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J. W. BURKE & CO. Georgia JoipaUt Messenger, J. W. IS I tu<4: ,fcl^|kl*roprJetor*. A . W. s. nosn, 1 irtlKS OF 81 BWRIPTID*. daily. Ten dollars {h • mnura. g Five dollars for t x mon.hs. : rivo lolUrs and llay cents for three months. One dollar for four mouths. WMKKLY. three dollars per annum. Oue dollar pul fitly ceuis for six months. One doliae for four months. J. W. BURKE & tO THURSDAY, DEO. 10, 1868. fiOV. HILLOCK'S \TTITtJDB TOWARD OROKUIA. We are very sure that every sincere well wisher to our State and its best inter ests, will regret the position assumed by Gov. Bullock with reference to the qoes tion whether or hot the present status of Georgia as a member of the Federal Union, f .all be made the subject of farther legis w ,‘ion. Os the Governor's motives we I Small not speak, here. A discussion ‘of j • (Hat jmint can do no good, now, when it; is so very important that there shall be perfect ,quiet and calm, and that the plain truth as to our condition, tem per, and purposes shall be made known. We should dislike, exceedingly, to think j that Gov. B. was so weak or so malicious j as to be willing, for motives of revenge, j or to secure a petty partisan triumph, to, re-open wounds that are rapidly heating, ! and blow into a flame, fires that are fast i beginning to smoulder and die away. In ] any criticism we may make, then, of his course, we shall strive to avoid even the appearance of passion, or of an intention to excite it in others. 11 is our right and our duty, however, to protect against and condemn, in as strong language as the restraints of decorum will allow, any act or words, by any man, high or low, that we deem calculated to produce the deplorable results referred to above, and which, in our judgment, are un just and unfounded in fact. Such we con sider Gov. Bullock’s position and declara tions with reference to Georgia, lie lias allowed biuiseli to become separated from the wiser and more moderate wing of his party on this question, and to be driven into alliance with the worst and most vin dictive men in the .State. With all their aims amt desires we cannot believe he sympathizes, but in this issue, the most important to the people of Georgia, he certainly is giving them most powei'ul aid. The men with whom he so unfortu nately’ and erroneously co-operates, do not desire either peace or good will among our people. They would reduce Georgia to the condition of Tennessee or Arkansas if they could, and so that their pockets were tilled, care not for other consequences. Their desire is for a government of the sword, and not of nd for the people; a gov ernment whose sign is blood and ruin, and whose end will he speedy and utter de struction to our every interest, social, po litical and material. Gov. Bullock must know tli n. as "“H as the people do, at kuo'wieit, * tf 4 F else, it seer o us, should make him suspicious rri me bonditlon of affairs which lie represents as so deplorable, we have no hesitation in saying that he either grossly blunders, or lias been most griev ously deceived, He must know that iris charges against the people of Georgia are greatly exaggerated, to say the ltast ol it. He is obliged to know that if there is any one sentiment now dominant in Georgia among all classes, it is that of an earnest and siucere desire for peace and good will. He speaks of dangers to life and property, but lie fails to cite tacts, or enumerate cases to sustain his declarations. The quiet and order now prevailing through our borders; the kindly relations existing between the two races: and their evident intention, as shown by practical works to co operate heartily in building up aud re storing the prosperity of the Mate, is the most emphatic answer to bis allegations. Georgia is as much a State of the Ameri can Uuiou to-day as New York. Her le cohsti uetion is tin fait accompli , which Gov. B. lias himself recognized by many and most conclusive acts. He holds his office l>y virtue of such recognition. Why then this seemingly deliberate \ etlbrt to undo all that lias been doue, and bring to life all the passions and evils of j the past? Wo demaiui in the name of the people of Georgia, that Gov. B. shali lake beed to these thiDgs, and their inevitable consequences. V\e ask it of him, both as a man aud an official. If he spurns our advice, and despises our appeal, we ahull , have nei her difficulty nor scruple in putting on record where the blame for a neb refusal aud its possible consequences, will most surely rest. Tl.o Railroads. It lu ay be a matter of interest to some of our readers to know that uu election for President and Directors of tho Columbia aud Augusta Railroad resulted in the choice of Col. W. Johnston, of Charlotte, as President, with Can, Wade Hampton, L. 1), Childs. J. G. Gtbbca, "Ed. Hope tod It. W. Johnston, of Colombia; Vsul (Juattlabaum, of Lexington; Edward Tiiomas, Josiah Sibley, H. F. Russell, (Mayor), John J. Cohen, G. F. Jatksou, of Augusta, the Hoard for tile ensuing year. The proposition for consolidation with the Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad Companies was favor ably received, but actiou thereon deferred. The stockholders of the F.a»t Tennessee end Virginia Railroad (from Bristol to Knoxville) have consolidated the management of this road with that ..f the East Tennessee aud •corgis {from Kuoxville to Chattanooga) by electing the President of the tatter, Col. Thomas H. Callaway, aaid the Superin tendent, Maj. K. C. Jackson, to till the »amo office* iu the former. It is of decided interest to both dealers and con sumers to know that freight* on apples, onions and potatoes liuve been reduced to $1 per barrel, oier the Western & Atlantic Railroad from Chattanooga and stations ou the road, to Savannah and Charles ton, and to seventy-live seats per bairsl to Maeon ami Augusta. Old rates wers about twenty per cent, higher. Loeal freights have been likewise reduced—from seventy to thirty-three cents per hundred. We are glad to know that the result of this red net ion lias been a large and increasing business to the rood, as well as a decided good to the puWle, - Klhotpin ok Pkukkbsouk.— 'The Beard of Trustees of the University of Georgia, at ilk session yesterday, iu this city, made the following elections; Anew Chair, that of History and Political Science, was created, aud Hon. A. H. Stephens selected to fill It. .Major Charles Morris, late Professor in William and Mary Col lege, Va., was elected Professor of Belles Letters and Oratory; aud Mr. M. J. Smead, of Montgomery, Ala., Professor of M ml - Languages. The election of Adjunct Professor of Ancient Languages was post poned till the next regular session of the Board, in August, 1869 The Board ad journed last night. —Rev. f. B. Hopkins, of Augusta, has been elected Adjunct Professor of Natural Bcience, at-Emory Goliege, in tuts State. —Mr. William Bird, the oldest inhab itant of Hancock county, died in that county ou the 28lh uit. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. Washington, Dec. 9, isos. ; lelLno-CUiaut* of the Senate -and Haase of Itepreie/Uatuvji : Up >n tile reassembling of Congress, it again becomes my duty to call your a ten | tion to the state of tho Uniou, aud to its i continued disorganized condition under 1 the various laws which have been passed upon the subject of reconstruction. It may be safely assumed as an axiom l in Die government of States, that ’ the greatest wrongs inflicted upon a 1 jieople are caused by unjust and arbitrary ; legislation, or by T the unrelenting decrees | of despotic rulers, aud that the timely 1 revocation of injurious and oppressive measures are the grea est good that can be c onferred upon a nation. The legislator or ruler who has the wisdom and magna nimity to retrace his steps when convinced of error, will sooner or later be rewarded with the respect and gratitude of an in telligent and patriotic people. Our own history, although emit racing a period less than a century, affords abundant proof . ik,d pjpxt if not nil of domestic trouble,, are directly traceable to violations <>/ the organic taw and excessive legislation. The most striking illustrations of this fact are furnished by the enactments of the past three years upon the question of recon struction. After a fair trial, they have substantially failed, and proved per nicious in their results, and there seems to be no good reason why they should lon ger remain upon the statute book. States to which the Constitution guarantees a republican form of government have been reduced to military dependencies, in each of whicti the people have been made subject to the arbitrary will of the Com manding General. Although the Consti tution deciar s that each State shall tie rep resented in Congress, Virginia, Mississippi and Texas are yet excluded from the two Houses, aud contrary to the express pro vision of that instrument, were denied participation in the recent election for a President and Vice President of the United States. The attempt to place tho white people’under the dominion of persons of color in the South, has impaired, if not destroyed, the kindly relations that had previously existed between them, and mu tual distrust has engendered a feeling of animosity which, lead ingin some instances 10 coili-ioti and bloodshed, has prevented that co operation between the two races so essential to the success of industrial enter prises in the Southern States. Nor have the inhabitants of those States alone suf fered from the disturbed condition of affairs growing out of these Congressional enact ments. Tiie entire Union has been agita ted by grave apprehension of troubles which might again involve the peace of the nation. Its interests have been in juriously affected by the derangement of business aud labor, and the consequent want of prosperity throughout that portion of the country. The Federal Constitution, tlie Magna Charta of American rights under whose wise and salutary provisions we have suc cessfully conducted all our domestic and foreign affairs, sustained our selves in peace and in war, arid become a great nation among the powers of the earth, must assuredly be now adequate to the settlement of questions growing out of the civil war waged alone for its viudi cation. This great fact is made most manifest by the condition of the country. When Congress assembled in the mouth of December, 1865, civil strife had ceased; tiie spirit of rebellion bad spent its entire force. In the Southern States the people hud warmed into national life, and throughout the whole country a healthy re-.’tion in public seating,.i’ had take!, place. By the application of tne simple" vet effective provisions of the Constily-*' ffmi.xTK Mx ('tit ! ■ partihent. With the ' voluntary aid of the States had brought the wor>< of restoration as near comple tion as was within tiie scope of its author- | ity, and tiie nation was encouraged by the prospect of an early and satisfactory ad justment of ail its difficulties, Congress, however, intervened, and refusing to per fect the work so nearly consummated, de clined to admit members from the unrep resented States, adopted a series of meas ures which arrested ttie progress of resto ration, frustrated all tnat had been so suc cessfully accomplished, and, after three years of agitation and strife, has left the country farther from the attainment of union and fraternal feeling thau at tiie inception of tiie Congressional plan of reconstruction, ft needs no argument to show that legislation which lias produced such baneful consequences should be ab rogated, or else made to conform to the genuine principles of Republican govern ment, Under the influence of party pas sion and sectional prejudices, other acts have been passed not warranted by the Constitution. Congress has already been made familiar with my views respecting the Tenure-of-office bill. Experience has proved that its repeal is demanded by tiie best interests of the country; and that while it remains in force the President cannot enjoin that rigid accountability of public affaire so essential to an honest and efficient execution of the laws. Its revo cation would enable the Executive De partment to exercise the (towerof appoint ment and removal in accordance with the I original design of the Federal Constitu- tion. The act of March 22d, 1807, making ap propriations for the support of the army lor the year ending June 80th, 1868, and fur other purposes, contains provisions which interfere with the President’s Con stitutional functions as com i auder-in chief of the army, and deny to States of the Union the right to protect themselves by means of their own militia. These provisions should tie at once annuled; for, wh le the first might, iu times of great emergency, seriously embarrass the Exec utive in his efforts to employ and direct the common strength of the nation for its protection and preservation, the other is j contfary to the express declaration of the : Constitution, that “a well regulated miti- | iia is necessary to the safety of a free | Mtate; that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." It - is believed that ttie repeal of at! such laws J would be accepted by the American peo ple as at least a partial return to the funda mental principles of the Government, and an indication that hereafter the Constitu tion is to be made ttie nation’s safe and unerring guide. They can be productive of no permanent benefit to the coun try, and should not be permitted to stand as so many monuments of the deficient wisdom which has characterized our recent legislation. The condition of our finances demands ttie early and earnest consideration of Congress. Compared with the growth of our population, ttie public expenditures have reached an amount unprecedented in our history. The population of the United States in 179 b was nearly four millions of people, increasing each decade about thirty-three tier cent. It reached in 1860 thlrty-oiie millions, au increase of seven hundred percent.on the population of 1790. In 1869 it estimate.l that it will reach thirty eight millions, an iucrease of eight hun dred and sixty eight per cent, in seventy nine years. The annual expenditures of Hie Federal Government iu 1791 were five million- two hundred thousand dollars. In 1H«0 eighteen millions two hundred thou sand dollars. I u 1830 forty one millions. In 1860 sixty-three millions. In 1805 luutTy thirteen hundred millions; and in 1869 it is estimated by the Secretary ot the Treasury, in his last annual report, that they will be three liuudred and seventy-two millions. By comparing the public disbursements of 1860, as estimated ; with those of 1791, it will Vie seen that the i iucrease of expenditures since the begin- I ning of tile G overnment has been eight ! thousand six liuudred and eighteen per ! centum, while the increase of the popula i tion for the 8; me period was only eight I hundred add sixty eight per centum. Again—the expenses of the Government | in 1860, the year of peace, immediately preceding the war, were only sixty-three millions, while iu 1869, the year of peace, ! three yt ars after the war, it is estimated ! they will be three hundred and seventy i two millions, an increase of four hundred and eighty-nine per centum, while the increase of population was only tweuty one per centum for the sense period. These statistics further show, that iu 1791 the annual national expenses compared with the population were little more than one dollar per capita, and in 1860 but two dol lars per capita, while in 1869 they will reach the extravagant sum of nine dollars and seventy,eight cents per capita. It will be observed that all these statements refer to aud exhibit the disbursements of peace periods. It may, therefore, be of interest to compare the expenditures of tiie three war periods—the war with Great Britain, the Mexican war, aud the war of the Re bellion. In 1814, the annual expenses of the war of 18111 reached their highest amouut—about thirty-onemillions—while our population slightly exceeded eight millions, showing an expenditure of only three dollars aud eighty ceuts per capita. In 1847, the expenditures growing out of the war with Mexico reached ninety live millions, and the population about twenty one millions, giving only two dollars and sixty cents per capita for the war expenses of that year. In 1865, theexpenses called for by the Rebellion readied the vast amount of twelve hundred aud ninety millions, which, compared with a popula tion of thirty four millions, gives thirty eight dollars'and twenty cents per capita. From the fourth day of March, 1814, to the thirtieth of June. 1861, the eutire expenditures of the Government were seventeen hundred millions of do!- ! iars. During that period we were engaged in ware with Great Britain and Mexico, aud were Involved in hostilities with pow erful Indian tribes Louisiana was par chased from I'Tauem» at a cost of i million dollars ; Florida was ceded to the United States by Spain for five millions; California was acquired from Mexico for ! fifteen mil ions; and the Territory of New Mexico was übtaim and from Texas for the sum of ton mil ions. Early in 1861 the wvr of the rebellion commenced, and from the tirst of July of that year, to the 30th of June, 1865, tiie public expenditures reached the enormous aggregate of thirty-three hundred millions. Three years of peace have intervened, and during that time the disbursements of the Government have successively been five hundred and twenty millions, three hundred aud fifty-six millions, and three hundred and ninety-three millions. Ad ding lo these amounts three huudred and seventy-two millions, estimated as neces sary for the fiscal year ending the thirtieth of June, 1869, we obtain a total expendi ture of sixteen hundred millions of dol lars during the five years immediately succeeding the war, or nearly as much as was expended during the sev nty-two years that [(receded tiie rebellion, and embraced the extraordinary expenditures already named. These startling facts clearly illustrate the necessity of retrench ment in all branc les of the public service. Abuses which were tolerated during the war for the [(reservation of the nation will not be endured by the peope now that peace prevails. The receipts from Inter nal Revenue# and Customs have, cjurlng the past three years, gradually diminish ed, and the continuance of useless and ex travagant expenditures will involve us in national bankruptcy.or else make inevita ble an increase of taxes, already too oner ous, and in many respects obnoxious on account of their inquisitorial character. One hundred millions annually are ex pended for the military force, u large por tion of which is employed ill the execu tion of laws, noth unnecessary and uncon stitutional ■ one hundred and fifty millions are required each year to [(ay tiie interest on the public dent; an army of tax gath erers Impoverishes the nation, and public agents, placed by Congress, beyond tln control of the Executive, divest from their legitimate purposes large sum# ot money which they collect from the peo ple in tiie name of the Government. Judiclous legis ation and prod -nt economy can alone remedy defect# and avert evils which, if suffered to exist, cannot fail to dirniuish con tide nee in the people u»» ards their political institutions. \\ ithout proper care, the small balance which u is estimated wilt remain in the Treasury at the done of the present fiscal year, will , a oe real*zed, and additional millions be added to a debt which is now counted by ii i~n ii . iHdpti 11 im 1 11,1 ... ji ; uUk[ mui comprehensive report of tile secretary of the Treasury that The receipts for the fiscal year ending Jane 30th, 1368. were $405.01 5.08-1. Hie expendi tures for the same period were >377.340.284. leaving in the Treasury a surplus of $3*.*397.- 708. It is estimated that tiie receipts during the year ending June 40th. 1800. will be $341,- 394.868, and th«* expenditures $5:56,155,170, showing a small balance of 85,240 388 in favor of the Government. D is estimated that 1 receipts will amount to *387,000,090, and the expenditures to 4 503.nt(0.0(H), leaving an esti mated surplus of <*34.000,000. It becomes proper, in this connection, to make a brief reference to our public indebtedness, which has accumulated w itli such alarming rapidity, and assumed such colossal proportions. In 1780, when the Government commenced operations under the Federal Constitution, it was bur dened with an indebtedness of seventy-four millions of dollars, accrued during tiie war of j the Revolution. This amount had been re duced to forty-five millions of dollars, when. I in 181*5. war was declared against Great Britain. The three year.-’ struggle that followed largely increased the national obligations, and in 1816 they had attained the sum of one hundred and twenty-seven millions. Wise and economical legislation, however, enabled the Government to pay the entire amount within a period of twenty years, and the extinguishment of the National debt filled the land with rejoicing, and was one of the great events of President Jack son's administration. After its redemption a large fund remained in the Treasury, which was deposited for safe keeping with the several States on condition that it should lie returned when required by ttie public wants. In 1849, the year after the termination of an expensive war with Mexico, we found ourselves involved in a debt of sixty-four millions, and this was the amount owed by the Government in 1860, just prior lo the rebellion. In the spring of 1861 our civil war commenced. Each year of its continuance made an enormous addition to the debt, and when in the spring of I*os tho nation successfully emerged from tho conflict, the obligations of the Government had reached the immense sum of 82.878,962.909. The Sec retary of the Treasury shows that on the first day of November, 1867. this amount had been reduced to 82,491.504,452, but at the same time his report exhibits an increase during the past year of *36.625,10*2 fur the debt. On the first ilay of November last it is stated to have been $2,527,129,562. It is estimated by the Secretary that the returns for the pa-t month will add to our liabilities the further sum of $11,000,000, making a total increase during thirteen months of $46,500.000. in my mes sage to Congress, of December 4th, 1865, it was suggested that a policy should lie devised which, without being oppressive to the people, would at once begin to effect a reduction of the debt, and if persisted in, discharge it fully within a definite number of years. The Sec retary of the Treasury forcibly recommends legislation of this character, aud justly urges that the longer it is deferred the more difficult must become its accomplishment. We should follow the wise precedents established in 1789 and 1810, aud without further delay make pro vision for the payment of our obligations alas early a period as may be practicable. Tho fruits of their labors should tic enjoyed bv our citizens, rather than used to build up and sus tain monied monopolies in our own and other lands. Our foreign debt is already computed by the Secretary of the Treasury at $850,000,- 000. Citizens of foreigu countries receive in terest upon a large portion of qur securities, and American tax-payers are made to con tribute large sums for their support. The idea that such a debt is to become permanent should he at all times discarded as involving taxation too heavy to be borne, and payment once in every sixteen years, at the present rate of in terest, of an amount equal to the original sum. This vast debt, if permitted to become perma nent and increasing, must eventually he gath ered into the hands of a few, and enable them to exert a dangerous and controlling power in the affairs of the Government. The borrow ers would become servants to the lenders. The lenders the masters of the people. We now pride ourselves upon having given freedom lo lour millions of the col ored race. It will then be our shame that forty millions of people, by their own tol eration of usurpation and profligacy, have suffered themselves to becomeensiaved, aud | merely exchanged slave-owners for new j task-masters iu the shape of bondholders \ aud tax-gatiierers. Besides, permanent debts pertairito monarchical governments, and, tending to monopolies, perpetuities and class legislation, are tota ly irrecon cilable with free institutions. Introduced into our republican system, they would gradually but surely sap its foundations, eventually subvert our governmental fain rio, aud erect upon its ruins a monied aris tocracy. it is our sacred duty to transmit unimpaired to our posterity the blessings of liberty, which were bequeathed to us by the founders of the Republic, aud, by our MACON, GA„ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1868. example, teach those who are to follow us carefully to avoid the danger# which threaten a free and independent people. Various plans have been proposed for the payment of the public debt. However they may have varied as to the time and mode in which it should be redeemed, there seems to lie a general concurrence as to the propriety and justness of a re duction in the present rale of interest. The Secretary of the Treasury, in his report, recommends five per cent. Con gress. in a tiiil passed prior to its adjourn menton the 27tli of Julv last, agreed upon four and four and a half per cent., while, by many, three per cent, has been held to bean amply suttloient return forthe invest ment The general impression as to tiie extinction of the existiug rute of inter est has ted to an inquiry ill the public mind respecting the consideration which the Government has actually received tor its bonds, and t.be conclusion is becoming prevalent that the amount which it ob tained was, in real mouev, three or tour hundred per cent less than the obliga tions which it issued in return. Itcannot be denied that we are paying an extrava gant percentage tor the use of the money borrowed, which was paper currency, greatly depreciated below the value of coin. This fact is made a;'parent when we consider that bondholders receive from the Treasury upon each dollar they own in Government securities, 1 ai« |H.r wit. I»» #«W, "'•Oh •• SVmtj or quite equal to nine |ier cent, iu curren cy. That tiie bonds are then converted into capital for the National Banks, upon which these institutions issue their circu lation, bearing six [ier cent, interest, and that they are exempt from taxation by tiie Government and the States, and thereby enhanced two |ier <ent. in tiie bands of tho holders. We thus have an aggregate of seventeen per ceu\, which may be re ceived upon each dollar by the owners of government securities. A system that : prodaces such result# is justly regarded as favoring a few at the expense of the many, aud has led to the further inquiry whether our bondholders, in view of the lurge profits which they have enjoyed, would themselves be averse to a settlement of our indebtedness, upon a plan which would yield them a fair remuneration, and at tiie same time be just to the tax-payers of the nation. Our national credit should lie sacredly observed ; but in making pro vision for our creditors we should not for get what ia due to the masses of the people. It may be assumed that the holders of mir #e carities have already received upon their bonds u larger amount than their original investment, measured by a gold standard. I pou this state ment of tacts, it would seem but just and equit able that the six per ecut. interest, now paid by the Government, should he applied to the reduction of the principal, in semi-annual in stallments, which in sixteen years and eight mouths would liquidate tue entire national debt. Six per cent, in gold would, ut present rates, be equal to nine per cent, in currency, and equivalent to the payment of the debt one and a half time# in a fraction leas than seventeen years. This, in connection with all the other advantages derived from their investment, would afford to the public creditors a fair and liberal compensation for the use of their capital; and with this they should be satisfied. j lie lesson# of the past, admonish the lender that It is not well to be over anxious in e• acting from the borrower, rigid com pliance with th - letter of the bond. If provision be mad ) for tbe payment of the indebtedness of tiie Government in the manner suggested, our nation will rapid ly recover its wonted prosperity. It# in terests require that some measure should be taken to release the large amount of capital laves ted in the se-untie# of the Government, it is not now merely un productive, in taxation, annually con sumes one hundred and iifty million* of dollars, which Would otlierwi.se iwu- sl by our enterprising people in adding to the wealth of the nation. Our commerce, which atone time successfully rivaled that of tbe great mu ratine powers, has rapidly diminished,and our industrial interest# are in a depressed and languishing con dition. The development of our in* twnufll ••• ■ •> <t- - rt»-. the fertile fields of ttie South are becoming waste for want of means to till them. With the release of capital, new 1 fe would be infused into tin- paralyzed ener gies of our people, and ctivity and vigor imparted to every branch of industry. Our people need encouragement in their efforts to recover from he effects of the rebellion and of injudicious legislation, and it should be the aim of tiie Govern ment to s.imuiate them »y the prospect of an early release from ti e burdens which impede their prosperity. If we cannot I take the burden# from their shoulders, we should at least inarjiie.-t a willingness help to Gear them. In referring to the condition of the circu lating medium, 1 shall merely reiterate substantially that portion of my last an nual mes-age which relates to that subject. The proportion winch the currency of j any country should have to the whole value of the annual produce circulated by its means, is a question upon which politi cal economists have not agreed. Nor can j it i>e controlled by legislation, but must j be left to ttie inviolable laws which every- j where reguate commerce anil trade. The ' circulating medium will ever irresistibly flow to those points where it is in greatest demand. The law of demand and supply ■ is as unerring as that which regulates the tides of the ocean ; and indeed currency, ; like the tid j s, ha it ebbs and flows throughout the commercial world. At the beginning of the rebellion, 1 the bank note circulation of the coun try amounted to not much more than two hundred millions of dollars. Now. the circulation of national bank notes, and those known as legal tender, is nearly sev en hundred millions. While it is urged by some that tins amount should be in creased, others contend that a decided re duction is absolutely essential to the best interests of the country In view of these diver.-ieopinions, it may be well to ascer tain the real value of our paper issues when compared with a metallic or con vertible currency. For this purpose let us inquire how much gold and silver could be purchased by the seven hundred mil lions of paper money now in circulation. Probably not more than half tlie amount of latter, showing that when our paper currency is compared with gold anil silver, its commercial value is compressed into three hundred and fifty millions. This striking fact makes it the obvious duty of the Government, ns early as may be consistent with the principles of sound political economy, to take such measures a? will enable the holder of its notes, and those of the National Banks, to convert them without loss into specie, or its equivalent. A reduction j of our paper circulating medium need not ne- | cessarilv follow : this, however, would depend i upon the law of demand and supply, although ; it should be borne in mind that by making legal j tender and bank notes couvertable into coin, or j its equivalent, their present specie value in the j hands of their holders would be enhanced one j hundred per cent. Legislation for the accomp- \ lishment of a result so desirable is demanded j by the highest public considerations. The ; Constitution contemplates that the circulating medium of the country shall be uniform in quality and value. At tho time of the forma tion of that instrument, the country had just emerged from the war of the Revolution and was suffering from the effects of a redundant and worthless paper currency. The suites of that period were anxious to protect their posterity from the evils which they, themselves, had experienced; hence, iu providing a circulating meilium, they conferred upon Congress ttie power to coin money and regulate the value thereof, at the same time prohibiting ttie states from making anything but gold and silver a tender in payment of debts. The anomalous condition of our cur rency is in striking contrast with that which was originally designed. Our cir culation now embraces: first, notes of the national banks, which are made re ceivable for all dues to the Government, excluding imposts, aud by all its credi tors, excepting in payment of interest upon its bond-, aud the securities them selves ; secoud, legal tender notes issued by the United .States, and which the law requires shall be received as well in pay ment of all debts between citizens as of all Government dues, excepting im posts; ami third, gold aud silver coin. By the operation of our preseut sys tem of fianance, however, the metallic currency, when collected, is reserved only for one class of Government creditors, who, holding its bonds, semi annually receive their interest in coin from the na liouai treasury. Thereiano reason which will be accepted as satisfactory by the people, why those who defend us on the laud and protect us on tho sea: the pen sioner upon the gratitude of the nation, bearing tb l f-ars* and wounds received while itt UrSelylfßf the public servants t in the various departments of the Govern ment; the farmer, who supplies the sol -1 diers of the army and the sailor# of tiie j navy ; ttie artisan, who toils iu ttie ua lion’s work ; bops or the mechanics and | laborers who build its edifice# and j construct its forts and vessels of war, I should, in payment of their just and hard earned dues, receive depreciated [ia[K)r, whileanother class of their coun trymen, no acre deserving, arc paid in coin of gold md silver. Equal amt exact justice requties that all the creditors of the Government ilpiuid be paid ill a currency possessing a uniform value. This can only he accoropliahed by the restoration of the currency to tbe standard established , by the Gone itution ; and by this means we would remove a discrimination which may, if it ha.- not already done so, create a prejudice that may become deep-rooted atid wide-sprt ad, and imperil the national credit. Tbe feasibility of making our cur rency correspond with tiie Constitutional stamlaid, may be seen by reference to a few facts derived from oar commercial statistics. Tbe aggregate product of pre cious metals ia the United States, from 1849 to 1867, .-.mounted to $1,174,000000, while for the same period the net exports of specie were $741,000,000. This shows an excess of moduct over net exports of 4-;:$ non (>•--. «t »««« are in tho Treasury in , , •»■>. «.n IT| the Htaics on the Pacifiic coast, about $40,000,000, and a few millions in tiie Na tional and other hanks—in all less than $l6O/100,000. Taking into consideration the specie iu the country prior to 1849, and that produced since 1867, and we have more than $300,090,000 not accounted for tiy exportation or by ttie returns of the Treasury, and therefore most probably remaining in the country. These are important facts, and show how completely the inferior currency will supercede the better, forcing it from circulation among tiie masses and causing it to t>e exported as a mere article of trade, to add to ttie money capital of foreign lands. They show the necessity of retiring our paper money that tiie return of g id and silver to the avenues of trade may be invited, aod a demand created which wi I cause the retention at home of at least so much of the production# of our rich and inex baiistible “gold-bearing tieids as may be sufficient for purpose# of circulation. It is unreasonable to expect a return to a sound currency so brig as the government and bank#, by continuing to is«ue irre deemabl • notes, till the channels nf circu lation with depreciated paper. Notwith standing a coinage by our mints since 1849, of $874,000/100, the jieople are now stranger# to ttie currency whicti was designed for their use and benefit, arid (specimen# of the precious metals bearing tbe national device# are seldom seen, except when produced to gratify the interest excised by their novelty. If depreciated paper is to he con tinue 1 as the permanent currency of the coun try. and ail oircoin is to become a mere article of traffic and speculation, to the enhancement in [trice of all that is indispensable to the com fort of the people, it would be wise economy to abolish our mints, thus saving the nation the care and expense incident to such establish ments. and let all our precious metal# Ik- ex ported in bullion. The time ha-, cotne. how ever, when the Government and National Banks should lie required to take the most efficient stejjs, and make all necessary arrangements for a resumption of specie payments. Let specie payments once be earnestly inaugurated by the Government and banks, and the value of the paper circulation would directly approximate a specie standard. Specie payments having been resumed by the Government aud hanks, ail notes or hills of paper issued by either, of a less de nomination than twenty dollars, should by law be excluded from circulation, so that th<- peo ple may have the benefit and convenience of a gold and silver currency, which in ail t heir btisi ne#* transaction# will be uniform in value, at home and abroad. Every man of property, or industry, every man who desires to preserve what he honestly possesses, or to obtain what he can honestly earn, has a direct interest in maintaining a Safe circulating median : such A Xl>V . i l}, be blown up ut ’flu'-* »*rTiy the breath’of speculation. bus% he tPfaostable and secure. A disordered currency i# one of the greatest polit ical evils—it nnderiAi ties the virtue# accessary for the support of the social system and encour age# thing-: iniuriou- t-- it : it war# against industry, frugality and economy, and it iosteis tiie evil sj iritsoi extravagance and speculation. It lias been asserted by oue of our profound and most gifted statesmen. Unit of all ttie contrivance# for cheating the laboring classes of mankind, none have been more effectual than that which de odes them with paper money. This is the most effectual of inventions Id fore close the rich man’s fields by tbe sweat of tbe poor man’# brow. Ordinary tyranny, oppression, excessive taxation —these bear lightly ori tbe hnppiiies# of the mass of the community, computed with u fraudu ent currency, and the robberies commit ted by depreciated paper. Our own histo ry has recorded for our instruction enough, and more than enough, of the demoralizing tendency,the injustice, and the intolerable | oppression on the virtuous and well dis posed, of a degraded paper currency, au lhorized by law or in any way countenanc ed by Government It is one of the most successful devices, in times of peace or war, ot expansions or revut ions, to accomplish the transfer of all the precious metals from tiie great mass of the people into the hands of the few, where they are hoarded iu se cret places, or deposited under twits and bars, while tlse people are left to endure alt ttie inconveniences, sacrifices and de moralization resulting from the use of de preciated and worthless paper. The Secretary of the interior, In his re port, lias valuable information in refer ence to the interests confided to the super vision of his department and reviews tho operations of the Land Oilice, Pension Of fice, Patent O tice, ami the liidiau Bureau. During the fiscal year ending June 30th, 181*8, 6.665,700 acres of public land were disposed of. The entire cash receipts of tiie general laud otfiee for the same period, were $1,682,745, being greater by $284,868 than tiie amount realized from the same sources during the previous year. The entries ui tier the homestead law cover 2,828,923 acres, nearly one-fourth of which was taken under the act of June 21, 1806, savhich applies only to the $ tales of Ala bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida. On the 30th of June, 1868, one hundred and sixty-nine thousand six hut dred Und forty-three names were%orlie on the pen sion rolls, and during the year ending that day the total amount paid for pensions, including the expenses of disbursement, was $24,000,982 greater than that ex pen a nd ed for like purposes during the preceding : year. Durftig the year ending the3oth of .September last, the expenses of the l’a -1 tent Office exceeded tiie receipts by one hundred and seventy-one dollars; and in j eluding re-issues and designs, fourteen ! thousand one hundred and fifty-three pa- I tents were issued. Treaties with various Indian tribes have been concluded, and will be submit ted to the Senate for its constitutional ac tion. I cordially sanction tiie stipulations which provide for reserving lands for the various tribes, where they may be encour aged to abandon their nnipadic habits, and engage in agricultural and Industrial pur suits. This policy, inaugurated many years since, has met with signal success whenever it has been pursued in good faith aud will) becoming liberality by the United States. The necessity for extend ing it as far as practicable in our relations with the aboriginal population, is greater now than at any preceding period. Whilst we furnish subsistence aud instruction to tiie Indians, and guarantee the undisturb ed enjoyment of their treaty rights, we should habitually insist upon the faithful observance of tlieir agreement to remain within their respective reservations. This is the otilv mode by which collisions with other tribes and with the whites can be avoided, and the safety of our frontier set tlements secured. The companies constructing the railway from Omaha to Sacramento have been most ener getically engaged in the prosecution of the work, and i: is believed that the lino will be com pleted before the expiration of the next fiscal year. The six per cent, bonds issued to tlve.se companies amounted, on tiie sth inst., to $44,887,000. and additional work ha-l been performed to the extent of $3,200,000. lhe Secretary of the Interior, in August last, in vited my attention to the report of a Govern ment Director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, who hud been specially, instructed .to examine the location, construction and equipment of their road. I submitted, for the opinion of the Attorney General, certain ques- tioas in regard to tip authority of the Execu tive, wbiefi ufoae upon- this report, and those’ which had, from time to time, been presented to the Commissioner appointed to inspect each successive section of the work. Afier care fully considering tbe law of the case, he affirmed the right of the Executive to order, if neces sary, a thorough revision of the entire road. Commissioners were thereupon appointed to examine this and other lines, and have recent ly submitted a statement of their investigations, of which the report of the (Secretary of the Interior famishes specific information. The report of the Secretary or' War contains information of interest and importance, re specting the several bureaus >f the War de partment, and the operations o' the army. The strength of our military force, 1 u the 50th Sep tember last, wa,- forty-eight theusaud men. It is computed that by the Ist o January next this number will be decrease' to forty-three thousand. It is the opinion o? he Secretary of War that within the next year i considerable dimmatiou of the infantry forci may be made, without detriment to the interc >.s of the coun try : and in view of the groat ' xpetige attend ing the military peace establishment, and the absolute necessity of retrenchtut nt, wherever it can be applied, it is hoped Congress will sanc tion the reduction which his repo, t recommends. 'While in 1860 sixteen thoucund three hun dred men cost the nation $16,4,3,000. the sum of 65,685,000 dollars is esliiu lied a# noces -ary for the support of the army during tiie last two fiscal year# were, for 1867, $33,814,- 461, and for 1868 $55,505,609 The actual expenditures during the ratue periods were, respectively, $95,551 i 15, and $123,- 346.648. The e-tiniate submitted in De cember laid, for the fiscal vea. ending June 30th, 1869, wh» $77,154,797, 4he expendi tures- for the first quarter en. ing ttie 30th of September last, were $2 ,219,117, and the Secretary of the Treasury trivea $60,- 000,000 as tbe amount which will probably lie required during Lite reu aining three quarters, if there sJjouJd be do reduction of the army ; malting its age; jgate cost for the year considerably In ex ■< -s of $93,009,- 000. The difference between the esti mates and expenditure# ior the three fiscal years which have been tsu ued is thus shown to be $175,545,343, fi r this single brand] of the public service Ttie report of the Hecretar; of the Navy exhibit# tne operations of that depart ment duriug the year. A considerable reduction of the force Im# -en effected. There are forty-two vessels, i arryfng four hundred and eleven guns n tie six squad rons which are established in different parts ot the world. Three o these vessels are returning lo the Unit i State#, and four are used a# store shipc, leaving the actual cruizing force thirty five vessels, carrying three bundled Olid iitty-#ix euus. The totai number of vessel# iu the Navy i# two hundred ami six Bio .iiting seven teen hundred and forty-three guns. Eighty-one vessels of every description are iu use,armed with six iiumti and and nine ty six gun#. The number of'enlisted men in ttie service, including apprentices, has been reduced to eight thousand five hun dred. An increase of navy yard facilities is recommended a# a measure w hich will, iu the event of war, be pronmiive of econ omy and security. A more thorough and systematic survey ot the North Pacific Ocean D advised, in view of our recent acquisition, our ex paodiug commerce, and the increasing iu tere*ts between tiie Paoiiic.'Batonaud Asia. Ttie naval p-utioa fund, whicti consists of a rnof -y of the avail# c<f prizes captured during the war, amounts to fourteen mil lion dollars Exception is taken to the act of 53d of July la*t, which reduce# ttie interest on the fund I*• 'tried to tiie Government by the xeeretary, a- trustee, to three per cent, in stead of six per cent, which was original ly stipulated w hen th Investment was made. An amendment of the pension law# is suggested, to remedy omissions aud de fect# in existing enactment# The expen diture# of the Department during the last ti-cal yfar were s3d 159,594. and the esti mate* for the coming year amount# to $50,993,414 HThTThim rrea-'-wL:bi \>W riplSe opeffEte*t- aiJJT condition of the postal service. The oraimHry po-tal revenue for the fiscal venr ending Jane goth, 1868, was $1(i,295,000, and tbe total ex pendttures, embracing a- the service for which special appropriation-. ! ave /.ecu made by Con gress. amounted to ®3?,7: ! VV<3, -howing an excess of * xiKveluure# of sb, t;>7,941i. De ducting trout me expeudilur* tins sum of $1,896,555, the amyuni ojt appropriation* for ocean steamship and other special service, the excess of exremi * ;r#« was *1.541.466. By tiring an unexpended balance in the ‘t reasury of cJ.bo*i.'XM', the actual- sum for which a special approjwiauqu i» required to meet the deficit, is 5741,166. Theca - - which pro duced thi j large of expenditure? over revenue were the restoration of service in the late insurgent States, aod the petting in opera tion of new ,-en ice establieiied by acts of Con gress, which amounted, within the last two years and a half, to about $48,7u0 miles, equal to more than one-third of the whole amount of the service at the close oi the war. New postal convention- with Great Bri tain, North Germany, Belgium, the Netb- . eriands, Switzerland, and Laly, respec tively, iiave been carried into effect. Un- 1 dertheir provisions important improve-j merits have re-ulied in reduced rates of international p stage, and enlarged mail facilities with European countries. The cost of the United States Trans-Atlantic ocean mail service since January Ist, ls*sß, has been largely lesseued under the opera tion of these new conventions A reduc tion of over one-half having been effected under the new arrangements for ocean mail steamship service which went into effect on that date, the attention of Con gress is invited to the practical sugges tions and recommendations made in his report by the Postmaster General. No important question has occurred du ring the last year in our accustomed cor dial and friendly intercourse with Costa Rica, Guatamala, Honduras, San Salva dor, France, Austria, Belgium, Switzer land, Portugal, the Netherlands, Den mark, Sweden, Norway, Rome, Greece, Turkey, Persia, Egypt, Liberia. Morocco, Tripoli, Tunis, Muscat, Siam, Borneo and Madagascar. Cordial relations have also been maintained with the Argentine and the Oriental Republics. The expressed wish of Congress that our national good offices might be tendered to those repub lics, and also to Brazil and Paraguay, for bringihg to an end the calamitous war which ha* so long been raging in the Val ley of the .Laplatte, has been assiduously compiled with, ami kiudly acknowledged by all the belligerents. That important negotiation, however, has thus far been without result. Charles A. Washburn,late United States Minister to Paraguay, having resigned, j and being desirous toieturu to the United ! •States, the Rear Admiral commanding t he South Atlantic Squadron was early direct ed to send aship-of-war to Ascencion, the Capitol of Paraguay, to receive Mr. Wash burn and his family, and remove them from a situation which was represented be endangered by faction ami foreign J war. The Brazilian commander of the i allied invading forces refused permission I to the Wasp to pass through the block ailing force, and that vessel returned to its accustomed anchorage. R monstrance , having been made against this refusal, it j was promptly overruled, and the Wasp j therefore resumed her errand, received j Mr. Wasliburne and his family, and ! conveyed them to a safe and con venient sea port. Tn the meantime an excited controversy had arisen between the Pre sident of Paraguay and tue late United States Minister, which it is understood grew out of his proceedings in giving asylum in the United States legation to alleged enemies of that lie public. The question of the right to give asyl nm is one always difficult, and often productive of great embarrassment . 11l States well organ ized and established, •''■•eign powers refuse either to concede or exi-mue that right, except as to persons actually belonging *o the diplo matic service; on the other hand, all such powers insist upon exercising the right of asyl urn inStates where the law ol nations is not fully acknowledged, respected and obeyed. The President of Paraguay is unde tood to have opposed to Mr. Washburn's proceedings the injurious, and very improbable charge, personal complicity in insurrection and treason. The correspondence, however, has not vet reached the United estates. Dr. Wash burn, in connection with this controversy, represents that two United States citizens attached to the legation were arbitrarily seized at his side, when leaving the capi tal of Paraguay, committed to prison, and there subjected to torture for the purpose of procuring confessions of their own criminality and testimony to support the SUrgsiitfeDt'# accoentiousagati.Ht the U nUed B*STStes in!nl«ter. Mr. McMahon, the newly appointed min ister to Paraguay, having reached the Ua- Platte, lias been instructed to proceed, without delay, to Asumcian, there to in vestigate the whole subject. The Hear Admiral commanding the U. 8. .South Atlantic Squadron lias been directed to attend tiie uew minister with a proper naval force to sustain such just demands as the oeeawon may require, and to vindicate the rights of the United Strte# citizens referred to, and of any oth er# who may be exposed to danger in the i theatre of war. With these exceptions, friendly relation# have been maintained between the United Htates and Brazil and Paraguay. Our relations during the past i year with Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Chili j I have been especially friendly and cordial Spain and the Republics of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador have expressed their will- ! ingness to accept the mediation of the United States for ttie termination of j the war upon the South' Pacific coast. (Jhtli has not finally declared upon the ' question. In the meantime the conflict ! t ha® practically exhausted, itself, since no belligerent or hostile movement lias been i made by either party during the last two years, and there are no indications of a present purpose to r»sume hostilities on either side. Great Britain and France have cordially utix+uii&i our nroxtutilw**' -nr v.ryjs,; 7T , <n,lmopu» that it may soon be ccepted Up all the belligerents, and Jead toa secure establish roent of peace and friendly relations be tween the Spanish American Republics of the Pacific, and Spain—a result which would be attended with common benefits to the belligerents, and much advantage toail commercial nations. I communicate, for the consideration of Con gress, a corn -pondenee which hows that the Bolivian Republic has establishedtheextrerncly liberal principle of receiving into us citizenship any citizen of the Unijed States, or of any other of the American republics, upon the biinpie condition of voluntary legistrv. The corre spondence, herewith submitted, will be found painfully replete with accounts of the ruin and wretchedness produced by recent earthquakes, of&nparaleled severity, in the Republics of Peru. Kcuuador and Bolivia. The diplomatic agents and naval officers of the I'nited Slates, who were present in these countries at the time of these disasters, furnished all the relief in their power to the sufferers, and were promptly re warded with grateful and thouching acknowl edgments by the Congress of Peru. An appeal to the charily of our teiiow-eiuzeiis has been answered by much liberality. In this connection I submit au appeal which has been made b.y the Swiss Re public, whose Government and institu tions are kindred to our own, in behalf of its inhabitants, wh > are suffering extreme , destitution, produced by recent inunda tions. Our relations with Mexico during the ; year have been marked by an increasing i growth of mutual confidence. The Mexi can Government has not yet, acted upon the three treaties celebrated here la-t sum mer—fur establishing the rights of na'u-i raliz ! citizen!- upon a iibeiai and just ba j sis; for regulating Consular newer* ; and for the adjustment of mutual claims. Alt commercial nations, as well as ail friends of republican institutions, Lave , occasion tc iegret the frequent local dislur- t bailees which occur in some of the consti- j tuted rttates of Colombia Nothing tvs ’ occurred, however, to affect the harmony i ftiid cordial friendship which have fur several y-ars exis'ed between that youth ful and vigorous Republic and our own. Negotiations are pending wiiii a view to the survey and construction of a ship canal across > the Isthmus of Darien, under the auspices of the Irnitvd1 r nitvd States. 1 hope to be able to sub- j mit the results of that negotiation to the Senate 1 during its present session. The very liberal i treaty which was entered into last year by the ! United .Slates and Nieurauga, bus been ratified by the latter republic. Costa Rica, with the earnestness of a sincerely friendly neighbor, solicits a reciprocity of trade, which i com mend to the consideration of Congress. The Convention Bert \ ore created by a treaty between the I up •* t in ,* r%G r » for the • yaX jjgt t: • -*• , irT- JL-T deci.-:ioii3 have IT go received sviUi iv partmeutof Btate. I’be heretofore reeeg d zed G vernnieist: of the United .State® of Venezuela nas betn substituted for a Provisional Government. Having been instituted under circumstances which promise durability, if has been formally r cognized. I have beeu reluctantly obliged to a>k explanation and satisfaction fi r national injuries committed by the President of Haiti. The political and social condition of the Republics of Hayti arid St. Domingo and the other West In dies, except the Sp&ui.-h lid ads of Cuba and Porto Rico, has been followed by a profound popular correction of the right fulness of republican institutions, and an intense desire to secure them. The at tempt, however, to establish Republics there, encountered many obstacles, most of which may be supposed to result from long indulged iiabits, of colonial supine ness and dependence upon European mo narchical powers. While the United States have, on all oc casions, professed a decided unwillingness that any part of this Continent, or of its adjacent island®, shall be made a theatre fi r anew establishment of mouatcfaual power, too little has oeen done by us, on the other baud, toattach thecommunities | by which we are surrounded to our own country, or to lend even amoral support j to the efforts they are so resolutely and so constantly making to secure republican institutions for themselves. It is indeed a question of grave consideration whether our recent and present “sample is not cal culated to "heck the growth and expan sion of free principles, and make these communities distiust, if not dread, a gov ernment which, at will, consigns to mili j tary dominion States that are integral , parts of our Federal Union, and whileready | to resist any attempts by other nations to \ extend to this hemisphere the runuarchi- I cal institutions of Europe, assumes to es tablish over a large portion of its people a rule more absolute, harsh and tyrannical than any kuowu to civilized powers. The acquisition of Alaska was made with the view of extending national jurisdiction and republican principles in the Ameri can hemisphere. Believing that a further step could be taken in the same direction, 1 la*t year entered into a treaty with the King of Denmark, for the purchase of the islands of tit. Thomas and Ht. John, on the best terms then attainable, aud with the ex press consent of the people of these islands. This treaty still remains under considera tion in the Senate. Anew convention has been entered into with Denmark, enlarg ing the time lixed for final ratification of the original treaty. Comprehensive na tional policy would seem to sanction the acquisition and incorporation into our federal Union of the several adja cent continental and insular com munities as speedily as it can he done peacefully, lawfully, and without any vio lation of national justice, faith 0.1 honor. Foreign possession or control of ihe*e communities has hitherto hindered the growth and impaired the influence of the United •States. Chronic revolution and anarchy there would bo equally injudi cious Each one of them, when tirmlv establish'd as an independent republic, or when incorporated into the United Slates, would be anew source of strength and power. Cou orming my administration to these principles, I have on no occasion lent support oi> toleration to unlawful ex peditiona set on foot "upon five plea of republican propugaudisni or of national extension or aggrandizement. The necessity, however, of repressing such unlawful movements, clearly indi cates the duty which rests upon us of adopting our legislative • to the new circumstances of a ueciin ■» of European monarchies' sower and influence, and the increase of A me. can republican ideas, in- 1 lerests and sympathies. It cannot be long before it will become necessary for j this Govenroent to lend acme affective aid to the solution of the political aud so cial problems which are continually kept before the world by the two republics of the island of St. Domingo, and which are now disclosing themselves more i«ttnclly than heretofore in the island of Cuba. The subject is brought to your consideration 1 with all the more earnestness because i am sat isfied that the time bus arrived when even to direct a proceeding as a proposition for an an | novation of the two republics of the island of ! St. Domingo would not only receive the con -1 sent of the people interested, but would also ; give satisfaction to ail other foreign nations, j I am aware that upon the question of further extending our possessions it is apprehended by Y OU. LX-, NO. 39. i «Mf*di«t «mv fnHHdit system" chrtho* «it*seKg : fully be applied to an area mare extended th»r. I our continent, but tlie conviction is rapi ily I gaining ground in the American cind fine i with the increased facilities for urteren’nne-ni J cation b* tween all portions off the e»"}i. the | principles of free government, •<*.• ..on-ied in our Constitution, if fni'hf i. v ijaintahied and carried out. would prove off®' ilicieiit • 'rbngtli and breadth to comprehend within th ir ®? ice and influence the civilized cations of the world. The attention of the Senate anil of t mgress is again respectfully invited to tec treaty fir the establishment of commercial reciprocity with the Uawaian kingdom, entered into last year. It is already tanned by that government. Che attitude of the United States t ». arils these islands is not very <Tiff rent from that in which they stand towards the West Indies. T fy. known aud felt by the Hawaian governmer end peo ple that their guverruneci. usd ins! a lions are feeble and precarion.- ; that the In:.- laics, being so near a neighbor, would he un u ling to see th>- islands pass under foreign control. Their prosperity is cOßtiiwal y dbturued by ex pecUUoua aud aiarißs of .lu/iiendiy political proceedings, as well from the United Malt:, as from other foreign power®. A reciprocity treaty, while it Could not miu erratic dimiMsh the frve nues of the United States, w ould bea guaranty of the good wild and forbearance ol'ali nations, until the,people of the islands shallot' them selves, at no distant'day, voluntarily apply for admission into the Union. 'Tam* iiituin*r.»r of ha* acceedc<» to ■ui, •ivmiy ia^. for tbe security of tr c ? marks in cue interest of manufactui -rs. I have Invited his attention to the Importance of estab lishing now, while it seems easy* and prac ticable, a fair and equal regulation of the vast fisheries belonging to the two uatioiis in tbe waters of {be North Pacific Ocean. The two treaties between theUnitedStates ami Italy for the regulation of Consti far powers aud tiro extradition of enoiinais, negotiated and ratified here during the last session of Congress, have been accept ed and confirmed by the Italian Govern ment. A liberal consular convention which has been negotiated with Belgium will be submitted to the Senate, Tbe very im portant treaties which were negotiated be tween the United State® and North Ger many and J.avaria for tbe « culation of the rights of-naturalized citizens, have been duiy ratified aud exchanged, aud similar treaties have been ente-ed iuto with the kingdom® of feelginra am! YVur temburg. and with the grand duchies of Baden aud H“®se .Darmstadt. Ilnpt soon to be able to submit equally satisfactory negotiations of the same character now in the course of nego iation with the respec tive Governments of Spain, Italy, and the Ottoman territories. Examination of claim® against the Uni ted State-bythe Hudson Bay ompany, and the Pugii’s Sound Agricuilu al Com pany, on account of certain possessory rights iu thectateof Oiegou aud ieuitory of Washington, alleged by these comp ,® nice in virt ic of provisions of the treaty between tfie United States and Great BritaiD, of June loth, ]%<>, has been dili gently prosecuted under the direCiiOß of tiie joint interna tuna! eemm.-aion, to which they were sab niited for adjudica tion by treaty between the two govern ment®, of July Ist. lhtkt, and will, it is ex pected, be concluded at an early day, , No practical regular,-.u concern mg colo nial trade and (he fisheries can be cm om plished by treaty between the United States ami Great Britain until ( digress shall have expressed ineir jndgmeet con cerning tiie principle® invoived. Three other questions, however, between tbe United States and Ur-.c. Britai « remain open for adjustment. These ar» the mutual rights of naturalized citizens, the boundary question, i; \./lviug ti e t'tle to the island of ®an Juan, in the Pacific const, and m tap,! claims arising since the year ISiVJ of the citizens and ‘abject* of the i ■' ' iv governments. Negotiations upon these sub ject-: are pending, and 1 am not without hope of being abie to lav before th» Senate, lor its a*i Ti: ; tocoG calc, -ted to bring to an end these justly .-a&citßuzanu loug cxtamig cogu-. ■ ,—• ■ .Vi e~ -rirtr-w.a"%t<-®~®- -m r—- . -'‘£ Ac-w Oovt - t lent upon The ft»!c and ansijfcioa.s treaty iiich wax recent!, e. i hrated n i»h i ' plenipofyntiftrieS af lhis capital. * Japan remains s. theatre cf civil war, marked by religious incident.® aud jmlit • cal severities peculiar to tba, long isolated Empire. Tbe Executive has hitherto maintained strut neutrality among the belligerent®, and acknowledge* with plea sure that it baa tieen frankly and fully sustained in that course by io> riiigbten ed cuacurr nce aud co-opera! h; u ot the other treaty powers, monely, Great Bri tain, Franc'.-, tbe Netberlam!®, Ncrfh'fGer many, and italy. Spain having leeeutly undergone a rev® olutiou marked by exiruordu ary unanim ity and preservation oT order, the provf eional government estnblisl ed at Madrid has been recognised, and the friendly in tercourse wuicb lias soiling happily exist ed between the two countries remains un changed. I renew the ‘recommendation contained in n>v communication to Con gress, dated isth July last, a copy of which accompanies this message, that the judgment of the people should be taken on the propriety of ®o amending the Federal Constitution, that it shall piovide. First: For an election of President aud Vice-President hy a direct vote of the people, instead of through the atreuey of electors, and making tLem in eligible for re-election to a second terra. Second : Fora distinct designation of tbe person who shall discharge the duties of President in the event of a vacancy in that office by tbe death, resignation or removal of both President and \ ic« President, and for the election of Sena tors of the United states direct!y by ihe people of tbe several trtates. inxteaii of by . the Legislature®. Fourth, r :!n- . uit-i --tion to a period of years of the term® of Federal J udges. Profoundly impressed with the propriety i of makiug .these Important modifies .on® iu the Constitution, I re-peetfully sub-nit them for the early and mature considera tion of Congress. We should as far us possible remove all pretext for violation of the organic law by remedying such imperfection® a® time nd experience may develope, ever remember ing that the Constitution, woieh at my time exists, until changed by an explicit aud authentic ac: of the whole pc r p e. is sacredly obliga’ory upon all In the performance of a doty imp *ed upon me by the Constitution. 1 lave communicated to Congres- into, muiii • of tiie state of the Union, aud recommenced for their consideration such men- 11 res have seemed to me neces-arv and expe dient. If carried info effect, they wiil hasten the accomplish men t of the gi-at and beneficent purposes for which the Constitution was •. dained and which it coniprehe iv v si: ;-s were, to form a more perfect I cion, ectan’ish jn=tice, insure tranquility, provide for the common-de fence, promote the general welfare, aud secure the blessings of liberty to oun aua .our posterity. In Congo- - arc v. -•• and all Itda tive powers, and upon them devolves the respon sibility, as well for framing unwise and exces sive laws, us for neglecting to devie auu auupt measures absolutely, demanded by the wain ? ot the country. Let us earnestly hope that before the expiration of our respective term* of ser vice, now rapidlv draw ing to a cl i-c. aa all-wise Providence will .-<> guide mir coun sels as to strengthen and prt.-cive the Federal Union, inspire reverence for the , Constitution, restore prosperity and ha; - pi ness to our whole people, aid promote on earth peace, good will toward all men. Andrew Johnson. —The town of Greenbrier, West Vir ginia which has a population ol twfc.ve hundred, only polled m the recent election eight votes. All the rest are disfranchised, aud under the Constitution forced upon that State by bayonets, they never can be come voters. There are Twenty ilve thous and in the State in the s.uue ‘ Umriiou. They are required to pay taxes, r-uaie and National, but are not allowed to vote, This •s Radicalism. - One hundred and two rats--, 1x 1 ly one bushel—were kiile i by a . . 111 tiv and ati 1•. me Bloomington, Iff-. ree * n l - ' of twenty minutes’ trine. ' —B. B. DoGrattenried, been electee Clerk, and N. G. Hammond, Reporter of the Supreme Court.