pledges of the American Cougross, when our prescut legal tender system was adopted aud debt contracted, there should be no delay, certainly no un necessary delay, in fixing by legislation a method by which we will return to specie. To the accomplishment of this end I iuvite your special attention. I be lieve, finally, that there can be no pros perous and permanent revival of busiuoss and industries until a policy is adopted, with legislation to curry it out, looking to a return to a specie basis. It is easy to couoeive that tho debtor and speculative classes may think it of value to them to make so-oalled money abundant until they oau throw a portion of their burden upon others, but eveu these, I believe, would be disappointed iu the result if a course should be pm-sued wbioh will keep in doubt tho value of the legal tender medium of exchange. A revival of pro- ductive iudustrv is needed by all classes, by none more than the holders of proper ty of whatever sort with debts to liquidate from realization upon its sale. But ad mitting that these two classes of citizens are to bo benefited by expansion, would it be honest to give it ? Would uot the general loss bo too greut to justify such relief ? Would it not be just as Inmost aud prudeut to uuthorize each debtor to issue his own legal tenders to the extent of his liabilities '< Than to do this would it not be safer, for fear of over issues by unscrupulous creditors, to say that all debt obligations are obliterated in the United States, and now wo commence uuew, each possessing all he lias at the time freo from iuciimbranco. Those propositions are too absurd to be enter tained for a moment by thinking or hon est people, yot every delay in preparation for final resumption partakes of this dis honesty and is only less in degree as the hope is held out that a convenient season will at last arrive for the good work of redeeming our pledges to commence. Ii will never come, in my opinion, except by positive action by Congress or by na tional disasters, which will destroy fora time, at least, the credit of the individual aud the State at largo. A sound ourrency might be reached by total bankruptcy aud discredit of the in tegrity of the nation aud of individuals. I believe it is ia the power of Con gress at this session to devise such legislation as will renew confidence, re- viva all the industries, start us on a career of prosperity to lust for many year.*, aud to Nave the credit of the uatiou aud of the people. Stops towards the return to a specie basis are the great requisites to this devoutly-to-be-sought-for end. There are others which I may touch upou hereafter. A ustiim dealing in a currency below that of t-petm iu value labors under two great disadvantages: First, having no use for the world's acknowledged mediums of ex change, gold aud silver. These are driven out of the conutry bocauae there is no de mand for their uhc. Second, the medium of exchange iu use being of a fluctuating value, for after all it is ouly worth just what it will purchase of gold aud silver, metals having an iutriuaio value just in proportion to tho houest labor it takes to produce them. A larger margin must be allowed for profit by the manufacturer and producer. It is months from the date of production to the date of realiza tion. luterest upou capital must be charged, and risk of fluctuation iu the value of that wbioh is to be reoeived in During the past year nothing has oc curred to disturb the general friendly and cordial relations of the United States with other powers. The correspondence sub mitted herewith between the Government and its diplomatic representatives, an hIm with the representatives of other coun tries, shows a satisfactory condition of all questions between the United Statos and the, most of those countries, and, with few exceptions, to whiph reference hereafter made, the absence of any p nuts of difference to be adjusted. The notice directed l»y tho resolution of Congre: June 17, 1874, to be given to terminate the Convention of July the 17th, 1858, between the United States end Belgium, bus been given, aud the treaty will uc curlingly terminate on the first day of July, 1875, This Convention secured to certain Belgian vessels entering the ports of the United States excep ioual privil eges wbioh are not accorded to our own vessels. the other features of tho Con vention have proved satisfactory aud have tended to the cultivation of mutually ben eficial commercial intercourse and friendly relations between tho two countries, hope that negotiations which have been invited will result iu the celebration of another treaty wbioh may tend to the in terests of bo-h countries. Our relations with China continue to be friendly. Du ring the past year the fears of hostilities between China and Japan, growing out of the laudiug of an armed force upon the island of Formosa by the latter, has occa sioned uneasiness. It is earnestly hoped, however, that the difficulties arising fro this cause will bo adjusted, and that tire advance of civilization in these empires may not be retarded by a state of war. Iu consequence of the pait taken by certain citizens of the United bUtes in this expe dition, our representatives iu those coun try s have beeu instructed to impress upon the GovemmentH of China and Ja- pan the firm intention of this couutry to maintain strict neutrality iu the event of hostilities, and to carefully prevent any infraction of law on the part of our citi zeus. In connection with this subject 1 call the attention of Congress to a gener ally conceded fact that the groat propor- t.on of the Chinese immigrants who come to «>nr shores do not come voluntarily to make their homes with us and their labor productive of general prosperity, but come under contracts with head men, who owu them almost absolutely. In u worse form does this apply to Chinese women Hardly a perceptible percentage of them perform any honorable labor, but they ure brought for shameful purposes to the disgrace of the communities where set tied, aud to tho great demoralization of the youth of those localities. If ibis evil practice cau bo legislated against, it will be my pleasure as well as duty to enforce any regulation to secure so desirable au oud. It is hoped that negotiations be. tweeu the Government of Jupau aud tho treaty powers, looking to the further opening of tho Empiro and tho removal of various restrictions upou trade and travel, may soon produce the results de sired, which caunot fail to enure to the benefit of ail parties. Having on pre vious occasions submitted to tho consid eration of Congress the propriety of the release of the Japanese Government from tho further paymeut of the indem nity under the convention of October 22d, 1884, and as no action bad been taken thereon, it became my duty to regard the obligations of the convention as in force, and os the other powers interested had reoeived tbeir portion of the indemnity iu full, the Minister of the United States in Japan has, ia behalf of this Govern ment, received the remainder of the amount due to the United States under the Convention of Simouseky. I submit the propriety of applying the income of a part, if uot tho whole of this fuud, to the education in the Japanese language of a number of young men, to be under obli gations to serve the United States Gar ment for a specified time as interpreters at the Legation and the cousuiates in Japan. A limited number of Japan ese yontks might, at the same time, be educated in our owu vernacular, aud mu tual benefits would result to both Govern ments. The importance of having our own citizens competent and familiar with the language of Japan, to act ns inter porters, and in other capacities connected with the Legation and the Consulates in that country, cannot readily be overesti mated. The amount awarded to the Gov ernment of Great Britian by the Mixed Commission, organized under tho provis ions of the Treaty of Washington in set tlement of the claims of British subjects arising from acts committed between April 18th, 1801, and April 9th, 1805, be. Price, from Iutorual Improvements Com- payment added. Hence high prices, ait- luittee, favorably to bill to repeal act au- j mg as a protection to the foreign produc- thorizing the several counties, towns, and I er, who receives uotbing in exchange for cities in this State to subscribe to the cap- the products of his skill and labor except ital stock of such railroads as they may a currency good at a stable value the dseui conducive to their interests-paused. ! world over. It seems to me that notfciug of other State* to present their claims, as well as to those British subjects whose claims were not admissable under the late commi-trion, to the early decision of some competent tribunal. To this end I reoosimend the necessary legislation to organize a court to dispose of all claims of aliens of the uature referred to in an equitable and satisfactory manner, and to relieve Confess and the Departments from the consideration of these questions. The legislation necessary to extend to the colony of New Fonndland certain articles of ihe treaty of Washington, of the 8th day of May, 1871, having been had a pro tocol to,tbut effect was signed in behalf of the United States And Great Britain on the 28th day of May last, and wan dnly proclaimed on the following day. A copy of the proclamation is submitted herewith. A copy of the report of the Commissioner appointed under the act of March 19th, 1872, for surveying and marking the boundary between the United States and the British Possessions from the Lake of the Woods to summit of Rocky Moun tains is herewith transmitted. I am h .p- py to announce that the field work of the commi sion has been completed, and the entire line from nothwest corner of the Lake of the Woods to the summit of the Rocky Mountains has been run and muked upon the surface of the earth. It is believed that the ainouut regaining unexpended of tte appropriations made at the last session of Congress will be sufficient to compute the office work. I recommend that the authority of Con- giess be given to the use of the unex pended balance of the appropriation in tho completion of the work of tha com mission, in making its report and prepar ing the uecotaary maps. The court known as the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims, created by an act of Congress of the lad session, his organ ize and commenced its work and it is to be h >ped that the claims admissible under the provisions of the aot may be speedily ascertained and paid. It has been deemed advisable to exercise the dis cretion conferred upon tho Executive at at the last set-siou by accepting the condi tions required by the Goveremmeut of Turkey for the privilege of allowing citi zens of the United States to hold real es tate iu the former country, and by assent ing to a certain chuoge in the jurisdiction of courts in the latter. A copy of the proclamation upon these subjects is here with communicated. There has been no materiul change iu our relations with the independent States in this hemisphere, whit ti were formerly under the dominion of Hpuin. Marauding on the frontiers be tween Mexico and Texas still frequently takes plucc, despite tie vigilance of tbe civil and military authorities in that quar ter. Tbe difficulty of checking such trea- passe* along tbe course of a river of such u length as the liio Granae, and so often fordable, is obvious. It is hoped that the efforts of this Government will be Recapd- ed by those of Mexico to the effectual suppression of these acts of wrong. From a report upou tho condition of the busi ness before tbe Am» rican-Mexican Joint Claims Commission, made by the agent on the p »rt of the United Staten, and da ted October 28, 1874, it appears that of the 1,0i 7 claims filed on tbe part of citi zens of the United States, 488 had beeu finally decide 1, and 75 were in the hauds of the umpire, leaving 402 to be disposed of, aud of the 998 claims filed against the Uuited States, 720 had been finally deci ded, one was before the umpire aud 271 reuuaiued to bo disposed of. Sinoo the date of such report o her claims have beeu disposed of, reducing somewhat the number btill pending, and o f hers have be m passed upon by the arbitrators. It has become apparent, in view of these figures, uud of the fact that the work de volving on the umpire is particularly labo rious, that the coumiiraion would be una ble to dispose of the entire number of claims pending prior to the fir.it of Feb ruary, 1875—the date fixed for its expira- t on. Negotiations are pending looking to the securing of tbe results of the deci- » ions which have been reached, aud to a further extension of the commission for a limited time, which it is confidently hoped will suffice to bring all the business now Lefore it to a final close. Tbe strife in the Argentine Republic is to be deplored, both ou account of the parties thereto, aud from the probaLle effects on the in terests of those engage i ia the trade to that quarter, of whom the y«ited States are among the principal. As yet, so far as 1 am aware, there has been no violation of our neutrality rights, which, as well as our duties in that respect, it shall be my endeavor to maintain and observe. It is with regret I announce that no further paymeut has been received from the Gov- e. umout of Venezuela ou account oi urds in favor of citizens of the Uuited Stales. Hopes have been entertained that f that Republic could escape both foreign uml civil war for a few years its great na tional resource* would enable it to honor its obligations. Though it is now under stood to be at peace with other oountries a serious insurrection is reported to be in pi ogress in an important region of that Republic. This may be taken advantage of us another reason to delay the payment of the dues of our citizens. The deplora blc strife in Cuba continues without any mnrke l change in the relative advantages of the contending forces. The insurrec tion continues, but Spain has gained no superiority. Six years of strife give to the insurrection a significance which can not be deuiod. Its duration and the te nacity of its adherents, together with ab sence of manifested power of suppression on the part of Spain, cannot be contro vert e 1 and may make some positive steps on the part of other powers a matter of seif uecesKsty. I had confidently hoped at this time to be able to announce the arrangement of some of the important questiwus between th's Government and that of Spain, but the negotiations have been protracted. The unhappy iutestine dissensions of Spain command our pro found sympathy, and must be ac cepted as perhaps a cause of some de lay. An early settlement, in part at least, of the questions between the Govern ments is hoped. In the meantime, await ing the results of immediately pending negotiations, I defer a further and fuller communication ou the subject of the re latione of this oountry and Spain. I have again to call the attention of Congress to the unsatisfactory condition of the exist ing laws with reference to expatriation uud the electiou of nationality. Former ly, auiid conflicting opinions end decis ions, it was difficult to exactly determine how far the doctrine of perpetual alle giance was app icable to citizens of the United States. Congress, by the act of the 27th July, 1888, asserted the abstract right of expatriation as a fundamental principle of this Government. Notwith standing such assertion aud the necessity of frequent application of the principle, no legislation has been had defining what acts or formalities shall work expatriation or when a citizen shall be deemed tobAve renounced or to have lost his citizenship. 1 lie importance of such definition is ob vious. Tbe representatives of the Uui ted States iu foreign countries are contin ually called upon to lend their aid and the protection of the United States to persons concerning the good faith or the reality of whose citizenship there is at least great question. In some cases the pro. and undertake those duties—to use the the exemption of money reoeived from claims to citizenship of the United State* the sale of subsistence stores from being simply as a shield from the performance covered into tbe Treasury; tbe use of ap- of tbe obligations of a citizen elsewhere. ' propriations for tbe purchase of subsist- The status of children born of Amerii pirents residing in e forei country, of Amenc*R worn who have married tlie*E» of jfcui ican citizens residing abroad where such question is not regnlated by treaty, are all sonroesof frequent difficulty and dis cussion. Legislation on these and simi lar questions, and particularly defining when and under what circumstances ex patriation can be accomplished, or is to be presumed, is especially needed. In this connection I earnestly call the atten tion of Congress to tha difficulties srisitig from fraudulent naturalization. The Uui ted 8 ate* wisely, freely and liberally of fers its citizenship to all who may come iu good faith to reside within its limits, on tbeir complying with certain prescribed reasonable and simple formalities and conditions. Among the highest duties of tbe Government is that to afford firm, efficient and equal protection to all its citizens, whether native born or natural ized. Care should be taken that a right carrying with it such support from the Government should not be fraudulently obtained, and should be bestowed only upon full proofs of a compliance with tho laws, aud yet treqnent instances are brought to the attention of tbe Govern ment of illegal and frandulent naturaliza tion, and of the unauthorized nse of cer tificates thus improperly obtained. In some cases tbe fraudulent character of tbe naturalizition has appeared on tbe fece/>f the certificate itself. In others examina tion discloses that the holder has uot com plied with the law, and in others certifi cates have been obtained where the per sons holding them not only were not en titled to be naturalized, but had not even been within the United State* at tha time of tbe pretended naturalization. Instan ces of each of these classes of fraad are discovered at our Legations, where tho certificates of naturalization are presented either for the purpose of obtaining pass. esme payable under the terms of tbe ! visions of the treaties furnish some gnide, treaty within the past year, atad was paid ' in others it seems left to tbe person claim- upou the 21st day of September, 1874. : jug the benefits of citizenship—while liv- In this connection I reuew my rocoiu- j iug in a foreign country, contributing in meudatiou, made at the opening of tho \ uu manner to the performance of the du- , “ t f“ iun ,h V * .:**?*! i tic of » citizen of the United Stele* end court he created to hear and determine , . . all claims of alien* against the Uni ed without mtention at any time to return ports or iu demanding protection ot thn Legation. When the fraud is apparent on the face of such certificates, they are taken up by the representatives of the Government and forwarded to the De partment mt State. But even the record of the Court in which the fraudulent natu ralization occurred remains, and duplicate certificates are obtainable. Under tbe presentation of these for issue of pass ports or in demanding protection of tho Government, the fraud some times es capes notice and such certificates are not nutrequently used in transactions of business to tbe deception and injury of innocent parties. Without placing any additional obstacles in the wsy of obtain- rnent of citizenship by the worthy and well intentioned foreigner who oomes in good faith to cost hi* lot with onrs, I earnestly recommend further legislation to punish fraudulent naturalization and to secure the ready cancellation of the record of every naturalization made iu fraud. Since my last annual message tho exchange has beeu made of the raliticu- tiou of treaties of ex'radition with Bel gium, Eqnador, Peru and Salvador, also of a treaty of commerce and navigation with Peru, and oue of commerce and con sular privileges with Salvador, all of which have beeu duly proclaimed, a* has bIho a declaration with Russia with refer ence to trade marks. THE REVENUE. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury, which by law is made directly to Congress and forms no part of this message, will 6how tbe receipts and ex penditures of tho Government fwr the last fiscal year, tho amount received from each source of revenue, aud the amount paid out for each of the departments of Gov eminent. It will be observed from this report the amount of receipts has been but $234,488,280 for the fiscal year end ing June 30, 1874, and that for the cur rent fiscal year the estimated receipts over expenditures will not much .exceed nine millions of dollars. In view of tho Urge national dtht existing and tho obli gation to add one per cent, per annum to the sinking fund, a sum amounting now to over $34,000,000 per annum, I sbbuiit whether the revenues should not be in creased or tbe expenditures diminished to reach this amount of surplus—not to pro vide for the sinking fund is a partial fail ure to comply with the contracts sod obli gutions of the Government. At the last session of Congress a very considerable reduction watt made in rates of taxation and in the number of articles submit'ed to taxation. The question may be asked whether or not iu some instances unwisely In connection with this subject, too, I venture the opinion that the means of collection of the revenue, especially from imports, have been so embarrassed by leg islation as to make it questionable whether or not large amounts are not lost by failur* to collect, to tbe direct loss of the Treasury aud te the prejudice of the interests of honest importers and tax pay era. Tbe Secretary of the Treasury in his report f .vors legislation looking to an- oarly return to specie payments, thus sup porting views previous'y expressed in this message. He also recommends economy in appropriations; calls attention to the loss of revenue from repealing the tax on tea and coffee without benefit to the com- sunier; rec> turn ends an increase of ten cents a gallon on whiskey, aud further th it no modification be made iu the bank ing and currency bill passed at the last session of Congress, unless modification should be coma necessary by reason of the adoption of measures for returning to specie payments. Iu these recommen dations 1 cordially join. I would suggest to Congress the pro; ri ety of readjusting the tariff sc as to increase tho reveune, aud at the same time decrease tbe number of articles upon wbioh duties are levied. Those articles which enter into our ufactures aud are uot produoed at home, it seems to me should be entered free. Those articles of manufacture which we produce a constituent part of but do not produce the whole, that part which we do not produce sliou'd enter free also. I will instance fine wool dyes, Ac. These articles must be imported to form a part of the manufacture of the higher grades of woolen goods. Chemicals used as dyes, compounded in medicines aud used in various ways in manufactures, come under this class. The induction, free of duty, of such wools as we do not produce, would stimulate the manufacture of goods requiring the use of those we do not pro duce, aud, therefore, would be a benefit to home production. There are many other article* entering into home manu factures which we do not produce our selves, the tariff upon which increases the cost of producing the manufactured arti cle. All corrections in thiR regard are iu the direction of bringing labor and capi tal in harmony with each other aud of supplying ouo of the elements of pros perity so much needed. The report of tho Secretary of War, herewith attached, and forming a part of this message, gives all the information concerning the Optra tions, wants and necessities of the army, and contains many suggestions and recom mendations which I commend to your apeciul attention. There ia no class of Government employees who are harder worked than the army officers aud men ; none who perform their tasks more cheer fully and efficiently, and under circum stances of greater privations and hard, ships. Legislation ia desirable to render more efficient this branch of tbe public service. All the recommendations of the Secretary of War, I regard as judicious, and I especially commend to your atten tion the following : The consolidation of Government arsenal*; the restoration of mileage to officers traveling under orders; euce stores without waiting for the begin ning of the fiscal year' for wbioh the ap propriation is made; for additional appro- prialtoB* for the collection of the torpe do material; for inoraased appropria tions for the manufacture of arms; for relieving the .various States from indebt edness for arm* charged to them daring the rebellion; for dropping officers from the rolls of the army without trial for the offense of drawing pay more than once for the H&me period; for the discourage ment of the plan to pay soldiers by checks, and for the establishment of a professor- ship of rhetoric and English literature at West Point. The reasons for these rec ommendations are obvious, and are set forth sufficiently in the report attached, I also recommend that the status of btatf corps of the army be fixed, where it has uot already been done, so that promo tions may oo made and vaoanoies filled as they occur iu each grade when reduced be low the number to be fixed by law. The ne cessity for such legislation is specially felt now in the pay department. The number of officers in that department is inade quate to the performance of the duties required of them by law. The efficiency of the navy has been largely increased during the last jear. Under the impulse of foreign complications which threaten ed us at the commencemeat of the last session of Congress most of our efficient wooden ships were put in condition for immediate service, and the repairs of our ium clad fleet were pushed with the ut most vigor. The result is that most of these now are in an effective state, and need only to be manned and pat in com mission to go at once into service. Some of the now sloops authorized by Congress are already in commission, and most of tho remainder are launched, and wait only the completion of their machinery to enable thorn to take their places as part of our effective force. Two iron torpedo ships have been completed during the last year, and four of our large double turreted iron clads are now undergoing repairs. When these are finished every thing that is useful of our navy as now authorized will be iu condition for ser vice, and with the advanoe in the science of torpedo warfare, tbe Amerioan navy, comparatively small as it is, will be found at any time powerful for the purposes of a peaceful nation. Much has also been accomplished during the year in aid of soi- ence, aud to increase the sum of general knowledge and further the interests of commerce and civilization. Extensive aud much needed soundings have been made for hydrographic purposes, aud to fix the proper routes of ocean telegraphs. Further surveys of the great Isthmus have beeu undertaken and completed, and two vessels of the navy are now employed, in conjunction with those of England, France, Germany and Russia, in observations con nected with the transit of Venus, so use ful and interesting to the scientific world. Tbe estimates for this branch of tbo pub lic service do not differ materially from those of last year. Those for the general support of the service being somewhat le.-B, uud those for permanent improve ments at the various stations rather larger than the corn sponding estimates made a year ago. The regular maintenance and a steady increase in tbe efficiency of this important arm in proportionjothe growth of our maritime intercourse and interests, is recommended to the attention of Con gress. The use of the navy in time of peace might be further utilized by direct authorization of the employment of the naval vessels iu explorations and surveys of the supposed navigable waters of other nationalities on this continent, and speci ally tbe tributaries of the two great rivers of 8onth America, tho Oronoco and tho Amazon. Nothing prevents under exist ing laws such explorations, except that expenditures must be made in such expe ditions beyond those a^nally provided for in the appropriations. The field desig nated is unquestionably one of interest, ond one capable of large development of commercial interests advantageous to the peoples reached, and to those who may establish relations with them. THE MAILS. Education of the peoplle entitled td exercise the right of franchise I regard es sential totcencral prosperity everywhere, aud especially so iu Republics where birtb, education or previous conditions does not enter into account in giving suf frage. Next to the public school the post office is the great ageut of education. Over our vast territory the rapidity with which new sections are being settled, thus morcasing the carrying of mails in a more rapid > atio thun the increase of receipts is not alarming. The report of the Post master-General herewith attached shows there was au increase of revenue in his department in 1873 over the previous year of $1,074,411 and an iuorease of cost of carrying the mails and paying employees of $3,041,408 91. The report of *the Postmaster-General gives interesting sta tistics of his department, compares them with the correRponding statistics of a year ago, showing a growth in every branch of the department. A Postal Con vention has keen concluded with new South Wales, an exchange of postal cards established with Switzerland and the ne gotiations pending for several years past with Fiance hAve terminated in a conven tion with that country, which went into eff ect last August. An International Pos tal Congress whs convened in, Berne, Switzerland, in September last, at wbioh the United States was represented by an officer of the Post Office Department of much experience and qualification for the position. A convention for the establish ment of an International, Postal Union was agreed upon and signed by the dele gates of tho countries represented,subject to the approval of the proper authorities of the'e countries. I respectfully direct your attention to the report of the Post master-General and to nis suggestions in regard to an eqni&ble adjustment of the question of compensation to railroads for carrying the mails. THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTH. Your attention will be drawn to the un settled condition of affairs in some of the Southern States. On the 14th of Sep tember Inst the Governor of Louisiana called upou me us provided by tbe Con stitution and laws of the United States to aid in suppressing domestic violence in that State. This call was made in view of » proclamation issued on that dwy by 1>. B. Penn, claiming that he was elected Lieutemint-Goverm r iu 1872, and calling upon the militia of the Sta'e to ts-eiuble and drive tr^m power the “usurpers,” as he designated tUe officers of the State government. On the next day I issued my proclamation commanding the insur gents to disperse within five days from the date thereof, and subsequently learned that on that day they had taken forcible possession of tho Slate House. Steps were taken by ino to support tbe existing recoguized State government, but before tbe expiration of tbe five days the insur- rectionary movement was practically abandoned and the officers of the State government, with minor exceptions, re sumed their powers and duties. Consid ering that the present State administra tion of Louisiana ha* been the only gov ernment in that State for nearly two years, that it has been tacitly acknowl- edged and acquiesced in as such by Con gress and more than once expressly recognized by me, I regarded it as my clear duty, when legally called upon for that purpoRe, to preveut its overthrow by an armed mob under pretense of fraud and irregularity iu the election of 1872. I have heretofore called the attention of Congress to this subject, stating that on aooount of the frauds and forgeries com mitted at the aaid ©lection, ami P" it appears that returns thereof Why canvassed, it was im Po tel ;th«raby who wereobosen bni t ' ,e beat MMpea of infonuatiou’ at n,?“ ll ' ““•rLIP^^'h^ved State offleara received a legal vote* actually cast at tt a t li° J repeat what 1 aaid in lay special of February 2t, 1872, that in of no aotioa of Congress, j ° '"bit tinna to ncognize the »t- heretofore recognized by me. 8 r, 1a ®at eay lhat with preparations f or p 8 "! 1 " election decided indications ann«' ,le some ioealitic a in the Bontberu 111 a determination by acts of ' ,le * d intimidation to deprive oitizen. freedom of tha ballot because 111 political opinions. Banda of men ,1 and armad, made tbeir appearance Leagues and other societies were to"**' Large quantities of arms and uinrut.,? were imported and distributed teT* organizations. Military drills ^ menacing demonstraliona, were haL-P with all these murders enough were, mitted to spread terror among 4 wkose political action was lo be ** pressed, if possible, by these intolol and criminal proceedings. In some tl colored laborers a ere compelled to I? according to the wishes of their emnioi nnder threats of discharge if they *52 otherwise, and there are too manv W. cos in which, when these threats disregarded, they wereri morsely execaw by those who made them. I undemi.2 that the fifteenth amendment to the C stitution was made to prevent this aJ*’ like state of things and the net of v.! 81st, with amendments, was p»Nsed to force its provisions—tho aim of both being to guarantee to all citizens th! light to vote and protect them in the fr*. enjoyment of that right. Enjoined b, tbo Constitution (to take care that the laws be faithfully executed), and con vinoed by undoubted evidence that viok. lions of said aot had been committed ay that widespread and flagrant disregatdd it was contemplated, ihe proper oft™ were instructed to prosecute the offeuden and troops weie stationed at convent points to aid these officers if necessary' tbe performance of their official dntV Complaints are made of this iuterferen by Federal authority, bnt if raid amen' ment aud aot do not provide for bucU in terference nnder the circumstances a« above stated, then they are without mean- ing, force or effect, and the whole schemi of colored enfranchiFement is worse thaa mockery and little better thau a crime. Possibly Congress may find it due to trnth and Justice to ascertain by means of a cominitteo whether tho alleged wrongs to colored citizens for political pur poses are real or the report a thereof wire manufactured for the occa sion. The whole number of troops in the States of Louisiana, Alabama, Geor- gia, Florida, South Carolina, North Caro- ftna, Kentucky, Tennessee. Arkamu Mississippi, Maryland and Virginia, u the time of tho election, was 40,802. This embraces the garrisons of all the forts from the Delaware to the Gulf ot Mexico. Another trouble has arisen in Arkansas. Article 13 of the Constitn- tion of that State (which was adopted in 1808, and upon tbe approval of w hich by act of Congress the State was restored to representation as oue of the States of the Union) provides in effect that beforo amendments proposed to this Constitu tion shall becoxuo a part thereof they shall be passed by two successive assem blies and then submitted to aud rutilied by a majority of the electors of the Stale voting thereon. On tbe 11th of May, 1874, the Governor convened an extra session of the General Assembly of the State, which, on the 18th of the Kama month, passed an aot providing for a convention to framo a new Constitution. Pursuant to this act, and nt an election held on the 30th June, 1874, the Con vention was approved and delegates «ero chosen thereto, who assembled ou tho 14th of last July, and formed a new Constitution, the schedule of which pro vided for the election of an entire new set of State officers in a manner coutrnry to the then existing election law.s of the State. On the 13th October, 1874, this Constitution, bb therein provided, was submitted to the peoplo for thrir ap proval or rejection, and, according to tbe eleotion returns, it was ap proved by a largo majority of those qualified to vote thereon, aud at the same eleotion persons were chosen to fill all State, county and township offices. The Governor elected in 1872 for a term of four years turned over his office to the Governor chosen under the new Constitution, whereupon tbe Lieutenant Governor, also elected in 1872, for a term of four years, claiming to aot as Governor, and alleging that said proceedings by which the new Consti tution was made and a new set of officers elected, were unconstitutional, illegal aud void, called upou me as provided in section 4, article 4 of the Constitu tion, to protect the State against domes tic violence. As Congress is now inves tigating the political affairs of Aikausas, I have declined to interfere. The whole snbjcot ot Executive interference with 1 affairs of a State is repugnant to public opinion. The feeling of these who from their official capacity must be used m such interposition, and to him or those who must direct, unless most clearly o' 1 the Aide of luw, buch interference be comes a crime, and with the law to sup- f ort it, is condemned without a hearing- desire, therefore, that all necessity for Executive direction in local affairs may become unnecessary and obsolete. 1 in vite the attention not only of Congress bnt of the people of the United States to the causes and effect* of these unhappy questions. Is there not a disposition on one side to. magnify wrong aud outrages, and on the other side to belittle them or justify them ? If public opinion could be directed to a oorreefc survey of what it is and to rebuking wrong aud aiding In® proper authorities in punishing it, a bet ter state of feeling would be inculcated, and the sooner we would have that peace which would leave the States free indeed to regulate their own domestic affair*. 1 believe, on the part of our citizens of« e Southern States, the better part of there is a disposition to be law-abidijS and to do no violence either to individu als or to the laws existing. But do do right in ignoring the existence uf vl ° lence and bloodshed in resistance to con stituted authority ? I sympathize wit their prostrate condition, and would do a in ruy power to relieve them, ackuowlfog ing that in some instances they havo ha most trying governments to live unde., and very oppressing ones in the way oj taxation for nominal improvements, no giving benefits equal to tbe hardships i - posed. But can they proclaim themself entirely irresponsible for this conditio • They cannot. Violence ha* been ram pant in some localities, and has eit been justified or denied by those w could have prevented it. The theory even raised that there is to be no fur interference on tlte part of the u® n Government to protect citizens with* S:ato where the State authorities *“ give protection. This is a great miat^ • While I remain Executive, all the J* w of of Ihe Constitution, including the amendments fdded thereto, will ,e , . forced with rigor, but with r «g r ®| . tD t0 they should have added one jot or t> Executive duties or powers. L«* 1 be fairness in the discussion of so questions, the advooates of both or t litical parties giving honest, truth ^ porta of occurrences, condemning wrong and upholding the right, an . all will be well. Under existing con tions the negro vote* the RepuUica f •t beoanaa la know. W. fno»*> » r0