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CONSTITUTIONALIST.
atjgujsta. c*a.
TUESDAY MORNING, DEO. 7,1869
THE MESSAGE.
From the telegraphic report of Mr.
Grant's message, wc do unhesitatingly
pronounce it a clumsy and disjointed docu
ment, in perfect keeping with the bluntness
of the individual who penned it, but un
worthy of the Executive of a great people.
The P. U. S. is especially hard on Georgia,
and, with a zealotry that does not rise
above the narrowness of the partisan, he
puts a wrong construction on . the expul
sion of the negro members, so-called, of our
Legislature, and suggests a course which
will cause chaos to teign again. Well, let
Congress drive ahead, if It should so elect,
with its mongrelism and its teat-oath. The
imposition will come from them ; the dis
grace will not be ours. In a very short
time we shall probably be called upon to
endure fresh trials—trials that will test our
manhood—but as we are firm and true and
strong in the right, so shall we emerge, be
fore many years, more glorious and more
puissant than ever, and give these tyrants
a taste of the cup they have so freely com
mended to our lips Congress can give us
much trouble, but It cannot make us slaves
without our consent and co-operation.
THE MEETING OF CONGRESS.
Congress met on yesterday. > To us in
Georgia this is a matter of some concern,
because we have been threatened with a
fresh dose of the nostrums peculiar to the
Radical majority of that body. That Con
gress will essay to “ harmonize " Georgia
with what it calls the “ progress of the
day,” we fully anticipate; but whether
Congress will have a lovely and tranquil
time, in the effort to do so, is auother mat
ter. The Currency question is more apt to
bother the Radicals than the Georgia ques
tion. They havt likewise to answer to the
people for a decline of Araerieau Commerce
from 5 500,000 tons in 1851 to 4,800,000 in
iB6O. Meanwhile “ effete” England has in
creased her tonnage to 7,300,000. Beside this
there is not an ocean steamer wholly owned
in America running between this country
and Europe, and our foreign commerce is
almost wholly monopolized by strangers.
Then the Tariff is an .eyc-sore to many, and
a powerful lobby will operate for its modifi
cation, while a clique equally influential
will engineer for a retention in its present
shape. 80, although we may look fora
recurrence of the effort at oppressive legis
lation, we can likewise anticipate that the
attempt to throttle this State will not be
accompanied by that facility which is popu
larly known as “ rolling off a log." We
sincerely trust, for the sake of the public
weal, that Congress will be satisfied to let
Georgia alone.' But, in case we are to be
again badgered and brow beaten, let us
learn to endure a temporary wrong rather
than, for an uncertain and treacherous
price, brand ourselves with eternal infamy.
Georgia may as well, first as last, under
stand that the ultimate of concession to
Congressional injustice is a surrender to
Radicalism and a base betrayal of whatever
is left of civil liberty. We dare avow that a
large majority of our people prefer the
alternative of endurance ; but there may be
many poor creatures in membership with
the'Legislature who love nine dollars a day
better than Georgia and her good name.
Sumner. —The World’# critic has been
listening to Sumner’s lecture on Cast#.
He thus, after the manner of guano tasters,
analyzes the admirable ChaWLB :
St. Jerome 8
Tie Tocqueville 7
Erasruno.. 16
Humboldt, A. v0n..... 6
*Eiieaa hliviuß 6
Vlnto ...10
Laplace 3
Pope 2
Dee Garten 6
Strabo 6
Humboldt, W. v0n.... 6
Newton 1
Kant 4
«hak»j> are 6
f>
■The B hie 3
Caa-a’a Comm iitartes. ft
Pritchard.............. 2
Homer ... 1
Mft'Ninlay 4
To'a! - «6
Leaving a melancholy residuum of pure .Sumner. 6
•Ornnd total 100
In spite of this, the man is acknowledged
to have a wonderful voice, an imposing de
portment, and a store of book knowledge.
The critic adds . “ The wonder, which has
“ puzzled so many people who have only
“ read him, diminishes when one has heard
“ him. For he is really eloquent. The uo
“ tlon of Sumner's indorsing Kant is
“ sonny—on paper; but when you come to
“ hear him quote sonorously the conclud
“ ing words of the ‘ Critique of Pure Rea
“ son,’ and then add emphatically, and t
“ from his boots, ‘ And purrurmit me to
“ say, my furriends, that the gurreat Ger
“ man feelawsapber was URRIGHT,’ you do
“ really feel, for the moment, that Sumner
“ has added weight to. Kant.” 1
Funereal Jokes.— The New York Sun
thus describes an incident occurring at the
autopsy of Richardson :
“ During the examination the surgeons
worked unconcernedly, and three of them
smoked incessantly. They were heartless,
and laughed and joked immoderately. The
weight of .Air. Richardson’s brain astonish
ed them. His cranium was found to be
unusually thick, upon which Dr. Sayre
said: ‘McFarland must have known that
Richardson had a thick skull, else he would
have shot him In the hekd.’ ”
That’s bad, no doubt; but Beecher’s
marriage mummery was worse.
Fashionable Profanities.— I The New
York Episcopalian Indignantly comments
upon such paragraphs as this:
•* St. Church will soon be thrown
open for a grand wedding, at which twelve
beautiful young ladie6 are to officiate as
bridesmaids, In costumes imported from
Paris.” ’
Rehearsing the marriage ceremony ought
to come la fora share of clerical denunci
ation. Some of the Rev. clergy oondemu
theatrical spectacles, but permit ceremonies
•qaally sensational to take place In the
house of prayer.
Snecje iPAYMEKTS—We are glad to see
that the Loulsvllle Courier-Journal endorses
our views regarding the proper way of re
turning to solid values, through a repeal of
the law taxing the issues of Stafe Banks
ten per cent, and leaving to the people of
each State the regulation of their own
banking system.
Look Out, Ladies.—A French chemist
has discovered that a dress made of green
tarlatan contained by weight no less than
391.4 grammes of arsenic of copper (the
green coloring substance,) equivalent to
more than half a pound of arsenic. It is
almost needless to add that the person who
made the dress was poisoned.
Changes of Climate. —lt is now said
that the Pacific Railroad is working
changes in the climate of the plains, caus
ing an abundance of rain. to fall where
continuous droughts prevailed. This ex
traordinary phenomenon, If true, is thought
to be produced by a better equilibrium of
electrical currents.
McFarland. —The Louisville Courier-
Journal hopes McFarland will be hung.
If the JourhaCs request is considered, we
suggest that Ward Beecher be swung off
at the rope’s end to keep McFarland com
pany.
Multitudinous. —Commissioner Delano
has six thousand subordinates reporting to
him. //
Dry Goods —Dry goods in New York
hare declined ill price in consequence of
the decline in gold.
“ GutfXFERCHA Gobbler” is the latest
phrase whereby to designate tough turkey.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.
Washington, December 6.
To thi Senate and House oj Representatives :
In coming.before you for the first time,
as the Olref Magistrate of this great na
tion. it is with gratitude to the Giver of All
Good for the many benefits we enjoy. We
are blessed with peace at home, without
entangling alliances abroad to forebode
trouble. With territory unsurpassed in
fertility, of area equal to the abundant sup
port of five hundred millions of p:ople,
abounding In every variety of useful min
eral in quantity sufficient to supply the
world for generations; exuberant crops,
variety of climate, adapted to the produc
tion of every species of earth’s riches, suit
ed to the habits, tastes and requirements of
every living thing. A population of 40,000,-
000 of free people, speaking one language;
facilities for every mortal to acquire educa
tion ; institutions, closing to none the ave
nues to fame or any blessing of fortune
that may be coveted; freedom of pulpit,
press and school; revenue flowing into the
national treasury beyond the requirements
of the Government. Happily, harmony is
being rapidly restored within our own
borders; manufactures hitherto unknown in
our country are springing up in all sections,
Droducing a degree of national indepen
dence unequalled by any other power.—
These blessings, and countless others, are
entrusted to your care and mine for safe
keeping for the brief period of our tenure
of office. In a short time we must, each
of us, return to the ranks of the people
who have conferred our honors and account
to them for our stewardship. I earnestly
desire that neither you nor I may be con-
demned by a free, enlightened constituency,
uor by our own consciences. Emerging
from a rebellion of gigantic magnitude
aided as it was by the sympathies and as
sistance.of nations with which we were at
peace—eleven States of the Union were,
four years ago, left without legal State gov
ernments ; a national debt had been con-,
traded ; American commerce was al
most driven from the seas; the indus
try of one half of the country had been
taken from the coutrol of the capitalists
and placed where all labor rightfully be
longs, in the keeping of the laborer. The
work of restoring the State governments
loyal to the Union, of protecting and fos
tering free labor and providing the menus
lor paying Interest on the public debt has
received ample attention from Congress,
although your efforts have not met with
that success in all particulars that might
have been desired ; yet, on the whole, they
have been more successful than could have
been reason ibly anticipated. Seven States
which passed the ordinance of secession
have been fully restored to their places in
the Union. The eighth, Georgia, held an
election, at which she ratified her constitu
tion, republican in form, elected a Gover
nor, members of Congress, a State Legisla
ture, and other officers required. The Gov
ernor was Installed and the Legislature met
and performed all acts then required of them
by the reconstruction acts of Congress.
Subsequently, however, in violation, of the
constitution which they had just ratified,
as since decided by the Supreme CoujMgf
the State, they unseated the
bers lu the Legislature and adujfi
seats some members who arc «
by the third clause of the fourteeuti.®
ment, an article which they thems|®
contributed to ratify. Under then®
stances, I would submit to -
would not be wise, without del®
a law authorizing the Governor®
to convene the members origiun®
to the Legislature, requiring tt®
the oath prescribed by the
acts, and none to be admitted
eligible tinder the third clause ®
teen th amendment. -
The freedmen, under protedQH
they have receiveil, are majrimjj-F;
gress in learning, and
heard of lack
they
labor
The
.1 on !
u w i ,
wj '■ 'lff'r’fv
i m w ■- i?
' • ®
l
! US subject l R®
1 will not now siujßßH
object may be effected, bur, win,
ry, make it the subject of a special mesi®
during the session of Congress. mB
At the March term, Congress, by joint?
resolution, authorized the Execatlve to or
der elections In the States of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas, and to submit to
them constitutions which each had pre
viously framed, and submit constitutions
either ent ire or in separate parts, to be vot
ed upon at the discretion of the Executive.
Under this authority elections were called.
In Virginia the election took place on t .j* |
oth of July, ancl the Governor n xl Lieuten
ant Governor elected have berailed,
The Legislature met, did aIU* n advance
this resolution and by aILA^f 1 , a „ e l er 1
tlon acts of Congress, Ju p ® p ‘ e u2j| WM
all doubtful
in r Senators and Rept , ®
i v admitted to theii
be fully restored to i, Jl®
of States. l^B
Elections were called in Miss®|
Texas, to commence 80th N
days in Mississippi and four days ir$ m , F
The elections bavp taken place', but tuV ie
suit is not known. It is hoped t'/lr 1 •
acts of the Legislatures of these StateJf 10
they meet, will he such a&to recelvf
approval, aud thus closetSflwcrk : ®
structioo. JP’jH
Among the evils growing out of ‘ 1 ’ ■
lion and not yet referred to, is th.,* s exp Jj®§
deemable currency. It is an evif JVJj®
hope will receive your most
tion. It is a duty, and one of
duties of Government, to secure to tP r j®'
a.medium of exchange, of fixed uB
ing ; value, this Implies a return V b
basis and no substitute for it cau i
It should be commenced now, anr e y |®
at the earliest practicable mor , *wJB
sistent with a fair regard to they 1 ' ana B
of the debtor class. Immediate I P ui j* ‘
tlon, if practicable, would not be deslrab J ,
It would compel the debtor class to pay
beyond their contracts the premium In gold
at the date of their purchase, and would
bring bankruptcy aud ruin to thousands.
Fluctuation, however, in paper value of
the measure, of all values gold is detri
mental to the interests of trade ; it makes
the man of business an involuntary gam
bler, for, in all sales where future payment
Is to be madh, bote parties speculate as to
what will be the value of currency to be
paid and received. I earnestly recommend
to you, then, such legislation as will insure
a gradual return to specie payments and
put au immediate stop to the fluctuation
la the value of currency. The methods to
secure the former of these results are
numerous with speculators on political
economy. To secure the latter, I see but
one way, aud that is to authorize the
Treasury to redeem its own paper at a
fixed price whenever presented, and to
withhold from circulation all currency
redeemed until sold again for gold.
The vast resources of the nation, both
developed and undeveloped, ought to
make our credit the best on earth. With
less burden of taxation that the citizen
has eudured for six years past, the entire
public debt could be paid in ten years, but
it is not desirable that the people should be
taxed to pay it in that time. Year by
year the ability to pay increases in rapid
ratio, but the burden of interest ought to
be reduced as rapidly as can be without
violation of contracts. The public debt is
represented in great part by bonds having
from five to twenty, and from ten to forty
years to run, bearing interest at the rate of
’ Six and five per cent., respectively. It is
optional with the Government to pay these
bonds at any period after the expiration of
the least time mentioned upon their face.
The time has already expired when a great
part may be taken up and rapidly approach
ing when all may be. It is believed that
all which are now due may be replaced by
bonds bearing a rate of interest not exceed
ing lour and a half per cent., aud as rapidly
as the remainder become due that they may
be replaced In the same way. To accom
plish this it may be necessary to authorize
interest to be paid at either of three or four
of the money centres of Europe, or by any
Assistant Treasurer of the United States,
at the option of the holder of the bonds. I
suggest this subject for the consideration
of Congress, and also simultaneously with
this the propriety of redeeming our cur
rency, as before suggested, at its market
value at the time the law goes into effect
increasing the rate at which currency will
be bought ami sold from day to day, or
week to week, at same rate of interest as
the Government pays upon its bonds.
The subject Os tariff and internal taxa
tion will necessarily receive your attention.
The revenues of the country are greater
than its requirements, and may with safety
lie reduced; bat as J.be,funding of ifie debt
in a four or four and a" half per ceht. loan
t would reduce ti*e annual current expenses
largely, thus, after funding, justifying a
greater reduction of! taxation than would
be now expedient,. I suggest a postpone
ments the question SrtlTthe next meeting
of Congress. It rqay be advisable to modi
fy taxation in Instances where unjust or
burdensome discriminations are made by
the present law, but a general revision of
the laws regulating this 'subject I recom
mend a postponement for the present. 1
also suggest a renewal of the tax on in
comes, but at reduced rate, say three per
cent., anq this tax to expire in three years.
With the funding of the national debt, as
here suggested, I feel safe in saying that
taxes and revenue from imports may be re
duced safely from sixty millions to eighty
millions per annum at once, and may be
still further reduced from year to year, as
the resources of the country are developed.
The report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury shows the receipts of Government for
the fiscal'year ending June 30th to be
$370,943,747; expenditures, including in
terests, bounties, &c., to be $321,490,597.
The estimates for the ensuing year arc more
favorable to the Government and will no
doubt show-a much larger decrease of the
public debt. The receipts in the Treasury
beyond expendi tares have exceeded the
amount necessary to place to the credit of
the sinking fund as provided by law. To
lock up the surplus in the Treasury and
withhold It from circulation would lead to
such a contraction of currency as to crip
ple trade and seriously affect the prosperity
of the country. Under these circumstances
the Secretary of the Treasury and myself
heartily concurred in the propriety of using
all surplus currency in the Treasury in the
purchase of Government bonds, thus re
ducing the interest bearing indebtedness of
the country, and of submitting to Congress
the question of the disposition to be made
of bonds so purchased. Bonds now held by
the Treasury amount to $75,000,000, in
cluding those belonging to the sinking fund.
I recommend that the whole be placed to
the credit of the sinking fund.
Your attention is respectfully invited to
the recommendation of the Secretary of the
Treasury for the creation of an office of
Commissioner of Customs Revenue• for the
Increase of th.e salary of certain classes of
officials, and substitution of increased na
tional ba#k circulation, to replace out
standing three per cent, certificates, and
most especially to his recommendation for
the repeal of laws allowing shares of fines,
penalties, forfeitures, <fec., to officers of Gov
ernment or to informers. The office of
Commissioner of Internal Revenue is one
of the most arduous and responsible under
the Government. It falls little short of a
Cabinet position in its importance and re
sponsibilities. I would ask for it, therefore,
such legislation as, in your judgment, will
place the office upon a footing of dignity
commensurate with its importance, aud
with the character and qualifications of a
el ass of men required to fill it properly.
As the United States is the freest of all
nations, so too its people sympathize with
all peoples struggling for liberty and self
government; but while so sympathizing, it
1b due to our honor that we should abstain
from enforcing our views upon unwilling
uatioua, and from taking an interested part
without invitation iq quarrels between dif
ferent nations or between governments and
their subjects. Our course should always
be in conformity with strict justice and
law, in international and local law. Such
has been the policy of the Administration
in dealing with questions. For more than
a year a valuable Province of Spain, and a
near neighbor of ours, iu whom all our
people cannot but feel deep interest, has
been struggling for independence and free
dom. The people and Government of the
United States entertain the same warm
feeling and sympathize for the people of
st they
lßttß' c v i
existing contest to a
®rmination. The offer not being accepted
Wy Bpain on the basis which we believed
could be received by Cuba was withdrawn.
It is hoped the good offices of the United
States may yet prove advantageous for a
settlement of this unhappy strife. Mean
while a number ofillegal expeditions against
Cuba have been broken up. It has been
tne endeavor of the administration to exe
cute the neutrality laws, no matter how
■ pleasant the task, raude so by the
f suffering we have endured from a lack of
I like good faith towards us by other nations.
" w J 'SL the United
Whei'eoK, Tlfe lev^arrested
Co'iimn»2s.i , and
the evils of' Wipers
after careful examination
the Legislature violated
which was allow.-.!
1 hi.' (ii-h-v 11 |i.-r-c
V.ruei'cdiiiii-i,” and for
Bi‘- B|" ' forth in flic n-
V'.fcS® ! 'He State in iv
' ■ ci !
® ' 'ion. ha.-.
at the sam
fife.
* fSf 4 y - hJMM
: Br
that most
be cultivated between
the U tilted States and Independent nations
oa this Continent. It may be well worth
cons,dering whether new treaties between
the IT lited States and tfietp may not be
profitably entered into to secure more in
timate relations, friendly, commercial and
otherwise.
An interoceanic canal to connect the
Atlantic and pacific oceans through the
Isthmus of Daricu, is oue in which com
merce is greatly interested. Instructions
have teen given to our Minister to the United
States of Columbia to endeavor to obtain
authority for a survey to determine the
prac.icabil ty of the undertaking.
lu order to comply with the agreement
with the United States as to a mixed com
mission at Lima for the adjustment of
claims, it tecame necessary to send a Com
missioner aud Secretary to Lima.
The gooc offices of the United States to
bring abou .peace between Spain and South
American Republics having been accepted
by Spain, ?eru aud Chili, a Congress has
been invite 1 to be held in Washington dur
ing the present Winter.
A grant las been given to Europeans of
art exclusive right ot transit over the Terri
tory of Nicirauga. to which Costa Rica has
given its cc usent, which. It is alleged, qon
flicts with he vested rights of citizens of
the United States. The Department of
State has now this subject under conside
ration.
The Minister of Peru having made rep
resentation’; that, there was a state of war
between Peru and Spain, and that the Gov
ernment of Spain was constructing in and
near New York thirty gunboats, which
might be used by Spain to relieve her naval
force at Cu n to operate against Peru, or
ders were given to prevent their departure.
No further steps have been taken by the
representative of the Peruvian Government
to prevent the departure of these vessels,
and I, not feeling authorized to detain the
property of a nation with which we are at
peace on mere Executive order, the matter
lias been referred to the courts.
Tlie conduct of the war between the AU,
llqs and the Republic of Paraguay has
made intercourse with that country diffl
cult, and it has been deemed advisable to
withdraw our representative from there.
Towards the close of the last administra
tion, a convention was signed at London
for the settlement of the outstanding
claims between Great Britain and the Uni-,
ted States, which failed to receive the ad
vice and consent of the Senate. Time and
circumstances attending the negotiation
of that treaty were unfavorable to its ac
ceptance by the people of the United States,
and its provisions were wholly inadequate
for a settlement of the grave wrongs sus
tained by this Government in the in
juries resulting to the United States by
reason of the course ‘fdopted by Great
Britain during the war—in increased rates
of Insurance; in diminution of exports and
imports, and other obstructions to domes
tic industry and production 4 in its effect
upon the foreign commerce of the country;
in the decrease and transfer to Great Brit
ain of our commercial marine: in prolonga
tion of war and Increased cost, both in
treasure and in lives, for its suppression—
could uot be adjusted and satisfied as
ordinary commercial Claims* which con
tinually arise between commercial nations,
and yet the convention treated them siuiDly
as such ordinary claims, from which they
differ mpre widely in the grayßy of their
character than in the. magnitude of
their amount. Great eVen as is that
difference, not a word was found
in the treaty, and not an inference
could be drawn from it, to remove the
sense of unfriendliness of the course of
Great Britain in our struggle for existence,
which had so deeply and universally im
pressed itself upon the people of this coun
try. Believing that a convention, thus
misconceived in its scope and inadequate
in its provisions, would not have produced
the nearty, cordial settlement of pending
questions, which alone is consistent with
the relations I desire to have firmly estab
lished between the United States and
Great Britain, I regarded the action of
the Benace, in rejecting the treaty, to
have been wisely taken in the interest
of peace, and as a necessary step in
the direction of a perfect and cordial
friendship between the two countries.
Sensitive people, conscious of their pow
er, are more at ease under a great
wrong wholly unatoned than under the
restraint of a settlement which satisfies
neither their ideas of justice nor their grave
sense of the grievance they have sustained.
The rejection of the treaty was followed by
a state of public feeling, on both sides,
which I thought not favorable to an imme
diate attempt at renewed negotiations. I
accordingly so instructed the Minister of
the United States to Great Britain, and
found that my views, in this regard* were
shared by Her Majesty’s Ministers. I hope
that the time may soon arrive when the
two Governments can approach the solu
tion of this mouentous question with an
appreciation of what is due to the rights,
dignity and honor of each, and with deter
mination not only to remove, the causes of
complaint in the past, but to lay the foun
dation of a broad principle of public law
which will tend to firm and continued peace
and friendship. This is now the only grave
question which the United States has with
any foreign nation.
The questlou of renewing the treaty for
reciprocal trade between the United States
and British Provinces on this continent has
been favorably considered. In conformity
with recommendation to Gougress, a propo
sition to abolish mixed courts for the sup
pression of the slave trade is under negotia
tioq.
It having come to my knowledge that a
corporate company, organized under Brit- |
ish laws, proposed to land upon the shores |
of the United Stitcs, and to operate there >
a submarine Gable, under a concession from !
the Emperor of the French, of an exclusive j
right for twenty years of telegraphic com
munication between the shores of Frauce ;
aud the United States, with the very objec- j
tionable feature of subjecting all messages j
couveyed thereby to the scrutiny and con- j
trol of the French Government, I caused j
the French and British Legatlous at Wash
ington to be made acquainted with the
probable policy of Congress on this sub
ject, as foreshadowed by the bill which
passed the Senate in March last. This
drew from the representatives of the com
pany an agreement to accept, as the basis
of their operations, the provisions of the bill
or such other enactment on the subject hs
might be passed during the approaching
session of Congress; also to usq their in
fluence to secure from the French Govern
ment a modification of their concession to
purafit the landing of any cable belonging
company Incorporated by authority
; y®l*e United States or any State in the
Bcm, aud on their part not to oppose the
of any such cable. In con
of this agreement, I directed the
all opposition by the United
®diug tile cable until the meet
®A?> I regret tosiy that there
O fflcatiou made ic the com -
uor so far as lean learn.
'. to secure one. This
Hiudes capital and citizens
®Kte‘: from competition upon
Hr:' France. I recommend kg-
the rights of the ciU-
Hdlie United States ancl the sovereign
- wffh o nation against such assumption.
BIU fdso endeavor to secure bv negotia
abandonment of the principle of
in ocean telegraphic cables.
political eoedition ot other
Ml-! linatc than <.n, own --0111 c
JT their citv.'.iis income lo the
HH®c. for tU- sole purpose ol be
■h-a’.b.cd. l!a\ '.hi; secured thi ,
tlu-ir native countr\ and re
• ®F\’i!‘iif discio.-imr ih 'ircharm.
|®e, they accept official positions
honor which can only be held
iby 'CTflzens of their native lands; they
journey under passports designating them
as such citizens, and it is only when civil
discord, after perhaps years of quiet, threat
ens their persons or their property, or
when their native State drafts them into
its military service, that their change of
allegiance is known. They reside perma
j tribute nothiag'to 'its revennf^a^VOTiTTmr
duties of citizenship, aud only make them
selves known by a claim of protection. I
have directed the Diplomatic and Consular
officers to scrutinize carefully all such
claims of protection. The citizen of the
United States, whether native or adopted,
who discharges his duty to his country, is
entitled to its complete protection. While
I have a voice in the direction of affairs, I
* ll not consent tq imperil the sacred
an w by conferring it upon fictitious or
t C hT; ’ n t claimants,
n a Rations have been extended to the
G ea “Its of London, Paris, Florence, Ber
.o, Brussels, the Hague, Copenhagen and
e ‘tackholm, to empower theii? represents
atl’:'.'es at Washington to simultaneously en
,-’inio negotiations and conclude with the
e '!?uited States conventions identical in
t form, making uniform regulations as to the
f construction of pans of vessels to be devot
ed to the use of emigrant passengers, as to
the quality nud quantity of food, as to the
—-Gcal treatment of the sick and to the
HOU . I- *< to be observed during the voyage, in
IBpio secure ventilation, to promote
to prevent intrusion and to protect
and providing for the estab-
of tribunals in the several couu
®Kfor enforcing such regulations by sura-
Bnary proegs*.
r Your attention ia respectfully called to
the law regulating the tart# on Russian
hemp, hnd to the question whether to fix
-the charges on Russian hemp higher than
they are fixed upon Manilla. Is it not a
violation of our treaty with Russia, plac
ing her pyodqct© upon the same footlDg
with those of the most favored nations ?
Qur manufactures are increasing with
wonderful rapidity under the encourage
ment which they now receive. With the im
provements in machinery alftady effected
aud still increasing, causing machinery to
take the place of skillfal labor to a large
extent, our Imports of many articles must
fall off largely within a few years. For
tunately, too, manufacturers are uot con
fined to a few localities, as formerly, and it
is to be hoped tflll become more aud more
diffused, making the interest in them equal
In all sections. They give employment and
support tp hundreds of thousands of peo
ple at home atid retain with us the means
which otherwise would be skipped abroad.
The extension of the railroads ip Europe
and the East is bringing into competition
with our agricultural producers like pro
ducts of other countries. Self-interest, if
not self-preservation, therefore, dictates
caution against disturbing any industrial
nterest of the country. It teaches us, also,
the necessity of looking to . other markets
for the sale of our surplus. Our neighbors
south of us, and China and Japan, ghould
receive our special attention. It will be
the endeavor of the Administration to cul
tivate slidh relations with all these nations
as to Entitle Us to their ‘ Confidence and
make it ttyeir interest as well as ours to
establish better commercial Relations.
Through the agency of a more enlighten
ed policy than that heretofore pursued to
wards China, largely due <0 the sagacity
aud effort of one of our owu distinguished
citizens, tha tyorld is about to commence
Targety increased relations pith that popu
lous and hitherto exclusive nation. As the
Uujted States have been th« initiatory na
tion in this new polity, so They should be
the, pjost earnest in showing their good
faith in making it a success. In this con-
advise such legislation as will
forever preclude the ‘enslavement of the
Chinese upon our soil unlertfye name of
Kies, and glso | prevent American vessels
. l prtgaigfng In ' the' 1 trdnsnortatiou of
tq - any country tolerating the sys
tem- T algo recommend that the mission
to CMniu bfi fcatstd tb Ode of the first class.
On my assuming thJe responsible duties
of'Chief Magistrate of the! United State*,
it wag with,the'QonvicUan,that three things
wkre essential 1 to its peace, prosperity and
fullest development: First among theße is
'Btriqt, Integrity in fulfilling! all our obliga
tions., ,Second, to, secure protection to the
parson and property of -tlfh 'citizen of the
United States jn each and fevery portion of
our common country, lytjerever he may
chtpise to move, without reference to origi
nal nationality, religion, cplor or politics,
demanding of him only Obedience to the
laws and proper respect for the rights of
others. Third, a union d£ all the States
tyith equal rights, indestitactible by any
constitutional means. To* secure the first
of these Congress has takfifl two essential
steps: First, ip by join# resolu
tion, that the public debt shall be paid,
principal and interest, in coin; and* sep
?> nd l, by P rovidin g the means for paying.
Providing the means, however, could not
secure the object desired without a
prqper administration of the laws for
the collection of t3ie revenues and an
economical disbursement of them. To
this subject the Administration has most
earnestly addressed itsqß with results,
I hope, satisfactory to the country. There
has been no hesitation in changing officials
in order to secure an efficient execution of
the laws; sometimes, too, where, in a mere
party view, undesirable political results
were likely to follow; nor any hesitation in
sustaining efficient officials against remon
strances wholly political.
It may be well to mention here the em
barrassment. possible to arise from leaving
on the statute books the so-called tenure
of-offlcc acts, and to earnestly recommend
their total repeal. It could not have been
the intention, of the framers of the Constitu
tion when providing that appointments
made by the President should receive the
consent of the Senate, that the latter should
have the power to retain In office persons
placed there by Federal appointments
against the will of the President. The law
is inconsistent with a faithful and efficient
administration of the Government. What
faith can an Executive put !h officials forced
upon him, and those, too, whom he has sus
pended for reason ? How will such officials
be likely to serve an administration which
they know does not trust them?
For the second requisite to our growth and
prosperity, time and a firm but humane ad
ministration of existing laws, amended
from time to time, as they may be ineffect
ive or prove harsh and unnecessary, are
probably all that are required. The third
cannot be attained by special legislation,
but must be regarded as fixed by the Con
stitution itself, and gradually acquiesced
iu by force of public opinion from the foun
dation Os the Government to the present.
The management of the original inhabi
tants of this continent, the Indians, has
been a subject of embarrassmeut and ex
pense, and has been attended with continu
ous robberies, murders aud wars. From
my own experience upon the frontiers
and iti Indian countries; Ido not hold
either legislation or the conduct of the
whites who come most in contact with
the Indians blameless far these hostil
ities. The past,, however, canhot be un
done, and t lie question m ust be met as wo
now find it. I have -Attempted a uew poli
cy towards these wards of the nation (they
cannot be regarded in any other light than
as wards), with fair remits, so far as tried,
and which I hope will be attended ultimate
ly with great success. The Society of
Friends is well known as having succeeded
iu living lu peace with the Indians in the
early settlement of Pennsylvania, while
their white neighbors of other sects, iu
other sections, were constantly embroiled.
They tjre also hqowu for their opposition
to all strife, violence and war, and are gen
erally noted for their strict integrity and
fair dealings. These considerations in
duced me to give the management of a few
reservations of Indians to them, aud throw
the burden of selection of agents upon the
Society itself. The result nas proved most
satisfactory. I. will be found more fully
set forth lu the report, of the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs. For superintendents
and Indian agents not oq the reservations,
officers of the army were selected.—
The reasons for this npo numerous.—’
tv here Indian agents, arc sent there, or
near there, troops must bo sent also. The
agent and the commander of troops are in
dependent of each other, and are subject to
orders from different departments of the
Government. The army officer holds a
position for life, the agent one at the will
of the President. The former is personally
Interested in living in With the
Indians ami iu establishing a permanent
peace, to the end that some portion of his
life may be spent withlu the limits of civil
ized society. The latter has uo su'- 1 '
sonal interest. Another r.-. ' -gfc i
nomic one, and still >VELTY for^Ra
which the Government fficnished,
fleer to secure a faithful dlscuaigo o
In carrying out a given policy. T JTOR g®
lug of railroads and the access ™
given to all the agricultural aud mb
regions of the couutry is vapidly briiy*.
ing civilization into contact with all
the tribes of ludians. No matter what
ought to bo the relations between such
settlements and the Indians, the fact is,
they do not harmonize well, and one or
the other lias to give way iu the end. A
system which looks to the extinction of a
race is too horrible for a nation to adopt
without entailing upon itself the wrath of
all Christendom and engendering in the
citizens a disregard for human life aud the
rights of others dangerous to society. 1
See no substitute for such a system except
in placing all the Indians on it large reser
vation as rapidly as it can be done, and
giving them absolute protection there.—
As soon as they are Pitted for it, they should
lie induced to take their lands in severalty,
and in set up Territorial governments for
their own protection. For full details ou
tills subject, I call your special attention
to the reports of the Secretary of the In
terior and the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs.
The recommendation of the General of
the Army that appropriations tie made for
j'PTCTOTTs JU Bugton, New Yoru, Philadel
i phia, New Orleans and San Francisco, if
! for no other, is concurred in.
I call special attention to the recom
mendation of the Chief of Ordnance for
the sale of the arsenals and lands no long
er of use tq tlje Government; also, to the
recommendation of the Secretary of War,
hat the act prohibiting promotions in the
staff corps of the army be repealed. The
extent of country to be garrisoned, and the
number of military posts to lie occudied, is
the same with a reduced army as with
a large one The nuiqber of staff offi
cers required is more dependent upon the
latter tliup thp former condition.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy,
accompanying this, shows the condition of
the navy when this Administration came
into office an l the changes made since.—
Strenuous efforts have been made to place
as many vessels in commission, or render
them flt for service, if required, as possible,
aud to substitute the sail for steam whilst
cruising, thu* materially reducing the ex
penses of the navy and adding greatly to.
its efficiency. Looking to our
commend u liberal, though not.
policy toward
service.
Ttie report ot o*B 8m
''.mushes a clear JH
dibit "f the c i . % j
I of the flnanclmjjH-;
Ofu ■■ L ' rmeot.
revenues for the yea^BJBBB
dune. 1860, amounted to sl6jM ..
the expenditures to $23,698,
tentiou is respectfully called to the recouT
mcndatlon made by the Postmaster Gener
al for authority to change the rate of corn
rents Wop tq the main trunk railroad lines
for their services In carrying the mails;
for having post route maps execut
ed; for reorganizing and increasing
the efficiency of the special agency
service; for increase of the mail service
on the Pacific; and for establishing mail
service under the flag of the Union
on til a Atlantic; and most especially do I
call your retention to bis recommendation
for the total abolition of the franking priv
ilege. This is an abuse Worn which no one
receives a commensurate advautage. It
reduces the receipts for postal service from
25 to 30 per cent, and largely Increases the
Servian to be performed.
During the year ending the 30th of Sep
tember, 1869. the Patent Office issued 13.762
patents, r.nd its receipts were $686,389,
being $313,926 more than the expenditures.
I would respectfully call your attention
to the recommendation of the Secretary of
the Ii terior for uniting the duties of super
vising the education of freedmen with the
other duties developing upon the Commis
sioner ofElucation.
It It is the desire of Congress to make
t he census, which mtfst be takes dnrjngthe
year 1870, more complete and. perfect than
heretofore. I would suggest early action
upon any plan that may be agreed upon,
as Congress at the last session appointed a
committee to take into consideration such
measures as might be deemed proper in
reference to the census and to report a
plan. I desist from saying more.
I recommend to your favorable conside
ration the claims of the Agricultural Bu
reau for liberal appropriations. In a coun
try so diversified in climate and soil as
ours, and with a population so largely de
'pendent upon agriculture,the benefits that
can be conferred by properly fostering this
bureau are incalculable.
I desire respectfully to call the attention
of Congress to the inadequate salaries of a
number of th,e ( most important officers
of the Government. Ip ttyis message
I will not enumerate them, biit >vill
specify only the Justices of the Su
preme Court. No change has been made
In their salaries for fifteen years. Within
that time the labors of the conrt have
largely Increased, and the expenses of liv
ing bnve at least doubled. During the
same time, Congress has twice found it
necessary to Increase largely the compensa
tion of Its own members, and the duty
which It owes to another department of
the Government deserves, and will un
doubtedly receive, due consideration.
There are many subjects not alluded to
In this Message which might with proprie
ty be introduced, but I abstain, believing
that your patriotism and statesmanship
Will suggest the topics and the legislation
most conducive to the interests of the
whole people. On ray part, I promise a
rigid adherence to the laws and their strict
enforcement. U. S. GRANT.
"Washington, pecember 0, 1809.
Don’t Despair.—As an evidence of what
can be accomplished by patient, persever
ing, determined industry, our young men
are cited to an illustration furnished by
the Detroit Free Press, which paper, speak*
lng of a case in point, says: “Twenty
years ago this man wasn’t worth a cent’ ;
To-day he owns a hand-cart and does haul
ing at thirty cents per load.”
Before Mrs. McFarland “ assimilated ” with
Richardson, she wrote thus of her child:
“ Little Dan.”
Little Dan has eyes of radiant bine,
And hair of a wonderful golden hue—
The roundest, merriest, baby face,
And movements of the airiest grace.
He’s full o( the oddest pranks—
Os merry jests, aud quips and cranks—
Now, he’s a baby, and now a grown man,
And acts bis parts ns a mimic can.
Sometimes, he puts on a princely air—
Tosses back his flowing golden hair-
Assumes a look of regal pride,
And orders his carriage to take a ride.
Auon, he’s a jolly biggar boy—
Kicks little bare feet with shouts of joy—
Scoffs at sorrow and tnrns up his nose,
If yon tell him ,l Earth is a vale of woes.”
Again, he will play a tragic part—
Will tell a tale to break one’s heart—
And before the tears are fairly dried, x
The wae will forget he has ever cried.
At night, in bis flowing night-gown drest,
He turns to a little white-robed priest,
As be says with a wondrous, solemn air,
In his lisping way, au infant prayer.
Oh, a wonderful mimic is little Dan,
And he plays as only an actor can.
And you’ll scarcely believe it, when you’re
told,
Our darling is only just three years old.
The Public Debt.
Washington, December 1,1869.
The following is a statement of the pub
lic debt of the United Btates, as shown by
the books of the Treasury Department to
day :
DEBT BEARING INTEREST IN COIN.
Bonds at 5 per
cem $231,589,300 00
Bonds at 6 per
cent 1,886,848,700 00
DEBT BEARING INTEREST IN
LAWFUL MONET.
Certificates at 8
percent.... $47,195,000 00
Navy pensiou
fund at 3 por
cent 14,000,000 00
Debt or. which interest has
ceased since maturity 4,202,026 04
DEBT BEARING NO IRTEKEST.
Demand aud le
gal tender
notes $356,113,258 60
Fractional cur
rency 38,885,564 03
Certificates of
gold deposit
ed 36.803,940 00
2 605.236,789 82
Interest 43,947,892 97.
Total debt, principal and inte
rest, to date, including cou
pons due uot presented for
payment $2,648,264,682 79
AMOUNT IN THE TREASURY.
Coin ..$105,969,949 77
- 79
fund,
Hti i t cd
■ft coin
c s
■ and
HHlCinic
* Bta 90,416,026 00
vctns'n. and
necTViect ime
rest thereon. 56,480,206 00
Debt, less amount in the,Treas
ury 2,453,559,735 23
Debt, less amount in ! he Treas
ury on the Ist ultimo 2,461,131,189 36
Decrease of debt during the
past month 7,57!,454 13
Decrease of debt siuce March
1,1509 71,903,524 78
The statement of bonds issued to the
Pacific Railroad Companies, iuterest pay
able in lawful money, shows totals as fol
lows: Amount outstanding, $62,625,820;
interest accrued aud uot yet paid, $1,530,-
205 04; iuterest paid by the United States,
$4,984,822 54; interest repaid by trans
portation of mails, &c., $1,886,730 04; bal
ance of iuterest paid by the United States,
$3,148,092 50.
Disbursements op the Treasury.— The
payments by the United States Treasury
during the month of November were as
follows;
Civil and Miscellaneous... ..$3,514,671 04
War Department 5,500,788 79
Navy Department..,, 2,085,289 49
Indians and Pensions. 929,984 44
Total $12,030,733 76
The above does not include the amounts
paid on account of Interest or redemption
of the public debt.
Terrible Times Ahead.
A COLUMN OF MAGNETIC LIGHT FROM THE
SUN STRETCHING EARTHWARD—WHAT MAY
HAPPEN SOMETHING ELSE TJTAT MAY
HAPPEN—FLAME OR FLOOD 1
The sun’s atmosphere, say scientific men,
I excited condition. A column
cht is shooting out further and
the solar sphere, and it i6 now
t forty-five raillious of miles,
ds, it has accomplished half
between us and the sun. The
[uestion is: How long Will it
nishes the rest of the distance
the gigantic chasm between
3 the sun, carrying the globe
e were a gigantic lump of coal
C furnace? This column of
vals Indicates its approach by
flashing and corrnscating with fresh bril
liancy. 80 decided are its effects that two
astronomers, one at London the other at
Oxford, aud neither knowing the expe
riences of the other, supposed that the
dark glass of their telescopes had been
broken or put out of range, so strong was
theflash of golden light upon the vision. It
is predicted that before the end of next year,
this magnetic light will have got near
enough to us to make Its immediate and
actual Influence upon the earth distinctly
felt. It Is announced that, in consequence,*
we may expect to see phenomena that have
uever been seen or known before by the
humau race. If any of pur readers are,
therefore, yet disposed to complain of the
weather and the earthquakes, let them re
member that, by this time next year, they
may have an entire new line of experiences
to explain and endure, in comparison with
which the fitful Winter and rough, rude
Autumn of to-day may seem like a June
morning in Paradise, and the earthquake’s
shock aud the lightning’s storm a placid
rocking In the cradle with a pleasant lulla
by of thunder.
THE SOMETHING ELBE THAT MAY HAPPEN.
A public lecturer in New York recently
argned that In 0,800 years more a grand de
luge would end bis race and make him a
fossil. Astronomy shows that the earth is
oscillating in the angle of its axes to the
sun in periods of 21,000 years. The zones
are undergoing a constant change. Now,
at the North Pole It is growing colder each
year, and at the South Pole warmer. Thus,
an immense accumulation of glaciers or
icebergs at tjie North Pole will result, while
at the South they will not form at all. In
0,800 years the glaciers will have accumu
lated so much that they will suddenly over
balanced the earth. Then the waters of
the sea will rush from the South to the
North and there will be a deluge.
Characteristics.— One of the newspa
pers tells a story of a North Carolinian
who, dike ttye most of his countrymen, was
not willing that anything pertaining to his
property, Lis county or his State should
lose in the estimation of strangers for the
want of an important u&tne. He was hail
ed by a person from the shore of the Roa
noke, while he was floating with the cur
rent in a small flat-boat: M What have you
got in yoor scow, and where are you go
ing?” He jumped up, aud, assu~!"* A
proud bearing, answered: “Stranger, this
vessel is the Rebecca, and I am her cap
taihr Onr cargo is fruit and furniture, and
we are bound for Plymouth and a market.”
“ Wbat sort of furniture ?* “ Hoop poles.”
The North Carolinian does not stand alone
In this respect. A Liverpool match vender
calls hltoself usually »•“ timber merchant
on ft small scale.”
Thirty Danes have landed In Okolona,
Miss. They afe the vanguard of one hun
dred and thirty contracted for by parties
In Chickasaw county.
Mr. LeCanii of the firm of A. Wheelock
& Cos., of Natchez, has some lemons—grown
pa the Mississippi sea shore—which weigh
from two to two and a half pounds, each.
Dr. J. B. Carpenter, who left Memphis a
few months ago, to take a private Judge
ship nnder Satrap Ames, in Tallahatchie
county, Mississippi, has already received
his conge. He was Probate Judge, Assist
ant United states Revenue Assessor and
Registration officer bbuthfi proved too
dirty for even Ames, and has been kicked
into private life.
8Y TELEGRAPH.
[Special to tbe Constitutionalist.
NEW YORK DISPATCHES.
New York, December 6.
Cotton followed Gold, which was not
strengthened, as expected, by the Message
and Treasury report.
The Post’s Washington telegram says the
Georgia Legislature will be reorganized
immediately on the basis of negro member
ship and the test oath.
Raids on contraband whisky stills con
tinue.
The injunction agaiust Fisk and Gould,
the Erie Directors, will be made perpetual.
Willoughby.
(Associated Press Dispatches.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Washington, December 6.— Senate.—
Mr. Morton introduced a bill to recon
struct Georgia.
The credentials of the Virginia Senators
were presented and laid on the table.
Mr. Cameron presented a pntitlon for the
recognition of Cuba, and spoke strongly in
its favor.
Mr. Drake’s bill, restraining the Federal
Courts, was presented.
House. —Mr. Buckly and Mr. Bull, of
Alabama, and Mr. Cox, of New York, were
admitted. Mr. Sherrard and Mr. Dock,
from Alabama, approached the Bar, but
were objected to.
A recess took place to half-past one,
p. m., which prevents receiving the Presi
dent’s Message for noon papers.
WASHINGTON.
Washington, December 5.— A quorum
of both houses is present.
Virginians here say that hopes of early
admission are strengthening.
Washington, December 6—Noon.—A
vigorous fight is pending over private
claims, the contestants holding that repu
diation of these gives a cue to repudiation
of the whole debt.
It is reiterated upon the very best au
thority that the circuit judgeship of the
fifth district has never been officially ten
dered to Durant. He has, therefore, never
decliued the position.
The President recommends the prompt
admission of the Senators and Representa
tives of Virginia, and hopes the results In
Mississippi and Texas have been such as to
meet the approval of Congress. Suggests
renewal of the tax on incomes, but at a re
duced rate, say 3 per cent., and tax to ex
pire In three years. Bays immediate re
sumption of specie payments is not desira
ble, though it should be reached at the
earliest moment consistent with a fair re
gard for the debtor class; recommends such
legislation as will insure a gradual return
to specie paymeuts and end fluctuation in
the value of the currency. To end fluctua’
tlou in currency values, he recommends
granting authority to the Treasury to re
deem its own paper at a fixed price when
ever presented, and to withhold from circu
lation all currency so redeemed until sold
agaiu for gold. The national resources,
developed aud undeveloped, should make
our credit the best iu the world, and the
debt could be paid in ten years; hut it is
not desirable that the people should be
taxed to pay it in that time. The message
says: A* the United States is the freest of
all nations, so, too, its people sympathize
with all people struggling for liberty and
self-government; but while sympathizing,
it is due to our honor that we should re
frain from enforcing our views upon un
willing nations, and from taking an inter
ested part without invitation iu the quar
rels between different nations or between
governments and their subjects. Our
course should strictly conform' with strict
justice aud International and local laws.
Such has been the policy of the Adminis
tration in dealing with these questions.
Regarding Cuba, it says, notwithstanding
the warm sympathy entertained for her
contest, at no time lias it assumed the con
ditions which would show the existence
of a de facto political organization of the
insurgents sufficient to justify a recogni
tion of belligerency. The principle is main
tained, however, that this nation is its own
judge when to accord the rights of bellig
erency, cither to a people struggling CqJ
free themselves from a Government tff4y
believe oppressive or to independent na
tions at war with each other. The United
States have no disposition to interfere with
the existing relations of Spain to her colo
nial possessions.
Washington, December 6—P. M—ln
the House, a resolution was introduced by
Farnsworth, of Illinois, for the immediate
restoration of Virginia. After some skir
mishing, on motion of Stokes, of Tennes
see, the resolution was referred to the Re
construction Committee. This action is
regarded as unfavorable to Virginia.
The cases of Sherrod and Dox, from Ala
bama, were referred to the Committee on
Elections.
A resolution was introduced referring
the credentials of the Mississippi and Vir
ginia members to the Committee on Elec
tions.
In the Senate, Stewart introduced a reso
lution providing for the removal of politi
cal disabilities upon a ratification of the
fifteenth amendment.
A bill to enforce republican government
in Georgia was postponed to Wednesday
next. This bill requires that Georgia shall
ratify the fifteenth amendment. At the
close of the count, Hinders stated that
Georgia’s ratification was necessary to the
adoption of the amendment.
The part of the amendment urging addi
tional legislation for Georgia eilcited ap
plause. The part urging Virginia’s early
admission was received in silence.
It is apprehended that the Southern Con
servatives have been over sanguine.
Boutwell’s views are clearly adopted by
the President’s Message.
Several nominations were sent to the Sen
ate, of those appointed during recess.
VIRGINIA.
Richmond, December s.—Charles H.
Rogers, a traveling collector, was found
robbed and murdered this morning, on the
road, four miles from the city. Ho had
been shot dead in his buggy, and his body
dragged to a thicket and rifled.
Richmond, December 6.~1n the National
Board of Trade u delegate from the Louis
ville Board was received.
The Executive Council recommend Buf
falo, New York, as the next place of meet
ing. V
Hamfltou A. Hill, of Bosion, was elected
Secretary of the Board.
Gen. Canby being present, was invited
within the bar.
The Committee on Improvement of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers reported reso
lutions asking Congress to make appropri
ations for the removal of obstructions to
navigation iu these rivers, especially at the
mouth of the Ohio and Rapids at Rock-
Island and Des Moines, and to provide that
bridges over the Ohio should have one span
four hundred feet long, and bridges over
the Mississippi above the mouth of the
Missouri have one span three hundred feet
long, and, also, elevated so as not to ob
struct navigation, and that the piers of
these bridges be located by Government
engineers. The report was amended so as
to leave out the clause fixing the length of
spans and so as to ask Congress to improve
the harbors of Mobile, Richmond, Savan
bah and Charleston, and then adopted by
ayes 59, to nays 8.
The Committee on the Resumption of
Specie Payment reported resolutions: Ist,
Affirming that the best interests of the
country demand the restoration of a specie
standard of value. 2d, Recommending to
Congress to Issue four per cent, bonds, pay
able In thirty years, with principal and In
terest in gold, which may be exchanged for
greenbacks at par, the greenbacks to be
thus withdrawn until the amount out
standing does not exceed three hundred
millions, and all thus withdrawn to be can
celled. Bd, Authorizing the establishment
of new national banks in those parts of
the country which bavp not Jhefr due pro
portion of sqch banks, to issue notes not to
exceed the amount of legal tenders with
drawn from circulation, nnq in no case to
exceed half of their paid up capital. 4th,
That national banks be required |by law
to retain the coin received for Interest on
bonds deposited, to secure their circulation
::!!! Daymeuc be resumed.
Opdyke, of New York, aH'J Gaatie, of
South Carolina, offered a minority report,
approving the present dnanclal policy of
the Government, and advocating its con
tlnuance. r ' ' 7 • ■■ "
Grobb, of Philadelphia, offered a substi
tute, proposing to work the United States
Treasury with such private capital as mav
be necessary in addition to the Jublio
money- rs a bank chartered for a term of
years Long and general discussion foh
lowed the submission of these propositions.
ALABAMA.
Montgomery, December o.— ln the Lee
islatare, the clay was cohsnmed iu reading
bills a second time.
The city election, for Mayor, CLerk and
Aldermen, passed off quietly, Mayor
Glasscock, the present incumbent (Repnb
ljCan), was re-elected by 010 majority,
Hughes, for Clerk, 711 majority. All the
Aldermen representing the Glasscock ticket
were also elected. Many Conservatives
voted tor Glasscock, and nearly 400 failed
to vote at all. Two negro Aldermen were
eleeted.
r 3 TEXAS.
Galveston, December 4.— Election re
turns come la elowly. The best informa
tion is that Hamilton lias carried Bells,
Walls, McKellau an, Williams comities,
an ttvera ß c majority estimated at
-w.OOO. Davis carries Brazos, Calhoun and
Robertson counties, with an aggregate
majority of 517. Partial returns from Har
ris, Galveston, Travis and Walker conn
ties give Davis small majorities. The in
dications are that Clark (Rad.), is elected
to Congress from the Third District.—
Hynes (Conservative), from the Fourth
District. From the meagre returns re
ceived it is impossible to say how the
State has gone. The telegraph is work
ing badly north of Houston, therefore
there is nothing from that quarter.
Jefferson, December 6.—Bowie, Davies
and Cass counties give Davis 612 majority
Grafter, for Congress, is 1,000 ahead. The
legislative and county officers in Bowie
and Cass are Radical; in Davies, Conser
vative ; all the votes were for the constitu
tion. Half the whites did not vote. Re
ceived the following to-night:
Austin, December 6 .—To Agent Asso
ciated Frees: The constitution is carried
almost unanimously. Hamilton is elected
by a large majority. One-third of the re
gistered voters were not out. The Legisla
ture will ratify the fifteenth amendment.
[Signed] Geo. W. Paschal.
FOREIGN.
Suez, December 6.—The first freighted
vessel through the caual foundered in the
Red Sea. 7 _
MARINE NEWS.
Charleston, December s.—Arrived :
Steamer Magnolia, lYom New York.
Charleston, December 6.—-Arrived;
Schr. A. H. Edwards, Philadelphia; schr.
Elva, Nasau.
Sailed: Brig Joven Antonio, Barcelona;
brig A. Tomento, Barcelona; brig Emesin
da, Barcelona; schr. A. E. Glover, Boston;
schr. Ralph Carlton, Philadelphia; schr
David Wassin, Satllla, Ga.
Savannah, December 6.—Arri ved: Steam
er Gen. Barnes, from New York; bark
Clara Eaton, from Portland; schr. C. E.
Elmer, from Richmond, Va.
Cleared: Bohrs. Virginia, Duboy and M.
J. Russell, for Port Henry, Fla.; brig J. L.
Brown, for Havre.
MARKETS.
London, December 3 Noou.—Consols,
92%- Bonds, 85%, Tallow, 475. Sugar
drtn at 395. 6d.
Liverpool, December 6—Noon.—Cotton
steady ; upland?, 12; Orleans, 12% ; sales,
10,000 bales.
Later. —Cotton quiet.
Paris, December B.— Bourse opened firm.
Rentes, 72f. 70c.
New York, December o—Noon.—Mar
ket strong with upward tendency. Money,
o®7. Exchange— long, 8%; short, 9%. —
Gold, 123%. ’62’s, coupon, 15%; Tennes
sees, ex coupon, 46; new, 40%; Virginias,
ex coupon, 50; new, 54; Loulsianas, old,
67; new, 59 ; Levee 6’s, 59 ; B’s, 78 ; Ala
bama B’s, 95 ; Georgia 6V, 82 ; North Caro
llnas.old, 43%; new, 33% —cent difference.
New YonK, December O—P. M.—Money
steady at 6(87. Sterling, 8%®8%. Gold
active and firmer at 123%. Governments
closed declining. ’B2’s, 15%. Southerns
firm. Stocks declining aud closed unset
tled.
New York, December C—Noou.—Flour
rather more steady. Wheat quiet and firm.
Corn firm. Pork dull; new mess, $32 50.
Lard dull at 19@19%. Cottou steady at
25. Turpentine dull at 44. Rosin quiet at
$2 05®2 07% for stained. Freights quiet.
New York, December C—P. M.—Cotton
shade firmer; sales, 2,000 bales' at 25%.
Flour shade firmer on lower grades with
fair demand. Wheat firm but quiet. Cora
unchanged. Pork quiet. Lard steady.—
Whisky shade firmer. Groceries and Naval
Stores dull. Rosin, $2 08.
Cincinnati, December o. — Corn declin
ing; new, 75; old, 95@98. Mess Pork
drooping at S3O 50@31. Bacon dull; shoul
ders, 14%; sides, 17%518. Lard firm;
kettle, 18%. W-hteky, 97398.
Louisville, December 6.—Provisions
qtliet; Mess Pork, $3150. Bacon—shoul
tiers, 16%; clear sides, 19%; hams, 23.
Lard—tierce, 18)£. Whisky unchanged.
Wilmington, December 6.—Spirits of
Turpentine quiet at 39%@40. Rosin quiet.
Crude Turpentine lower at $1 75@2 80.
Tar steady at $2 05. Cotton steady at 23®
23%.
Mobile, December o.—Cotton—demaud
fair, but closed drooping; sales, 2,000 bales;
middling, 23%@23% ; receipts, 3,082 bales;
exports. 239 bales. f
New Orleans, DecembeFf-CdltoTTrctTvo'
and firmer at 24; ales, 5,500 ; receipts, 4 265
bales ;’exports to Genoa, 1,223 bales. Flour
quiet at $4 75, $5 75. and so@6 25. Corn
scarce ; white, $1 20. Oats, 05. Bran,
$1 16. Hay, $33. Mess Pork—new $33 75 ;
old, $34 25. Bacon jobbing at 17, 30 1 *;,
00%, 21%, and 21%. Lard. 19®20%. Sugar
in good demand ; prime, 12% ; choice, 12%.
Molasses—prime, 64®65 ; choice, 68.
-Wliiskv, $1 12%. Cofftee quiet and firm; fair,
15@15%.; prime,
Sterling, IW%. New York Sight, %@%
premium. '*H.
Savannah, December o.—Cottou market
Arm; middling, 23%; sales, 900 bales; re
ceipt , 2,207 bales; exports, 1,301 bales.
Charleston, December 6.— Cotton dull
and %c. lower; sales, 350 bales • middling,
24%; receipts, 1,981 bales.
Augusta Daily .damet,
Office Daily Constitutionalist, >
Monday, December 0 -P. M. j
FINANCIAL—
HOLD—Baying at 132 and gelling at 125.
SlLVEß—Baying at 120 and gelling at 123.
BONDs—City Boudg, 85.
STOCKS— Georgia Railroad, 108(5110.
COTTON—Good deni iud all day, and prices
ghade better than Siturday. Tbe market closed
quiet and weak on account of unfavorable
foreign news. Middling, 33 cents. Bales, 479
bales. Receipts, 585 bales.
BACON—Fair demand. We quote C. Bides,
32; C. R. Sides, 31% ; B. B. Sides, 21 ; Shoul
ders, 18; Hams, 21@26; Dry Salt Bhoulders,
19 ; Dry Balt C. R. Sides, 20.
CORN—New is beginning to come in freely,
and Is selling at tl 30® 1 85 from depot ; old
scarce at tl 45® 1 50 from depot.
WHEAT—We quote choice white, 51 55;
amber, tl 50; red, |l 45.
FLOUR—City Mills, new, |6 sO®o 00; at
retail, tl $ barrel higher. Coon tty, s#®9,
according to quality.
CORN MEAL —sl 45 at wholesale; tl 60 at
retail.
OATS—bs@|l 25.
PEAS—Scarce at tl 60.
1 i■ i—»
Death of the Superioress of the Con
vent of St. Joseph, in this City.— Mother
Ellen, Superioress of the Convent of St.
Joseph, situated on the uorthwest corner of
Pine and West Broad street, departed this
life, at the Convent at about 0 o’clock on
Friday evening, after suffering nluc days
with pneumonia.
Mother Ellen was born at Yeinjeaux
France, about fifty years ago. Hhc was
educated In the Convcutof Our Lady of
the Sacred Heart, at Pay, and was received
Into the order of Bt. Joseph at the age of
eighteen years. She was the Superioress
of the Convent ol 9t. Joseph; at Ysinjeanx,
her native city, for ten years, and about
two years ago, she, with three others, sisters
of the order, left her native land and cam*
to America to fouud a Convent In the city
of Savannah.
Although in feeble health, and possessed
of limited means, she pursued roe nobis
purpose which induteeq her to leave her
home and cast her lot amongst strangers
in a strange land, with an energy and per
severance which could only be imparted
and sustained by the Divine assistance
of the Great Head of the Christian Church.
A lftdy of education and refinement, she
left a home of ease and luxury, and took
upqn ljerself the most sacred vows to aban
don the pleasures and vanities of the world,
and to devote her whole life to the exclusive
service of tho Redeemer of the world by the
education of youth and briuging them up
“io the nurture and admonition of tha
Lor Savannah Repub'ican.
Heavy Sale of Coal Lands.— lt Is
stated in the Cumberland AUeganian that a
sale of fifteen thousand acres of coal and
mineral !? n 'i in Grant and coun-
Wnr-* Vl—'--' ’
« ...3.mu. nasrasi <?-eu mane, roil
cash, to John L- Crawford, James Boyce
and Samuel J. Maccnbblu, Os Baltimore.
This great tract of coal land is said to be
of the most valuable character, and the
purchasers will open Jhe mines In a short
time. The price paid for the property was
$225,000. The company are building a
most substantial railway to connect with
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and run
ning direct to their mines. The road is so
nearly completed that it is confidently ex
pected that the shipments of the coal'will
begin about the first of January. The
mine presents a wonderful sight; the en
trance is like a vast depot of activity,
while on each side, above and below, the
black diamond sparkles. The vein of coal
is from seventeen to nineteen feet in thick
ness, and ha 4 b«m pronounced of superior
S aa Wty- J?
Nrwo small droves of hogs arrival at
Laurensvllle last week, selling at 1241018
ctnte-gross. Jr* 9