Newspaper Page Text
CYBUS B. OBEHLY. Editor.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Grant's Address To
Congress.
Opening With Matter of a Per
sonal Nature,
And
Gliding Into Subjects
More Interest.
of
The Indian War Referred To At
Some Length.
And
the Executive's Viows
Reconstruction Given.
on
Comment! on Congressional Re
duction of Appropriations.
The Mooted School Question
Again Considered.
And a Scholarly Qualification for
Voters Advocated.
The
San Domingo Idea
More Broached.
Once
Present Complications Not Treat
ed With Much Regard.
Tb r.Atla Jrtllr Mhr Tonlrn Il-
fHMfd-A Dtrimnl In tb
t'aanl Miyte or the
in the trnnc and house of representatives :
In submitting my eighth and last art'
niial tnesjage to congress, It seems
proper that 1 honld refer to and in ?oine
decree recapitulate the events ami oIlV
cial acts of tlie pat eight years. It was
my fortune or mislortune to le called to
tltp cilice of chid executive, without any
previous political training from the ajre
of seventeen. 1 lmd never even wit
ncesed the excitement atteiitiing a presi
dential campaign but twice antecedent to
my own candidacy, and nt but one of
them was 1 elllgible ns a voter. Under
iuh circumstances it U but reasonable
to suppose that error of judgment must
have occurred. Kven had there been
difference ol opinion between the ex
ecutive, bound by an oath to the strict
perlorniance of his duties, and writers
and debaters they rnut have arisen.
It is not uecrssarily an evidence of
blunder on the part ot the executive be
cause there are these differences of
Views. Mistakes have been made, as all
can tee, and I admit; but it seems to me
oftener in the selections made ot assis
tants appointed to aid in carrying out
the various duties of administering the
ted without a personal
with the appointee, but upon the recom
mendations of the representatives
chosen by the poople. It U im
possible, where so many trusts are to be
timi ilia iiht parties Fhonhl be
chosen In every instance. History
fhows that the administration, iroiu the
time of Washington to the present, has
not been tree from mistakes; but
1 leave comparison to history, claim
ing oidy that I have acted in
every instance from a conscientious de
sire to do what was right and constitu
tional, within the law and for the very
best ii.tercsU of the whole people. Fail
ures have been error ot judgment, not of
intent.
MY CIVIL CARKF.R
Commenced at a most critical and difll-
cult time. Less than four years before the
county had emerged Iroiu a conflict such
as no other nation had -ever survived.
Nearly oue-hall of the states had revolted
against the government, and ot those re
maiuing laithful to the I'uion, a large
crccntage of the population sympa
thized with the rebellion and made an en
emy in the rear, almost as dangerous as
the more horrible enemy In the front.
The latter committed errors of judgment,
but they maintained them openly and
courageously. The former received the
protection of the government they would
fee destroyed, and reaped all the pecuul
ary advantage to be gained out ol the
then existing state of affairs, many of
them by obtaining contractu and by
fwiiuUing the government In the delivery
of their goods. Immediately on the ces
sation of hostilities the then noble presi
dent, who had carried the eountry so far
through itf perils, fell a martyr to his pa
triotism, at the hands of au assassin. The
intervening time to my first inaugura
tion was tilled up with wranglings be-twet-n
congress and the new executive as
to the Ut mode of reconstruction, to
peaW plainly, unto whether the control
of the government should be thrown Im
mediately into the hands of those w ho had
recently and persistently tried to destroy
it, or whether the victor should continue
to have an equal voioo with them in this
coutrol.
Kl.COSsTlltCTIO,
As finally agreed upon, means this, aud
only this, except that the late blave was
eulranehUed, giving an increaae, as was
supposed, to the Union-loving and Union-supporting
votes of the free, in the
full seuse ot the word, they would not
disappoint this expectation ; hence, at the
beginning ot my tirst administration
lite work of reconstruction was much em
barrassed by the long delay. Ylrtuall y
commenced, it was work of the lcgkl&
live branch ot government. 3ly prov
ince was wholly in approving their acts,
whieli 1 did most heartily, urging the
tegUlaturea of the state that Ltd not
done so, to ratify ttte fifteenth auw-ud
until of the constitution.
The country was laboring under au
rnoriuou uiw, fjuimcu-u in me sujt
presslon of the rebellion, and taVatloti
was so oppressive as to discourage pro-
J duction. Another danger also thrent
f ned Us a foreign war. Hie lat dilll
culty' bad to bo adjusted, ami was ad
jured without war In a manner highly
honorable to all parties concerned.
rl
Have been reduced within the lastscvetl
years nearly j;ttHi.rtl.iiX ; the national
debt ha been reduced in the same time
over fnrOtOO.OOO. r.y refund'uisf the six
percent, bonded debt for bonds, bearing
live aud four and a hatfper cent, interest,
respectively, the annual Interest has
been reduced from one hundred and
thirty millions ot dollars in TsiO, to but
little over one hundred million of dol
lars In 1S7G. The balance of trade has
been' changed from over one hundred
and thirty millions against the United!
States in 1S!, to more than one hundred
and twenty million dollars in our favor
in 1S7G. It is confidently hoped that the
balanej of trade in favor ot the United
States will increase, not diminish, ami
that the pledges of congress to resume
specie payments in 187t will be easily ac
complished, even in the absence of the
much desired further, legislation on the
subject.
l.MHAX TOMCY.
A policy has been adopted towards the
Indian tribes inhabiting a large portion
ol the territory ot the United States,
which has been humane, has substan
tially ended Indian hostilities in the
whole land, except in a portion ot Ne
braska and Dakota, Wyoming and Mon
tana territories, the Clack Hills region
and approaches thereto. Hostilities there
have grown out of the avarice of the
white man who has violated our treaty
stipulations in his search for gold. The
question might be asked, why the gov
ernment has not enforced obedience to
the terms ot the treaty prohibiting the
occupation of the Black Hills region by
the whites? The answer is simple, i lie
first emigrants to the Itlack Hills were
removed by troops, but rumors andlresh
discoveries of gold took into that region
increased numbers, (iold actually had
been found In paying quantities, aud an ef
fort to remove miners would oly result
in the destruction of a bulk of our troops
that might be sent there to remove them.
All dilU- ulties in tlii matter have, how
ever, been removed, subject to the ap
proval of congress, by a treaty ceding
the l.laek Hills and approaches to settle
ment by citizens. The subject of Indian
policy and treatment is so fully set forth
by the secretary of the interior and tliv
commissioner ol Indian atl'uirs, and their
views so fully . expressed therein, that 1
refer to their reports and recommenda
tions a my own.
I'ORKION RKI.STio.N4.
The relations of the Uuited States with
foreign powers continue on a lneiidly
tooting. Questions have arisen iroiu
time to time iu the foreign relation, of
the government, but the I nited Slates
have been happily free during the past
year from the complication and embar
rassments which have surrounded home
of the foreign powers. The diplomatic
correspondence submitted herewith con
tains information a to certain ot the mat
ters which have occupied- the govern
ment. The cordiality which attends our
relations with the powers ot the earth
has been plainly shown, by the genarjl
participation ot foreign nations in t-e
iAniuiuvu iie ju-i feusc'i. ami wy
the exertions made by distant, powers 10
show this interest in a friendly feeling to
ward the I 'nited States, in commemora
tion ot the centenni'il of the nation. The
government and people of the United
states have not only fully appreciated
this exhibition of kindly feeling ; but it
may be justly and fairly expected that no
small benefits will result both to our
selves and other nations from a better ac
quaintance and a better appreciation of
our mutual advantages.
M I'l.OMVl IC AlTKOWilATIi NS.
Congress at its last session saw fit to
reduce the amount usually appropriated
for foreign intercourse by withholding
approriations for representatives ot the
I nited States in certain foreign Countries
and for certain consular otlicers, and by
reducing the amounts usually appropri
ated for certain other diplomatic posts,
and thus necessitating a change in the
grade ot representative. For these rea
sons Immediately upon the passage of
me uiii uiuMiig upropriiuioii jur oipio
matie and consular service for the present
force, instructions were burned to repre
sentatives of the United States in Bolivia.
Lcuador and 'ohuubia. aud to the con
sular olllcer for whom no appropriation
had been made, to close their rcseetivc
legislations and consulates and cease
from Uie performance of their duties.
And ia like manner steps were imme
diately taken to substitute charge deal
fairs for ministers resident In I'ortugal,
Denmark, 0 recce, Switzerland and l'ara
guay. idle thoroughly Impressed with the
wisdom of sound economy iu the foreign
service, as in other branches of the gov
ernment, 1 cannot escape the conclusion
that in some instances the withholding of
appropriations will prove an expensive
economy, ana that the small retrench
ment secured by a change of grade in
certain diplomatic posts is not an ade
quate consideration tor the loss ol iutlu-
cnee and importance which will attend
our foreign representatives under this
reduction. I am ot the opinion that re.
examination ol the subject will cause a
change in some instances in the eoticlu
sions reached on these subjects at the
latt session of congress.
ALABAMA CLAIMS COMMISSION.
The court commissioners of Alabama
claims, whoso functions were continued
by an act ot the last session ot congress
until the first day of January, 1S77. has
carried oil its labors witli diligence aud
eeiieral satisfaction, Uy a report from
the clerk of the court transmitted here
with, bearing date November 11, 17(1, it
ap!cars that during the time now allowed
by law the court will have disposed ot all
the claims presented for adjudication.
1 his report also contains a statement of
the general results ot ;the labors ol the
court to date thereof. It is a cause ol
satisfaction that the method adopted for
the satisfaction of the classes of claims
admitted to the court, which are of long
stauuing am Justly eutitleU to early con-
siuerauon.Mioum have proved succcseiul
anu acceptable.
BOINOARV IJfESTIO.N
It is with satisfaction that 1 am enabled
to sUte that the work of the joint com
mission lor ueiermining the oounuarv
line between the I nited States and Brit
ish possessions from the northwest an;le
ol the Lake ol the Woods to the UockT
mountains, commenced in 172, has been
completed. 1 he final agreements of the
commissioners with maps have been dulv
signed and the work of the commission
is complete. The fixing ol the boundary
upon thel'aeilie coast by the protocol
March 10. li7J. nursuant to the award
tha emperor ol (iermany by at tide
XXXV. of the treaty of Vhiiii7t..n
with the termination ol the work of this ,(,r ""' protection of the honest natural
commission, adjusts and fixes the end ''"l cltieus (4 paramount linHutHiice,
bouud.ry between the United States aud ry fHicity ot the requirement
the British poscsslons, except as to the
iMirtiou ot territory ceded by itusin to the
United Sute under the .treaty of
1M7. The work entrusted to ihe com
missioners of the officers f the nnny at
tached to the commission lias been well
and satisfactorily performed..- An "origi
nal of the llnal agreement of Hie commis
sion, signed upon llie;t','th of May, 1 s-7it.
with the original list ol astronomical
stations observed and Ihu original oHl
ciul list ol monuments marked. Interna
tional boundary lines, and map nnd re
cords and general Reports relating to the
commission have been deposited in the
departnput of sl.ite. The official report
of the commissioner on the p:irt. ol I lie
Uld'ed States, with the report ol the
chief astronomer of the United States,
will be submitted to congress within a
short time.
fiP.KAT msiTAtv.
1 reserve for a separate communications
to congress n statement of the conditions
of the quest ions which lately nroso with
Ureat Britain, respecting tlio surrender
of fugitive criminals under the treaty of
InJI.
The Ottoman government gave ri( tice
under date ot January 13, ol it de
sire to terminate the treaty ot lSW con
cerning commerce nnd navigation, pur
suant to the provision of the twenty
second article thereof. Under this no
tice the treaty terminated upon thcOth
day of Juuc, 17(. 'lhat government
has invited negotalions towaid the con
clusion of a new treaty. By the
net of congress of March 24.
1S74, the president was authorized,
when he should receive satisfactory in
formation that the Ottoman government
or that of Kgypt had organized new tri
bunals likely to secure to citizens ol tin
I nited States the same impartial justice
enjoyed under the exercise of the judicial
functions by the diplomatic ami consular
officers of the I nited States, to suspend
the operation of the act ol June 12. lUO,
and to accept lor cituens ot the United
States the jurisdiction or new irnninais.
Satisfactory information having been re
ceived of the organization of such new
tribunals in Kgypt, I caused a proclama
tion to be issued on the 27th of March
last suspending the operation ot tlio net
ot J unc 22, lSWi, In Egypt, according to
the provisions of the act. A copy of the
proclamation accompanies this message.
The I nited States has united with the
other fiowers in the organization of these
courts. It is hoped that the Jurisdiction
(jiiestions which have arisen may be
readily ndiutcd. and that they uiuy be
hindered by no obstacles. The neces
sary legislation to carry into effect the
conditions respecting the commercial re
ciprocity concluded with the
flAWAII AN ISLANDS
111 173 having been had, the proclama
tion to carry into effect the convention as
provided by the act approved August 13,
17(, was duly issued upon the loili day
ol September la-t. A copy thereof ac
companies this message. The commo
tions which have been prevalent in
MKXKO
l'or some time fast, and which unhap
pily seems to be not wholly quieted yet,
have led to complaints of citizens ol the
I nited States of injuries by person in
authority. It is hoped, however, that
these will ultimately be adjusted to the
satisfaction ot IhiDi governments, i he
frontier ol the United States iu that quar
ter has not been exempt from act ol vio
lence by citizens ot the lUpuhlic on those
of the other. The frequency ol these is
supported to be increased and their ad
justment made more difficult lv the
change in course oi ii:e lower pari oi me
Kio drande river, winch river is apart
ot the boundary between the two coun
tries. 1 hese .changes have placed on
cither side ot that river portions of land
which, existing convent urns, belong to
the jurisdiction ot the government on the
oppoile side of the river, the subject ot
the adjustment o! this:'""" of difficulty
iua. . i.u.iKiucranon ofiween h
Republics.
AWAftll 1'AIH.
The government ot the United States
of 'oiumbia ha"? paid the award in the
cast; ot i he steamer Montiio seized by the
authorities of that government some
years since, and the amount has
locn transferred to the claimant
IHKCMTf.D STATKS AM MKXKx.
it is with satisfaction that I arn able to
announce that the joint commission for
the aujii-tinr-nt of the claims between the
I nited State and .Mexico upon the ua.-is
ol the convention ot lsos, the duration
of which Ikis been several time ex
tended, has brought its labors to a close.
From the report of the agent r,t the
United Mates, which accompanies the
papers transmitted herewith.it will be
seen that within the lime limited by the
coiiiiiii-.-ion one thousand and seventeen
claims on the part of citizens; ot the
United States against Mexico were re
ferred to the commission. Of these
claims M were dismissed or disallowed,
and iu 1K1 cases awards were made in
layer of the claimants agajnst the Mexi
can republic, amounting to $l,C23.fiXi,20.
Ithin the same iH-riod wis claims on
the part ot the citizens of tlio Mexican
rcpuMUs against the l, 'nited States were
referred to the commission. Of these
claims sill were dismissed or disallowed,
and in 107 eases awards were made In
favor of claimants against the United
States, amounting in tho aggregate to
JH30, r.rv i . By tlio terms ot the con
vention the amount of these awards
is to le deducted from the
amount awarded in lavor ol
our citizens against Mexico, and the
balance only to be paid by Mexico to
the United States, leaving tlio United
States to make provisions lor their pro
portion oi the awards in lavor ot us own
citizens. 1 Invite your attention to
the legislation which will bo necessary
to provide lor the payment. In this
connection 1 am prepared to bo ablu to
express the acknowledliiacnt that Mr.
1 hornton, tne umpire oi the commission,
who has given to the consideration of tho
large number of claims submitted to
him much time, unwearied patience, and
that lairuesa and intelji tcnoo which are
well known to belong to the accom
plished representatives in this country
and of the republic ot Mexico.
VK.VKZLKLA.
Monthly payment ot a very small part
of the amount due by the government ol
cnezucla to the citizens ol the I tilted
States, on account ot the claims ot tho
latter against that government continue
to be inadu with reasonable punctuality.
lhat government has proposed to
change the system which it has hithert
pursued In this resect by Issuing bonds
tor part ot that amount of several claims.
The proposition, however, could not it
I supposed, proiierly be accepted, at
least without .he consent of the holders
ol the certiiicales of indebtness ot cue
zuela. These are so much depressed
that it would be difficult, if not iinpossi
ble, to ascertain their deposition on the
Subject.
NATlltALIZ A1ION
In another message 1 have called the
attention of coiigre to tho iieeesniiy ot
legislation with regard to Irauduleiit nal
uralizalton and to the suhlcct of cxputrl
ation and election of nationality o )cr-
sousol loreigu birth seeking a home in
the United States. 'The cae ami la-ility
wllli which lionet emigrant, after rea
sonable lapse, Ix'come possessed ol all the
privileges ot citizenship ol tho I lilted
Mates, and the Ireqiieut occasions which
oil '"dm such adopted citizens to return lo
ol I the country of their birth render the sub-
I iLt t naturalization, and tlie safeguards
I w hlclj cxiM-iicm has proved iieccKiarv
l?'?,,!l!f?tol??JfS!!5l,l"'"!1"1
of the law on this question stlord oopor
inuity lor fraud, and the want of uni
formity in i he proceedings and records of
tlio various courts and iu the forms of tho
ocrtiilcates of naioi alizaUoii Issued afford
a constant sou rse of difficulty. J suggest
no additional requirements to the acqui
sition of citizenship lieyond those, now ex
isting, but 1 invite the earnest attention
ol congresN fo the necessity and wisdom
of some provisions regarding unilonnliy
iu the records and ccrtilicates, and pro
viding against the frauds which fre
quently take- pluce and for the vacating
of a record ol naturalization obtained on
Iraud. These provisions are needed hi
aid and lor I lie protection ol the honest
citizen of foreign birth, and for the want
ot w hich lie is made to sutler not uiifre
quently. 'J'he United Stales has Insisted
uiioti the right id' expatriation and has
obtained, alter a long struggle, an nd
mission of the principle contended for by
the concession thereof on the part of
many foreign powers aud by the conclu
sion of treaties on that subject. It is,
however, but justice to tho government
to which such nutrnlized citizens have
formerly owed allegiance, as well ns to
the United States lhat a certain fixed
nnd dellinitc rule should be adapted gov
erning sncli cases, and providing howi
expatriation may be accomplished. While
emigrants in large numbers become cit
izens of the United States, cither by for
mal nets or ns the effect ot series ot facts
and circumstance, abandon their citizen
ship and ecae to be entitled to the pro
tection of the United States, but continue
on certain occasions to assert their claim
to protection hi advance ol these provis
ions, aud in this connection, I again in
vite your attention to the necessity of
legislation concerning the
MAnni AGKS)
OI American citizens contracted abroad.
nnd concerning tho status of American
women who marry toicigncrs, and ot
children born of American parents In a
loieign country. The delicate aud com
plicated questions continually occurring
with reference to Kepublicuu expatria
tion, aud the status ot such persons as 1
have referred to, induce me to earnestly
direct your attention again to the subject.
In like manner l repeat the recommen
dation that some means lie provided bear
ing on the dctcriuiuatiou ol the just and
subsisting claims, ot aliens upon
the government of the United
states within a reasonable limitation,
and ot such as may hereafter arise.
While by the existing provisions of the
law the court of claims may in certain
cases be resorted to by an alien clalnient,
the absence of any" general provision
governing all such cases, and the want
ot a tribunal skilled iu the disposition ol
such cases, upon recognized fixed and
settled principles, cither provides no
remedy in many deserving eases, or com
pels a consideration ot such claims by
congress or the executive department ol
the government. it Is believed that
other governments nreiu advance of the
United States upon this question, and
that the practice now adopted is entirely
unsatistactory.
COLORADO.
Congress, bv act approved the tfd of
March, 1S7,, authorized the Inhabitants
oi the territory oi ' oioraao to lorm a
state government with the name of the
state ot Ojlorado, ami therein provided
for the admission of the said state, when
formed, into the Union upon an equal
footing with the original sl.ite. A con
stitution having U-en adopted and rati
fied by the people of that state, and an
actinif governor having ceitilied to me
the facts, as provided bv said net, to
gether with a copy of such constitution
and ordinances, as provided for in the
said act, and the provisions ol t-aid act of
congress having been dult complied
with, 1 issued a proclamation on th let
ol August. lS.o, a copy ot which h here
to annexed.
THE 1.NL-IA.N Ml KEAf.
ine report oi the secretary ot war
shows that the army has been actively
empiojea during I he year in subduing.
at the requestor the Indiin bureau, cer
tain wild bauds of Sioux Indian nation,
and in preserving the eace iu the South
during election. A commission v.ms con
stitutcd under act ol July 24. ISO. to
couidc-r and report on the whole subject
ot the reform and reorganization of the
whole armv in Atigurt last, and ha col
lected a large mass of statistics; of points
bearing on the subject before it. There
are now under consideration, and their
report is progressing. I am advised,
though, by the president ot the commis
sion that it will be impracticable to com
ply with the clause ot the act requiring
tlie report to be presented through me
to congress on the first day of the ses
ion, as there has not been time for that
mature deliberation which the impor
tance of the subject demands. Therefore
I ask that the time oi making the report
be extended to the 2:ith day of January,
1S77, in accordance with the resolution of
August 13, 170.
TUKAHMY REGULATION'S,
Prepared under the act of March 1, 1
have not been promulgated, but are held
until alter the report ot the above-men
tloued commission shall have been re
ceived ami acted upon. By the act ol
August 13, 1x70, the cavalry lorce of the
army was increased by 2.300 men, with a
provisio that they should bo discharged
on the expiration ot the hostilities. Lu
dor this authority the cavalry regiments
have been strcngthed and a portion of
them are now iu the held piirsuring tho
remnants of tho Indians, with whom
they have been engaged during the sum
nicr.
THE ESTIMATES
OI' THK VAU PCI ART
NEXT. Are made upon the basis ol the num1er
of men authorized by law. and their re
quirements, a.s shown by years of expe
ricuce, and also witli the purpose, on the
part ol the bureau officers, to provide for
all contingencies that may arise ilur
lug the time for which tho estimates are
ui i le.
tSJIillTI-S.
'The estimates of the engineers, pre
seutcd in accordance witli tho a.'t ol con
Cress, tlio estimates lor surveys, and esti
mates ior improvements lit various
localities now presented, are about SO,-
000,000 iu excess of tlie appropriations in
the year 17 1. is,s aud lb7U. This
increase U asked in order to provide for
increased cavalry lorce. should their
services be necessary, to prosecute eco
nomically the work upon important pub
lie building, to provide for the arma
ment oi tortilicatlons and manufacturers
of small arms and replciiLsh working
stock in tho supply departments. The
appropriations lor these la.t named have
lor the past lew years Iweu so limited
lhat the accumulations in store will be
entirely exhausted during thu'present
year, and it will be necessary at once to
begin to replenish them.
1 invite your especial attention to the
ioiiowmg recommendations oi the sec
retary of war :
lfl lhat tho claims under the act
oi July 4. lM,t, or supplies taken by the
army during the war bo removed from
tne ouiccs oi quartermasters and oommi
sary gemiaU and transferred to the
nuthern claims commission. These
claims are ot precisely a similar nature
of those now Im fore the southern claims
commiasioii
which have not the cleiical force for their
exaniiuatloii, nor the proper machinery
ior investigating m,. loyalty of the claim
.Sfcomf I hat congress sanction fho
scheme ol mi annuity luud lor Ilea U'nelit
of Hie families ol deceased officers, aud
that it Itbo provide lor I ho oeriuauclit
organlzatiei) ot the regular service, both
ol which wer recommended In my last '
annual message.
7'Aivi l hat the maiminctnt Inff opera
tions of the ordnance depnrttut ntlie con
centrated nt three urseiiaU and an nr-
tnory, ami that the remaining arsenals be
Kold and the proceeds applied to this oh-
ct by tlie ordnance department.
KIVLIl ANI HAltllOlt.
The impropriation for river nnd bar.
bor improvements lor tlie current year
wi re J. 1,01.1,000. ttn my npproval the
secretary of war directed lhat, of this
amount, J.000,tH should be expended.
and bo new Works should be begun, aud
none prosecuted which were not of na
tional importance. Mibcqucutlv this
amount w as increased to $J,2;'7 ,oH, nnd
w orks arc now progresshiR on this basi.
I ho iruprovetnentvr i-
TI1K SOt'TIt PASS
Ol the Mississippi river, under .1. B. Eads
and lii.s associates, 1st progressing favor
ably. At the present time there is a
haum 1 of 20 3-10, feet in depth between
tho jetties at the mouth of the pass, and
igniceu nun onc-uau icci ai me ncau oi
the pass. Ncitherchaiinel, Itowcvcr, has
tlie width required Dei ore payment snail
be made bv the United Slates. A com
mission ol engineers and officers is now
xamininjr these works and their reports
w ill be presented as soon as received.
TltK XAVV,
The report of the secretary of the navy
shows that he believes the service to bo In
condition a effective a It is possible to
keep It w ith the means and appropriations
riven the department. It is not ol course
possible to rival the costly aud progres
sive establishments ol the great Luroeaii
powers with the old material of our navy,
to which no Increase has been authorized
since the war, except eight small crui
sers, built to supply the place ol others
which had gone to decay. Vet tho most
has been done that was possible with the
means it command, nnd they are sub
stantially rebuilding some ol our old
ships with durable material, nnd com
pletely repairing and refitting our moni
tor fleet. The navy has been gradually
so brought up that, though it does not
maintain its relative, position among the
progressive navies of the world, it is now
in a condition more powerful and effec
tive than it ever has been In tune ol peace.
1 he complete repairs ol our live heavy
Iron-elads are only delayed on account of
tne. inadequacy oi the appropriations
made last year for tho working bureaus
ol the department, which were actually
less in amount than those made beiore
the war, notwithstanding the greatly en
hanced price ol labor nnd materials, a.id
the increase in the cost of the naval ser
vice growing out ot the universal use
and great ex pense ct steam machinery.
ltie money necessary ior these repairs
should bo provided at once, that
they may be competed without
further unnecessary .delay and expense.
When this is done, all the strength lhat
there is In the navy will !e developed
and useful to its lull capacity, and all
will be powerful for the purpose of de
fehoe and also for offensive action, should
necessity lor that arie within a reason
able distance from our shores. The fact
that our navy is not more modern and
powerful than it is has been made a
a use ot complaint against ttie secretary
of the navy by persons who at the same
time criticise and complain of his en
deavors to bring the navy that we have
to its best and most efficient condition.
But tho good sense of the country will
understand that it is really to bis prac
tised action that we have at this time
any eflective navv lorce at command.
roTAt AlTAIHS.
The report of the postmaster-general
shows an excess of exjienditures, exclud
ing expenditures on account ot previous
year. Kcccipts lor h.-cal year ending
lime :W. 170, e-timated to be $1,131,-
Ss,iiO ; estimate ex'nditures fr the
fiscal year ending June :to, ls70, are $'W,
iJ.4JJ.4J; estimated revenue lor the
same i-enod is j:jo,.1,10j, having an
estimated excess of exiienditure to be
appropriated as a deficiency ot i'C,07M,.
2ii7,4J. 'The postmaster-general like his
predecessor, is convinced that a change
in tlm basis of adjusting salaries ot post
masters of the!fourth class is necessary
for the good of the service as well as for
the interests of the government, and ur
gently recommends that consideration of
the class of postmasters above mentioned
be based on the business of their rcsec
tive offices as ascertained from sworn re-
turns lo the auditor ol stamps cancelled.
A lew postmasters in the southern
states have expressed great apprehen
sions of their iioi'sona! safety on account
of their connection witli the postal ser
vice, and have specially requested that
their icports of apprehended danger
should not be made public, le.t it should
result iu tho loss ! their lives ; but no
positive testimony ol interference has
been submitted except in the caseol a
mail messenger at Spartanburgh in
South I'arolina, who reported that he
had been violently driven away on the
'hargo ot his political affiliation. Iho
assistant superintendent of the railway
service investigated this case and repor
ted that a messenger has disappeared
from his post, leaving his work to be
performed by a substitute. 'The post
master-general thinks this case Is suffi
ciently suggestive to Justify him in re
commending that a moro severe punish
ment should be provided tor the ollense
of assaulting any ktsou in charge ot
mails, or of retarding or otherwise ob
structing tiieiu by threats ot in-rsonal in
jury. A very gratifying result is pre
sented lu the luct that the ucucicucies oi
thU department during the last II seal
year was reduced to y i,os 1,71)0 is, as
against yu.iw.ujtf tss oi tne preceding
year. Tho dillcreueo can bo traced to
the large increase in tho ordinary receipts
or the post-om:e department tor the past
seven hseal years liavo Increased at an
average of over tight per cent, per an
num, while the increase ol expenditures
lor the same period has been about 4.0O
percent, per annual, and decrease 01 dcii-
fiency in the revenues has been at the
rate of nearly two per cent, per annnm.
AOHICLI.TL'IIK.
Tho report of the commissioners of
agriculture accompanying tho message
w ill bu tound one of the greatest Interest,
marking, as it docs, the great progress ot
tho last century iu thu increase of the
products ol the soil and of the kuowl
edge and skill in the labor of producing,
saving and manipulating the same to
prepare them for the use of man ; in the
Improvements iu machinery to aid the
agriculturist in his labor and knowledge
ol those scentttie subjects necessary to a
thorough system ol economy In agricul
tural production, namely chemestry,
botany and entomology, 1 his report, by
those uncreated in asiicuiiurc and do
riving their support from it, will be lound
01 vAiuc 111 pointing 0111 iiiosd articles
which are raised in greater quantity
than tho needs of the world require, and
must sell therefore lor lcs than the cost
of production, and those which command
a protu over cost ol production, because
there Is not an over-production. 1 call
special attention lo tho need ot the do
partineiit fur a new gallery for the recep
tion of the exhibits returned from the
centennial exhibition, including tho cx
hibits donated by very many foreign na
tions and to the recommendations ot the
commissioner of agriculture generally
The reports ot the district commission
ers and the board of health are just re
ceived and too late to lie read here, and
make recommendations thereon, ami are
herewith Kubmiteed.
t KSrUVMAl. KxiiiitiTiax.
The international exhibition held in
I'hihidelphia this year lu couiiiicinoia
(ion ot the one hundredth anniversary of
Amerl.kit independence, has proven
jrrcat success nnd will no doubt le of en-
during advantage to (he country. It has
mown great progress in I Hearts, sciences
and mechanical skill made In a single
century, nnd demonstrated that we are
but Utile iN-himl the older nations in any
uie brsncli, while in ome we "scarcely
have a rival. It hns served lo bring Hie
people nnd iiroducts of skill and labor
from nil pnrt of the trorld together, but
in bringing together people from all sec
lions of our country, which must prove
ot great, benefit from Information Impart
ed, nnd the pridaof tlio country engen
dered. It lias been suggested by scien
tists Interested in nnd connected with the
Smithsonian institute, in communication.
that the government exhibit be removed
to the capital nnd a suitable building 1c
erected or purchased for its accommoda
tion as a permanent eXblblf Ion. 1 earnestly
recommend this, nnd believing congress
would second this view, 1 directed that
nil the government exhibits nt the cen
tennial exhibition should remain where
they nrc, excepting such as might lie In
jured by remaining in a building not in
tended as n protection In inclement
weather, or such as may be w anted bv
the department furnishing them, until
the question of the permanent exhibition
is acted on. Although the moneys ap
propriated by congress to - enable
the participation ot the sev
eral executive departments in
the international exhibition of 1870 were
nut uili'-ieiit to earry out the undertaking
to tho full extent at first contemplated, it
ffives me pleasure to refer you to the very
ellicieiit and creditable manner in which
the board appointed from these several de
partments to provida an exhibition on the
part ol tlie ftovernuient have dischaijred
their duties with the Hindu placed at their
command, .without a precedent to iruide
them in tlie preparation of sin li a display.
The success of thedr labors was amply at-
touted by tbe sustained attention wbicb the
contents of the government building attract
ed during tlie period ot the exhibition from
botli loieigu.and native ptnplc. 1 am
strontly impressed with tha value ef the
collection made by tlie government lor pur
poses ol exhibiting, illusti sting, as it does,
the general resources ol ths country, the
statistical and practical eMonces of our
trrow tb as a nation, the list s of the mercan
tile arts, and the a plications of applied
science in the ndmiiiUtrtioti of the titl.-iirs
of the Koveruiuent. Many nutiont have
voluntarily contributed the exhibit to the
United Mates, to Increase the Interest In
any permanent exhibition congress- may
provide ior. r or this set 01 krcnerosity tucy
should receive the thank ol the peopitfi and
1 respectfully siiL'tust that a resolution of
congress to that til net be adopted.
S U K.I. U APRS I OK KLKCTION9
The attention of centres cannot he too
earnestly called too the iiecenbity of throw
ing some greater salPKUaru around tin;
thoomii' aud declaring the tlu4ion or a
president. Under the present system there
seems to be 110 provided remedy lor con
testily the election in anyone state. The
remedy is partmllv in doubt. Lnlichten-
nicntoflhe electors, tlie compulsory sup
port of the free school, aud tbe dislraiicliisc-
ment of nil who cannot read and write the
KnidNu language alter a fixed probation
would meet my hearty approval. I would
not make this apply, however, to those al
ready vote rs, bill 1 would to all becoming so
after the expiration of a probation tixe.l
upon. Foreigner coming to this county to
become eiticns who are educated iu lueir
own hniuaire would acquire the requisite
knowledge ol ours, durimr tue nct.-sary
residence, to obtain naturalization. If they
didimltakb enou-jii interest in our lan
glials to acquire sullicieut knowledge of it
to enable luem to study the iiintitntioi.s and
laws of the coujitry intelligently, I would
not confer upon them the rlht to make and
enact iv, not to suit those w ho iio.
AIIF.MK1.
I append to this message for convenient
reference a svnopsis of administrative
events and ol all recommendations to con-
T res by me during tbe last seven year
line inav show some ot those recommenda
tions not to have been wisely lonct'ised
but I believe the laiver part will be no dis
credit to the administration. Oueolthesu
recommendations met with the united op
position ol one political party In the senate,
and with a strouk'Oppositiou Iroiu tbe other
namely the treat) lor the annexation ol
santo Domintro to the landed stales, to
which 1 i-h:i!l specially refer, maiutaiiiiuic.
as I do. that if my view had been concur
red in, the country w ould be In a more pros
perous condition to-day, both politically
and nnuiieially.
SASTO DOMINGO
Is fertile, and upon its soil mav be crown
just tlioso tropical product ol wbicb the.
I nited .States u-i ho much, aud which are
produced or prepared lor the market now
by slave labor almost exclusively, namely.
suar, collee, dyewoods, mahogany, tropi
cal iruiti, tobacco, etc. About per cent.
of the ex porta of C'uba are consumed in the
I. nited Mates. A larie percentage ol tbe
exports ol brazil also tiud the same market
there, are paid lor almost exclusive
ly lu coin, legislation, particularly in Cuba,
iieing unfavorable to a mutual exchange, of
the product ol euch country. Flour ship
ped irohl the AlistfisMippi nver to llavaua
can pass by the very entrance to t he city oh
iu wav to a portion ot Spain, then pay
duty tixed upon articles to bo re-e vworted,
transfcired to a Spanish vessel and brought
back almost to tho point oi utartiug, payiu
a second duty, and still leave a profit over
w hat would be received by direct shipment,
Ail thai is produced 111 Cnna c.oiihi oe pro
duced in Sauto Domingo, lieing a pail of
the United Mate the commerce between
tbe island and the main land w ould be free
there would be 110 export duties 011 her
shipments nor import duties on those xmu-
lie; here. There would be no impoi tdutics
upou the supplies, maeainery, etc., going
irom tue slates. I he ellocl that would
have becui produced upon Cuban commerce
with these advantages to Amein a, i ob
servable at a glance. 'The Cuban question
would have been settled long ago in lavor or
free Cuba. Hundred of American vessels
would now ho advantageously used in trans
porting the valuable wood-, ami other pro
ducts ol the soil of the island to a market
and in carrying supplies and emigrants to
11. J lie l.luiid Is hut sparsely settled, while
it has an area sufficient for the i.ioduction
and employment of seveial millions of peo
ple. Tbe soil would have soon fallen into
the hands ol United States capitalists. The
products arc ho valuable in commerce that
einija.-'tlon there would have been encour-
oged. t he emancipated lace of the South
would nave round there a coiureulal home
where their civil rights could uot be di-pu
ted, and where their lalor would be niucb
sought alter, the poorest among them
could have found means to go thus In case
01 great oppression and cruelties, suc.u as
has been practiced upon them 111 many pla
ces within the laat eleven years. Whole
communities would have sought rsluge in
an I'oimngo. I do not supposo tne w hole
race would nave gone, nor ! it desirable
that they should go. Their labor is di
siruble, indispensable, almost, where they
now are ; but tne possession or this territo
ry would have leit tne negro master or tbe
situation by enabling him to amend bis
rights ut home on paiu ol sendim; them else
where. 1 do not present these views now
a a recommendation for the renewal ol the
subject ol unuexatiou, but 1 do refer to it to
Vindicate my previous action 111 regard to it.
CON'CLVSION.
With the present congress my official Hie
terminates. It is not probablo public tUairs
will ever again receive attention iroiu me
further thau as a citizen of the republic
always taking a deep interest In tbe honor
and integrity ami prosperity of tbe whole
land.
Signed U. S. (in. int.
Kxki'I'tivc Mansion, Doe. !, ls7tl.
P. CUHL,
Kxcluslvr
Flour Merchant
axi i,
Millers' Agent.
No (0 Ohio Ive,
CAIRO, ILLINOIS. '
T Stf.
Ay er's Cathartic Pilltf,
Tot all ths purposes of a Family Physio i
and for ourluKOoetivenau, Jaundice,
Indigestion, Foul Btomaon, ream,
Jeadaohe, Krysipela. Hhetuna- ,
I mm, Eruptions and Skin Diseases,
Uillominc, Dropsy, Tumors,
Worms, Nouralaiat as a Din
. u.n n.Minr.iMtfh.niviil. '
. a, aia, u. ...& "w-p . ,
An: tne most
eflectlvo j and
congenial pur- ,
gal ivc ever dis
covered. They
are mild, but.
otrectnal Hi
their opera-
tlon, moving
the I) 0 w c I h ,
surely suit
without pain.
Although gen
tle lu their op
eration, they
arc Mill the most thorough and nearch
ing cathnrtlc medicine that can Im
employed : cleansing the stomach nnd
bowels, nnd even the blood. In small
doses of one pill a day, they stimulate)
the digestive organs and promote vig
orous health.
Aykk's I'ili.9 have been known for
more than a quarter of a century, and
have obtained a world-wide reputation
for their virtues. They correct dis
eased action In the several assimila
tive organs of tlio body, and are bi
composed that obstructions within
their range can rarely withstand or
evade them. Not only do they euro
the evcry-day complaints of every
body, but also formidable and danger
ous diseases that have baffled tho best
of human skill. While tiicy produce
powerful effects, they are, at the sama
time, the safest ami best physic for
children. Hy their aperient action
they prlpc much less than tho common
purgatives, and never give paiu when
the bowels are not Inflamed. They
reach the vital fountains of the blood,
and sticiigthcu tho system by freeing,
H from the elements of weakness.
Adapted to all ages and conditions
in all climates, containing neither
calomel nor any - deleterious drug,
these Pills may lx taken with safety
by anybody. The It sugar-coating pre
serves them ever fresh and makes
them pleasant to take; while being,
purely vegetable, no harm can arise
from their use iu any quantity.
raaraaco Br
Dr. J. C. AYER & CO., Lowell, Mass..
Practical a ad AautlrUe! tatnUU.
SOLO BIT ALL IdtUOGlBTS r.VBBTWHBBR.
JACOB WALTER,
BUTCHER
Dealer in Fresh Meat
EIGHTH TREET.
Between WaablnrSoQ mod Gomturcl
Avenues, adjoining Hanny'a.
KKKPS for ! the beat lWf, Park, Bluttoa
Wl, luit, aiiM, Ac . aud la pra
r.t ti a.rv rinllh itt au ajwn.tahli Mia ivf
:.iiJ?Wp:
I us; t:
ML..;
AND
AGUE
t ti
. v -'-A
II. .f.
A Curious Good Thing
'iblt vtr.tit 1 1 I j (.til. .
ET VVT 411.
l-tvrrnJ Xiu.iif tri i firm,
I ft ' ot .. I ! r.
I'Mln lit ft. U -fc. McM-ti. !.
1 mn to r iw r rMr fruta Toe
part Lltr ! I ..; ft 1 1 taw.
-Sn fttur ttn 4 t: uttered.
I rt;l. a(- I v. ill, 1 it, (. ronmoiMJa, rom I,
fcljBut lt ion , a,. 1 1 t tt it 1 si ' :t r au i t 0111-.h i nie It
fttHi. ItttsICk 1nt til' tUlii Oil- VtK.W 3Jlal4-
lilt 14 lid tillluUft k'WiU.
I. V. Ft. Hit I-:
I tnk ttnni lu ttttf) dc that fi' tnmtt'i Akv
I'it l hmw 1 Ui.l iiM- i.ti'n LIU k) til- iiim.iv . ot tha
lull, mini, in aV-lJitifti lttin.it h pTtnmUnSilf
r urcrl niu ot ia t ' rftU li ti -l tt.u hv.-, tiuh tn
tntjjt i-,t uitf 4 rt"iM hi lttK.w.i kitm k ; til, an
K (i.i.m-.jUcihb, I itijj in, HjOtUa; L-arttu. tiU lb ft la
hate 1V tc..v '.
Kt'ajlHri ffulW T' lilt).
JM' l. 1 noftNTftM,
A ttl0 t i't'ftl Ilia..! I . 1 l.l I tit Mil ,
' !. 1 hirf.tli l H tl lt"W , . r.ttiMiM.t-r ( f
u liHiiku bviiA.iit iu lL i t.u ii.j lai
utoa,
f'r.' U i)t tvij. I mail wltt-ii JrutrgivW Jo m t
ltt-p I tii-iu . It I f-l iKH.k l IttttllilliX lull, tl VltlUttljl
iiifuribntiou tiluut Ibiaf wutj'jix lui l urutivt.
Dr. D. W. FaircMld. Prop., Cincinnati, 0.
O AUTEOKT !
t ike vv..rvtlinr lii..l.lo HOLM A N'rt KKVtK
A No Ai.l U AMI llVk.ii tM)M, itut l s-J
th.i till I'.r oilli m iiaiiuiial i.pnUilKu fi r
thxir rfli. tv, A it IC IlKINO t:ol N'l KaralTEO
AMI IMri ATH) ty Llumay t-iui.rii a, fcuil uikI.t
bflicr iipi-a. llllln ara .1 i..u41y ri.iiiu, iibvr nn
lli-r lliau au muili taw Juat. l ilKV AKK UASk
r K A 1. 1M : i.'tl.ii tip to 11 iri tKM r-ptituua tf Oh
(euiiiiic. I'.I'V Nli! hi T NiI.M AN'H, likAHI.NO
II IS ii'T( UK AMI Mi; N A'l IKK. ibeivliy avuij
liMMCPiiliituiria auii l;up-ji.iti'iu.
ARE PAID
dinlltii in line of dut;
Ery
Soldier
uty. U by
aceidant or oinenaw.
WOUNO of any kind. Ilia
lo, of a l'lnir)r or Tf or
ihelo,aof aoEjre.a HI Pa
TUHE, if bat .light, gitt a
Dension. Diwiw of I.UVHB
or Varlcoae Vein 11 give a
petition. BOUNTV.-U
tiiacbarged for wound, iniurie
or rupture, you get full boun
ty. -Scnd 'i (tamp far
copy of Pension and Bounty
AclM. Address all letters IO
r.8.riTZ3ElULD.
U. S. Claim Agent, indlanatw
. a
all., lad. rO ail tetiera
.rv p. o. nox a.
tsTAHLlSHKD 1845.
WILSON, EGGLESTON & CO.,
COMMISSION MERCHANTS,
Dealers In
Flour, Grain, Seeds, & Provision.
21 WEST CANAL STREET,
CINCINNATI, O.
$3T ConiiKBinenti noliclteJ. U-t-J lm
1,.00 PROFIT DllijO
Mad. any day in " CalU- ,nv,M cc""li4f
Made any nay STOCK PK1 V
tu your '" "s . .
U KUrS, hat broftt-H an,t" to t" c"1
investor. VVeadvi. when and how to OptKA I K
KAfr r l V Hook with full huWinalioa 4txtrt
A Jdtc!.oror & n1 ' W
m. BAZTES ft CO., 1
Sankra as4 Brkra 17 Wall U , H I
