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(Continued from second page )
. _ jre without meaning, force or effect, and
*P. whole scheme of colored enfranchise-
cnt is woree than mockery and little better
a crime-
OONGB* 88IONAL INVESTIGATION ASKED.
Pos-ibl 1 ' congress may find it dne to truth
K < n8 tico to ascertain by means of a commit-
f® whether the alleged wrongs to colored
•TSL-ng for political purposes are real, or the
«mrtg th roof were manufactured for the
J^«ion. The whole num er of troops in the
of Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Flor-
?r! South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky.
Twines-ec. Arkansas, Mississippi, Maryland
nd Virginia, at the tune of the election,- was
%|,is embraces the garrisons of all the
forts' from the Delaware to the Gulf of
^ cac0, THB ARKANSAS IMBROGLIO.
Another trouble has arisen in Arkansas.
Aiticlo 13 of the constitution of that state,
ItScii was adopted in 1868, and upon the ap
nroval of which by congrers the state was re
stored to representation as one of the states
{be Onion, provides, in effect, that before
“L amendments proposed to this constitution
fhiil become a tart thereof, they shall be
rigje bv two successive assemblies and then
submitted to, and ratified by, a majority of
• Uia electors of the 6tate voting thereon. On
ibo 11th of May, 1874, the governor convened
w estra session of the general assembly of
tbo state, which, on the 18th of the same
month, t assed an act providing for a conven
tion to frame a now constitution. Pursuant
to this act, and at an election held on'the 30th
of June, 1874, the convention wa. approved
and delegates were chosen thereto, who assem
bled on the 14th of last July and formed a
new constitution, the schedule of which pro
vided for tho election of an entire new set of
state officers in a manner cohtrary to the then
existing election laws of the state. Cn the
13th of October, 1874, this constitution, as
therein provided, was submitted to tho people
for their approval or rejection, and according
to the election returns was approved by a
large majority of those qualified to vote there
en, ai d at the same election persons were
chosen to fill all the state, county and town
ship offices. The gov. rnor elected in 1872. for
tho term of four yeare, turned over his office
to tlie governor chosen under tho new consti
tution, whereapon 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 a new set of afficers
elected, wore unconstitutional, illegal and void,
and called upon mo as provided in soction 4,
article 4. of the constitution, to protect the
state against domestic violence.
As congress is now investigating tho politi
cal affairs of Arkansas, I have declined to in
terfere with tho subject. Executive interfer
ence with the affairs of a state i- repugnant to
public opinion, and, to the feelings of those
who, from tlicir official capacity, must bo UBed
in such interposition, and to him or those who
must direct. Unless most clearly on the Bide
of law. such interference becomes a crime.
With tho law to support it, this is condemned
without a hearing. I desire, thereto! e, that
Ml necessity for executive direction in lo
cal affairs may become unnecessary and ob
solete.
AN APPEAL TO TUE NORTH.
I invito tiio attention, not of congress, but of
the people of tho United States, to the causes
and effects of these unhappy questions. Is
there not a disposition on ono side to magnify
wrongs and outrage, and on the otho'r side
to belittle or justify thorn. If public opin
ion could bo directed to a correct survey of
what is, and to rebuking wrong and aiding
tho proper authorities in punishing it, I be
hove a bettor state of feeling would bo incul
cated, and the sooner we would have that
peace which won] I leave the states froe indeed
to regulate their own domestic affairs.,
ARRAIGNMENT OF TJIE SODTH.
I believe, on tho part < f our citizens of the
southern Htatos, tho better part of them, tliero
is a disposition to be law-abiding, and Lo do no
violence, either to individuals or the laws ex
isting. But, do they do right in ignoring tho
existence of violence and bloodshed in resist
ance to constituted authority ? I sympathize
with their prostrate condition and would do
all in my power to relieve them, acknowledg
ing that, in some instances, they have had
most trying governments to live under, and
very oppressive ones in the way of taxation
for "nominal improvements, not giving benefits
equal to tho hardships imposed. Bat can they
claim thomselvoH ontiroly unanswerable for
this condition ? They cannot. Violence has
been rampant in some localities, and has,
further, been justified or denied by those who
oouid have prevented it.
grant’s poliot.
The theory is raised that there is to be no
further interference on the part of the gen-
oral government to protect citizens witlnn a
state whore the state authorities fail to give
protection. This is a great mistake. While I
remain the executive all the laws of congress
and tho 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 and powerB, let there be fairness in
the discussion of southern questions, the ad
vocates of both or all po.itical parties giving
honeBt, 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 oppo-ite, not because he agrpes
with the groat 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 he is, and must remain, and soon parties
will be divided on not the color line bnt on
principles. Then we shall have no complaint
of sectional interferences.
THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY.
The report of the attorney-general contains
valuable recommendations relating to the ad
ministratian of justice iu the courts of the
United States, to which I invite yonr attention.
I respectfully suggest 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 tho necessity of adding two more jus
tices of the supreme court to the present num
ber, I submit to the judgement of congress.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The attention of congresB 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 been added to from
time to time until they have become so onerous
that, without the most perfeet system and or
der. it will be impossible for any 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 FOB 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 our
frontiers of Indian depredations. I commend
the recommendation of thasecretary for the
extension of the homesteau 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
anal 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-
“g 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 reetoiation of this bounty to all shell.
The number of persons whose names would
be restored to -the list of pensioners is not
large. They are old persons Who could have
taken no part in the rebellion, and the ser
vices for which they were awarded pensions
were in defence of the whole country.
THE CENTENNIAL.
The report of the commissioners of agricul
ture, herewith, contains suggestions of much
interest to the general public, and refers to
the approaching centennial, and the part his
department is ready to take in it. I feci 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 intentionto be represent
ed at it. It may be expected that every civil
ized nation will be 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, has been beneficial on the whole, and
has tended to the elevation of the service, but
it is impracticable to maintain them without
tho 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 fault.
Tint the roles are apparently departed from
in removals from office without preferring
charges against the parties' removed, are fre
quently cited as departures from the rules
adopted, aDd the retention of those against
whom charges are made by irresponsible per
sons and without 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 subject 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 services
without compensation as members of the board
to devise rules and regulations for the govern
ment of the civil service of the country, have
shown much zeal and earnestness in their
work, and to them, as well as myself, it will be
a source of mortifieation if it is to be thrown
away. But I repeat, that it is impossible to
carry the system to a successful issue without
general approval and assistance, and positive
law to support it.
THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM. "’
I have stated that tho elements of prosper
ity to the nations, capital and labor, skilled
ana unskilled, and the products of the soil
still remain with us. To direct the employ
ment of these is a problem deserving the most
serious attention of oongress. If employment
can be given to all labor 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 currency in place
of ono of a fluctuating value. This secured,
there are many interests that might be fos
tered to the great profit of both labor and
capital. How to indues labor to employ capi
tal is the question.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION—SHIPBUILDING.
The subject of cheap transportation has oc
cupied the attention of congress. Now light
on this question will without doubt be given
by the committee appointed hv the last con
gress to investigate and report upon this sub
ject. A revival of shipbuilding, and particu
larly of iron steamship building, is of vast im
portance to our national prosperity. The Uni
ted States is now paying over 91,000,000,000
per annum for freights and passage on foreign
ships to be carried abroad, and expanded in
the employment and support of other people,
beyond a fair percentage of wliat should go to
foreign vessels, estimating on the tonnage and
draft of each respectively.
It is to bo regretted that this disparity in tho
catrving trade exists, and. to correct it. I
would be willing to see a great departure from
the usual course of the government in sup
porting what might usually be termed private
enterprise. I would not suggest, as a remedy,
direct subsides to American steamship lines,
but I would suggest the direct offer of ample
compensation for
CARRYING THE MAILS
between the Atlantic and the seaboard cities
and the continent on American owned and
American built steamers, and would extend
this liberality to vessels carrying the mails to
the South American states and to Central
America and Mexico, and would nnrBue the
same policy from our Pacific seaportR to for
eign seaports on the Pacific. It might be de
manded that vessels built for tbiB service
should come up to a standard fixed by legisla
tion in tonnage, speed and all other qualities,
looking to tho possibility of tho government
requiring them at some time for war purposes.
The right, also, of taking possession of them
in such an emergency should he guarded.
I offer these suggestions, believing them
worthy of consideration, in all seriousness, af
fecting all sections and all interests alike. If
anything better can he 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 pi in and report
of the commissioners appointed under an act
of congress approved .Tune 20. 1874, to wind
up tho affairs of the district government. It
will be seen from the report that the total
debt of the District of Columbia, less assets
on hand and available, is: Bonded debt issued
prior td July 1, 1874, $8.883,940.43 ; 365 bonds,
act of congress June 20. 1874. 92.088.168.73:
certificates of the board of audit, 94.770,558.45.
Total, 915,742,667.61, less special improve
ments. Assessments chargeable to private
property in excess of any demand against such
assessment, 81,614.054.37. less Chesapeake
and Ohio canal bonds 875.000 and Washington
and Alexandria bonds $59,000; in the hands of
the commissioners of the sinking fund, 81.-
748,054.37, leavihg the actual debt less said
fund, 813.9»4,613.24.
In addition to this, there are claims pre
ferred against the board of the district amount
ing in the aggregate, reported by thrf 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 against the general govern
ment be included as a portion of the national
debt. But the aggregate sum thus stated in
cludes something more than the funded debt,
chargeable exclusively to the District of Co
lumbia. The act of oongress at its last session
contemplates an appointment between the
United States’ government and the District of
Columbia, in respect to the payment of the
principal and interest of tile 36-58 bonds.
Therefore, in comprising with precision the
bonded debt of the district, the aggregate sums
above stated, as respects 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
iu act of congress of June 20, 1874.
I especially invite 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. I am sure
their services will be equally appreciated by
the entire country. It will be 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 my opinion the District of Columbia
should be regarded as the ground of the na
tional capital, in which the entire people are
interested. I do not allude to this to urge
general appropriations to the district, bnt 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 by the founders of the government, the
manner in which for ornamental purposes the
mmmmm
reservations, streets and avenues were laid
out, and the preportion 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
by the general government, the cities of
Washington, and Georgetown and the country
should be carefully and equitably defined.
THE MISSISStEFI.
In accordance with section 3 of the act ap
proved June 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 alu-
vial basin of the Mississippi river subject to
inundation, I appointed a commission of en
gineers. ’Neither board has yet completed its
labors. When their reports are read they will
be forwarded to congress without delay.
U. 8. GRANT,
Executive Mansion. Dec. 7,1874.
NATIONAL FINANCES.
Annual Report of the Secretary ol the
Treasury.
After showing the total receipts and expen
ditures for the past fiscal year, ending Juae
30. 1873, to have been $453,365,568.39 and
8302.936.873.76, respectively, leaving a balance
in the treasury of 8150,731,694.63, at the date
named, and that the net revenues were $289,-
478.756.06. while the ordinary expenses were
8287.133.873.76, leaving a surplus revenue of
$2,344,882.30, the secretary says:
"For the current fiscal year, judging from
the actual receipts and expenditures for the
first quarter, and from the estimates of the
same for the remaining three-quarters, the
estimates being based on the assumption that
congress will not increase the expenditures by
deficiency or other appropriations, it is ex
pected that the revenues will amount to $284,-
318,258.99. and that the ordinary expenses will
be $275,315,489.42 : which will leave a surplus
revenue qf $9,002,796.57 to be applied to the
sinking fund.
“The sum of $31,096,545 will be required
under the law for this fund, and, therefore,
unless the revenues shall increase beyond the
amount anticipated, there will be a deficiency
in the Binking fond account for this year of
$22,093,748.43.”
It is estimated that the receipts for the fis
cal year, ending June 30. 1876, will 'be $293,-
000,000, and the ordinary expenditures, $272,-
778,000. On this point the seoretary remarks:
“Should those estimates of the revenues and
expenditures prove to be approximately cor
rect, there will be a surplus of revenue of
about $20,222,000. The amount necessary for
the sinking fund la not included in the above
estimates of expenditures, and to provide for
it the earn of $32,140,914 will be required.
The surplus revenues which can be applied to
this fund (20,220,000) will be insufficient to the
extent of $11,920,914, and there will therefore
be a deficiency of that amount.
During the past fiscal year, the public debt
has been reduced $5,762,447.65.
The secretary here gives a history of the ne
gotiations by which $55,000,000 of the public
debt was refnnded at 5 per cent.
RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAAMENT.
This, the most important topic tonchsd upon
in the report, is elaborate]£and ably treated.
The secretary says:
“ To attempt the enumeration of the cam-
plicated mischiefs which flow from an unstable
or inconvertible currency would carry this re
port to inexcusable length, and, after all,
would be but a repetition of what has been
often said. No nation can long neglect the
wholesome maxims, founded upon universal
experience, that uphold publio credit without
suffering financial disturbances and bringing
serious consequences uson its people. It will
not bo denied that the existing issue of legal-
tender notes, as a circulating medium, would
never have been made except in the great
emergency of a war involving no less an issue
than the preservation of the nation. Whether
the argument in support of the validity of the
legal-tender acts be rested upon the war pow
ers conferred on the government by the con
stitution or on other provisions of that instru
ment, it is clear that congress could not have
been induced to pass such acts under any otner
circumstances, than in a time of the most
pressing and urgent need, Buch as a state of
war only produces. The most earnest defend
ers of the power to issue government obliga
tions, and make them by law legal-tender for
all debts, public and private, would scarcely be
found to advocate tho exercise of the power
except under circumstances of extreme neces
sity, and then only for the time of the emer-
f ency; and there ib abundant evidence in the
abates and proceedings of congress, and in
the statutes themselves, that it was not in
tended to make the legal-tender notes the
permanent currency of tho country. The acts
authorizing the iesue of such notes provided
for thetr conversion into bonds of the United
States bearing interest at the rate of six per
centum per annum.
“The act of March 18, 1869, in terms de
clares that the faith of the United States is
solemnly pledged to the payment in coin or its
equivalent of all obligations of the United
Siates not bearing interest, known as United
States’ notes. The same act further affirms
that the United Spates solemnly pledges its
faith to make provision at tho earliest practi
cable period for the redemption of the United
States’ notes in coin.
“ The puqioee of the act is well expressed
in its title, which declares it to be ‘ An act to
strengthen the public credit;’ and that such
was the effect of the act cannot he doubted,
for it is an unconditional assurance on the
part of the government, not only that its noteB
shall be paid in coin, but that this shall he
done at the earliest practicable period. The
faith of the government could not be more
clearly or absolutely pledged than is done by
this act of congress, to say nothing of previous
legislation.
"The length of time that has now elapsed
since the final overthrow of the rebellion, ae
well aa proper regard for the faith of tho na
tion, admonish us that initiatory steps towards
the redemption of its pledges ought not to be
longer postponed. It iB not unworthy of re
mark that the era of the war a ill not be closed
until the period of redemption shall have been
reached.
In a country like ours, with varied indus
tries and extensive commercial relations
among its different sections and with other na
tions and peoples, stability of the circulating
medium is indispensable to the general pros
perity. Credit, which necessarily enters
largely into commercial transactions, can only
be steady and secure when it has for its
foundation a stable currency. The quality of
stability iu money ataches only to coin, which,
by common consent of mankind, is the me
dium of exchange, and to a paper currency
representative of coin, because convertible
into it at the will of the holder. Tho reason
is obvious;, for coin, besides being recognized
throughout the the world as a medium of ex
change, has a high intrinsic value, can be
procured only by labor and iu limited quanti
ties which cannot be increased by etatuatory
laws, nor suddenly by other means, while in-
oonvertible paper money may lje produced in
indefinite quantities at a nominal coet, a note
of the highest denomination costing no more
than the lowest, and itB volume depending
solely on legislative enactment.
“A dollar legal-tender note, Bach as is now
in circulation, is neither more nor less than
the promise of the government to pay a dollar
to the bearer, while no express provision is
made by law for paying the dollar at any time
whatever; nor is there any existing provision
for converting it into anything that stands in
a tangible ratio to a com dollar. As far as
existing laws go, there is no reason why the
legal-tender noie of the denomination of a
dollar should pass for one cent of gold, except
so far as the government compels creditors to
accept it in discharge of obligations to pay
money, and obliges the wealth and commerce
of the country to adopt it as a medium of ex
change. To this may be added, as an element
of the value of the legal-tender dollar, the
hope that the government will sometime or
other redeem ita paper promises according to
their import. The universal use of, and re
liance upon, such a currency tends to blunt
the moral sense and repair the natural self-
dependence of the people, and trains them to
the belief that the government must directly
assist their individual fortunes and business,
help them in their personal affairs, and enable
them to discharge their debts by partial pay
ment. This ineopycrtibto paper eimjuey be-
geta the delusion that ti
pecuniary distress is in
and makes the* people ummndful of the fact
that the true remedy is 0
and lees spending, and that real .
comes only from individual effort and
When exchanges are again made in coin, or in
a currency convertible into it at the wQl of the
holder, this troth mill be understood and acted
“It is obvious that there can be
_ .aa the volume
currency is largely in excess of the
amount of coin available for that pur
pose which may come into the treasury in any
year, and while no provision is made for the
conversion of this paper money into anything
having a nearer relation to coin; nor is it pos
sible for the banks or people to resume so
long as the huge amount of irredeemable pa
per now in circulation continues to be by law a
legal-tender for all private debts with refer
ence both to the past and the futnre. While
this state of things lasts gold will continue to
flow from us, and find employment where the
natural laws of trade, unobstructed by retrain
ing legislation, make its daily use indispensa
ble.
“The secretary, therefore, recommends con
gress to provide by law that after an early and
fixed day United States notes shall cease to be
legal-tender as to contracts thereafter made.
Bnt this provision should not apply to official
salaries or to other ordinary expenditures of
the government under then existing contracts
or appropriations. Between the day thus to
be fixed and the time of final resumption a
sufficient period should elapse to enable the
people and banks to prepare for the latter by
such gradual processes in business as mil
neither lead’to violent contraction in credit
and values,-nor suddenly increase the obliga
tions of debtors. The time should not, in the
opinion of the secretary, be extended beyond
three years, and might safely be made as much
less as iu the judgment of congress would
sufficiently protect the interest of debtors and
avoid the evils of too sudden contraction.
“ The law should also authorize the imme
diate conversion of legal-tender notes into
bonds bearing a low rate of interest, which,
while inviting conversion, should not bo so
high as to appreciate the legal-tender notes
rapidly, and thereby operate oppressively on
the debtor class. As an additional inducement
to the conversion of United States’ notes into
these bonds at a low rate of interest, authority
should be {riven for making them Becnrity for
-the circulation of national banks The law
should further provide the means for the re
demption of Buch notes as may he presented
for that purpose when the period of resump
tion shall have been reached. To this end, the
secretary should be authorized to make a loan
not exceeding the total amount of notes re
maining unconverted at the time of resump
tion, less the surplus revenue, to be made
applicable to such resumption. It is probable
that the gradual and continued revival of
business will eo far increase the revenues that
a large loan will not be required for this pur
pose ; but it is advisable that the secretary be
authorized to make it in order to meet the
contingency of a failure of sufficient surplus
re ■ enues. Such a loan should be made by is
suing bonds to run for such a time as the wis
dom of congress may suggest, and to be dis
posed of from time to time as the necessities
of the case may require. In the opinion of
the secretary, these bonds should run for a
long period, and should bear interest at a rate
not exceeding tbe lowest rate which the gov
ernment may then be paying in refunding its
six per cent, securities. Any substantial or
useful movement for resumption necessarily
involves supplying the treasury with increased
amounts of coin, either by increased revenues
or an adequate loan. The present condition
of the credit of the government, which would
be farther enhanced by the adoption of meas
ures for retnm to a specie basis, leaves no
room for doubt that a loan for such purpose
would be readily taken at a low rate of inter
est. Measures should also be adopted requir
ing the banks to hold gold reserves prepara
tory to resumption on their part.
‘But the secretary does not deem it proper
to pursue the matter into further detail. If
congress shall conclnde, as he earnestly hopes
it will, that the time has arrived for the enact
ment of a law having for ita object resump
tion of specie payments, its own wisdom will
supply the necessary methods. 'I hat whioh is
of tne highest importance is the adoption of a
definite policy for resumption. When the gov
ernment shall have resumed specie payment,
it may be expected that gold will flow into the
country in obedience to the law of supply and
demandthe export of onr gold product will
greatly diminish and tbe millions or gold
which now constitute only a commodity of
trade will resume its proper functions by be
coming again a part of the circulating medium.
With the adoption of the policy of resumption,
free banking may be safely allowed, and the
deficit of the actual amount of coin available
for circulation can be supplied by bank notes
convertable into coin, in hen of an inconvert
ible paper currenoy.
“ The business of the country has not yet
recovered from the disasters of the laet year’s
financial panic, the causes of which is by no
means difficult to trace. It was the direct and
immediate result,, of that excessive develop
ment of speculative enterprises, over-trading
and inflation of credit which invariably follow
large issues of inconvertible paper currency.
The almost boundless resources and energies
of the country must compel the gradual re
establishment of business, nut capital, with its
accustomed sensitiveness to danger, is slow
to return to the avenues of trade. Values are
fluctuating and uncertain. Labor receives ita
reward iu a currenoy that is unsteady, and
whoso purchasing power changes almost daily.
Neither the reward of .labor nor the value
of commodities is measured by any certain
standard.
“ a he enactment of a law having for its
purpose the substitution of a sound and Bable
medium of exchange for an irredeemable pa
per currency will-tend to restore confidence,
and tnus cause a revival of industries and
general business.
“There will be no better time in the
future to enter upon the work of returning
to a spe’ie basis, and the secretary feels that
he cannot too strongly urge the adoption of
the measures he has indicated, or sneb others
as will more certainly lead to the desired end.”
ECONOMY RECOMMENDED.
The secretary recommends rigid economy in
public expenditures.
NATIONAL BANKS.
After calling attention to various changes
needed in the national banking system, the
rep6rt says that the facts aud figures furnished
by the comptroller of the currency fully estab
lish tbe conclusion that there is a large
amount of currency in excess of the legitimate
needs of business, which would eerve to dis
pel the fallacy that greater expansion of cur
rency is the proper remedy for the general
depression and contraction of the volume of
business.
REVENUE FROM 'CUSTOMS.
Under this heading, the secretary thns
squints at re-establishing the dutieB on tea
and coffee: “On the importations of coffee
In 1873, the rate of three cents per pound
would have yielded nearly $9,000,000 and two
cents per pound almost $6,000,000. The record
of foreign prices for coffee tends strongly to
the conclusion, making due allowance for the
effect of shore crops on prices, that the duty
repealed by the act of 1872 was added to the
selling price abroad, with no advantage to con
sumers here, while the country, as a whole,
has paidmore than before for the entire stock.
The repeal of the duty on tea caused little or
no reduction of prices to consumers here, bnt
an increase of prices abroad.”
INTEBNAIj be venue.
The receipts from internal revenue were
$114,075,456.08 in 1873, and $102,644,746.93 in
2874, a falling off of $11,430,709.10, which ie
attributed to various causes. The suggestion
of the commissioiier of internal revenue that
the taxes now collected by stamps on bank
checks, matches, perfumery, cosmetics, etc.,
may be abolished, and compensation made
therefor by increasing the tax on spirits ten
cents per gallon, is commended to the con
sideration of congress. By making this change
the items of internal taxation<would, the ssc-
retary thinks, Be considerably redaced, and
the system simplified without loss of revenue.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.
The total excess of exports of merchandise,
specie and bullion, over imports of the same,
was $57,052,187.00 daring the past fiscal year.
COTTON CLAIMS.
Of the claims that have been presented to
the department, 650 have been submitted for
decision, and acted on as follows:
Rejected. 437
C ^‘d£«£&S er eTideilcoaiMl6tffl ls , fertile lands diversified by pleasant
>t ^ ^ scenery. The dwelling-house is more
Of the aggregate number of claims
seated there remain, not yet fully prepar
submitted for final decision, 686 The d
allowed as aforesaid were for the proceeds of
1,346 bales, and the amount paid out" on such
claims is $133,01R27.
There remains in the treasury $10,495,833.74
on this account, against which claims to the
amount of $36,834,078.04 have been filed. It
is submitted for the consideration of congress
that the treasury department is not a suitable
tribunal for the ultimate decision of such
claims. They belong properly, the secretary
says, to the courts, which are armed with
power to asoerfain the truth, and are better
organized for this purpose.than an executive
department of the government.
Horse-Thieves -on the Plains.
The night after General Sheridan left
the Cheyenne agency a band of horse-
thieves, headed by the notorious des
perado, Jack Dannigan, invaded the
place and succeeded in running off sev
enty-five head of fine Indian ponies be
longing to tbe agency. Sheridan heard
of the bold exploit tbe next morning,
aud sent orders to Fort Dodge to pur
sue the thieves as soon as possible, and
when found “ to plant them on the
prairie ” without any further ado. Act
ing under these orders, two detachments
started out from Dodge hard on the
trail of the flying thieves, who, bur
dened by the unmanageable herd of
ponies, were making slow progress to
ward the north-east. About eighty
miles north of Dodge, on. the north
fork of the Pawnee, the military came
upon the thieves, who, seeing that their
time had evidently oome, prepared to
fight the thing out to the bitter end.
There were only three of them—one
having left before the appearance of the
military with part of the ponies—but
they thought not of surrender, and
calmly laid down in the “ buffalo wal
lows” with their rifles to see the thing
out. For nearly an hour the skirmish
lasted, and there was no let up till the
horse-thieves had been riddled through
and through. Then the military cap
tured the ponies, scooped out a hole in
the prairie, and literally “ planted ” the
villaiim. Meantime another party under
the direction of Agent Miles were
spreading about the oonntryto ent off
the retreat of Dnnnigan, the chief of
all the offenders. They followed him
to Hutchinson and thence across the
country to some point near Leaven
worth, bnt he succeeded in escaping
oapture, and is now secreted somewhere
in Platte county, Missouri. Dnnnigan
is the most canning and deliberate
horse-thief on the frontier, and $500
will readily be given for his capture.
Value of Blood.
E. F., Madison, county,N. Y.: “Can
I afford;to pay $80 for a Short-horn boll
calf, from a good milking family, to use
in my dairy of thirty cows, rather than
to nse a good common bull worth only
$4 ?” We answer yes, and more than
i. All good dairymen are now learn
ing the' policy of raising their own oows.
Now, suppose from yonr thirty cows
yon raise ten heifer calves 'ortho dairy.
Che milking strain of Short-horn blood
has proved itself excellent, both for
quantity and qnality of milk. It also
gives good feeding qualities, and will
produce a much moije valuable carcass
for the batcher. W« know some half-
blood Short-horns that give 7,000 to
8,000 pounds of milk, and 300 poundB
of batter per year. It is quite safe to
say that yonr heifers, at one year oid,
would be worth $10 per head more than
common ones; this, therefore, -would
pay you $100 extra the first year on the
heifer account, and if yon should raise
as many steers, they would be worth as
much extra. A dairyman certainly
makes a bad mistake to nse common
bulls when he is raising heifers for the
dairy or steers for the batcher. He bad
better pay double the sum that F. men
tions for a bull of milking Short horns
or Ayshire or Jersey blood.—New York
Times.
Not Atheists at All.
The pendulum seems to have swung
back again. John Stuart Mill, being
dead, has spoken of religion in a man
ner whioh has shocked those of his dis
ciples who believed that he did not be
lieve in God, and who aooepted his sup
posed disbelief as the reason for their
own infidelity. Prof. Tyndall has re
pudiated the construction universally
placed upon his language at Belfast,
and has declared that he did not mean
to assert either that there was no God,
or that God, if he existed at all, was
only molecule. Mr. Fitzjamea Stephen
has called espeeial attention to the fact
that he is of the opinion that the weight
of evidence is in favor qf the hypothesis
that there is a God, who is very wise
and exceedingly powerful, bnt who, in
Mr. Fitzjames Stephen’s belief, is not
altogether benevolent. And to crown
all, Prof. Huxley, to tbe infinite grief
of his former admirers, has come for
ward to say that he must not be num
bered among “fatalistic, materialistic
or atheistic philosophers.”
Curious Superstitions.
A curious superstition prevails on the
Isle of Man. It is to the effect that
children may be preserved from whoop-
in g-oough by being placed in the hop
per of a mill. “ Whooping-cough,”
says the Manx Times, “is at the pres
ent time exceedingly prevalent in the
south of the island, and on Sunday a
large number of the children were ta
ken to the Grenaby Mill, in the Parish
of Malew, three miles from Castletown,
in order to be subjected to the 'charm.’
Two hoppers of the mill were crammed
fall of children, and as soon as they
were comfortably and safely settled the
miller caused the wheel to revolve
three times, the parents of the children
being present at the time. In order to
be efficacious, the ceremony must be
gone through at a time when the minis
ters of the district are engaged in
preaching in their pnlpits. For this
reason about noon on Sundays is gene
rally the time chosen for the perfor
mance of this curious rite.”
Just about this time .many a fat gol>-
bler is wondering about tbe liberal
heartedness of ife owner about feeding,
account of Yon Moltke’s daily
oonntry. The chateau and
- ' the old
[ie amid
spacious than elegant, ita white-washed
wall and green shutters making it look
like the property of some peasant grown
rich. Its solitary owner rises regularly
at 5, warms his ooffee, which is pre
pared over night, on his lamp fed by
spirits of wine, and then goes out im
mediately into the park. His medita
tive air as he walks ap and down the
alleys, his closely shaven face, well-
farrowed with wrinkles, his stiff, black
cravat, long coat and slouch hat, give
him the air of some old Lutheran min
ister preparing his Sunday sermon.
At 7 the marshal commences a general
round of inspection through the stables,
granary, mills, and distillery, until he
arrives at the orchard, where he loves
to linger, knife in hand, now pruning
some unruly branch, or anon removing
dead twigs. At 10 he breakfasts on a
bowl of soup or glass of wine, with a
slice of bread and butter. Then he
runs through his correspondence.
Walking follows, or a drive to visit
some neighbor, and the return does not
take place until 8 o’clock for tea. On
Snndays alone he abstains from work,
bnt after going to church he spends the
remaining hours among his workmen
and laborers in pions readings, for he is
sincerely religions. Often at night he
visits Ms wife’s tomb, which is con
cealed by a row of cypresses, on a hill
ock in the park. She died on the
Christmas night of 1866. She was
young and charming, and they appear
to have been tenderly attached to each
other, although he might have been her
father. Whenever he arrives at his
seat, his first care, prior te entering his
house, is to go and pray at her grave.
Nicknamed Churches.
There are a great many churches in
this city that are known better hy their
slang names than by any other. First
and foremost is “The Little Chnroh
Around the Corner,” that is never called
by any other name. Before it received
that name, however, it was called tbe
“ Church of the Holy Cucumber,” from
the way in wMch it covers the ground.
The present name has become so popu
lar that few know it by any other, and I
could not now tell yon what its real
name is. When the excitement about
this church was at its height, I used to
see a drayman’s cart about town with
“ The Little Chnroh Around the Cor
ner” painted in big letters on tbe dash
board. The Rev. Dr. Bellows’ chnroh,
wMch is bnilt of alternate layers of
marble and brick, is known as the
Holy Zebra,” or the “Beefsteak.”
There is a church further up town of
the Dolly Varden style of arcMtecture
that goes by the name of the “Holy
Oil-cloth.” Sc. Albans is called the
Holy Candlestick,” from its very high
church tendencies, and there is another
known as the “ Great Tea Warehouse
of Prayer.” An; Episcopal church on
Fifth avenue, in the neighborhood of
Murray Hill, whose rector and curate
have each the uneviable reputation of
being cruel flirts, is known as the
“Church of the Holy Jilts.” There
are other churches with slang names,
bnt these are among the best known.—
New York Letter.
Transportation of Coal Oil on Steam-
* boats.
Section 4 of the steamboat law, ac
cording to a recant decision of the seore
tary of the treasury, forbids the trans
portation of coal oil, ernde or refined
petroleum, or other like explosive bnm-
ing-flnids, on passenger steamers, ex
cept as provided in rule 11th, enacted,
by the board of supervising inspectors.
The rule says: “ Refined petroleum,
wMch will not ignite at a temperature
less than one hundred and ten degrees
Fahrenheit, may, upon routes where
there is no other practicable mode of
transporting it, be carried on passen
ger steamers, upon tbe goards or for
ward main-deck thereof, and at a safe
distance from any fire: Provided, the
same shall be securely pnt np in good
metallic cans or vessels, and carefully
packed in boxes, or in iron-bound casks
or barrels plainly marked upon the
heads thereof with the manufacturer’s
name, the name of the article, and the
degree of temperature (Fahrenheit) at
which the petrolenm will ignite; and
all such boxes, casks, or barrels shall be
placed and carried only upon the outer
edge of the guards and decks as afore
mentioned. Any oil which will stand a
fire-test of three hundred degrees Fah
renheit may be carried as freight, or
used as stores, on passenger steamers.”
Chicago’s Gentlemanly Thief
Chicago is ’’rather proud of a very’
gentlemanly tMef who is now working:
the fasMonable residences of city. He
is a young man of dandy cut, polished
manners and a glib tongue. He baa-
been seen several times in the houses ha-
has harvested of money and jewelry,
but suspected too late to be caught.
He meets one lady at her own front
door returning home, and politely apol
ogizes for having made a mistake in
this house. She soon finds ont that her
chamber has been invaded and her jew
elry is gone. Another lady comes homo
end finds a stranger in her parlor fixing
his hair and viewing himself in a glass,
as though he had just made a call and
wished to get his 1 appearance np to the
mark before anybody came in. He sud
denly finds that he has mistaken the
house of his lady friend, who lives on
the next block, and after many excuses"
for his intrusion bows himself out. The
ladies of that house find that they will
have to lay in a new Btock of jewelry.
He thns robs bis victims before their
y eyes, and his genteel appearance
r charming address help him in and
ont of people’s houses at his will and.
The Liliputian war-dance wMcb Mol-"
lett is said to have described around*
the handsome and placid secretary of
the treasury in his resignation scene,
recalls the description once given of"
him by Seoretary Chase. “ Mnllett,
Mnllett?” said the secretary. “Oh,
yes; Mnllett is the little fellow from
Cincinnati, who explodes at the lowest