Newspaper Page Text
OLD SERIES, VOL. LXXVI.
(fbronicle & srntintl.
AUO USTJI , Ci A :
WEDKKfiDAT MOKSINb DFXSMBKR 15.
The PmMlfiit’s Message.
President Grant’ -. Message is before the
people of tbo country. For the benefit of
our readers, who Lave neither time Dor
disposition to wade through it, we present
a summary.
The portion of the message whioh most
concerns our people is that wrick relates
to reconstruction in Georgia. The Presi
dent recommends that the Governor be
empowered to call the original Legislature
together and that the negro members be
re-seated. '
The President recommends the prompt
admission of the Senators aod -Representa
tives from Virginia, and expresses the
hope that the result of too electi ms iu
Mississippi aDd Texas has been such as
will meet theap roval of Congress.
He suggests the remoral of the tax on
incomes, but at a reduced rate, say three
per cent , and the tax to expire in three
years.
He says the immediate resumption of
specie payments is not desirable, though
it should be reached at the earliest con
venient moment wjth a (air regard for the
interests of the debtor Class. He recom
mends such legislation as will insure a
gradual return to .specie payments and put
an end to ffuotuntion ia the value of cur
rency. To end the fluctuation in currency
values, he recommends that authority be
giveo to the Treasury to redeem its own
paper at a fixed price whenever presented,
and*to withhold from circulation all cur
rency so redeemed until sold again for
gold Our natiooa! resources, developed
and undeveloped, should make our credit
the best in the world, and the public debt
o mid be paid in ten years, but it is not
desirable that the people should bet: xcd
to pay it iu that time.
The uiessago say >: “As tiie United
States is the freeest (?) ol ail 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 wc should refraiu from enforc
ing views upon unwilling nations and from
taking an interested part without invitation
in the quarrels between different nations,
or between Goverpmcnts and their sub
jects. Our course should siriotly conform
with striot justice and international and
local law- Such has been the policy of
the administration in dealing with these
questions.”
Regarding Cuba the President says : '
“Notwithstanding - the warm sympathy en- j
tertaiued for her, the.contest at no time j
assumed the conditions which would war-i
rant the existence of a de facto political I
organization of the insurgents sufficient to
justify iv recognition of belligerency. The ,
principle is maintained, however, that this
nation is its own judge when to accord the
rights of belligerency either to a people '
struggling to free themselves from a gov- >
ernment they believe oppressive, or to in
dependent nations at war with each other.
The United States have no disposition to 1
interfere with the existing relations of;
Spain to her colonial possessions.”
THE KiTkLUX.
THKItt INTIittVIkW WITH A. RAILROAD
CONDUCTOR.
WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE AND
WHAT THEY SAID.
On yesterday morning, hearing some
wild rumors whispered about the streets
of the city to theeffoot that the uight pas
senger train on the Georgia Railroad had
boon stopped about fifty miles from Au- i
gusta on Sunday uight by a baud ol
armed Ku-klux and searched for the eor- j
puses of loyal individuals, we sought an
interview with Captain Miller, tho con
ductor on tho train in question, for the
purpose of getting the particulars of the I
affair. Through tho courtesoy of Captain i
Miller we have come into possession of all
the details of tho occurrence and publish I
them both in order to refute the usual i
lying telegram whioh will be sent to j
Washington from Atlvnta, and to let our i
readers know the manner in whioh the I
genuine articles of Ku-klux talk, look and
aot. Tho rumor, however, proved to be
false in several respects. Tho Ku-klux
did not burst their cerements and leave
tßeir graves ou Sunday night, nor did
they stop tho train or search it.
On list Saturday night, at a very late;
hour, the up-passenger train from this city !
to Atlanta, reached a regular wood and j
water station, at the fifty-one mile post— j
situated between Camak and Barnett, j
three miles from tho former and eight from
the latter—and stopped. Capt- Miller
left the train, as is his custom, and was
standing near it, lantern in hand, when he '
was approached by three gentlemen, who,
to say tho least of it, were dressed in a
very eccentric inanoor. One of them had
on nondescript pants, a scarlet roundabout,
ornamented withimmeusc tin bullous, and
ou his face he wore a red mask, trimmed
with gray hair and beard—something like
oue ol Dr. Tutt’s hair-lye cuts m the ad
vertising columns of the Chronicle i
Sentinel. The other two were dressed in
suits of black, and wore masks of the
same selemncholy color. Capt. Miller
neither spouted quotations from the ghost
scene iu Hamlet —"Be thou a spirit of
health or gobliu damned,”! &e-, -fee., when
he saw these eccentric strangers, or fell in
to a swoon from tear, bat quietly stood his
ground, aud the following conversation en
sued :
First Ku-klux: — “Go and evening, Copt.
Miller, don't you know us?”
Conductor: —“Can't nay that I do.
What’s your names?”
F. K. A'.:—-“Oh, we were in your com- j
pauy during; the war ami died on the island
below Savannah. ”
Conductor "If that’s the case, what
are you all doing up here?”
F. K. K.: —“Well, you see the last rain 1
loosened the dirt on our graves aod we
concluded to get up and look round a
little.”
Conductor : —“Well, that’s natural, but
say what sort of a country have you bcm
living in recently?”
All the K. K. s in a body and t nth
singular unanimity : —“Damnation hot.”
F. K. A’.:—“ls on board to-
night?’’
Conductor: —"No. ”
Second A'. K.: —“What's ti e use of
asking him ? He’d be afraid to tell us if
he was.
(?o« “Why would Ibo afraid?” i
<S. A' A'“Because Bullock would
have you arrested.”
. Con.:~ “Plague on Bollock ! What do j
I care lor him?”
S. A. A'.—“Didn't he have the Con
ductor, who was on the train at Barnett
when the Ku-klux came last Winter, ar |
rested a* a witness. ”
C on. —“ None of our men have ever*
been arrested, and I tell you the truth
when I say ■ is not on board to
night,”
Just then the whistle blew for the train
to start and one of the Ku-klux remark
ing “Come, boys, that's the signal for us
to go back to our boles,” the three went
off one way while Captain Miller stepping
on his train went another. And this is all
that CaptaiD Miller said to the Ku klux
snd &1| that the Ku klux said to Capt#n
MiUer. .
Job Pristing.*—lf you want Job
Printing done cheap call at the Job Office
of the Chronicle & Sentinel, which is
prepared to do the cheapest aDd best work
in the city of Auguste. Give us a trial.
The Georgia blluatior.
It will be seen, by the synopsis of the
1 President’s Message printed in another
' cebmo, that the President recommends
the immediate passage of a bill by Congress
authorizing the Governor, so called, of the
State-to re-zonveoe the Legislature as
originally returned and require the taking
of the oath required by the Reconstruction
Laws, and to purge that body of all mem
bers disqualified by the 3d section of the
fourteenth article of the Constitution of
the United States.
Stripped of its verbiage this most re
markable proposition is nothing moTe or
less than the reseating of the expelled
negro members.
This is not up to the requirements or
expectations of Bullock and his gang of
robbers and disorganizes. They demand
ed that the reconstruction of the State
should be declared a failure and our people
reman led to a territorial condition, with
Bulloek as Provisional Governor. This
even Grant has not had the hardihood tc
attempt. He evidently seeks to compro
mise the matter with those restless and
unprincipled people, and insists that Con
gress shall say who are and who are not
members of the State Legislature. The
rights of the people under the 'onstitution,
which the President admits a legal one in
strict conformity with the provisions of the
Reconstruction Laws, he totally ignores,
aud demands that CoDgress shall step into
our halls of legislation and decide for us
who are our law-makers.
ff the negroes are to be pat back in their
seats we are glad that it is to be done by
the Radical Congress. We feared that
there was not enough ot manliness and pa
■rotism in the Legislature to withstand the
r'ssure winch was being brought to bear
on them on this subject,and that when that
body conviened they would do voluntarily
just what General Grant proposes to make
them do.
Tnerc are other questions connected with
this recommendation which deserve par
ticular notice but the lateness of the hour
in which we write forbids further com
mient at present.
Ni eds. Reconstruction.
A resolution offereu iu the South Caro
lina Legislature on Thursday last, directing
that the United States flag should be
hoisted on the capitol building was voted
down.
Evidently this negro-scalawag body
needs reconstruction. They are still re
bellious, and the honor aud dignity of the
best Government on the planet demands a
prompt punishment for this brazen faced
disloyalty.
Washington Fortunes.
The Tribune thinks it quite wonderful
that Senators and Representatives in Con
gress who a few years sineo were as poor as
Job’s Turkeys,! an now sport fine carriages,
buy fine horses and live like lords in purple
aud fine linen. Certainly the regular pay
of Congressmen, with the pres<" j, nigh rates
of living, docs not afford the sources of this
accumulated wealth.
The Tribune knows, and ought to have
the frankness to admit it, that for years
past, and particularly since the absence of
Southern members left them without the
possibility of detection and exposure,
Northern members of CoDgress have sought
the position mainly as a money makiug ar
rangement. The pit jobs which are
now parcelled out among the various rings
make a single term sufficient t<s ensure a
large fortune.
When the South regains her representa
tion this wholesale plunder and thieving will
bo brought to a close, and hence Radical
members continue to oppose Southern Re
construction on that account.
Printing Extravagance.
Tho an .mil expenditures for Congres
sional printing run up now to the enor
mous figures of two millions of dollars.
Before the war when the Southern mem
bers, aided by a few honest members from
the North aud West, had the control of
this business, two hundred thousand dol
lars was considered a large sum for this
service.
Orders are passed in both Houses al
most daily curing the session,providing for
immense printing jobs, mainly to put
money in the hands of members’ families
and friends. So great has beou this sys
tem ot waste an extravagance, that
blanks of the several departments of the
Government printed on the finest and
most costly paper, are daily found in use
by hucksters and shop keepers as wrap
ping paper. The more of this printing
which is done the more the profits to
those interested.
Congress will have its attention direct
ed to this matter in the approaching ses
sion by the Southern Democratic mem
bers.
Builock at Work.
Bullock has written a lying letter to the
editor of the New York Times, in which
he seeks to make it appear that loyal peo
ple are not protected in their rights in this
State. Actuated by motives of political
preferment and pecuniary considerations,
he seeks to make capital out of his “loyal
ty” at the expense of the people upon
whom he was forced through fraud and
corruption at the point of the bayonet.
His letter is a tissue of falsehoods, aod he
knows that he ties when he says that “a
maj >rity of the voting population of our
State is Republican.”
From the .You- York Times.
THE GEORGIA IMBROGLIO.
Letter from Governor »lulloek-K enolmion*
of the State Central Committee.
To the Editor of the Kno York Times: j
Having read your admirable artiole in
tbe Times of the Ist inst., under the head
ing oi “The Georgia Imbroglio,” I feel
constrained to inflict upon you this letter,
for the purpose of expressing, in my own
behalf and that of the Republicans of our
State, thanks for the correct and forcible
presentation of our case to the country.
The questions involved in the Georgia
matter are of vital interest to the country
at large in connection with the stability of
the measures adopted by Coess for the
purpose of restoring tbe lai ? rebel States
to loyal relations with the Union, and, as
you aptly say, “the time has come when
Congress must go backward or forward.”
The Congress of the United States or the
rebels of Georgia, led on by Toombs, Hill,
&0., must triumph.
There is no element in the Republican
party of our State of a proscriptive char
acter, or of that class termed “bitter-
enders,” none who desire harsh terms !
imposed upon our opponents, nor do we i
desire military government. In the Con
stitution sunmitted to and adopted by a j
large majority of the people there are no ‘
proscriptive or disfranchising clauses or
test-oath qualifications whatever, and our
treatment of, and propositions to, our po
litical opponents have been of the most
liberal character. But by the mistaken
lenity of the military commander at the \
time the Legislature was organized umler
the Reconstruction acts, opposition mem- j
bers—who were clearly disqualified by the
Reconstruction ’aws and by tbe bill provid- ’
ing for the admission of the State, which >
enacted the disqualifying clause of the 14th
Amendment—were permitted to become
active participants inthelegislativeorgaoi- 1
iatioa, and they thus obtained the power
by which they have been able, practically, j
to nullify the whole reconstruction policy.
All we ask or desire is that Congress shall
provide for the enforcement of its laws
heretofore enacted. We desire no new
legislation, no additional terms, believing
that the proper enforcement of the acts
| already adopted will enable us to main
tain ourselves before our own people.
With any semblance of a fair and free elec
tion, and an honest count of the ballot, a
majority of the voting population of our
state is Republican.
1 enclose a copy of the preamble andres
| dutions adopted by the Executive Com
mittee of the party ob the 24th ulu, which
sets forth very clearly our condition and
cur desires.
Thanking you again for your notice, I
am, very respectfully.
Rufus B. Bullock.
Washington, Thursday, Dec. 2, 1869.
Rome ana Decatur.
The engineers have complet ed the sur
vey of the contemplated road from Rome
to Decatur, Ala., and report that the
length of the line is 125 miles. The grades
are very ligh*, the maximum being only
66 feet to the mile and the curves infre
quent and easy, with few bridges and cul
verts.
This is a very important road and we
hope to be able soon to announce that its
construction is rendered certain, as the
Rjrne Daily announces that it has inform
ation that Northern capitalist! are much
pleased with the project and are disposed
to take the matter in hand.
The ..people of Rome and Northwest
Georgia are anxious that the State should
purchase the short line from Kingston to
Rome and then extend the road West to
Decatur. The matter will probably be
brought before the next Legislature and
should receive the careful consideration of
that body.
Organizing Hell.
Builock and the other advocates of re
constructing reconstruction in Georgia,
who are now working upon Congress, are
strongly in favor of remanding the State
into the hands of the Military with Terry
as Satrap. The aid of the military being
secured,Ballock will call the original Legis
lature together, reseat the negroes and ex
pell all who cannot take the test-oath.
This is one part of the Radical programme.
Tic second is to declare all acts of the
Legislature in reference to reconstruction,
since the unseating of the negroes, null
and void, thereby vacating the Georgia
representation in the United States Sen
ate. The third is to elect Brown and Bul
lock or Blodgett to the offices thus vacated.
With the Legislature organized at the
point of the bayonet, we see how
this infamous work can be essayed, pro
vided Congress is so blinded, by passion
and hate, to the host interests of the State
as to become a party to the infamy.
We have never expected much justice
from the dominant party in Congress, but
if these people knew the evil results cer
tain to accrue from tho carrying into exe
cution of the contemplated schemes of
Bullock and his party, they would forbear
to do that which is certain to result in dis
order, violence and bloodshed. The labor
system of the State, which has scarcely
recovered from the evil effects of past po
litical agitation, would become disorgan
ized to an alarming extent. The various
industries and interests of our people, re
cuperating from the blighting effects of the
war, would again be broken up, anu doubt
and uncertainty and discontent as to the
future would pervade all classes. Not to
put too fine a point on it,Bullock's scheme,
if attempted to be executed, wilf organize a
little heil in this State. Where there is
now order aud peaoe there will be disorder
and violence and bloodshed.
Our people have, since the surrender,
complied in good faith wpth the laws of the
General Government. There may have
been instances of lawlessness, as there are
iu tho so-called “loyal” States,where out
rages are more nutter >us chan in Georgia,
but as a whole our people have been as
peaceable and law-abiding as those of Mas
sachusetts orany otherNew England State.
We have in the past earnestly impulsed
upon our people, of all classes, to bear patient
ly the grievances under which they labored
from the insulting and onerous exactions
of State and Federal officials rather than
by resistance give any cause of complaint.
We have denounced mob-law and violence,
and ceunseled obedience to the law aod
the constituted authorities.
But if this infamous scheme of Bullock’s j
is passed into a law by Congress, empow
ering him to expel all honesty aud re
spectability from the Legislature, and to
organize a militia force of his own selec
tion, our people will then, in self-defence,
be called upon to protect themselves, and
to do it in the speediest and most effective
way possible. If this most unfortunate
complexion of affairs comes about in this
State, Bullock, Blodgett and the other in
cendiaries who are aiding and abetting
them, should be held responsible, for they j
are the prime movers in this most infa
mous of all infamies.
We earnestly hope, however, that there
is sufficient honesty and virtue in the Re
publican party of the North to avert this
calamity from a great State like Georgia,
whose people are peaceable and law-abid
ing, willing and able to afford ample pro
tection to every class and interest, and
anxious for a full restoration to the Union.
Cotlon—Reply to Old Ship pc r.
In our issue of the sth we sought to call '
attention to the fact that a then recent ad- '
vance in Liverpool of over a penny per lb. j
had not caused a corresponding, or, indeed, i
any advance in the home market. This j
extraordinary condition of the cotton trade ;
excited in our mind some anxiety, as we j
had been heretofore under the impression j
that the price of our groat staple depended j
very materially, if not entirely, upon the ■
market price in Liverpool. Wo had noticed, >
and so stated, that a slight decline in the :
latter market wa3 sure to produce a corre
sponding or even greater decline here. It j
was iu this connection, and incidentally, we j
noticed tie difference in the ruling prices
in Liverpool and our own markets. We j
did not pretend to strict accuracy—did not j
give tbe fractions of cents here or there.
Our sole aim was to direct attention to ;
the great difference between the American !
and European markets.
A correspondent writing over the signa
ture of “Old Shipper.” in our issue of
Tuesday, essays to correct our figures. But
I if “Old Shipper” is right he proves too
! much, as we shall presently show. Before,
however, going into an examination of
j “Old Shipper’s” figures we must correct
| him in relation to our own position. We
said that the difference in the price
between Liverpool and Augusta was, j
in round numbers, twelve cents in currency 1
—the price in Augusta being on that day j
(the day we wrote) twenty-three cents and ,
in Liverpool thirty-five cents, making the
entire difference on a bale of cotton from i
fifty to sixty dollars. We did not say that
the Augusta merchant realized that much, I
or that twelve and a quarter pence in
Liverpool were equal to thirty-five cents in !
Augusta. i
Let us see now how far wrong our
figures were. Twelve and a quarter pence i
in gold are equivalent to twenty-four and a
half cents in the same currency. Gold was
quoted, the day we wrote, selling in Au
gusta at twenty-five cents premium. Add 1
i this to the twenty-four and a half cents
and we have thirty and five-eight cents in
, currency, the value of cotton in Liverpool i
To this must be added the premium on I
: exchange, which would make, according to
! the rates of last week, the real [value of ,
■ cotton in our currency in Liverpool thirty- |
i four and three-tenth cents per lb-
Now let “Old flipper’' go over this eal
. dilation and see if it is not approximately ]
correct. Our friend concludes that we
j thought cotton at twelve and one-quarter
pence in Liverpool was worth twenty-five
cents in Augusta. This is the mistake he
i falls into. We stated that twelve and a
i halt peiice in gold were equivalent to
| thirty-five cents in currency with our pres
ent rates of exchange, but upon a close
and strict calculation it seems we were
over the mark a small traction ot a single
; cent in currency.
According to “Old Shipper’s” figures,
the cost of snipping cotton to Liverpool,
from Augusta is fix cents a pound in gold.
This is equal to 7} cents in currency,
|oo>t ot shipmeut alone. Now “Old Ship
per” knows that thousands of bales of cot
ton have been bought and sold in this
country at twenty fixe per cent, let* than be
AUGUSTA. GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 15, 1869
now claims is the actual cost of transporta
tion. How could “Old Shipper” afford
to pay six and a-quarter cents per pound
for cotton —then pay six cents for cost
transportation, and realize a profit on its
sale at 4J and 5 pence in L verpool?
Has not “Old Shipper” seld cotton at
a profit iu Liverpool for less than five
peoce ? Has he not bought cotton here at
less than seven cents and made a profit on
it in Liverpool? If so, how is it that the
cost of shipment now is greater than the
value ol cotton a few years since ?
“Old Shipper” will see that we were
simply attempting to show that the mar
gin between Augusta and Liverpool was
too great, and he must perceive that hie
statement in regard to the cost of trans
portation strengthens our position. It
was this very thing—the exorbitant ex
penses now incurred in the movement
of cotton, that we were condemning. We
desired to show that these could not be
avoided until the currents of trade which
now bear every branch -of commerce
through the strong boxes of Wall street,
should be diverted to their old channels.
We insisted that the remedy for these
enormous taxes iu the way of shipping ex
penses uow exacted by New York capital,
was in direct shipments from Southern
to foreign ports and the establishment of
the sold basis in ail cotton transactions.
These appeared to us the most feasible
and the most effective remedies. “Old
Shipper,” iu the figures which he makes
upon the coat of the present system of
suipiiueurs comes, unintentionally perhaps,
to our aid, and demonstrates that the
p! inter is now paying for the mere ship
ment of the crop more per pound than he
formerly sold his cotton ior. Turs is a
vicious and unjust system, and we believe
that “Old Shipper” himself would hearti
ly co-operate in such movements as wonld
promise relief Irom this condition of affairs.
We repeat— cotton on last Saturday was
worth in Liverpool within a fraction ot
35 cents in our currency. It brought in
Augusta on that day 230. in currency. We
insist that this difference of irom fifty to
sixty dollars a bale is a loss to the planter
and that someone makes what they lose.
■ hese profits may be divided among seve
ral middle men —yet that fact does not
alter the o'her fact that this difference is a
loss at last to the Planter.
AFFAIRsT/IfEW YORK.
Waiting for the Message — Wall Street Dis
counts it —BoutwelTs Trickery Again —
When will the Country be Kid of Him f
The Ups and Downs of the Street —
Horrible Losses by a Prominent Man —
His Untimely Death —Scandal in the
Metropolis—Henry Ward Beeches’ the
Adulterer's Defender —Colfax as a Free j
Love Champion—lndignation of the
People—Outrageous Funeral Sermons
—Enforcing Laws at the Point of the
Bayonet—The North Experiencing
the Beauties of a Soldier’s Adminis
tration, etc., etc.
New York, Dec 4th, 1869.
Editors Chronicle <fc Sentinel ;
The message of President Grant is anx
iously looked for by the community here,
not so much on account of what he will
say in regard to our former relations, but
the policy he and his Secretary, Boutwell,
desire Congress to adopt in regard to the .
finances of the country. This, more than 1
anything else just now, interests the entire
business community. Virtually all large i
transactions in merchandize are deferred
for the time being, and now enterprises are
delayed until tho country knows what all
the talk now heard on all sides about spe
cie payments and its speedy resumption
will amount to when the men having
charge of the administration ot affairs
come to take hold of it. Gen. Grant’s
message was
DISCUSSED IN ADVANCE,
a few days since, when the gold premium
once more broke down, and would have
gone lower, but for the faot that Boutweii
was actually bulling the market. The
Secretary of the Treasury had, as usual,
advertised his semi-weekly sales of gold,
but when the bids came in all below 122,
as was the market price at the time, he
refused to make the awards under 122, in
fact, putting up the price of gold, which
was then 121 •}. The price would have
gone down below 120, but this action of
Mr. Boutwe/l so encouraged the speculators
that they once more succeeded in koeping
it steady up to 122. In the face of the
severe denunciations so often hurled
against our gold brokers, who really have
a sufficient number of sins to answer for,
this jobbing on the part of the very “loyal”
Secretary is regarded a3 a piece of cool im
pudence, only equalled by his refusal to
break the market on the memorable 24th
of September, when instead of 162 he sold
out at 135. Wail street has to put up
with all this trickery and can do no more
than shrug its shoulders and pray for the
good time coming when the finances of the
country do not depend on the ignoranoe,
caprices and trickery of small politicians.
Aside from its regular business, Wail
street is sufficiently worried that no one
earning a decent livelihood outside of it,
will care to become a member of the Stock
Exchange just now. A noted case of the
ups aud downs of that street came up be
fore one of our Coroners yesterday and
THE TRAGIC END OP A BROKER'S LIFE
was shown up in all its details, but owing
to “the respectability” of the family the
matter was hushed up and the particulars
did not reach the newspapers. This Brok
er. S. G. Doughty, was the brother in-law
of no less a man than the Hon. John A.
Griswold, late member of Congress and
the Republican candidate for Goveruor of
this State. He was at one time a well-to
do merchant of Troy, where he amassed
quite a tortuue. Disgusted with “rural
happiness,” he and his family moved
to the great metropolis and Mr.
Doughty took his 1400,000 aDd threw
it and himself into the vortex of
Wall street finances. The $400,000 soon
dwindled away, $200,000 of it was lost in
Erie Stock in one d?y, the remamder in
Western fancy shares. He retired once
more to mercantile life and having again
amassed a SIOO,OOO he returned to Wall
street. But fortune would not smile upon
him. ' He lost his wife a few years since,
and with it all the luck left him also. He
commenced to use morphine from time to
time, and on Thursday afternoon, ho hav
ing failed to makegood his stock contracts,
was "sold out under the rule” at the
stock exchange. That same evening he
again took morphine, but just enough to
make him a fit subject for the Coroner’s
investigation. His friends that came to
see him about 9 o’clock that evening at the
New York Hotel, found him lifeless; still
the Coroner’s jury expressed an opinion
that “deceased came to his death from an
accidental overdose of morphine,” and so
the public has no right to say that John
A Griswold’s brother-in-law committed
suicide. And why should it ? Have we
not scandals enough in our midst just
now ? Look at
THE RICHARDSON SCANDAL
and the horrible revelation* which are
more and more ooming to light now that
the ashes of the great seducer have been
gathered to his fathers. The public and
the Press would probably have let this
matter severely alone and thought no more
of the shooting ot this Tribune editor
by the outraged McFarland than they would
of any of the ordinary sensations that
excite New York for just twenty-four
hours, ready to take up anything new that
might present itself m the line ot scandal.
But here comes forward the great divine i
of the country, Henry Ward Beecher, and
holds up this Richardson as "a pure
man” and this woman Mrs. Mchar
land as “a pure woman,” unites them
against the religion of Christ and against
the laws of the State in the holy bonds of
matrimony, knowing that the divorce in
Indiana has been obtained by fraud and
co'lusion; and there comes the Vice Pres
ident of the United States and throws the
mantle of his popularity and exited
station over these adulterers, and habors
her who is the sole cause and originator of
I all this domestic misery in his own house
hold—and the community is horrified. It
refuses to be silenced either by the eloquent
j words of the great divine or by tbe im
perious position occupied by Mr. Colfax.
It looks deeper and deeper into the mystery
which so many now attempt to veil with the
curtain of oblivion and asks what state of
society is this that not only crops out tn
the abducting of b wife from her husbund s
affections,but that ot a mother from a chil
dren’* home. It asks who are the men,
the two great men of the land, that come
1 out defiantly and oonden the high crimes
: committed here, crimes that sap the
foundations of our society and fiiid apolo
gists in men who are to lead this cation in
the paths of honor and rectitude ? Never
; before has snob a
tirbible indignation
Exigtel in New York city and
i Brooklyn. The newspapers do not
reflect tke odo- tenth part of the
; feeling against Henry Ward Beecher, who
j yesterday stood by the corpse of that so
, ducer and invoked Heaven’s curses on the
; honest parr,of the community that violently
expresses its disgust with all those in any
way connected with the free-love and
Fourierite school, that has been educated by
i the Tribune teachings and now has ooe of
its own advocates shot down lor practically ]
carrying out the principles of that school, j
I But all has not been to and yet. Mc.Farland, j
who now is to be tried for what some peo
ple call murder, has engaged eminent i
counsel. These gentlemen have posses- :
1 sion of a number of letters written by
Richardson, while he was playing his game |
for the seduction of Mc.Fariand’s wife.
These letters will tell the story. They ;
will show that Richardson was only a mem- 1
her of a certain clique, whose very existence |
t ere strikes at the root of all that is moral. (
He speaks of certain prominent men and
ladies too, aye two ladies well known in !
literary circle here, who are aiding him in !
his devilish plot aud who will be** hauled '•
from the apparent obscurity they now
seek, while courts and juries are preparing i
stake hold of a case which must become
its various stages as being developed I
such a cause eelebre that will make the
very Heavens weep for the morality of a
nation that went to slaughter a million
of men because it could not break the cx- j
istcnce of African Slavery in communities !
hundreds aud huudreds of miles away j
from their own impure homes.
BAYONETS FOR ALL.
i It is, however, not only socially, .but
politically that, this Northern people now
I feel the degradation of permitting this fair
i republic to be governed by a party that
has nothing but cant and sophistry for its
I platform, and brutal force its weapon.
Yesterday our good neighbors of Brook
lyn had a taste of that. There is a rather
obnoxious sot of men who will continue to
distill whiskey under the very eyes of the
Commander of the Navy Yard without
paymg therefor taxes to the Government.
In olden times a United States Marshal
with a posse of constables, deputies or
policemen, would have cleaned oat the
whole lot of rebellious tax payer s but un
der our present benighted government it
needed the assistance of two gunboats with
cannons run out and pointed to the non
t x paying district, and two full compa
nies of United States troops to do the
work. It was, in fact, a display such as
I our people are not accustomed to, and the
! result was a state of hostile leeling between
the people and the troops, such as is al
ways heard of in despotic France, but
which now has been transplanted to this
country. Os course the troops were at
tacked by a mob. VVliat couid they ex
pect otherwise ? and were it not for the
good sense of’the ifficer in command, who
compelled his men to forbear and not, to
fire, there would have been a terrible loss
ot life, all owing to the wrongheaded min
ions of the adventurers* who have usurped
our government, and who actually have
destroyed everything but the name ot re
public for this country, which is no longer
■a republic at all. Argus.
>l. ESSAGE
OF
THE PRESIDENT
OF
THE UNITED STATES
TO CONGRESS.
Washington, December 6, p. m.—
Senate and House of Representatives :
In eoming before you for the first time
as the Chief Magistrate of this great
natioo, it is with gratitude to the Giver of
all good for the many benefits we enjoy.
We are blessed with peace at home with
out entangling alliances abroad to f'or
bode trouble. With a territory unsur
passed in fertility of area—equal to the
abundant support of five hundred million of
people.abounding in every variety of useful
mineral in quantity sufficient to supp >rt
tho world for generations, exuberant
crops, variety of climate, adapted to the
production of every species of earth’s
riches, suited t,o the habits, tastes and re
quirements of every living thing, a popu
lation of forty millions of free people speak
ing one language, facilities for every mor
tal to acquire education, institutions clos
ing to uonc the avenues to fame or any
blessing of fortune that may be coveted,
freedom of the pulpit, press and the
school, and revenue flowing into the
National Treasury beyond the require
ments of the Government. Hapnily har
mony is being rapidly restored within our
own borders; manufactures, hitherto un
known in our country, are springing up in
all sections producing a degree of national
independence unequalled by any other
power. These blessings and countless
others -are entrusted to your care and mine
for safe keeping for a brief period oT'our
lODure of office. In a short time we must
each of us return to thp ranks of the peo
ple who have conferred our honors and
account to them for our stewardship. I
earnestly desire that neither you nor I
may be condemned by our free and en
lightened Constitution, nor by our con
sciences.
Emerging from a rebellion of gigantic
magnitude, aided as it was, by the sym
pathies and assistance of nations with
which we were at peace. Eleven States of
of the Union were four years ago left with
out legal State governments. A national \
debt had been contracted. American i
commerce, was almost driven from the j
seas; the industry of one half the
country had been taken from _ the
control of the capitalists and placed i
where .all labor rightfully belongs !
in the keeping of the laborer. The work ,
of restoring the State governments loyal to j
the Union, of protecting and fostering free I
labor, providing means for paying the in
terest on the public debt has received am
ple attention from Congress Although
your efforts have not met with the success '
in all particulars that might have been de
sired, yet on the whole they have been j
more successful than could have been rea
sonably an.icipated. Seven of the States
which passed ordinances of secession have
[ been fully restored to their places in the
; Union. The eight, Georgia, held an dec
i tioD at which she ratified her (’onstitution,
' Republican in form, aDd elected a Govern
\ or, members of Congress, a State Legisla-
I ture and other officers required. The
S Governor was installed, the Legislature
met ami perfoaed all acts then required of
them by ihe Reconstruction lets of Con
gress ; subsequently, however, in violation
of the Constitution which they had just
ratified, as since decided by tbe Supreme
Court of the State, they unseated the
colored members of the Legislature, and
admitted to seats some members ho are
i disqualified by the third clause of the 14th
; Amendment, an article which they them
selves had contributed to ratify. Under
: these circumstances I would submit to you
whether it would not be wise without delay
j to enact a law authorizing the Governor of
, Georgia to convene the members originally
elected to the Legislature, requiring each
! to take the oath prescribed by the Recon
! struction Acts and none to be admitted
who are ineligible under the third clause
of the 14th Amendment.
The Freedmen, under the protection
which they have received, are making
rapid progress in learning, and no com
plaints are heard of lack of industry on
their part where they receive fair remune
ration for their labor.
The means provided for paying the in
terest on the public debt, with all other
expenses of Government, are more than
am rle. *
The loss of our commerce is only the
result ot the late rebellion which has not
received sufficient attention from you. To
:his subject I call your earnest attention.
I will not now suggest plans by which this
object may be effected, but will, if neces
sary, make it the subject of a special mes
sage during the session of Congress.
At- tbe March term, Congress by a joint
resolution authorized the Executive to
order elections in tbe States of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas to submit to them
Constitutions which each had previously
framed, ana submit the Constitutions
ither entire or in separate parts to be
voted upon at the discretion of the Exec
utive. Under this authority elections were
called.
Id the Virginia election that took place
on the 6tb of July, tbe Governor and
Lieutenant Governor elected have been
installed. The Legislature met and did
all required by thi3 resolution and by all
1 the reconstruction acts of Congress and
abstained from all doubtfnl authority. I
recommend that her Senators and Repre
sentatives be promptly admitted to tbeir
seats, and. that tbe State be fully restored
to its place in the family of States.
Elections were called in Mississippi aod
! Texas to commence the 30th of November
—two days in Mississippi and four iD
Texas. The elect ons have taken place
! but the result is not known - It is hoped
that the Legislatures of these States,when
they meet, will be such as to receive your
approval and thus close the work of Re
construction.
Among the evils growing out of the re
bellion and not yet referred to, is that of
an irredeemable currency. It is an evil
which I hope will receive your most earn
est attention. It is a duty and one of the
highest duties of tho Government to se
cure to the citizen a medium of exchange
of fixed and unvarying value. This im
plies a return to a specie basis and
no substitute, for it can be devised
should be commenced cow, and reached
at the earliest practicable moment consist
ent with a fair regard to the interests of
the debtor class. Immediate resumption,
if practicable, would not be desirable; it
would compel the debtor class to pay be
yond their contracts premium in gold at
the date of their purchase and wouid bring
bankruptcy and ruin to thousands. Fluc
tuations, ho a ever, in paper value of the
measure, of al! values gold is detrimental
to the interests of trade. It makes the man
ofbusiness an icvolnutary gambler, for in
all sales where future payment is to be
made both parties speculate as to what
will be the value of currency to be paid and
received. I eirnestly recommend to you,
then, such legislation as will insure a rad
ual return to specie payments and put an
immediate stop to fluctuation in value of
currency. The methods to secure the form
er of these results are numerous. As
speculators ou 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 cur-
rency so redeemed until sold again for gold.
Vast resources of the nation, both develop
ed aod undeveloped, ought to mane our
credit the best on earth. With a less
burden of taxation thau the citizen
has endured for six years past the entire
public debt could be paid iu 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 increase in rapid
ratio,but the burden of interest ought to be
reduced as rapidly as eau be without viola
tion of contract. The public debt is rep
resented in great part by bonds having
from five to twenty and from ten to forty
years to run, bearing interest at rate of six
aud five per cent respectively. It is
opitioaal with the Government to pay
these bonds at any period alter the expira
tion of the least time mentioned upon
their face. The time has already expired
when a great part may be‘taken up and is
rapidly approaching when all may be. It
is believed that all which are now due
may be replaced by bonds bearing the rate
of interest on the note exceeding four and
a half per cent, and as rapidly as the re
mainder become due that they may be re
placed in the same way. To accomplish
this it may be necessary to authorize in
terest to he paid at either of the 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 bond. 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 and sold from day to day or
week to week at the same rate of interest
as toe Government pays upon its bonds.
The subject of the tariff and internal
taxation will necessarily receive your at
tention. The revenues of the country are
greater than its requirements and may,
with safety, be reduced; but the funding
of the debt in four or a four and a half per
cent loan, would reduce the annual current
expenses largely, thus after funding justi
fying a greater reduction of taxation than
would be now‘expedient, I suggest the
postponement of this question until next
meeting of Congress. It may be advisa
ble to modify taxation and tariff in in
stances where unjust or burdensome dis
crimination are made by the present law,
but a general revision of laws regulating
this subject, I recommend a postpone
ment of for the present. I also suggest the
renewal ol tax on incomes but at reduced
rates, say three per cent, and this tax to
ovpire in three years with tho funding of
the national debt as here suggested. I
feel safe in saying that taxes and revenue
from imports may be reduced safely from
sixty to eighty millions per annum at once,
and may be still further reduced from year
to year as th i resources of the country are
developed. The report of the Secretary
of the Treasury shows receipts of the
government lor ts e fiscal year ending June
30th, to be $370,943,747; expenditures,
including interests, bounties, etc., to be
$321,490,597 Estimates lor the ensuing
year are more favorable to the govern
ment, and will no doubt show a much
larger decrease of the public debt. The
receipts in the Treasury beyond expendi
tures have exceeded the amount necessary
to place o the credit of the sinking fund
as provided by law. To lock up the sur
plus in the Treasury and withhold it from
circulation would lead to such a contrac
tion of currency as to cripple trade and
seriously affect the prosperity of the coun
try. Under these circumstances the
Secretary of the/Tresury and myself heartily
concurred in the.propriety of using all the
surplus currency in the Treasury to pur
chase gov rnment bonds, thus relueiDg
the interest bearing indebtedness of the
country, and of submitting to Congress
the question of 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 sioking fund.
Your attention is respectfully mvited to
the recommendations of the Secretary of
the Treasury for the creation of the office
of Commissioner of Customs Revenue and
for the increaso of’ the salary of certain
classes of officials, and substitution of in
creased National bank circulation to re
place outstanding three per cent, certifi
cates, aud most especially to his recom
mendation for a repeal of laws allowing
shares of tines, penalties, forfeitures Ac.,
to officers of the Government or to inform
ers. The office of Commissioner of Internal
Revenue is one us the most arduous and
responsible under the Government. It
falls little short of a Cabinet position in its
importance and responsibilities. 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 and with a character and quali
fications of a class of men required to fill it
properly.
As the United States is the freest of all
nations, so 100, its people tvmpathize
with all people struggling for liberty and
self-government, but while so sympathizing
it is due to our honor that we should ab
stain from enforcing our views upon un- |
willing nations and from taking an interest- |
ed part without invitation, in quarrels j
between different nations or between gov- |
ernments and their subjects. Our cause |
should always be in conformity with strict j
iustice and law in international and local j
law. Such has been the policy of the Ad- j
ministration in dealing with questions for
more than a year. A valuable province of i
SpaiD, and a near neighbor of ours, in |
whom all our people cannot but feel deep j
interest, has been struggling for independ- J
ence and freedom. The people and Gov- j
eminent of the United States entertain |
the same warm feeling and sympathy with 1
the people of Cuba in their pending j
struggle that they manifested through
out the previous struggle between
I Spain and her former ooloniee, in '
| behalf of the latter, but the contest j
i has, at ns time assumed conditions which
amount to war in the sense of international I
law, or which would show the existence of |
ade facto political organization of insur j
gents, sufficient to justify a recognition of t
belligerecpy. Principle is maintained, j
however, that this nation is its own judge :
when to accord rights of belligerency, |
either to a people struggling to free them- !
selves from a government they believe to ,
j be oppressive, or to be aD independent na- ,
! tion at war with each other. The United j
States have no disposition to interfere with j
existing relations of Spain to her colonial j
possessions on this continent. They be- j
j iieve that in dne time Spain and other
i European powers will find it to their inter
! est to terminate those relations and es
tablish their present dependencies as
independent powers. These dependen
j cies are no longer regarded as subject to
transfer from ODe Europeah power to
j another. When the present relation of colo
nies ceases thev are to become independent
powers, exercising the right of choice and
of self-control, and the determination of
i their future condition and relation with
other powers. The United States, in order
Ito put a stop to bloodshed in Cuba and in
the interest of a neighboring people, pro
posed its good offices to bring the existing
contest to a termination. The offer not
being accepted by Spainonabasis which we
believed cooldl not be received by C ba,
was withdrawn. It is to be hoped the
good offioes the United States may yet of
fer will prove advantageous for a settle
ment of this unhappy strife. Meanwhile
a number or illegal expeditions against
' Cuba have been broken up. It has been
! tbe endeavor of the Administration to ex
l eente tbe neutrality laws, no matter how
unpleasant the task, made so by tbe suffer
ing we have endured from lack of like
good faith toward us by other nations.
On the 26th of last March the United
States schooner Lizzie Major was arrested
on the high seas by a Spanish frigate and
two passengers taken and carried as pris
oners to Cuba, Representations of these
facts were made to the Spanish Government
andassoou as information reached Washing
ton the two passengers were set at liberty,
and the Spanish Government assured the
United States that the Captain of the
frigate, in making the capture, had acted
without law; that he had been reprimand
ed, and that the Spanish authorities in
Cuba would not sanction any act that could
violate the rights or treat with disrespect
the sovereignty of this nation. Theques
tion of seizure of the brig Mary Lowell,
at Bahama, by the Spanish authorities, is
now a subject of correspondence between
this Government and Spain and Great
Britain. The Captain-General of Cuba,
about May last, issued a proclamation au
thorizing the search of vessels on the high
seas. Immediate remonstrance was made
against ibis, wh’rcupoo tLc Gaptain-Gen
eral issued anew proclamation, limiting
search to vessels the United States author
ized under the treaty of 1795. This proc
lamation, however, was immediately
withdrawn. 1 have always felt that the
most intimate relations should be cultivat
ed between the Unitejl States and inde
pendent nations on this continent. It may
be well worth considering whether new
treaties between us aod them may not be
profitably entered into to secure more inti
mate relations, friendly, commercial and
otherwise.
The inter-oceanic canal to con
nect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans,
through the Isthmus of Dari n. is oue in
which commerce is greatly interested. In
structions have been given our Minister to
the United States of Colombia to endeavor
to obtain authority lor a survey to deter
mine the practicability of tbe undertak
ing.
In order to comply with an agreement
of the United States as to a mixed com
mission at Lima for the adjustment of
claims, it became necessary to send a com
missioner and Secretary to Lima.
The good offices of the United States,
to bring about peace between Spain and
the South American republics, having
been accepted by Spain, Peru and Chili, a
Congress has been invited to be held
in Washington during the present Winter.
A grant has been given to Europeans
of au exclusive right of transit over the
territory of Nicaragua; to which Costa Rica
has given its assent, which it is alleged
conflicts with vested rights of citizens of
the United States. The Departmc it of
State has now this subject uuder considera
tion. The minister to Peru having made
representations that there was a State war
between Peru and Spain and that the
government of Spain was constructing in
and near New York thirty gunboats which
might be used by Spain to relieve the
naval force at Cuba to operate against
Peru, orders were given to prevent their
departure. No further steps have been
taken by the representative of the Peru
vian Government to prevent the departure
of these vessels, and I not feeling author
ized to detain property of a nation with
whioh we are at peace on a mere executive
order, the matter was referred to the
courts. The conduct of the war between the
allies and republic of Paraguay has made
tue course with that country difficult, but
it has been deemed advisable to withdraw
our representative from there.
Toward the close of the last administra
tion Convention was signed at London for
the settlement of outstanding claims be
tween Great Britain and the United States,
which failed to receive the advice and con
sent of the Senate. Time and circum
stances attending the negotiation of that
treaty were unfavorable to its acceptance
bv the people of the United States, and
its provisions were wholly inadequate for
the settlement of the grave wrongs sus
tained by this government.
Injuries resulting so the United States
by reason of the course adopted by Great
Britain during the war, in increased rates
of insurance, in the diminution of exports
and imports and other obstructions to
domestic industry ant} production; in its
effect upon the foreign commerce of the
country, in the decrease and transfer to
Great Britain of our merchant marine; in
the prolongation of the war and increased
cost both in treasure and iu lives of its
suppression, could not be adjusted and
satisfied as ordinary commercial claims
which continually arise between com
mercial nations, and yet the Convention
treated them simply as such ordinary
claims from which they differ more widely
in the gravity 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 so universally
impress, and itself upon the people of this
country. Believing that a Convention
thus misconceived in its seope and inade
quate in its provisions would not have pro
duced the hearty aud cordial settlement of
pending questions, whioh alone is con
sistent with the relations which I de
sire to have firmly established between the
Unjfed States and Great Britain, I re
garded the aotiunof the Senate in reject
ing the treaty to have been wisely taken in
the interest of peace and as a necessary
step in the direction ot aperfectand 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 grievances they have sustained. The
rejection of the treaty was followed by a
state of public feeling on bjth sides,
which I thought not favorable to an im
mediate attempt at renewal of negotia
tion*! I accordingly so instructed the
Minister of the United States to Great
Britain, and found that my views in this
regard were shared in by Her Majesty’s
Ministers. I hope that the time may soon
arrive when the two Governments can ap
proach the solution of this momentous
q lestion with an appreciation of what is
due to the right, dignity and honor of
eaeh, and with a determination not only
to remove the causes of complaint in the
past, but to lay the foundation of a broad
principle of public law which will prevent
future differences, and 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 question of renewing the treaty for
’ a reciprocal trade between the United
I States and the British provinces on this
j continent is favorably considered
i In conformity with a recommendation of
I Congress, a proposition to abolish mixed
courts for the suppression of the slave
trade is under negotiation.
It having come to my knowledge that a
corporate company, organized under Brit
ish laws, proposed to land upon the shores
of the United States aod to operate there
a submarine cable under a concession from
the Emperor of the French of an exclusive
right for twenty years of telegraphic com
munication between the shores of France
and the United States, with objectionable
features of subjecting all messages con
veyed thereby to the scrutiny ana control
of the French government, I caused the
French and British legations at Washing
i ton to be made acquainted with the probable
i policy of Congress on this subject as forc
; shadowed by the bill which passed the
Senate in March last. This d-ew from the
representatives of the company an agree*
' ment to accept as a basis of their opera -
i tions the provisions of the bill or such
other enactment on the subject as might
be passed during the approaching session
of Congress. Also, to use their influence
to secure from the French government a
modification of their ooneession to permit
the landing of any cable belonging to any
company incorporated by authority of the
United States or any State in the Union,
and on their part not to oppose the estab
lishment of any such cable. In coDsidera
i tion of this agreement I directed the with
, drawal of alt opposition by the United
i States to the landing of the oablemmil the
i meeting of Congress. I regret to say that
i there has been no modification made in the
company’s concession, nor, so far as I can
learn, have they attempted to secure one.
Their concession excludes capital and the
citizens of the U. 8. from competition upon
the shores of France. I recommend legisla
tion to protect the rights of citizens of the
United States and sovereignty of the na
tion against such assumption. I shall also
endeavor to secure by negotiation an aban
donment of monopolies in ocean telegraph
ic cables.
The unsettled political condition of
other countries less fortunate than our
own, sometimes induces their citizens
to come to the United States for
the sole purpose of becoming naturalized.
Having secured this they return to their
native country and reside there without
disclosing their change of allegiance; they
accept official positions of trust or honor
which can only be held by citizens of their
native lands They jonrnev under pass
ports designating them as such citizens,
and it is only when civil discord after, per
haps, years of quiet threatens their person
or their property, or when their native
State drafts them into its military gervioe
NEW SERIES, VOL. XXVIII. NO. 5»
that their change of allegiance is known.
They reside permanently away irom the
United States, eontribii'e nothing to its
revenues, avoid duties of citizenship, and
only make themselves known by a claim
of protection. I have directed the diplo
matio 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 oomplete
protection, and while I have a voice in the
direction of affairs I shall not consent to im
peril these sacred rights by conferring it up
on the fictitious or fraudulent claimants.
Invitations have been extended to the
Cabinets at London. Paris, Florence, Ber
lin, Brussels, the Hag te, at Copenhagen
and Stockholm to empower their repre
sentatives at Washington to simultane
ously enter into negotiation and conclude
with the United States a Convention in
form, making uniform regulations as to
construction of parts of vessels to be de
voted to tbe use of emigrant passen
gers, as to quality and quantity ot food,
and as to the medical treatment of the
sick, and to the rules to be observed dur
ing the voyage in order to secure venti
lation, and to promote health, to prevent
intrusion, and to protect the females,
and providing for the establishment of
tribunals in the several countries for en
forcing such regulations by summary
process. Your attention is respeotfully
called to the law regulations on the tariff
ol Russian hemp, and to the qu< stion
whether to fix ihe charges on Rus ian
hemp higher thau they are fixed upon
manilla. Is it not a violation of our
treaty with Russia placing her products
«tpon the same footing with those of the
most favored nations ? Our manufactures
are increasing with wondertul rapidity
under the encouragement whioh they now
receive. With the improvements in
machinery already effected and still in
creasing, causing machinery to take the
place of skillful labor to a large extent,
our imports of many articles must fall off
largely within a few years. Fortunately,
too, manufactures are not confined to a
few localities as formerly, and i is to be
hoped will become m.>re and more diffus
ed, making the in erest it. them equal in
all sections. They give employment
and support to hundreds of thou
sands ol people at home, and re
tain with us the means which other
wise would be shipped abroad. The ex
tension of the railroads in Europe aod the
East is bringing into competition with
oar agricultural products like products oi
other countries. Self interest, if not selt
perservation, therefore, dictates caution
against disturbing any industrial interest
of the country. It teaehes us also the ne
cessity of looking to other markets for the
sale of our suplua. Our neighbors south
ofus and China and Japan should receive
our special attention. It will be the en
deavor of the administration to cultivate
suoh relations with all these nations as to
entitle us to their confidence aod make it
their interest, as well as ours, to establish
better commercial relations. Through the
agency of a more enlightened policy than
that heretofore pursued toward China,
largely due to the sagacity and effort of
one ot our own distinguished citizens, the
world is about to commence largely in
creased relations with that, populous aud
hitherto exclusive nation. As the United
States have been the initiatory in the new
policy, so toey should be the most earnest
in showing their gOod faith in making it a
s ’ccess. In this connection I advfse such
legislation as will forever preclude tbe eo- 1
slavement of the Chinese upon our soil j
under the Dame of Coolies aud also prevent !
American vessels from engaging ia the
transportation of Coolies to any oouotry
tolerating the system. I also recommend
that t> e mission to China he raised to one
of the first-class.
On my assuming the responsible duties
of Chief Magistrate of the United
States it was with the conviction
that three things were essential to its
peace, prosperity and the fullest develop
ment. First among these is strict integ
rty in fullfilling alt our obligations. Second
to secure protection to the person and
property ol the citizen of the United
Mates in each and every portion of
our common country wherever he may
choose to move without reference to orig
iual nationality, religion, color, or politics,
demanding of him only obedience to the
laws and proper respeet for the rights of
’thers. Third, the Union of all the States
with equal rights is indestructible by any
constitutional means.
To secure the first of these Congress has
taken two essential steps. First:—ln
declaring by joint resolution that the pub
lic debt shall be paid, principal and in
terest, in coin; and, second, by providing
the means tor paying. Providing the means,
however, cov'd not seeure the object de
sired without a proi er administration of
the laws for the collection of the revenues
and an economical disbursement of them.
To this subject the administration has
most earnestly addressed itself with results,
I hope,satisfactory to the country. There
has been no hesitation in changing offi
cials in order to secure an efficient ex
ecution of the laws. Sometimes, too,
where, in a mere party view nndesirble
political result were likely to follow, nor
any hesitation in sustaining efficient
officials against remonstrances wholly
political, it may be. well to mention
here the embarrassment possible to
arise from leaving on the statute books
the so-ealled tenure of office acts, and to
earnestly recommend their total repeal.
It could not have been th 9 intention of 'he
framers of the Constitution when provid
ing that app intments made by the Presi
dent should receive the consent of the
Senate, that tin- latter should have the
power to retain in office persons placed
there by Federal appointments against the
will of the President. The law is also incon
sistent with a faithful and efficient ad
ministration of the Government. What
faith can an Executive put in an official
forced upon him. and those, too, whom he
has suspended for reason ? How will such
officials be likely to an administra
tion whioh they know does not trust them.
For the second requisite to our growth and
prosperity, time and a firm but humane
administration of existing laws, amended
from time to time as they may be ineffect
ive or prove harsh and unreoesaary, are
probably all that is required. The third
cannot be attaiied by special legislation
but must be regarded as fixed by the Con
stitution itself, and gradually a-queisoed in
by force of public opinion front the foun
dation of the government to the
The management of the original inhabi
tants of this continent, the Indians, has
been a subject of embarrassment and ex
pense, and has been attended witn
continuous robberies, murders and
wars. From my own experience upon
the frontiers and in Indian oountries I do
not hold either legislation or the conduct of
the whites who come most in contaot with
the Indians blameless for these hostilities.
The past, however can- ot be undone and
the question must kc met as we now find
it. I have attempted anew! policy toward
these wards of the nation they cannot
be regarded in any other light (ban as
wards with fair results so far as tried and
whioh I hope will be attended ultimately
with great success. 'Hie society of friends
is well known as having succcedea in liv ng
in peace with the Indians in the early set
tlement of Pennsylvania while the white
: neighbors of the other sex inober sections
were constantly "embroiled they arc also
known for their opposition to alt Miit'e.
violence and war, and are generally noted
for their strict integrity aud fair dec'iegg.
These considerations induced mo to give
the management of a few reservations of
Indians to them and throw the but den of
selection of agents upon the society a elf.
The result has proved most s-ati-f o'mj. It
will be found more fuily .-at (ji\U in the
report of the Commissioner and Indian
affairs- For superintendents and Indian
agents not on the reservations, Officers of
the army were selected. The reasons for
this are numerous. Where J Indian
agents are sent there or near
there, troops must be sent; also, the
agent and the commander of troops are in
dependent of each other and are subject to
orders from different ? department
of the Government. The army officers
hold a position for life hut the "agents are
at the will of the President. The former
is personally interested in living in harmony
with the Indians and iu establishing a per
manent peace to the end that some portion
of his life may be spent within the limits
of civilized society. The latter has no
such personal interest. Another reason is
an eoonomic one; and still another the
hold which the Government has upon a
life officer to secure a faithful discharge of
duties in carrying out a given policy. The
building of railroads and the access there
by given to all the agrien tural and minera
regions of the country is rapidly bringing
civilization into contact with all the tribes
of Indians. No matter what ought to b
the relations between suoh settlements and
the Indians, the fact is they do not har
monize well and one or the other has to
give way in the end. A system which
looks to the extinction of a race is too hor
rible for a nation to adopt without entail
ing upon itself the wrath of |ll Christen
dom and engendering in the citizens a dis
regard for human life and the rights of
others dangerous to society. I see no eub
i stitute for such a system except in placing
all £be Indians on a large reservation at
rapidly as it can be done and giving them
absolute protection there. As soon as
I they are fitted for it they should be m
| dueed to take their lands in severalty and
I to set up territorial governments for their
I own protection. For full details on this
subject I call your special attention to tho
reports of the Secretary cf the Interior
and the Commissioner of Indian affairs.
The recommendation of the General of
the Army that appropriations made for
tho forts at Boston, Portland, New York,
Philadelphia, New Orleans and San
Francisco, if for no other is concurred in.
I call special attention to the recommen
dation ot the Chief of Ordnance for sale of
arsenals and lands no longer of use to the
Government. Also to the recommenda
tion of the Secretary of War that the act
prohibiting promotions in the staff corps
of the army be repealed. The extent of
country to be garrisoned aud the nu her
of military posts to be occupied is the same
with a reduced arm • as with a large one.
The number of staff officers required is
more dependent upon the latter than the
former condition. The report of the Sec
retary of the Navy accompanying this
shows the condition of the navy when th s
Administration came iDto offioe, and the
changes made since. Strenuous efforts
have been made to place as many vessels
ill commission or render them fit for ser
vice if required as fat as possible, and to
substitute the sail for steam whilst cruis
ing, thus materially reducing the expenses
of the navy aud adding greatly to its ef
ficiency. Looking to our future, I rec
ommend a liberal though not extravagant
policy toward this branch of the public
servioe.
I The report ot the Postmaster General
. furnishes a clear and comprehensive ex-
I hibit ot the perations of the postal service
and of the financial condition of the Post
office Department. The ordinary postal
rovenues for the year, ending the 30th of
June, 1869, amouutcd to $16,444,510, and
the expenditures to $23,598,131.
Your attention is respectfully called to
the recommendation made by the Post
master General for autl ority to change the
rate of compensation to the main tiunk
railroad lines for their services in carryiug
the mails, for having post route maps exe
cuted for reorganizing and increasing the
efficiency of the special agency servi se, for
the increase of the mail service on the
Pacific and lor establishing mail service
under the flag of theUnionon the Atlantic;
and most especially do I call your attention
to his recommendation for the total abo
lition of tho franking privilege. This is
an abuse from which no one receives a
commensurate advantage. It reduces the
receipts for postal service from 25 to 30
per cent, and largely increases the service
to bo performed.
During the year ending the 30;h of
September, 1869, the patent office issued
13,762 patents and its receipts were $686,-
389, being $123,926 more than its expen
ditures. I would respectfully call your at
tention to the recommendation of the
Secretary of the Interior for uniting the
duties of supervising the educut’on of
freedmeD with the other duties devolving
upon the Commission of Education. Hit
is the desire of Congress to make the cen
sus, which must be taken during the year
1870, more complete and perfect than here
tofore, I would suggest early aotion upon
any plan that may be agreed upon As Con
gress at the last session appointed a Com
mittee to take into consideration such
measures as might be deemed proper in
reference to the census to report a plau.
L desist from saymg more. I recommecd
J to your favorable consideration the claims
i of the Agricultural Bureau for liberal ap
propriations. In a country so diversified
in climate and soil as ours and with a
population so largely dependent upon agri
culture the benefits that can be con.'erred
by properly fostering this Bureau are in
calculable. I desire, respectfully, to call
the attention of Congress to the inadequate
salaries of a Dumber of the most important
officers of the Govenment. Iu this message
I will not enumerate them but will specify
only the Justioes of the Supreme Court.
1 No change has been made in their salaries
i for fifteen years. Within that time the
i labors of the Court have largely increased
and the expenses of living have at least
\ doubled. During the same time- Congress
has twice found it necessary to increase
i I rgely the compensation of its .own mem-
I hers, and the duty which it owes to an
| other Department of the Government de
serves and will nndoubedly receive due
consideration. There are many subjects not
alluded to in this message which might,
with propriety, be introduced, but I ab
stain, believing that your patriotism and
statesmanship will suggest the topics and!
the legislation most conducive to the in
terest of the whole poople. On my part I
.promise a rigid adhetence to the laws and
their strict enforcement.
U S. GRANT:
Washington, December 6, 1869.
Correspondence Chronicle & Sentinel.
Waynesboro, Deo. 6, 1869.
Chronicle & Sentinel: The fall term
of Burke Superior Court couimeuced
here this morning—Judge Gibson presi
ding. The juries were organized and the
Court adjourned to ten o’clock to morrow,
on account of the recent death of Col.
Male 4n D. Jones, late a leading member
of the Bar of this county.
Among the members of the Bar here I
notice Major Ganahl, Judge Hook and
General Wright, of your city, and «Gen
eral Carswell, of Louisville. I have never
seen so thin an attendance of the B ir at a
regular term of the Court, though l learn
there is quite a large amount of business
and hat the Court will t robably sit two
weeks.
There is quite a large number of people
here to-day and among them very many
negroes, th • latter attracted, I learn by a
“big show,” which is going on near the
rair f 'ad depot.
The dockets will be taken up and called
regularly in their order to-morrow. A
number of persons are in jail ooufin and on
charges of a crimnal character and the
crimcal docket promises to occui y the
Court for several days. W.
COHOS.
Augusta.
Editors Chronicle & Sentinel:
Gentt.emen. Iu your issue of Sunday
! morning, you publish an article od cotton,
iu which you make it appear that the pre
sent price, say 12d in Liverpool, is equal to
35c in Augusta. Believing that you would
not intentionally lead any oneinto an error,
1 beg to correct the mistake, acd give be
low the approximate value in Augusta, of
i cotton sold in Liverpool, (a> I2d per pound.
Deducting freight at id, tare and loss of
weight. Commissions (2i per cent) and
other expenses attending sale, such as
ware-bouseing, drayage, insurance, *e.,
12d in Liverpool, will net about >B. 66 c
in gold in Augusta, which with .34 per
cent for Sterling exchange, (the outside
quotations to-day for Commercial Bills in
N. Y.) makes 25e. in ourrenoy. It must
be borne in mind that 12d is? today the
quotation for cotton on the spot in Liver
! pool, while sales “to arrive” are being
tro ide @ll id. It will thus beaeenthat at
; to-day’s quotation" in Augusta. 23c for
middling, there is no profit, o bo exoeeted.
Old shipper.
Immiouation to the South.—An immi
gration agent-tells a Tribune Washington
correspondent that has settled eighty
families of Danes near Okalona,.Miss.,and
j is confident that within the next ten years
j he will have introduced 20,000 Scandi
navian families into Mississippi and Ala
bama, An immigration 3fxjiety has been
! formed among the planters at Okalona,and
' 15'K. acres have been given to the company
I to be sold at a low price to actual settlers.
j The Laboratory at Macon. —The
| Laboratory at Macon,where the estate Fair
i was recently held, was sold on last Tuesday
l for $24,0t.»0 to 8. P. Salter, of Houston,
: D. G. Hughes, of Twiggs, J. T. B •own, of
Houston, A. E. Vick us, of Twiggs, J C.
j Mcßurney, of Bibb.aud O. A. LochraD, of
Atlanta. The Telegraph & Mtuenger says
it understands that it is the purpose of
these gent emen who bought the Laboratory
to hold, anuually, a State Fair on the
premises, and will put the place in proper
condition for that purpose. It will be a
stock oompaoy affair, and this beiog so,
each stockholder will be in
making all exhibitions a success. The
idea is a good one, and wr have no doubt
the gentlemen interested will find it so.
The Mule Trade —The Atlanta Con
stitution says t‘ at during the month of
November, 263 car loads of mules were
brought into that oity, amounting to 4,060
headofmu'es and horses. That during
the Fall months prior to November, 28G
car loads, or 5,720 head or more brought
to that city—making the total number re
ceived to December first, 9,780 head.
Tbe same paper' says they are still arriv
ing freely.