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W. ™ V MA t” VIIA I K,} Editors aud Proprietor*.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
WEST.
Omaha wants Nebraska to move her
capital from Lincoln.
Chicago having promised to take pro
per precautions against conflagrations, all the
Hartford companies, except the Phconix, are
again taking risks.
The calaboose at Pontiac, 111., was
burned, last week, and Frank and Samuel
Danning, who were confined in it for indecent
conduct, were burned to death. They were
the sons of old and respected citizens.
EAST.
The long impending strike in the pot
teries of Trenton, N. J., began on the 3d inst.
The establishments of Yates, Benedict &
Allen, and J. Moses closed. The employers
guaranteeing work for the winter at a reduc
tion of 10 per cent, in wages, the employes
refused with the above result.
One hundred women employed in a
factory of the Now Brunswick rubber com
pany have struck Rgainst a reduction of wa
ges. They have been employed in stamping
rubber shoes by hand. The company recently
introduced machines for this work, and re
duced the rates on piece work. As the women
could only earn two-tliirda of their former
wages, they struck.
SOUTH.
The steamboat Sabine, from Shreve
port for New Orleans, with a cargo of cotton
and a lot of sugar, struck a snag at Creole
Bond, last week, and sunk in twenty feet wa
ter. The boat will probably prove a total loss.
The cotton wilt be saved in a damaged condi
tion. Toe boat was valued at $15,000, and
insured in New Orleans companies.
A special to the Courier Journal says
that three negroes were taken from jail by a
band of masked men at Morganfield, Ivy.,
Tuesday night, and hanged to trees, near
town. Uniontown. in the same county, was
visited by a destructive five some weeks since,
and these negroes had been arrested and
charged with starting the conflagration. They
afterwards confessed the crime, giving as an
excuse that the proprietor of the uistillery
in which it was started had turned the mother
of one of the negroes out of one of the
houses in which she was living. The “regu
lators" were mounted and are thought to have
come from Uniontown.
The Memphis cotton exchange crop
report for November gives the following sum
mary, derived from 107 responses from West
Tennessee, North Mississippi, and Arkansas,
north of Arkansas river: Sixty-four report
damaged by frost; forty throe no damage.
The average damage by frost is three aud one
half per cent. The average decrease in acre
age is one and ono-half per cent. Due exer
tions have been and are being made to save
the crop. The average closing picking season
last year was January 14. This year it will
close about December 7. The crop is being
marketed unprecedentedly fast. The com
crop of this district is about thirty-two per
cent, short of the average of the past two
seasons. The aggregate of responses docs
not indicate any change in the morale of
laborers. The prospect is that the entire crop
will be saved in better condition than ever
known. The committee are of opinion that
the decrease of the cotton crop in this district
from last year, will be about thirty-five per
•ent.
The executive committee of the Mis
souri state Grange, which has been in session
at Bt. Lolling, adjourned last week after the
transaction of considerable business apper
taining to the order. They also adopted a se
ries of resolutions approving the efforts now
being made by the citizens of St. Louis to
open direct trade between the Mississippi
valley states and Brazil by a steamship hue
from New Orleans and Arkansas, the farmers
of the valley states to aid in supporting the
enterprise. They recommend the farmors of
Missouri and the other valley states to make
every effort to induce shipments down the
Mississippi river, instead of by rail to the east,
and assert it is the policy and imperative duty
of the farmers to patronize western and
southern railroads in preference to feeding
eastern roads and capitalists. They also re
commend to the granges of the valley states
to adopt resolutions requesting their represen
tatives and senators in congress to give such
support as they can to Capt. Jas. B. Eads’
jetty plan for the immediate improvement of
the mouth* of the Mississippi river.
In the cheap transportation convention
now in session at Richmond, Va., a bill pre
pared by Gen. Duff Greene, of Georgia, pro
viding for the inauguration of a scheme of
internal improvements to be sustained by a
Bystem of banking connected therewith, was
presented and referred. M. B. Lloyd, of Illi
nois. presented his views as to the construc
tion of a double track trunk railway by the
government, to secure competition in the
transportation of freights. Gon. Forbel. of
Georgia, presented a resolution looking to the
establishment aud maintenance of commercial
intercourse between the states of the union,
to revive the commerce of the nation. The
oommittee on resolutions presented a report
based upon a resolution of Col. Johnson, of
North Carolina, in which they declare in favor
of asking the government to aid in the con
struction of the Southern Pacific railroad, and
of the great water lines, such aid to convey
to the government the right to control the
rates of transportation over such lines, with a
proviso that the government guarantees asked
shall be so guarded as to protect the national
treasury from Joss. Pour members of the
committee presented & protest against the
adoption of the report, and against asking
the government to aid in the construction of
xailroads.
foreign.
A KiDgstoD, Jamaica, letter puts the
damage to that islav.d by the typhoon of Nov
Ist, at $350,000.
Spain has appointed a board of com
missioners, with Catelar as its president, to
represent that country at our centennial expo
sition.
Capt. Geo. S. Naree, now in command
of her majesty's ship Challenger, has been
selected to command the expedition to be fit
ted ont by Great Britain, for explorations in
the Arctic regions.
The Spanish coastiug steamer Thomas
Brooks, from Santiago de Cuba for Fuantamo,
struck on the morning of the 3d, on the Mo
ril'.o near Gusntamo, and sunk immediately.
About thirty lives were lost.
It is known, in diplomatic circles, that
Spain has paid to Great Britain \ly part of
toe indemnity on account of the Virginms
affair, leaving the remainder and other ques
tions to be hereafter adjusted.
The inspector general of the army, in
Ids annual report, says a regulation is much
needed, inflicting punishment on soldiers who
marry without proper permission. Military
posts are overran with the wives of the en
listed men; and it is well known that it re
quires abont as much transportation to move
four laundresses as it does to move a whole
company of men.
A Barlin dispatch says that Knssia
contemplates the reassembling next March, id
St. Petersburg, of the international conference
lately held iu Brussels. Exertions will proba
bly be made to secure the consent of Great
Britain and some minor states. The work of
the conference will be confined to the enact
ment of the more purely philanthropic clauses
of the programme proposed by Russia. If
these endeavors fail, the three northern pow
ers may probably settle the matter alone.
The message of President MacMahon
delivered to thG assembly last week. He
rava tu&t order has been maintained through
out the country. Relations with foreign gov
ernments are on an excellent footing ; no for-
power doubts her desire to maintain
THE STANDARD AND EXPRESS.
pacific relations with all nations. The finan
cial condition of the country has improved at
home, thanks to a good harvest. The exfort
trade has never been so considerable as dur
ing the last four months. Everything now
favors the expectation that these most satis
factory results will be at least equaled in 1875.
The president insists strongly on the necessity
of definite legislation with regard to the con
stitutional powers, and continues as follows:
“ Incessantly agitated by a progaganda of the
most pernicious doctrine, the country asks you
to guarantee, by measures, the action of the
public powers during the period of stability
which you promised France.”
The steamer La Plata, from Gravesend
1 for Rio Grande del Sud, chartered by Siemens
| Bros, to repair the telegraph cable, foundered
off Galiant, on the 29th of November. Sixty
persons were drowned. Fourteen survivors
were rescued by the Gareloch, cf Glasgow.
The loss of the ship is attributed to the shift
ing of the grappling apparatus. Of 250 mileß
of telegraph cable on board, 150 had been paid
out, which had to be abandoned. Unavailing
attempts were made to save the vessel by
lightening. The captain, surgeon, three other
officers, the engineer, seven stewards and
cooks, eleven stokers, fourteen seamen and
the whole of the cable staff, numbering six
teen, and including Mr. Ricketts, the chief
electrician, were drowned. The chief steward,
wlie was eaved, reports that the fires were all
out by ten o’clock on the morning of the 29th.
A heavy sea carried away two of the boats and
the ship gradually settled by the stern. At
12:30 p. m. she foundered, stem first. The
captain and doctor were on the bridge, having
failed to clear the patent life-raft, and went
down with the crew.
The steamer Vancouver has arrived
with late news from China and Japan. The
Formosa quarrel has been settled, China con.
ceding everything required by Japan. The
latter government has already determined to
return a part, if not the whole, indemnity
money. They required it only as an unmis
takable acknowledgement of the propriety of
their action. That having been vindicated,
they are disinclined to keep the money. There
is general complaint against the United States’
consul at New Chang for having sentenced a
pilot named Holaday, convicted of a murder
ous assault on the Chineee women, to only
fourteen days’ imprisonment. The subject of
supplying prostitutes for San Francisco at
tracts much attention in Hong Kong. Meat
ures are under consideration to prevent future
departures from that place. Several cases of
girls seeking release were recently before the
courts. By a heavy typhoon on October 12,
many Japanese villages were greatly injured,
and one entirely destroyed. Thirty-three
junks were wrecked and two hundred lives
lost. In view of the recent expectations of
war, public' expenses are reduced in various
ways. The Mikado and members of the im
perial family have renounced part of their in
comes. Numerous employes have requested a
reduction of their salaries, and even the
scholars in the national academies have peti
tioned that the amount allowed for their edu
cation be temporarily reduced.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The number of emigrants who landed
at Castle Garden from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1 of the
present year, was 145,362, showing a heavy
decrease.
The secretary of the treasury, this
afternoon, tendered the position cf supervising
architect of the treasury; to John McArthur,
Jr., of Philadelphia.
The postmaster-general has issued an
order forbidding letter carriers to distribute
New Year’s addresses calculated to induce the
public to make them gifts.
Proceedings have been instituted
against ltev. Dr. Talmadge, of Brooklyn, by
B. C. Mitchell, on the charge of slander.
Mitchell was for a number of years a promi
nent member of Talmadge’s church, and was
expelled on the testimony of the pastor, who
charged him with conduct unbecoming Chris
tians. The damages are laid at $5,000.
The flow of currency from New York
to the west averages about $2,000,000 a day.
Cincinnati and Chicago are paying out SBOO,-
000 a day for hogs, all of which passes imme
diately into the regular channels of trade.
Business of all kinds must soon begin to feel
the effects of this healthy stimulus. Mean
while the fact that money is easy and interest
low in New York, notwithstanding the large
efflux of currency from that city, is a signifi
cant feature of the financial situation.
It appears from the market review
of the Courier-Journal that 190,558 hogs have
been marketed at Louisville during the mouth
just closed, and 175,748 packed, against 105,-
000 in November of last year. The matket
value of the hogs packed during the month
waß about $3,500,000. The latest returns from
the principal packing centres of the west show
that a larger business has been done in Louis
ville than in any other city, except Chicago,
although last season Louisville was ranked by
five other points.
The protest r. gainst the proposed reci
procity treaty with Canada is about to be is
sued by the national wool growers association.
The document, which is Bigned by Hon. Honry
S. Randall, president, dirocts attention to the
counsel given by Gen. Washington to avoid
political alliances in extending its commercial
relations of the country, and states that the
people of Canada now contribute about six
million dollars in gold paid for duties. The
treaty would surrender this sum and add it to
our overweighed industries aud make Canada
a thoroughfare for smuggling for all the world.
The chief of the bureau of ordnance,
in his annual report, recommends the rearma
ment of the navy with breech-loading rifled
cannon, which can be had at a very small cost,
in view of the reduced number of guns re
quired. The present types of foreign armed
cruising ships carry to 6 inches of armor,
and at present we have no guns, except the
15-inch, in the monitors, which would seriously
injure the lightest of these armored vessels.
Substitute a 7 or 8-inch rifle for the 11-inch
smooth bore, which even our smallest ships
carry, and few of them would come off with
out great damage.
The house appropriation committee
have disposed of the army bill. This bill ap
propriates the same amount as last year, and
makes a considerable reduction from the esti
mates. The secretary of war sent in estimates
for a force of thirty thousand men. notwith
standing the fact that congress last winter
directed the reduction of the force to twenty
five thousand. He evidently considered the
reduction as temporary, while the committee
consider it as permanent, and have fixed the
appropriation for next year on that basis. The
present number of the force is twenty-seven
thousand, but a large number of enlisted men
isoon to be discharged will bring the numb-r
down to twenty-five thoueand, as directed last
session.
The supreme court of the United
States has just rendered a decision in which
for the first time the question of the power of
the confederate government to make a valid
contract has been adjudicated. The plaintiff
had knowingly purchased cotton of an agent
of the Confederate States. The cotton was
subsequently seized bv the United States and
their proceeds covered into the treasury.
Plaintiff brought suit in the court of claims to
recover. This court rejected the claim. The
supreme court affirms this decision of the
court of claims cn two grounds: 1. Because
the purchase of the cotton and the payment
of the consideration necessarily tended to give
aid to the rebellion, and that all such contracts
are void as contrary to public policy. This
was concurred in by the whole court. 2. Be
cause the so-called government of the Confed
erate States had no existence except as a con
spiracy to overthrow lawful authority. In
support of this second position of the court,
the chief justice and six associate justices
concur. Two—Mr. Justice Clifford and Mr.
Justice Davis—dissent on the ground that its
announcement was not necessary to the decis
on of this case.
PRffillll'nMlSSAGE.
To the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives:
Since the convening of congress one
year ago, the nation has undergone a
prostration in business and industries
such as has not been witnessed with us
for many years. Speculation as to the
causes for this prostration might be in
dulged in, without profit, because as
many theories would be advanced as
there would be independent writers,
those who expressed their own views
without a bearing upon the subject.
Without indulging in theories as to the
cause of this prostration, I will only
call your attention to the fact, and to
one question as to which it would seem
there should be no disagreement. Dur
ng this prostration
TWO ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
of prosperity have been most abundant
—labor and capital. Both have been
largely unemployed. Where the se
curity has been undoubted, capital has
been attainable at very moderate rates.
Where labor has been wanted, it has
been found in abundance at cheap rates
compared with what of the necessities
and comforts of life should be pur
chased with the wages demanded. Two
great elements of prosperity, therefore,
have not been denied us. A. third might
be added. Our soil and climate are
unequaled within the limits of any
contiguous territory, under one nation
ality, for its varieties 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 seems to me that wise
statesmanship at this session of con
gress would dictate ignoring the past,
and directing in proper channels these
great elements of prosperity to any
people. Our debt abroad is the only
element that can, with always a sound
currency, enter into our affairs to cause
any continued depression in the indus
tries and prosperity of our people.
ORIGIN OP GREENBACKS.
A great conflict for national existence
made necessary for temporary purposes
is the raising of a large sum of money
from whatever source attainable. It
may have been necessary in the wisdom
of congress, aiffl I do not doubt their
wisdom in the premises regarding the
necessity of the times, to devise a sys
tem of currency, which it proved to be
impossible to keep on a par with the
recognized currency of the civilized
world. This begat a spirit of specula
tion, involving an extravagance and lux
ury not required for the happiness or
prosperity of a people, and involving
both directly and indirectly foreign in
debtedness. This currency being of a
fluctuating value and, therefore, unsafe
to hold for legitimate transactions re
quiring money, became a subject of
speculation in itself.
These two causes, however, have in
volved us in a foreign indebtedness,
contracted in 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 government cannot be violated
toward creditors without national dis
grace. Our commerce should be en
couraged, American shipbuilding and
carrying increased, and foreign markets
sought for the products of the soil and
manufactures, to the end that we may
be able to pay these debts. Where a
market can be created for the sale of
our products, either of the soil, the
mine or the manufactory, anew means
is discovered of utilizing our idle capi
tal and labor, to the advantage of the
whole people.
GOLD SEEKS ITS LEVEL.
In my judgment the first step to
ward this object is to secure a carrency
good wherever civilization reigns, one
which, if it becomes superabundant
with one people, will fiud a market with
some other ; a currency which has as its
basis the labor necessary to produce it,
which will give it value. Gold and
silver are now the recognized medium
of exchange the world over, and to this
we should return with the least prac
ticable delay. In view of the pledges
of the American congress when our
present legal tender system was adopted
and debt contracted, there should be
no delay, oertainly no unnecessary de
lay, in fixing by legislation a method
by which we will return to specie. To
the accomplishment of this end I invite
your special attention. I believe firmly
that there can be no prosperous and
permanent revival of business and in
dustries until a policy is adopted, with
legislation to carry it out, looking to a
return to the specie basis.
THE DEBTOR CLASS.
It is easy to conceive that the debtor
and speculative classes may think it of
value to them to make so called money
abundant, until they can throw a por
tion of their burdens on others. But
even these, I believe, would be disap
pointed in the result, if a oourse should
be pursued which will keep in doubt
the value of the legal tender medium of
exchange, and delay the revival of pro
ductive industries needed by all classes,
by none more than by the holders of
property, of whatever sort, with debts
to liquidate for realization upon its
sales. But admitting that these two
classes of citizens are to be benefitted
by expansion, would it be honest to
give it ? Would not the general loss be
too great to justify such relief ? Would
it not be as honest and prudent to au
thorize each debtor to issue his own
legal tenders to the extent of his liabili
ties? Than to do this would it not be
safer, for fear of over-issues by unscru
pulous debtors, to say that all debt ob
ligations are obliterated in the United
States, and now we commence anew,
each possessing all he has at the time
free from incumbrance?
DEL VS DISHONEST,
These propositions are too absurd to
be entertained for a moment by a think
ing people. Every delay in the pre
paration lor final resumption partakes
of this dishonesty, and is only less in
degree as the hr pe is held out that a
convenient season will at last arrive for
the good work of redeeming our pledges
to commerce. It will never come,
in my opinion, except by positive action
by congress, or by national disasters,
which will destroy for a time at least,
the credit of individuals and the state
at large, when a sound currency would
be reached by total bankruptcy of the
credit and integrity of the nation and
individuals. I believe it is in the pow
er of congress at this session, to
devise such legislation as will re
store confidence, revive all the indus
tries, start us on the career of
prosperity, and to save the credit of the
nation and the people. Steps toward
the return to a specie basis, are steps to
this end devoutly to be sought for, and
there are others which I may touch on
hereafter.
A B ONUS TO FOREIGNERS.
A nation dealing in a currency below
that of specie in value, labors under
two great advantages : First, having
no use for the world’s acknowledged
medium of exchange, gold and silver,
these are driven out of the country
because there is no demand for their
use. Secondly, the medium of exchange
being of a fluetating value, for it is
only worth just what it will purchase
of gold and silver metals, having an
intrinsic valne just in proportion to the
honest labor it takes to produce them,
a large margin must be allowed for a
profit by the manufacturer and produ
cer. In the months from the date of
production to the date of realization,
interest upon capital must be oharged,
and the risk of dnetation in the value
of that which is to be reoeived in pay
CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16. 1874.
ment added. Hence high prices act as
a protection to the foreign producer,
who receives nothing in exchange for
the product of his skill and labor, except
a currency good at a stable value the
world over.
THE POOR MAN BEARS THE BRUNT.
It seems to me that nothing is clearer
than that the greater part of the burden
of the existing prostration, for the want
of a sound financial system, falls upon
the workingman, who must, after all,
produce the wealth, and the salaried
man who superintends and conducts the
business. The burden falls upon them
in two ways : By the deprivation of
employment, and by the decreased pur
chasing power of their salaries. It is
the duty of oongresa to devise the
method of correcting the evils which
are acknowledged to exist, and not
mine. But I will venture to suggest
two or three things which seem to me
as absolutely necessary to a return to
specie payments.
REPEAL OF THE LEGAL TENDER CLAUSE
URGED,
The first great requisite in a return to
prosperity is, that the legal tender
clause to the law authorizing the issue
of currency by the national government,
should'be repealed, to take effect, as to
all contracts entered into afte> a day
fixed in the repealing act, not to apply,
however, to the payments of salaries by
the government, or other expenses now
provided by law to be paid in currency.
In the interval and pending between re
peal and final resumption, provision
should be made by which the secretary
of the treasury can obtain gold as it
may become necessary, from time to
time, from the date when specie resump
tion commenced. To this might and
should be added a revenue sufficiently
in excess of expenses to insure an accu
mulation of gold in the treasury to sus
tain redemption. I commend this sub
ject to your careful consideration, be
lieving that a favorable solution is at
tainable, and that if reached by this
oongresa, present and future generations
will ever gratefully remember it as their
deliverer from a thraldom of toil and
disgrace.
FREE BANKING ESSENTIAL.
With resumption free banking may be
authorized with safety, giving full pro
tection to bill-holders which they have
under existing laws. Indeed, I would
regard free banking essential. It would
give proper elasticity to the currency.
As more currency should be required
for the transaction of legitimate busi
ness, new banks would be started and in
turn banks would wind up their busi
ness when it was found there was a su
perabundance of currency. The expe
rience and judgment of the people can
best decide just how much currency is
required for the transaction of the busi
ness of the country. It is unsafe to
leave the settlement of this question to
congress, the secretary of the treasury
or the executive. Congress should
make the regulation under which banks
may exist, but should not make banking
a monopoly by limiting the amount of
redeemable paper currency that shall be
authorized. Such importance do I at
tach to this subject and so earnestly do
I commend it to your attention, that I
give it prominence by introducing it at
the beginning of this message.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
During the past year nothing has oc
cuired to disturb the geueral, friendly
and cordial relations of the United
States with other powers. The corres
pondence submitted herewith between
this government and its diplomatic rep
resentatives in other countries, show a
satisfactory condition of all questions
between the United States and the most
of those countries, and, with a few ex
ceptions, to which reference is hereafter
made, the absence of any points of dif
ference to be adjusted.
BELGIUM.
The notice directed by the resolution
of congress of June 18, 1874, to be
given to terminate the convention of
July 17,1858, between the United States
and Belgium, has been given, and the
treaty will accordingly terminate on the
first day of July, 1875. This conven
tion secured to certain Belgium vessels
entering the ports of the United States,
exceptional privileges which are not ao
corded to our own vessels. Other feat
ures of the convention have proved sat
isfactory, and have tended to the culti
vation of the mutually beneficial com
mercial intercourse aud friendly rela
tions between the two countries. I hope
that the negotiations which have been
instituted will result in the celebrating
of another treaty which may tend to the
interests of both countries.
CHINA.
Our relations with China continue to
be friendly. During the past year fear
of hostilities between China and Japan,
growing out of the landing of an armed
force upon the island of Formosa by
the latter, has occasioned uneasiness.
It is earnestly hoped, however, the dif
ficulties arising from this cause will be
adjusted, and that the advance of civili
zation in those empires may not be re
tarded by a state of war.
In consequence of the part taken by
certain citizens of the United States in
this expedition, our representatives in
those countries have been instructed to
impress upon the governments of China
and Japan the firm intention of this
country to maintain strict neutrality in
the event of hostilities, and carefully
prevent any infraction of law on the
part of our citizens.
ah-sin:
In connection with this subject, I call
the attention of congress to a generally
known fact that the great proportion of
Chinese emigrants who come to our
shores do not come voluntarily to make
their homes with us '•and their labor
productive of the general prosperity,
but come under contract with head men,
who own them almost absolutely. In a
worse form does this apply to the Chi
nese women. Hardly a perceptible
percentage of them perform any honor
able labor, but they are brought here
for shameful purposos, to the disgrace
of the communities where they settle,
and to the great demoralization of the
youth of these local ties. If this bad
practice can be legislated against, it
will be my pleasure as well as my duty,
to enforce any regulation to secure so
desirable an end.
japan.
It is hoped that negotiations between
the government of Japan and other
powers, looking to the farther opening
of the and the removal of va
rious restrictions upon trade and travel,
may soon produce the results desired,
which cannot fail to enure to the bene
fit of all parties.
Having on previous occasions, sub
mitted to the consideration of oongress,
the propriety of the release of the
Japanese government from farther pay
ment of the indemnity and the conven
tion of Oct. 22, 1864, under as no action
had been taken therein, it became my
duty to regard the obligation of the
convention as in force, and as the other
powers interested have received their
portion of the indemnity in full, the
minister of the United Stated has been
notified and this government received
the remainder due to the United States
under the convention of Simonsky. I
submit the propriety of applying the
income of a part, if not the whole of
the fund, to the education, in the Jap
anese language, of a number of young
men, to be under obligations to serve
the government for a specified time aa
interpreters at the legation and the
consulates at Japan. A limited num
ber of Japanese youths might, at the
same time, be educated in our vernacu
lar, and would result in benefit to both
governments. The importance of hav
ing our citizens competent and familiar
with the language of Japan, to act as
interpreters and in other capacities con
nected with the legation and consulate
in that country, cannot be readily over
estimated.
JgREAT BRITAIN.
The amount awarded to the govern
ment of Great Britain by iha mixed
commission organized under the acts of
the treatise of Washington, in settle
ment of the claims of British subjects
arising from acts committed between
April 18, 1841, and April 9, 1865, be
came practicable under the terms of the
treaty within the past year, and was
nnid upon the 21st day of September.
1874.
OTHER CLAIMS AGAINST US.
In this connection I renew my recom
mendation made at the opening of the
last session of congress, that a special
court be created to hear and determine
all claims of aliens against the Untied
States arising from acts committed
against their persons or property during
the insurrection. It appv-*-g equitable
that an opportunity should be offered
for the persons of other states to pre
sent their claims as well as to those
British subjects whose claims were not
admissably under the late commission,
to the early decision of a competent
tribunal, and I rroommend the necessa
ry legislation to organize a court to dis
pose of those claims of aliens who are
referred to, in an equitable and satis
factory manner, and to relieve congress
and the departments from the consider
ation of these questions.
THE FISHERIES.
The legislation necessary to extend to
the fisheries of New Foundland certain
articles of the treatv of Washington of
Bth day of May, 1871, having been had,
a protocol to that effect was suggested
in behalf of the United States and
Great Britian on the 28th day of May
last, and was duly proclaimed on the
following day. A copy of the procla
mation is submitted herewith.
OUR NORTHWESTERN BOUNDARY.
A copy of the report of the commis
sion appointed under the act of March
19, 1872, for surveying and making the
boundary between the United States
and the British possessions, from the
Lake of the Woods to the summit of
the Rocky Mountains, is herewith
transmitted. lam happy to announce
that the field work of commission has
been completed, and the entire line
from the northwest comer of the Lake
of the Woods to the summit of the
Rocky Mountains has been run and
marked upon the surface of the earth.
It is believed that the amount remain
ing unexpended of the appropriation
made at the last sessidn of congress
will be sufficient to complete the work.
I recommend that the authority of con
gress be given for the use of the unex
pended balance of the appropriation in
the completion of tne work of the com
mission and making a report and print
ing the necessary map.
AMERICAN CLAIMANTS OF DAMAGES BY THE
ALABAMA.
The court known as the court of com
missioners of Alabama claims, created
by an act of congress at the last session,
has organized and commenced its work,
and it is to be hoped that the claims ad
missable under the provisions of the act
may be speedily’administered.
TURKEY.
It has been deemed advisable to ex
ercise the discretion conferred upon the
executive, at last session, by accepting
the conditions required by the govern
ment of Turkey for the privilege of
allowing the citizens of the United
States to hold real estate in the former
oountry, and by assenting to a certain
change of the j urisdiotion of the courts
in the latter. A copy of the proclama
tion upon these subjects is herewith
communicated.
SPANISH AMERICA.
There has been no material change in
our relations with the independent
states on this heihisphere, which were
formerly under the dominance of Spain.
Marauding on the frontiers, between
Mexico and Texas, still frequently takes
place, despite the vigilanoe of the civil
and military authorities in that quarter.
The difficulty of checking suoh trepasses
along the course cf a river of such
length as the Rio Grande, and so often
fordable, is obvious. It is hoped that
the effort of this government will be
seconded by those of Mexico to the
effectual suppression of aotß of wrong.
MEXICAN CLAIMS.
From a report upon the condition of
the business before the American and
Mexican joint claims commission, made
by the agent of the United States, and
dated Oot. 28, 1874, it appears that of
the 1,107 claims filed on the part of the
citizens of the United States, 483 had
been finally decided, and 75 were in the
hands of the umpire, leaving 460 to be
disposed of; and of the 998 claims
filed against the United States, 726 had
been finally decided on, one was before
the umpire, and 271 remain to be dis
posed of. Since the date of each re
port, other claims have been disposed
of, reducing somewhat the number still
pending, and others have been passed
upon by the arbitrators. It has become
apparent, in view of these figures and
of the fact that the work devolving on
the umpire is particularly laborious,
the commission would be unable to dis
pose of the entire number of claims
pending prior to the first day of Febru
aty, 1875, the date fixed for the expira
tion, negotiations are pending looking
to the securing of the results of the
decisions which have been received and
to a further extension of the commis
sion for a limited time, which it is con
fidently hoped will suffice to bring all
the business now before it to a final
close.
ARGENTINE.
The strife in the Argentine republic is
to be deplored, both on account of the
parties thereto and from the probable
effects on the interests of those in the
trade in that quarter, of whom the Uoi
ted States are among the principal. As
yet, so far as I am aware, there has been
no violation of our neutrality rights,
which, as well as our duties in that res
pect, it shall be my endeavor to main
tain and observe.
VENEZUELA.
It is with regret that I announce that
no further payment has been received
from the government of Venezuela on
account of awards in favor of the citi
zens of the United States. Hopes have
been entertained that, if the republic
could escape both foreign and civil war
for a few years, its great natural re
sources would enable it to honor its ob
ligations. Though it is now understood
to be at peace with other countries, a
serious insurrection is reported to lie in
progress in an important region of that
republio. This may be taken advan
tage of as another reason to delay the
payment of the dues of our citizens.
ÜBA.
The deplorable strife in Cuba contin
ues without any marked change in the
relative advantages of the contending
forces. The insurrection continues, but
Spain has gained no superiority. Six
years of strife give the insurrection a
significance which cannot be denied.
Its duration and the tenacity of its ad
herents, together with the absence of a
manifesto i power of suppression on the
part of Spain, cannot be controverted,
and may make some positive steps on
the part of the other powers a matter of
self-necessity.
SPAIN.
I had confidently hoped at this time
to be able to announce the arrangement
of some of the important questions be-
tween this government and that of
Spain, tint the negotiations have been
protracted.. The unhappy internal dis
sension! of Spain command our pro
found sympathy and must be accepted
as per hi ps a cause of some delay. An
early se tlement, in part at least, of the
questiors between the governments is
hoped. In the meantime awaiting the
results t f immediately pending negoti
ations, 1 defer a further and full com
municat on on the subject of the rela
tions of this oountry and Spain.
THE RIGHT OF EXPATRIATION.
I have again to call the attention of
oongresfi to the unsatisfactory condition
of the existing laws in reference to expa
triation and the eleotion of nationality.
Formerly, amid conflicting opinions and
decisions, it was difficlut to exactly de
termine how far the doctrine of perpet
ual allegiance was applicable to citizens
of the United States. Congress by the
act of the 29th of July, 1868, asserted
the abstract right of expatriation as a
fundamental principle of the govern
ment. Notwithstanding such assertion
and tb© necessity of frequent applica
tion of the principle, ho legislation has
been ha< . defining what acts or formali
ties shal 1 work expatriation, or when a
citizen snail be deemed to have renoun
ced or to have lost his citizenship. The
importance of such definition isobvious.
The representatives of the United States
in foreign countries are continually
called upon to lend their aid and the
protection of the United States to per-
sons cod corning the good faith or the
reality of whose citizenship there is at
least great question. In some cases the
provisions of the treaties furnish some
guide. In others, it seems left to the
persons claiming the benefit of citizen
ship while living in a foreign country,
contributing in no manner to the per
formanco of the obligations and duties
of a citizen of the United States, simply
as a shield from the performance of the
obligations of a citizen elsewhere. The
status of ohildren born of Ameri
can parents residing in a for
eign country, of American women who
have married aliens, and of American
citizens reaid id g abroad, where such
question is not regulated by treaty,
aro all sources of frequent, difficult
discussion. Legislation on these and
smaller questions, and particularly de
fining when and under what circum
stances expatriation can be accomplish
ed or is to be presumed, is especially
needed.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION.
In this connection I earnestly call the atten
tion of congress to the difficulties arising from
fraudulent naturalization. The United States
wisely, freely and liberally offers its citizens
help, to all who may come in good faith to re
side within its limits, on the complying with
certain prescribed, reasonable and simple
formalities and conditions. Among the high
est duties of the government is that to afford
a firm, officer t ana equal protection to all its
citizens, ivhe her native bom or naturalized.
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 proof of a
compliance with the law, and there are fre
quent instances of illegal aud fraudulent nat
uralization, and of the unauthorized use of
certificates thus improperly obtained. In some
cases the fraudulent character of naturaliza
tion has appeared upon the face of the certifi
cate itself. In others, examination discloses
that the holder had not complied with the law,
and in ot hers the certificates have been obtain
ed where the persons holding them not only
were not enti led to be naturalized, hut had
not been within the United States at the time
of the pretended naturalization. Instances of
each of those classes of fraud are discovered
at our leg islations where the certificates of nat
uralization ars presented, either for the pur
pose of obtaining passports, or in demanding
the protection of the legation. When the
fraud is entirely apparent cn the face of suclx
certificates, they are taken up by the repre
sentatives of the government, anil forwai-ded
to the department of state. But even the
record of the court in which the fraudulent
naturalizatioi occured, remains, and duplicate
certificates ate readily obtainable. Upon the
presentation of these for the issue of pass
ports or demanding the protection of the gov
ernment, the fraud sometitfcs escapes notice,
aud such ceitifieates are not unfrequently
used in the transaction of business, to the in
jury of innocent parties. Without placing avxy
additional obstacle in the way of the obtain
ment of citizenship, by the worthy and well
intentioned foreigner, who comes in good
faith, I nevertheless earnestly recommend
further legislation to punish fraudulent nat
uialization, aid to secure the ready cancella
tion of the record of every naturalization
made in fraud.
EXTRADITION.
Since my last annual message, the exchange
has been made of the ratification of treaties
of extradition! with Belgium, Ecquador, Peru
and San Salv.tdor; also of a treaty of com
merce and navigation with Pern, and one of
commerce and consular privileges with San
Salvador, all of which have been duly pro
claimed, as has also a declaration with Russia
with reference to ti-ade marks.
TKE FEDERAL TREASURY.
The report of the secretary of the treasury,
which, by law, [is made directly to congress,
and forms no part of this message, will shew
the receipt* i.nd expenditures of the govern
ment for the last fiscal year, the amount re
ceive and from each source of revenue, and the
amount paid out for each of the departments
of the government. It will be observed from
this report that the amount of receipts over
expedituies has been but $2,344,882.30 for the
fiscal yea:-ending June 30, 1874, and that for
the current fiscal year the estimated receipts
over expenditures will not exceed $9,0t)0,0u0.
THE SINKING FUND BEHIND.
In view of the large national debt existing
and the obligation to add one per cent, per
annum to the sinking fund, a sum amounting
now to over $34,000,000 per annum, I submit
whether the revenues should not be increased
or the expenditures diminished to reach this
amount of surplus. Not to provide for the
sinking fund is a partial failure to comply with
the contracts and obligations of the govern
ment. At the last session of congress a very
considerable '.'eduction was made in the rate of
taxation and in the number of articles sub
mitted to taxation; the question may well be
asked whether or not in some instances un
wisely.
In connection with this subject too, the
opinion is that the means of collecting the
revenues, especially from imports, have been
embarrass ad by legislation as to make it ques
tionable whether er not large amounts are not
lost by failure to collect, to the direct loss of
the treasury and to the prejudice of the in
terests of ho nest importers and tax-payers.
Bristow’s recommendations.
The secretary of the treasury, in his report,
favors leg:elation looking to specie payments,
thus sup|>orung the views previously ex
pressed in this message. He also recommends
economy in the appropriations, and calls at
tention to the loss of revenue from repealing
the tax or. ten and coffee without benefit to the
consumer He recommends an increase of 80
centß a gallon on whisky; and further, that no
modification should become necessary by rea
son of the adoption of measures for returning
to specie payments. In these recommend a-*
tions I co dially concur.
the tariff.
I would suggest to congress the propriety of
readjusting ho tariff so as to increase the
revenue and at the same time decrease the
number of articles upon which duties are
levied. Those articles which enter into our
manufactures and are not produced at home, it
seems to me, should be entered free. On those
articles of manufacture which we produce a
constitue .it pars of, but do not produce the
whole, that part which we do not produce
should enter free also. I will instance fine
wool dyes, etc. Th9se must be imported to
form a part of the manufacture of the higher
grades of wool goods, Chemicals used as
dyes, compounded in medicines, and used is
various ways in manufactures, come under
this clast;. The introduction, free of dues, of
such wools as we do produce should stimulate
the manufacture of goods requiring the use of
those we do uot produce, and. therefore, conld
be a benefit to home production. There are
many articles entering into home manufac
tures wh: eh ive do uot produce ourselves, the
tariff on vhi ih increases the cost of producing
the manufactured article. All corrections in
this regiird we in the direction of bringing
labor un<: capital in harmony with each other,
and of supplying one of the elements much
needed.
THE ARMT.
The report of the secretary of war, herewith
attached, and forming a part of this message,
gives all the information concerning all the
operations, wants and necessities, and con
tains ma iy suggestions and recommendations
which I :;ommend to your special attention.
There is uoc aes of government employees who
are harder worked than the army officers and
meD, none who perform their tasks more
cheerfully and more efficiently, and under cir
cumstances of greater privation and hardships.
Legislation is desired to render more efficient
this branch of the public service. All the re
commendations of the secretary of war I re
gal'd as jad .cions, and I especially commend
I to your ti Mention the following :
BELKNAP’S RECOMMENDATIONS.
The consolidation of government arsenals :
mileage to officers traveling under orders; the
exemption of money received from the sale of
subsistence stores from being converted into
the treasury; the use of appropriations for
the purpose of subsistence stores, without
waiting for the beginning of the fiscal veax* for
which the appropriation is made; for addition
al appropriations for the collection of torpedo
material; for increased appropriations for the
manufacture of arms; for relieving the vari
ous states for indebtedness for arms charged
to them during the rebellion; for dropping
officers fi’om the rolls of the army without
trial for the offense of drawing pay more than
once for the same period ; for the discourage
ment of the plan to pay soldiers by checks,
and for the establishment of a professorship
of rhetoric aud English literature at West
Point.
The reasons for the recommendations are
obvious and are set forth in the report attach
ed. I also recommend that the status of staff
corps of the army be fixed, where this has not
already been done, so that promotions
may be made and vacancies filled, as
they occur in each grade when reduced
below the number to be fixed by law. The
necessity for such legislation is specially
felt now in the pay department, which is be
low the number adequate to the performance
of the duties required of them.
THE NAVY.
The efficiency of the navy has been largely
increased during the last year. Under the
impulse of the foreign complications, which
threatened us at the commencement of the
last congress, most of our efficient wooden
ships were put in condition for immediate
service, and the repairs of onr iron-clads were
pushed with the utmost vigor. The result is,
that mest of these are now in an effective
state and need only to be manned and set in
commission, to go at once into service. Some
of the new steamers, authorized bv congress,
are already in commission and most of the
l’emainder ai*e launched and w'ait the comple
tion of machinery to enable them to take their
places as part of our effective force. Two
iron tornedo ships have been completed dur
ing the last year, and four of our large double
turretted iron-clads are now undergoing re
pairs. IV hen these are finished, everything
that is needful for our navy, as now author
ized, will be in a condition * for service, aud,
with the advance in science of torpedo war
fare, the American navy, comparatively small
as it is, will be found powerful for the purposes
of a peaceful uatiou.
SCIENTIFIC AND HYDROGRAPHIC,
Much has also been accomplished during
the year in aid of science and to increase the
sum of general knowledge and further the in
terests of commerce and civilization. Exten
sive and much needed soundings have been
made for hydrographic purposes and to fix
the proper routes of ocean telegraphs. The
surveys of the great Isthmus havo been com
pleted aud vessels of the navy are now em
ployed in conjunction with those of England,
France. Germany and Russia in observations
connected with the transit of Venus, useful
and interesting to the scientific world.
The estimates for this branch of the public
service do not differ much from those of lest
year, the general appropriation of the service
beipg so .newhat less, and those for improve
ments at the various stations rather larger
than the corresponding ones made a year ago.
The regular maintenance and a steady increase
in the efficiency of this most important arm,
in proportion to the growth of our maritime
intercourse and interests, is recommended to
the attention of congress.
The use of the navy during peace might be
further utilized by a’ direct authorization of
the employment of naval vessels in surveys of
the supposed navigable waters of other na
tionalities on this continent, especially the
tributaries of the two great rivers of South
America, the Orinoco and the Amazon. Noth
ing prevents, under existing laws, such explo
ration, except that expenditures must be made
in such development of the commercial inter
ests. advantageous to the people reached, and
to those who may establish relations with
them.
POSTAL PROPOSITIONS.
The education of the people entitled to ex
ercise the right of franchise I regard as essen
tiali*o prosperity everywhere, and especially
so in republics, where both education and pre
vious condition do not enter into account in
giving the suffrage. Next to the public school
is the post-office as the great agent of educa
tion over our vast territory. The rapidity with
which new sections are being settled up, thus
increasing the carrying of the mails in a more
rapid ratio than the increase of receipts, is
not alarming. The report of the postmaster
general, herewith attached, shows there was
an increase of revenue in his department in
1873 over the previous year of §1,674,411, and
an increase of tlie cost of carrying the mails
or paying employes of §3,041,467.91. The
report of the postmaster-general gives
interesting statistics of his department, aud
compares them with corresponding statistics
of a year ago, showing a growth in every
branch of the department.
A postal convention has been concluded with
New South Wales, an exchange of postal cards
established with Switzerland, and the negotia
tions pending for several years past with
France have terminated in a convention with
that country, which went into effect last
August.
An international postal congress was con
vened in Berne in September last, at which
the United States was represented by an officer
of the postoffice department, of much expe
rience and of quilification for the position.
A convention for the establishment of an in
ternational postal un'on was agreed on by tUs
delegates of tSie countries represented, sub
ject to the approval of the proper authorities
of those conntries.
I respectfully direct your attention to the
report of the postmaster-general, aud his sug
gestions in regard to an equitable adjustment
of the question of the compensation to rail
roads for carrying the mails.
LOUISIANA —THE FOURTEENTH OF SEPTEMBER.
Your attentioß will be drawn to the unset
tled condition of affairs in some of the south
ern states. On the 14th of September last,
the governor of Louisiana called on me. as
provided in the constitution of the United
States, for aid in the suppression of domestic
violence. That call Was made in view of a
E reclamation issued by D. B. Penn, saying
e was elected Lieut. Governor in i872,
and calling upon {the militia of the state to
arm, assemble and drive from power the usurp
ers, as he designated the officers of the state
government. On the next day I issued my
proclamation, commanding the insurgents to
disperse within five days from the date there
of, and subsequently learned that on that day
they had taken forcible possession of the
state house. Hteps were taken by me to sup
port the existing and recognized state govern
ment, but before the expiration of the five
days the insurrectionary movement was prac
tically abandoned, and the officers of the state
government, with some minor exceptions, re
sumed their powers aud duties.
Considering that the present state adminis
tration of Louisiana has been the only gov
ernment in the state for nearly two years;
that it has been tactily acknowledged and ac
quiesced in as 'such by oongress, and more
than once expressly recognized by me, I re
garded it as my clear duty, when legally called
upon for that purpose, to prevent its over
throw by an armed mob under pretense of
fraud and irregularity in the election of 1872.
I have heretofore called the attention of con
gress to this subject, stating that on account
of the frauds and forgeries committed at said
election, and because it appears that the re
turns thereof were never legally canvased, it
was impossible to tell thereby who were
chosen. But from the best sources of infor
mation at my command, I have always believ -
ed the present state officers received a majori
ty of the legal votes actually cast at that elec
tion. I repeat what I Eaid in my special mes
sage of Feb. 13, 1874, that in the event of no
action by congress, I must continue to recog
nize the government heretofore recognized by
me.
KV-KLUX.
I regret to say that with the preparations
for the late election, decided indications ap
jteared in some localities in the southern states
of a determination by acts of violence and in
timidation to deprive citizens of the ballot be
cause of their political opinion. Bands of
men masked and armed made their appear
ance. White leagues and other societies were
fo.med. Large quantities of arms and am
munition were imported and distributed to
these organizations. Military drills with men
acing demonstrations were held, and. with all
these, murders enough were committed, whioh
spread terror among those whose political ac
tion was to be suppressed if possible by these
intolerant and criminal proceedings. In some
places colored laborers were oompelled to vote
according to the wishes of their employers
under threats of discharge if they acted other
wise. and there are too many instances in
which, when these threats were disregarded,
they were remorselessly executed by those by
whom made.
I understand that the fifteenth amendment
to the constitution was made to prevent this
like state of things, and the act of May 31,
1870, with its amendments, was passed to en
force its provisions, the object of this being
to guarantee to all citizens the right to vote
and to protect them in the free enjoyment of
that right. Enjoined by the constitution to
take care that the laws be faithfully executed,
and convinced by undoubted evidence that vio
lations of said act had been committed, and
that a widespread and flagrant disregard of it
was contemplated, the proper officers were in
structed to prosecute tlie offenders, and troope
were stationed at convenient points to aid
tneee officers, if necessary, in the perform
ance of their official duties. Complaints are
made of this interference by the federal
authority, bnt if said amendment and
act do not provide for such interference un
der the circumstances as above stated, then
they are without meaning, force or effect, and
the whole scheme of colored enfranchise
ment is worse than mockery and little better
than a crime
COXGRt SSIONAL INVESTIGATION ASKED.
Possiblv congress may fiud it doe to truth
and justice to ascertain by means of a commit
tee, whether tfie alleged wrongs to colored
citizens for political purposes are real, or the
reports th'reof were manufactured for the
occasion. The whole nnm.er of troops in the
states of Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia. Flor
ida, South Carolina, North Care Una, Kentucky.
Tenues-ee. Arkansas, Mississippi. Maryland
and Virginia, at the time of the election, was
4,082. This embraces the garrisons of all the
forts from the Delaware to the Gulf of
Mexico.
THE ARKANSAS IMBROGLIO.
Another trouble has arisen in Arkansas.
Article 13 of the constitution of that state,
which was adopted in 1868. and upon the ap
proval of which by congress the state was re
stored to representation as one of the states
of the Union, provides, in effect, that before
any amendments proposed to this constitution
shall become a j art thereof, they shall be
passe • by two successive assemblies and then
submitted to, and ratified by, a majority of
the electors of the state voting thereon. ’ On
the 11th of May, 1874, the governor convened
an extra session of the general assembly of
the state, which, on the lsth of the same
month, i assed an act providing for a con>en
tion to frame anew constitute n. Purenant
to this act. and at an election held on'the 30th
of June, 1874, the convention was approved
and delegates were chosen thereto, who assem
bled on the 14th af 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 contrary to the then
existing election laws of the state, t'n the
13th of October, 1874. this constitution, as
therein provided, was submitted to the people
for their approval or rejection, and according
to the election returns was approved by a
large majority of those qualified to vote there
on, aid at the same election persons were
chosen to fill all the state, county and town
ship offices. The govx rnor elected in 1872. for
the term of fotir vears, turned over his office
to the governor chosen under the new consti
tution, whereupon the lieutenant governor,
also elected in 1872, for the term of four
years, claimed to act as governor, and alleging
that said proceedings by which the new con
stitution was made and anew set of affleers
elected, were unconstitutional, illegal and void,
and called upon me as provided in section 4,
article 4, of the constitution, to protect the
state against domestic violence.
As congress is now investigating the politi
cal affairs of Arkansas, I have declined to in
terfere with the subject. Executive interfer
ence with the affairs of a state i- repugnant to
public opinion, and to the feelings of those
who, from their official capacity, mart be used
in such interposition, and to him or those who
must direct. Unless most clearly on the side
of law, such interference beoomes a crime.
With the law to support it, this is condemned
without a hearing. I desire, therefox e, that
sll necessity for executive direction in lo
cal affairs may become unnecessary and ob
solete.
AN APPEAL TO TBE NORTH.
I invite the attention, not of congress, but of
the people of the United States, to the causes
and effects of these unhappy questions. Is
there not a disposition on one side to magnify
wrongs and outrages, and on the other side
to belittle or justify them. If public opin
ion could be directed to a correct survey of
what is, aud to rebuking wrong and aiding
the proper authorities in punishing it, I be
lieve a better state of feeling would be iucul
cated, and the sooner we would have that
peace which would leave the states free indeed
to regulate their own domestic affairs."
ARRAIGNMENT OF THE SOUTH.
I believe, on the part of onr citizens of the
southern states, the better part of them, there
is a disposition to be law-abiding, and to do no
violence, either to individuals or the laws ex
isting. But, do they do right in ignoring the
existence of violence and bloodshed in resist
ance to constituted authority ? I sympathize
with their prostrate condition and would do
all in mv power to relieve them, acknowledg
ing that, in some instances, they have had
most tryiug governments to live' under, and
very oppressive ones in the way of taxation
for nominal improvements, not giving benefits
equal to the hardships imposed. Bat can they
claim themselves entirely unanswerable for
this condition ? They cannot. Violence has
been rampant in some localities, and has,
further, been justified or denied by those who
could have prevented it.
GRANT.’ POLICY.
The theory is raised that there is to be no
further interference on the part of the gen
ei al government to protect citizens within a
state where the state authorities fail to give
protection. This is a great mistake. While I
remain the executive all the laws of congress
and the provisions of the constitution, includ
ing the amendments added thereto, will be en
forced with rigor ; but with regret that they
should have added one jot or tittle to execu
tive duties aud powers, let there be fairness in
the discussion of southern questions, the ad
vocates of both or all po.itieal parties giving
honest, truthful reports of occurrences, con
demning the wrong and upholding the right,
and soon all will be well.
THE COLOR LINE.
Under existing conditions the negro votes
the republican ticket because he knows his
friends are of that party. Many a good citi
zen votes the opporite, not because he agrees
with the great principles of state, which sepa
rate parties, but because generally, he is op
posed to negro rule. This is a most delusive
one. Treat the negro as a citizen and voter,
as lie is, and must remain, and soon parties
will he divided on not the color line bnt on
principles. Then we shall have no complaint
of sectional interferences.
THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY.
The repo; t of the attorney-general contains
valuable recommendations relating to the ad
ministratian of justice in the courts ef the
United States, to which I Invite your attention.
I respectfully snggest to congress the propri
ety of increasing the number of judicial dis
tricts in the United States to eleven, the pres
ent number being nine, and the creation of
two additional judgeships. The territory to
be travessed by the circuit judges, is so great,
and the business of the courts so steadily in
creasing, that it is growing more and more im
possible for them to keep up with the business
requiring their attention. Whether this would
involve the necessity of adding two more jus
tices of the supremo court to the present num
ber, I submit to the judgement of congress.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The attention of congress is invited to the
report of the secretary of the interior, and to
the legislation asked for by him. The domes
tic interests of the people "are more intimately
connected with this department than with
either of the other departments of the gov
ernment. Its duties have beer, added to from
time to time until they have become so onerous
that, without the most perfect system and or
der. it will bo impossible for auv secretary of
the interior to keep trace of all the official
transactions having his sanction and done in
his name, and for which he is held personally
responsible.
HOMESTEADS FOR INDIANS.
The policy adopted for the management of
Indian affairs, known as the peace policy, has
been adhered to with beneficial results. " It is
hoped that a few years more will relieve onr
frontiers of Indian depredations. I commend
the recommendation of the secretary for the
extension of the homestead laws to the Indi
ans, and for some sort of territorial govern
ment for the Indian territory. A great ma
jority of the Indians occupying this territory
are believed to be incapable of maintaining
their rights against the more civilized and en
lightened men. Any territorial form of gov
ernment given them, therefore, should pro
tect them in their homes and property for a
period of at least twenty years, and before its
final adoption should be ratified by a majority
of those affected.
The report of the secretary of the interior,
herewith attached, gives much interesting sta
tistical information which I abstain from giv
iog an abstract of, but refer you to the report
itself.
SOUTHERN PENSIONERS OF 1812.
The acts of congress providing the oath
to which pensioners must subscribe before
drawing their pensions, cuts off from this
bounty a few survivors of the war of 1812,
residing in the southern states. I recom
mend the restoi ation of this bounty to all such.
The number of persons whose names would
be restored to the list of pensioners is not
large. They are old persons who conld have
taken no part in the rebellion, and the ser
vices for which they were awarded pensions
were in defence of the whole country.
Tlf* CENTENNIAL.
The report of the commissioners of agricul
ture, herewith, contains suggestions of mnch
interest to the general public, and refers to
the approaching centennial, and the part his
department is ready to take in it. I fed that
the nation at large is interested in having this
exposition a success, and commend to congress
such action as will secure a greater general
interest in it. Already many foreign nations
have signified their intention to be represent
ed at it. It may be expected that even- civil
ized nation will he represented.
THE CIVIL SERVICE SHAM.
The rules adopted to improve the civil ser
vice of the government have been adhered to
as closely as has been practicable with the
opposition which they meet. The effect, I
believe, lias been beneficial on the whole, and
has teuded to the elevation of the service, hut
it is impracticable to maintain them without
the direct and positive support of congress.
Generally the support which this reform re
ceives is from those who give it their support
only to find fanlt.
That the miee are apparently departed from
in removals from office without pieferring
charges against the parties removed, are fre
quently cited as departures from the roles
adopted, and the retention of those against
whom charges are made by irresponsible per*
VOL. 15-NO. 51.
sons and withput good grounds, is also often
condemned as a violation of them. Under
these circumstances, therefore. I announce
that if congress adjourns without positive
legislation on the snbject of civil service re
form. I will regard such action as a disap
proval of the system and will abandon it, ex
cept so far as to require examinations for cer
tain appointees to determine their fitness.
Competitive examinations will be abandoned.
The gentlemen who have given their service**
without oomrensation as members of the board
to devise rules aud regulations for the govern
ment of the civil service of the country .-hive
shown much zeal and earnestness n theft
work, and to them, as well as myself, it will be
a source of mortification if it is to be thrown
awa v. But I repeat, that it is impossible to
carry the system to a successful issue wit writ
general approval and assistance, and positive
law to support it.
THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM.
I have stated that the elements of P r o f, '* er "
itv to the nations, capital and labor, skilled
ana unskilled, aud the products of the soil
still remain with ns. To direct the employ
ment of these is a problem deserving the most
serions attention of congress. If employment
can be given to all lsbor offering itself, pros
perity necessarily follows. I have expressed
the opinion and repeat it. that the first re
quisite to the accomplishment of this end. is
the substitution of a sound enrreoev in P|qe
of one of a fluctuating value. This secured,
there are manv interests that might be fos
tered to the great profit of both labor and
capital. How to induce labor to .employ capi
tal is the question. - .
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION —SHTPBUTLPINO.
The subject of cheap transportation bay oc
cupied the attention of New light
on this question will without doubt be given
by the committee appointed by the last con
gress to invest igate and report upon this sub
ject. A revival of shipbuilding, and particu
larly of iron steamship building, is Of vast im
portance to onr national prosoentv. The Uni
ted States is now paving over ?1,000,000,000
per anunm for .freights and passage on foreign
ships to be carried abroad, and expended in
the emplovmont and support of other people,
beyond a fair per cen'age of what should go to
foreign vessels, estimatingcn the tonnage and
draft of each respectively. •
It is to be regretted that this disparity in the
carrving trade exists, and. to ootrect it, I
would be willing to see a great departure fiom
the usual course of the government in sup
porting what might usnallv be termed private
enterprise. I wonld not suggest, as a remedy,
direct subsides to American steamship lines,
bnt I would suggest the direct offer of ample
compensation for
CARBYINfI THE MAILS
between the Atlantic and the seaboard cities
and the continent 'on American owned and
American lmilt steamers, and would extend
this liberality to vessels carrying the mails to
the Bouth American states ard to Central
America and Mexico, and would pursue the
same policy from onr Pacific seaports to for
eign seaports oil the Pacific. It might be de
manded that vessels hnilt for this service
should come np to a standard fixed by legisla'-
tion in tonnage, speed and all other qualities,
looking to the possibility of the government
requiring them at some time for war purposes.
The right, also, of taking possession of them
in such an emergency should be guarded.
I offi r these suggestions, believing them
worthy of consideration, in all seriousness, af
fecting all sections and all interests alike. If
anything better can be done to direct the
country into a course of general prosperity,
none will be more ready than I to adopt this
plan.
THE DISTRICT",
Forwarded herewith is the plxn and report
of the commissioners appointed under an act?
of congress approved -Tnne 20. 1874. to wind
up the affairs of the district government. It
will be oeen from the repoit that the total
debt of the District of Columbia, less assets
on hand and available, is : Bonded debt issued
prior to July 1, 1874. §8.883.940.43 : 3Rs.hond,
act of congress jnne 20, 1874, §2.088.168,73;
certificates of the board of andit, §4.770,558.45.
Total. §15,742,667.61, less special improve
ments. Assessments chargeable to private
propertv in excess of any demand against such
assessment, §1.614.054.37. less Chesapeake
and Ohio canal lionds $75,000 and Washington
and Alexandria bonds §59,000 : in the hands of
the commissioners of pie sinking fund. sl,-
748,054.37. leaving the actual debt less said
fund, $13,994,613.24.
In addition to this, there are claims pre
ferred against the board of the district amount
ing in the aggregate, reported by the board
of audit, $3,147 787.48. of which the greater
part will probably be rejected. This sum can
with no more propriety be included in the
debt of the district government than the thou
sands of claims agaiDßt the general govern
ment be included as a portion of the national
debt. But the aggregate sum thus stated in
cludes something morn than the funded debt,
chargeable exclusively to the District of Co
lumbia. The act of congress at its last session
eontenq lates an appointment between the
United States’ government and the Dirtrict of
Columbia, in respect to the payment of the
principal and interest" of the 86-58 bonds.
Therefore, in comprising with precision the
bonded debt of the district, the aggregate sums
above stated, as re-peseta the 365 bonds now
issued, the outstanding certificates of the
board of audit, and the unadjusted claims
pending before that board, should be reduced
to the extent of the amount to be apportioned
to the United States in the manner indicated
in act of congress of Jane 20, 1874.
I especially iuvite your attention to the re
commendations of the commissioners of the
sinking fund relative to the ambiguity of the
act of June 20. 1874, concerning the interest on
the district bonds, and the consolidation of in
debtedness to the district. I feel much in
debted to the gentlemen who consented to
leave their private affairs and come from a
distance to attend to the business of this dis
trict. and for the able and satisfactory manner
in which it has been conducted. lam sure
their services will be equally appreciated by
the entire country. It will he seen from the
accompanying report of the board of health
that the sanitary condition of the district is
very satisfactory.
THE CITY OF MAGNIFICENT DISTANCES.
In mv opinion the District of Columbia
should be regarded as the ground of tbq na
tional capital.-in which the entire people are
interested. I do not allude to this to urge
general appropriations to the district, but to
draw the attention of congress in framing a
law for the government of the district, to the
magnificent scale on which the city was plan
ned hy the founders of the government, the
manner in which for ornamental purposes the
reservations, streets and avenues were laid
out, and the proportion of the property actu
ally possessed by the general government. I
think the proportion of the expenses of the
government and improvements to be borne
bv the general government, the cities of
Washington and Georgetown aad the oouutry
should be carefully and equitably defined. <
THE MISSISSIPPI.
In accordance with section 3 of the act ap
proved Jnne 23, 1874, I appointed a board to
make a survey of the mouth of the Mississippi
river, with a view to determine the best method
of obtaining and maintaining A depth of water
sufficient for the purposes of commerce, etc.,
and in accordance with an act entitled an act
to provide for the appointment of a commis
sion of engineers to investigate And report a
permanent plan for the excavation of the aln
vial bes n of the Mississippi river snbject to
inundation, I appointed a commission of en
gineers. Neither board has yet completed its
labors. When their reports are read they will
he forwarded to congress withont delay.
U. 8. GRANT.
Executive Mansion. Dec. 7, 1874.
How Perry Met the Hear. *
He was watehmg tiie movements of a
striped, frisky-tail chipmunk, that wash
ed its little face in the laughing waters
of a mountain brook, and thinking how
hapoy was that little fellow away off
there in the everlasting eilenoe. Ferry
is not a large man, but is handsome; he
looked at his faoe,‘ reflected in the
waters, and wished he was as “ young
as he used to be.” He moaned the fact
that gray hairs had silvered his head,
and thoughtfully ran over the days of
happy youth. With a prayer for his
descendants, and their descendants, he
turned from the water brook to find
himself in the presence of a bear! Few
words were spoken; both meant busi
ness. The bear reared op laughing, and
Perry reared down, praying. The situ
ation was peculiar—Perry says d-r-d
peculiar. At it they went, the bear
above, Perry l>elow ; each felt the other,
a “foeman worthy of his steel.” In the
midßt of the conflict the bear became
affectionate, and embraced Perry. Perry
said ’twas a “fond embrace,” and re
minded him of the days of his court
ship. But too much familiarity bred
contempt, and Perry intimated with a
big knife that his preference was that
that hear should not hug him just then.
Hie bear weighed eight hundred and
sixty pounds, and Perry got eleven gal
lons of oil from three-quarters of him.
—Del Norte f'rotrpector.
Coffer is plenty in Italy, bat gold is
scarce, and the copper money of Italy
and France are of tb l same value, sc a
traffic was organized of carrying copper
money into France on a pretty large
scale,' and getting gold to return to
Italy. One dealer was arrested with
SBOO in oopper money in his posses*km.