padford ligotta. X. 0. GOODRICH, RDITOIL Towanda, Pa - ., Thinslay, Deo. 4, 1879 Tan Chairman of the late 'Republican County Convention has appointed. BENJ. M. Psca, Esq....stof this place, at Chair. -rinit of the County Committee , for the coming year.i-The next political cam , -,paign will be One of untusuatimportancey and the Republieant of the °County map -be congratulat : ed upon the fortunate. selection virki* has been made. It en sures a vigoroo and effective marshalling of-the Republican forces. The present Chairman, HARRY &TREE - TER, Esq., who bqifoitwo years so well and ably filled the place, has displayed groat efficiency and ability, and has ren dered valuable services to the party. He is, entitled tO commendation and; the thanks of the Republican voters. Tun great length of the President's lilessve excludes our usual editorial and . - news items. TUE programme for the reception of General GI ANT in Philadelphia includes' a grand parade and numerous public and private receptiOns, Tai t,. Erie Railway Depot at Hornells ville, Y., was entirely destroyed by lire on Sunday morning.. The contents; wore mostly saved. Rename' dining' saloon connected 'with the depot, was also destriiyed. AT Saturday's morning session of the Court at Harrisburg several of the patties indicted for corrupt ,solicitation in con nection with the ri,t losses bill appeared and renewed the sail for their appear ance at the Janua term of Court. SOME rascal stoke a copy of the Presi denrs Messag9, and' sold it to the news papers, who consider such transactions an.evideace of enterprise. It w:9.s 'pub lished in full, in New -York and Chicago papers, Sunday, a day in advance of its delivery to Congress. tnr. Reading Daily Eagle is responsible for the statement that after the first of next January,l, it is rumored, Mr. Mc- Will leave the editorial chair of the Philadelphia TOnes and study to be an Episcopal minater. It is said that latterly Mr. McCLURE's mind has been iiiinch impressed with theological topics, ;and now be thinks he can do more good as clergyman than-in any other field. THE suggestion of the President that -the anti on tea and coffee, which was re moved some years ago, be again imposed, will probahly be adopted by Congress. It is a somewhat singular fact, that the re moval of the duty did not reduce the price to the consumer, while it decreased the revenue several millions of dollars Such, also, was the experience in the case of quinine which is now admitted free, while the price has not been reduchd. PROBABLY the. largest single financial transaction ever made in this country, is the-recent sale by W. H. VANDEBBILT to a syndicate composed of New York and London bankers, and managers of the Wabash system of railroads, of $25,000,- 0M of New York Central Stock, which is one-half of the stock's in that road owned by Mr. V. It& effect will be the union of two great railroad interests which heretofore have been hostile. THE Democracy. in the the last session of Congress subordinated :„evcrything to the removal of all obstacles in the way of fraudulent voting in New York City, hopin), by dishonesty there' to make the State certain for the Democratic candi d.tte in 1880. 'Happily the Go'vrnor and Legislature:will be Republican' and pro visions against election fraudk4an be en acted and eUforced by the Stait au hori ties. • ! EVE pliCe before ourpaders this week in full the Annual Me Age of President fAvEs. is MC of th clearest and most ,concise messages which we have ever, pub-, The Presideu -nieets the absorb ing public questions of the'day with frank ness, and treats them with great abil)ty, clearness and decision. His statements and suggestions cannot fail 'to meet the approval of every unprejudiced reader. We commend the message to the careful consideration of our readers, who would be informed as to the present -condition, political and otherwise, of, the country. THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED . The conspiracy of Dein°erotic officials to defeat. the will of the , people of Maine, is, unfortunately for • the record of that party, not 'a new departure. But we see that the revet Democratic papers have seized upon the fact to read the Republi ' cans a homily on fair dealing. These remarkably wise. journals mention the conspiracy as an illustration of " curses, like chickens, come home to ,rpost." The particular chickensial luded to are .alleged to have been -.hatched in Florida and • LouiSiana, under Republican auspices Were it to be ; admitted that the Republicans ever ilefeated 'Abe will - of the people in those States, the cases wetild in no respect be •parallel. The cnnvas - s in Maine was conducted regularly. There was no bulldozing on either side, and no class of citizens entitled to vote were hindered from votinV Charges of irregularities were made subsequent to the election, and those charges were investigated and found not Well . fohnded., There is no evi deneetot! show, that frauds nylon the ballot were !perpetrated, and such as were alleged did not alter the general - result. -* The conspiracy in Maine has no parallel in the record of the liean party. Its parallel, if sought, can be found only in the record of the Democratic party. The Plaque mine frauds constitute the first extra ordinary departure of that party froni \reasonably, fair defiling.' Do t scentling to the era of the Kansas troubles, similar eonspiracies to nul lify the will of the people were con ccietea and carried out bybemocrati in high places. Coming down still further we come to the systematized defeat of the will of the people under the joint conduct of TILDEN and Twm. Still more recent are the open and avowed attempts to de- feat a fair expression of the popular will in many, if not, inde., in all the Southern States. And 'when the action of a Democratic RoUO E4l - dered, in its unseating of ?Republi cans and seating Democrats who were never elected, according Democratic testimony, the parallel ism is rendered complete. The - chickens have gone home - to roost, indeed, in all the ages Of con- spiracy. But they have gone home to roost with the Democratic party. When its leaders lost - all confidence in the masses and went into whole ' sale cheating in elections they check ed the growth of the party and every year crowded it ftirther and further from its position as the party of the people. After the Plaquemine frauds upon which were built the futures of several' noted Louisiana politicians, disasters began to dog the heelis of Democracy. After the bold icon spiracy against liberty in th'West' the hold.of the party upon public sentiment in the free North and West was loosed, and finally loit forever. For it is not probable that the party will ever again dominate the North and West., Its leaders sinned be yond popular forgiveness. The party has gained power in a State, now here and now there, in the North and - West, but only for the hour, , and never with any show of an actual majority. Its hopes are based on adventitious aids, and hopes so based are ever illusory. As to the late Conspiracies of Demo crats they need not be recounted here. But from their grand conspiracy against universal suffrage in the South to their attempt to revolutionize the Government last winter was but a step. That they would conspire to defeat the voice of the people in . Maine is not in the least to be dotibt,- ed or wondered at. The voice of the people is the voice of the Almighty, and they have tried to stifle the voice of God in human affairs for a quarter of a century. TILE Elmira Advertiser takes the Will iamsport Bulletin to task for saying that When WILMOT and Gnow cat loose from the Democratic party, they took with them the voters of certain of the North ern counties of this State, and comments upon the political action of the past, tic) far as the people of this county is con: .cerned, in a way that evinces gross ignor ance or a„I factious disposition to detract from the praise should be awarded the pioneers in the Free Soil movement. Not- . withstanding the assertion of the Adver tiser, there are those still living, and who weie competent to judge, who believe that to DAVID WILMOT in a great meas ure. is due the credit of indoctrinating the people of this county, at least, with anti slavery sentiments and exposing the' plans of the slavery-propagandists, and of arousing public opposition to the attempt ed spread of slavery., There was no more reliable Democratic county than Bradford until WILMOT cut loose from the Demo cratic party. The work was not 'accom plished in a single year, but by his earnest eloquence, by his emphatic warnings, by his bold oppo ition, he had sown the seed, and when he refused to bow to the dicta tation of the slave Aigarchy, the people , were prepared to stand by sand sustain him. For once, the leader was in ad vance (if the people, but his consistency and his courage bore good fruit, and an intelligent and honest constituency stood by him faithfully. It required an unusual amount of moral courage to take the course pursued by Mr. WILMOT. It run counter to all the discipline and force of the dominant and/ powerful Democratic organization. Ile had to encounter not only the stern and proscriptive opposition of those who ruled the party and the nation, but submit to the prejudice which was generally felt against the abolitionists. There was eve rything in his case to attach him to the Democratic party, so far/ as self-interest _ was concerned, but intlexibleri his devo tion to the right, he 'persevered in the course • his, conscience pointkd out as the Right. He was not a leade in the sense in which the Advertiser wotild have it; but he was a ,born leader, itilthat he *as always in advance of public sentiment. The 4,675 majority for FREMONT in Bradford county, in the memorable cam= ,paign of .1856, 'was due to. DAVID WIT; ROT'S teachings more than to any other cause, and the vote was cast on principle, and not to gratify resentments caused by party squabbles., Mr. Gnow was a young man when the people of Northern Pennsylvania left tho old parties and organized the Republican party. Be had no great part in creating the feeling which has made such great R. publican majorities. But the people p t i the cause in his itands, and he has faitll, l fully and efficiently guarded it since he was called to take - Mr. WILMQT'S place in Congress. While we are alluding to the past, and acknowledging the services of those who fought the battles of Freedom, it is put just to say that next to Mr. WlLmar, no man In this section of the State, has done the cause more efficient service, nor de serves more credit for big zeal and con sistency than QEOn6 . E LANDOIq. Hip labors were invaluable, and were freely and unselfishly given. In the in prayer, and upon the rostrum, his brilliant utterances for Freedom and his burning and indignant denunciation of the great crime of human bondage told most effectually, and those who sat under 'his teachings were and will continue to be, the,.,moi3t reliable and unswerving Idlers •in the ranks. He was an elo quent, sincere, and efficient co-worker with Mr. WILMOT, and in his sphere, whichby no means a narrow one, no one . bas ever done a cause more signal service, than has been rendered by him. In re (as the lawyers would say) or the matter of the bribery cases at Harris burg, Judge PEAESOI: quashed the indict ment against SALTER, on the ground that that the presence 'of the twenty-fourth grand juror was illegal—as he was held to b - ri an unworn and unauthorized stranger, who the Judge said should have been "thrown out of the window." The counsel for the defendants then lik ed that the decision should rule. all the cases, but the Commonwealth claimed to have discovered new evidence, and the case of LETSERRING was taken np, and de bated by the lawyers for AT days. Judge PRAnsert reserved his decision until Dec. Stli. The cases ,cannot be tried until January term,. as the jury has been dis charged. Should the indicts ients be quashed new bills will be laid before the grand jury at that term. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Fe&no-citizensyf the Senate and House of Rep- . The members of thtf Indials Congress havaasiembled in their finit regular merdou under eiininiudances Ceiling kir mutual a it patnlations and grateful achnowledgment to the Gird of all good for tiai ri l4e and taut • - mai measure of. national i p rosper ity which we now enjoy:- The most inter ing events which have occurred in our public effete' -since my last annual. Message' to Congreis are connected with the financial oper.ttions of .the. ,Govetturrent, directly r afecaniz the business intmsts of - the country.. I -Con gratulate Congress on. the successful execu tion of the Resumption art. - At the time fixed. and in the Manner contemplated. b) law. United States'notes began to be redeem ell in coin. Since the:let of Jatunry List they have been proniptly redeemd on pre sentation, and in all brisiness transactions. public and private, in all parts of theicoun try, they are reMvecl and paid m ut as the equivalent of coin. The demand upon the Treasury for gold and silver iu exchange for United Staten notes has been comparatively small, and the voluntary dePosit et coin. and bullion in exchange for notes bis been very large, The excetra of the precious metals deposited or exchanged . for United States notes, over the amount. of United States notes redeenied, is about $40:000,000. . The resumption' oi specie wments has been followed by a very great revival of business. With a currency equivalent in value-to the money of the commeicial world, we are enabled to enter upon Su equarcom petition with other nations in trade and production. The increasing foreign demand for du' manufactures and agriciiitural pro ducts has caused a large balance of trate in our favor, which fias been paid in gold Irons the Ist of July hist to Nov. 15, to the amount of about Since The resumption of. specie- payments there has alio- been 'a marked'and gratifying improvt trent of the public credit. .The bonds of the Govern ment, bearing only 4 per cent. interest, have been sold at or above par, sufficient in amount to pay off all of tke national debt which was redeemable under present laws. The amount of interest saved - annually by the process of refunding the sdebt since March 1, 1877,, is $14,297,177. : The bonds Sold were largely iu small sums. said the number of our • citizens now holding the public securities is Much greater thin ever before. , The amount of the national debt whirl matures within less than two, years is $791,- 121;700, of which $500,000,000 bear interest at the rate of 5 per cent., and the balance is in bonds bearing 6 per cent. interest. It is believed that this part of the public debt can be refunded by •the issue of 4 per cent. bonds, and by the reduction of interest which will thus be effected, about $11,000,- 000 can be annually saved to the Treasury. To secure this important reduction of inter est to be paid by the United tates, further legislation is required, whitlb, it is hoped, will be provided by Congiess during its present session. The coinage of gold by the -ilints.of the United States during the last fiscal year was $40,986,912. Tho coinage of silver dollars since the passage of the act for that purpose, up to Nov. 1, 1879, was $45,000,850, Of which $12,700,344 have. been issued from the Treasury 4nd are now in circulation, and $32,300,5 are still in the possession of the Goverment. The pendency of the_propo &Won for unity of action between the United States and the principal commercial nations of Europe. to effect a permanent system for the equality ot .gold aild silver in the recog nized money of the world, leads me to re commend that Congress refrain from new legislation ou the general subject. The' great revival of trade, internal and foreign, will supply, during the coming year, its own instructions, which may well he awaited be fore attempting further experimental meas ures with 'the coinage. I would, however, strongly urge upon Congress the importance of authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend the coinage of silver dollars upon the present legal ratio. The market value of the silver dollar being uniformly and largely less than the market value of the gold dollar, it is 'obviously impracticable to maintain Steal at par with each other if both are coined without limit. If the •cheaper coin is forced into circulation it will, if coined without limit; soon become the sole standard or value, and thus defeat the de sired, object, which is a currency of both gold and eilver, which shall be of equiva lent value, dollar for dollar, with the uni versally recognized money of 'the world. The retirement from circulation' of United States notes, with - the capacity of, legal ten der in- private contracts, is astep to be taken in our progress toward a safe and stable currency, Which should be accepted as the policy and 'duty of the Goveinment, And thb interest and security of the people. It is my firm conviction that the issue of legal tender paper money, based wholly upon the au thority and credit of the Government, ex cept in extreme emergency, is without war rant in the Constitution, and• a violation of sound finaucial principles: The issue of United Slates notes during the late civil war, with the capacity of legal tender between private individuals, was not authorized ex cept as a means of rescuing the country from imminent peril The circulation of these notes ae,paper money for any protract ed period of time after the accomplishment of ,this purpose was not contemplated by the fiamers of the-law under which they were _issued. They !anticipated the redemption and withdrawal of these notes at the earliest practicable period, consistent with the at tainment of the object foe; Which they were provided. The policy of the United States. steadily adhered to from the adoption of the Constitution, has been to avoid the creation of a national debt, and when, from necessity, in the time-of war, debts have been created, they have been- paid off 'on the return of peace as rapidly as possible. With this view, and for this purpose, it is recommend ed that the iexisting laws for the accumnLi tion of a sinking fund sufficient to extin guish the public debt; within a limited period be thaintainek If any change of the objects or -rates of taxation is deemed neces sary by Congress, it isimggested that experi ence has shown that aduty can be placed on tea and coffee,' which will not enhance the price . of those articles to the consumer, and which will add several millions of dollars annually to the Treasury. THE SUPPRESSION OF POLTGAMT. The continued_ deliberate violation by a. large number of the prominent and influen tial citizens of the Territory of Utah of the laws of the United States for the prosecn tiou and punishment of polygamy; demands the attention oft every department of the Government. This Territory has a popula tion sufficient to entitle it Lb admission as a State, and the general interests of the na tion, as well as the welfare of the citizens of the Territory, require its advance from the territorial form of government to the re sponsibilities and privileges of a State. This important change will not, however, be ap proved by the country while the citizens of Utah, in very considerable number, uphold a practice which- is Condemned as a crime by the laws of all civilized communities throughout the world. The law for the sup pression of this offense was' enacted with great unanimity by Congress more than 17 years ago,- but has remained until recently a dead letterin the Territory of Utah, because of the peculiar difficultia attending its-en forcement. The opinion widely prevailed acting the citizens of Utah that the law way in contravention of the constitutional guar antefi of religions freedoni. This objection is now removed. The Supreme Court of the United States has decided the law to 'be within the legislative power of Congrees, 'and binding, as, a rule of action, for all who resided within the Territoriete There is no longer any reason for delay or hesitation in its enforcement. It. should 6e , firmly and effectively executed. If not sufficiently stringent in its provisions, it should be amended, and, in aid of the purpose in view, I recommend that more comprehensive and more searching .methods for preventing, as well as punishing,-this crime be, provided. If necessary to secure obedience to the laW, thp enjoyment and eiercise of the rights and privileges of citizenship in he Territories of the United States mayj he withheld or withdrawn from those wholviolate or oppfte the enforcement of the law'an this subject. The elections of the past year, though oo pied only with State offices, have not failed to elicit, in, the political discussions which attended them all over the country, new and decisive evidence of the deep interest which the great body of • citizens take in the pro gress of the country toward a more general and complete establishment, at whatever oast, of i universal security and freedom in the exercise of the elective franchise. While, many 'topics of politital concern demand' great attention from our people, both in the sphere bf national and State authority, find no reason to qualify the opinion I ex pressed in my last annual Message, that no temporary or administrative interests of, government, however ;urgent or weighty. Will ever display the zeal of oar people in defense of the primary rights of citizenship. and that the power'of public opinion , will override all -political prejudices and all sec tional and State attachments, iirdenuending that all over our wide territory the nameand character of cittzen of the United States shall wan one and 'the same thing; and carry with them' unchallenged security and respect. .I earnestly appeal to the intelli. genre and patriotism of all good citizens, of every pail of the; country, however much they may,ba divided in opinions on other politiciV subjects, to unite in compelling obedience to existing laws Aimed at the pro tection of the right of sang& I respect- . fully orgi upon. Congress to supply soy defects in them lairs which . , experience has shown, and Ithfcli it- Is within its power to 'remedy.. I again Invoke the ca-qporation of the Zucative and I,egialatitre arithorities of , the States in this great purpose. ' am fully convinced that if ttie public mind .can be set at rest an this paramount question at popu lar viy,htis, no sericite Objecbi will thwart or sdelay,the tobtplete paciandlon of the coun try, or retard .the . gentral diffusion. of pros •perity autinamoTaz CIVIL SERVICE. /n.a former. Altartaiga. I invited the , Mien i ion - of Congress to the subject of ,thri refor mation of the civil service of the Government and t :pressed the intention of transmitting to CAbilgiV" as OOrly as. practilable. a report "upon this "abject by the Chairman nu the Civil Service Conniaissiou. In view of. the Cacti; that Awing a considerable period the Government of Grsid Britain has been deal ing v. ith • administrative problems and Miriam, in various particulars analogous to those presented in this country, and that, in recent years, the , mensures adopted were understood to have been e ff ective and in every respect hid fly satilstactory, I thought it desirable to have fuller information upon subject, and accordingl y requested the Chairman of the Civil lierloce Commission to make a thorough investigation for this purpose. The result has been an elaborate and comprehensive report. The report sets, forth the history of the partisan spoils sys tem in t reat Britain and of the rise and fall of the 'Parliamentary patronage, and ,of official interference with the freedom of elections. It shows that, after long trial; of various kinds of examinations, those which are competitive and open on equal terms to all, and which are carried ou under the superintendence of a - single commission, have with greet advantage been estahlisha as conditions of admission to almoit every official place in the subordinate administra tion of that country and of British India. The completion of the_ report, owing to the extent of the labor involved in its prepara tion, and the omission of Congress to, make any provision either for the compensation or the expenses of the commission, has been postponed until the present time. It is herewith transiiitted_to Congress. While the reform measures of another Givernmeut are of no authority for us, they are entitled to influence to the extent to which their iu triton,: wisdom and-their adaptation to our institutions end 'social . life may commend them to oar consideration. - The views I have-heretofore exprevled con. ceruing the detects and abuses in our - civil adruinistnition remain unchanged except in so fares an enlarged experience has opened my seuso of the duty, both of oftleors anti of the people theniselvce, to co.operato tor'Qa Lir removal. The grave evils anti perils of a partisan spoils systetn of appointment to office and of office tenure are now paierally recognized. In the resolutions of the great parties, in the, reports of departments, in the debates and proceedings of Congress, in the Mesisages of Executives, the, gravity of these evils has been pointed net and the need of their reform has been adrbitted. To command the necessarysupport,' every measure of reform must be bused on common right and justice, and must be compatible with the healthy existence of great parties, which are inevitable and essential in a free State. IVhen the people have approved a policy at a national election, confidence on the part of .the officers they have selected and of the ndvisers who, in accordance with our political institutions, should be consult ed in the policy which it is their duty to carry into effect is iudispensible. It is emi nently proper that they should explain it before the people as well as ;illustrate its spirit in the performance of their, official duties. It hardly need be pointed out that very different considerations apply to the greater number of those who fill the subordinate places in the civil service. Their responsi bility is to their superiors in official position. It is their duty to obey the legal instructions of those upon whom that authority' is de volved, and their best public, service con sists in the discharge of . their functions respective of partisan politics. Their duties are t' same whatever party is in power, and whatever policy prevails. As a consequence, it follows that their tenure of office should not depend upon the prevalence of any poli cy, or the 'supremacy of any party, but should be determined by _ their capacity to serve the peeple most usefully, quite irre spective of , ' partisan interests. The same consideratiothirthat should govern the tenure should Also pfevail in the appointaient; die cipline, and removal of these subordinates. The authority of appOintment add removal is not ft perquisite which may be used to aid a friend or reward a partisan, but is a trust to be exercised in the public' interest under all the sanctions which attend the obligation to apply the public funds only for public purposes. Every citizen has an equal right to the honor and profit of entering the pub lic service 'of his country. The only just ground of discrimination is the measure of character and capacity he has to make that service most useful to the people. Except in - eases where, upon just and recognized principles, as upon' the theory of pensions, offices -and promotions are bestowed as re wards for past services, their bestowal upon any theory which dittreg 'Ms personal merit is an act of injustice to the citizen, as well as a bleach of that trust subject to which the appointing power is held. • PEOPER METHODS OF ICIAMINATION. .Itithe light of these principle, it becomes of great importance to provide just and adequate means, especially for every depart ment and large administrative office where personal discrimination on the part of its head Is net practicable,for ascei_taining those qualifications to which appointments and re movals should have reference. To tail to pro vide such: means is not only to deny the op portunity of , ascertaining the facts upon which the most righteous claim .to office depends, - but of occes.-ity to discourage wor thy aspirants by handing over appointments end removals to more influence attdlavorit i‘m If it is the right of the viorthiest claimant to gain the appointmerit, and the interest of the people to bestow it upon him, it would seem clear that a wise and just method of ascertaining personal fitness for office must need be nn important and permanent lune; tion of `every just and wise Government. It has long since become impossible, in the great offices, for those having,:the duty of nomination and appointment 'to personally examine into the individual qualifications of more than a small proportion of those seek ing office, and with the enlargement - of civil service that proportion must continue to become less. In the earlier years of the Government, the subordinate offices were so few in number that it was easy for those making appointments and promotions to personally ascertain the merits of the condi dam Party managers and methodi had 'not then become powerful agencies of coer cion, hostile to the free and just-exercise of the appointing power. A large and responsible part itf the duty of restoring the civil service to the desired purity and efficiency rests upon the Proli dent, end it has been my 'purpose to do what is within my power to advance such prudent and gradual measures of reform as will mo-t surely and rapidly bring about that radical change of system essential to make our ad ministration methods satis'actory 'to a free and intelligent people. By a proper exercise of authority it is in the power of the Execu. Hata° do much to promote such a reform. But it cannot be too clearly understood that nothing adequate can be accomplished with out co-operation on the part of Congress, and considerate and intelligent support among the people.. Reforms which chal lenge the generally accepted theories of,,par ties, and demand changes in the methods of departments, are- not the work of a day. Their permanent foundations must be laid in sound principles, and in -an experience which demonstrates their wisdom and ex. poses the errors of their adversaries. Every worthy officer desires to maker his official action a gain and an boiler to his country, but the people themselves, far •morts than their officers in public station, are interested in a pure, economical, and vigorous adminis tration. • By laws enacted in' 1853 and 1855, and now in substance incorporated in the . Re vised Statutes, the practice of arbitrary ap. pointments to the several subordinate grades in the , great departments was condemned ; ant examinations as to capacity, to be con do ted by departmental boards of examin ers, were provided for and made conditions of admission to the public' service.- These statutes are a decision by Congress that ex aminations of some sort as to attainments and capacity are essential to the well-being of the public service: 1 1 The important ques tions since the. enactment of these laws eve been as to the character of these examine, tiona and whether official favor and partisan influence or common right and merit were'to control the access to the examinations. In puttee, these examinations have not always, been open to worthy persons generally who might wish to be examined ; official favorite- ism and partisan influence, as a rule, appear to hays designatedthose who alone Were per mitted to go before the examining boards, subjecting even the examiners to a pressure from the triends of the candidates.very diffi cult to resist. As a consequence, the stan dard of admission fell below that which the public interest demanded. It was almost in evitable that a system which proiided for va rious separate boards of examiners, with no common supervision or uniform method of. procedure, should - result in confusion, in consistency, and inadequate tests of capaci ty, highly detrimental to the.publio interest, A further and more radical change was ob. 'lonely required. In the *will tileccwq Decienther. 1870. my P ; Metal* , -Ita 4 that "there is no duty whlehliso_iimaa dammed the Eascutitsand'aidtof depart. mints se that of appointudiate, nor it Mite any suchuanous andthaithlem labor luiptie. ad on &mann and - Itepreeentatives as tlist of finding pleas foroonstithenta The priar eat mien doss not metre the bat Sia,P l o- lottiinnot evenAt men. (Or the PAW° Palm IThe elevation and purification of the civil service of the Government willl - tie hailed with approval by the wholeipeople of the United States." Congress accordingly pees. ed the act; approved March 3. 111171. "to Ph gulate the civil service of the United States and promote the efaclency thereof." giving the necessary authority to the Executive to institute a civil service reform._ . 1 • . ROIL or nut coinosnox. Acting under this statute, which was in terpreted as intended to secure a system of just and effectual examinations. under uni form supervision. a number of eminent com petent persona were selected for the purpose, who entered with seal upon the discharge of their dutieti, prepared with an intelligent ap preciationief the r quire/meats of the orrice the regubitiens contemplated. and took cbirge of the examinations. and who, - in their capacity as 5 board, have been known SS the . "Civil Elervice;Commiasion." Con gress fur two years appropriated the money needed for the compensation and for the ex pense of carrying on the work of the com mission. It appears from the report of the commission, submitted to the President in • April, 1874, that 'examinations had been held In various sections of the country. and that an appropriation of about s2s.ooo!wonld be required to meet the annual expenaes, facie= ding salaries, involved in 'discharging the duties of the commission. The report was transmitted to Congress by special Message of April - 18. 1874; Isith the following favorable comment upon, the la bors of the commission : If sustained by Congress, I hive no doubt the rules can, af ter the experience gained, be so improved and enforced as to still more materially ben eat the public service and relieve the,Execn tive, members of Congress, and the beads of departments from influences prejudicial to good administration. The 'rules, as they have hitherto been enforced, hero resulted beneficially, as is shown by the opinions of the 'Members of the Cabinet and their subor. dinates in tho departments, and in that opin. iou I concur." And in the annual Message of December of the same year, - sin:kik? views aro expresesi, and an appropriation for con. tinning the work of the commission again advised. The appropriation was not made, and, as a consequence, the active work of the commission was suspended, leaving the commission itself still in existence, with out the means, therefore, of causing qual ifications to be tested in tiny systematic manner, or of securing for the public ser vice the advantages of competition upon any extensive plan. I recommended in my annual Mesaage of December, 1877, the making of an appropriation for the resumption of the work of the commission. In the meantime, however, competitive examinations, under many embarrass ments, have been - conducted, within lim ited-spheres, in the executive departments in Washington, and in a number of the Custom-houses and Post Offices of the principal cities of the country, with a view to further test their effects, and in every instance they have been found to be as salutary as they are stated to have been under the administration of my predecessor. I think the economy, purity, and efficiency of the public service would be greatly promoted by their systematic introduction, wherever practicable, throughout the entire civil service of the Government, together with' ample provi sion for their general supervision, in order to secure consistency and uniform justice. Reports from the Secretary of the Interior, from the Postmaster-General, ' from- the Postmaster in the City of New York, where such examinations have been some time on trial, and also from the Collector of the Port, the Naval Officer and the Sur. voyor in that City, and from the Post= masters and Collectors in several of the other large cities, show that the competi tive system, where applied, has in various ways contributed to improve the public service. The reports show that the results have bedn salutary in a marked degree, and that the general application of similar rules cannot fail to be of decided benefit: to the service. The reports of the Gov- . ornment officers in the City of New-York, especially, bear decided testimony to the utility.of open competitive examinations in their _respective offices, showing that "these examinations and the excellent qualifiCations of those admitted to the service through them, have had a marked incidental effect upon the persons previ ously iii the service, and particularly upon those aspiring to promotion. There has been, on the 'pelt of these latter, an in creased interest in tho work, and a desire to extend acquaintance with it beyond a particular desk, and thus the morale of the entire farce has been raised. The examinations have been attended by many citizens, who bevelled an opportunity to thoroughly investigate the scope and character of the teats and the method of determining the results, and those visitors have, without exception, approved the means employed, and several of them have. - publicly attested their favorable opinion upon such considerations." I deem it my duty to renew the recommen dation contained in my annual Message of December, 1877, requesting' Congress to make the, necessary appropriation for the resumptioncf the work of the Civil Ser vice Commission. Econotily will be pro moted by authorizing a moderate Com pensation to personsin the public ite&ice who may perform I extra labor upon or, under the commission, as the Executive may direct.. ' I am convinced that if a just and defi nite test of merit , is enforced for adinission to the public service and in making pro motions, such abuses as removal without _good cause and partisan end official inter ference with the proper exercise of the appointing power k will, in a large meas. ureMisappear. There are other admin istrative abuses to which the attention of Congress should be asked in this connec tion. Mere partisan appointmenkand the constant peril of removal without cause very naturally lead to an absorbing and mischievous political activity on the part of those thus appointed,; l which not only interferes with the due'discharge of offi cial duty, but is incompatible with the , freedom of elections. Not without war rant, in the view of several of " my predet censors 'in the Presidential office, and directly in accordance with the law of 1871, already cited, I endeavOred, by reg. ulation made onahe 22d of June, 1877;to put some reasonable limits to such abuses. It may not IA easy, and it may never, perhaps, be necessary, to define with pre cision the proper limit of political action on the part of Federal officers. But while their right to hold and freely express their opinions cannot, be questioned, it is very plain that they should neither be allowed to devote to other subjects the time need ed for the proper discharge of their official duties, nor to use the authority of their' offi c e to enforce their own opinions, or to coerce ' the political action of those who hold different opinions. Reasons of justice and public policyquite analogous to those which forbid the use of official power for the oppression of the private citizen, im pose upon the Government the duty of protecting its officers and agents from arbitrary exactions. In whatever aspect considered, the practice of making levies for party purposeii upon the salaries of officers is highly demoralizing to the pub-. lie service and discieditable to the cone try: Though an officer should be as free as any other citizen to give his money in aid of,his opinions or his paity, he should also be as - free as. any other citizen to re- Inge to make each gifts. If salaries are but a fair coniPensation for the time and labor of the officers, it is gross injustice to levy a tilt upon them. if they are made excessive in order that they may bear the tax, the excess is an indirect robberj of the public funds. I recom mend, therefore, such a revision and ex tension of present statutes as shall secure to those in every grade of official' life or public employment the protection with which a great and enlightened nation should guard those who are faithful in its service. HELATIOIIB WITH FOREIGN CTAIRTRIES. Our relations"- with foreign countries have continued peaceful. - With Great Britain there are still unsettled questions, growing out of the local laws of the marl, time Provinces and the action of polio , vial authorities, deemed to be in deroga tion of rights secured by treaty to Amer ican fishermen. 'lle United States Min ister' in London has been instructed to present a demand f0r4105,803 02,, in view of the damages received by American cit izens at Fortune Bay on the 6th day of January, • 1878. The subject hail been taken into 'Consideration by tee British Government and an early reply is antici pated. - Upon the completion of the zoo comfy preliridnary elimination, the sub ject of Our participation in the provincial nahwilw, as,. bitrestfo will st , once be brought es tbefettneMon Of the Mlle)* Government,' el* I view to laxly and imminent lettinkait of the who). tleVddelt I : wie redly Med ibill i tedgrof Wishing orti have bests *On to' obtain , gin Isancival ofaintrietion (Whale / Laden n'theeePortiitien fettle to the .United ..;EiMpieM Serie oorrespoidenee - has also occurred with 'regard tolhe, rescue and , saving of life and protimiarupw.the lakes, Which has resulted in impo rtan t modifica tion of the previous iegulations 'of the Dominion Government on the sub eat in the interest of humanity and commerce. In aceordanoe with the joint resolution of the last session of Congress, Commission .ers were appointed - -to represent Um United States at the two international inhibitions in Atustralia, one of which is now init, Sydney, and the other to be nen yearn Melbourne. , A -desire has been. expressed by our mer-• chants and , maunfactureis - interested in the Important and growing track with Australia, that an increased provision should be made by Congress for the rep resentition of -our industries at the Mel bourne Exhibition of next year. and the subject is respectfolly submitted to your favorable consideration. ' • The anent of the Government has been given to the landing•on the coast of Mas sachusetts of a new and independent transatlantic cable between France, by way of the French Island of St. Pierre, and this country, subject to any future lj_igislation of Congress on the subject. The conditions imposed, before &dewing this connection with our shores to be established, are such as to secure its com petition with any existing or future lines of marine cable, and preclude amalgams. Lion. therewith. To provide for entire equality of rights to our Government and people with those of France in the use of the cable, and prevent any exclusive pos session of the privilege as accorded by France to the disadvantage of any future cable communication between France and the United States 'whin may be project ed and amomplished by our citizens, an important reduction of the present rates of cable communication with Europe, felt to be too burdensome to the interests_of our commerce, Must necessarily flow from the establishment of this competing line. The attention of Congress • was drawn to the propriety of some general regulation by Congress of the whole sub.' ject of transmarme cables by my prede cessor in his Menem of Dec._ 7,1875 and I respectfully submit to your considera tion the importance of Congressional ac tion in this matter. . • . , Thcrquestions of grave importance with Spain; growing out of the incidents of the Cuban insurrection, have been, for the most part, happily and honorably settled. It may reasonably be anticipated that the commission, now sitting in Washington, for the decision of private cases- in this connection, will soon be able to bring its labore to a conclusicn. The long-standing question of East Florida claims has lately been renewed as a sub ject of correspondence, and may possibly require CongressiOnal action for its final disposition. A treaty with the Netherlands, with re spect to consular rights and privileges, similar to those with other powers, has been signed and ratified, and the ratifica tions were exchanged on the Slim of July last. Negotiations for extradition treaties with the,Netherlands and with Denmark are now in progress. Some questions with Switzerland in re gard to pauper and convict - emigrants have arisen, but it is not doubted that they will be arranged, upon a just and satisfactory basis. A question has also occurred with respect to an asserted claim by Swiss municipal authorities;to exercise tutelage over persona and property of Swiss citizens naturalized in this country. It is possible this may require adjustment by treaty. the German Empire frequent qu 'ens arise in connection with the jecta of naturalization and expatria tion, but the - Imperial Government has constantly, manifested sa desire to strictly maintain and comply with all treaty stip ulations in regard to them. In consequence of the omission of Congress to provide for a diplomatic rep resenative at Athens, the legation to Greece has been withdrawn. There is now no channel of diplomatic communi cation between the two countries, and the expediency of providing for onein some form is submitted to Congress. . Relations with Austria, Russia, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, and Belgium-continue amicable, and marked by no incident of, especial importance. A change' of the: . oersonal head of the Government of Egypt has taken place. No change, how ever, has occurred in the relations be tween Egypt and the United States. The action of the Egyptian Government in presenting to the City of New York one of the ancient obelisks which possess such historical interest is highly appre ciated as a generous mark of internation al regard._ If prosperity should attend the enterprise of its transportation across the Atlantic, its erection in a conspicuous position in the chief pommercial city of the nation will be soon accomplished.. The treaty recently made between Japan and the United States, in regard to the revision of fernier treaties, it is now believed will be followed by similar action on the part of other-treaty powers. The attention of Congress is again invited to the subject of the indemnity funds re ceived some years since from Japan and Chins, which, with their accumulated interest, now amount to considerable sums. If any part of these funds is just. ly due to American citizens they should receive it promptly,, and whatever Sinai , have been received by thieGovernment in excess of strictly just demands should, in some form, be returned to the nations to whom it equitably belongs. The Govern ment, of China has signified its willing ness to consider the question of the emi gration of its subjects to the United States with a dispassionate fairness, and to l eo. operate in such measures as may tend to prevent injurious consequences to the . United States. The negotiations are still proceeding and will be pressed with dili gence. A question having arisen between 'China and Japan about the- Loocboo Islands, / the United States Government has. taken, measures to inform those powers of its readiness to extend - its good offices 'for the maintenance of peace, if they shall mutually deem it desirable and find it practicable to avail themselves of the proffer. STOPPING TUE BORDER RAIDS It is gratification to be able to an nounce that, through the judicious and energetic action of the military command ers of the two hations on each side of the Rio Grande, under the instructions of their respective Governments, raids and depredations have greatly decreased, and in the localitiel where formerly most de structive, have now almost wholly ceased. In view ; of this result, I entertain a con fident expectation that the continuance of the prevalence of quiet on the border will soon become so assured as to justify a modification of the present orders to oar military commanders, as, to crossing the border, without encouraging such dis turbancesl as would endanger the peace 'of the two countries. The third installment of the award against Mexico under the Claims Commbsion of July 4 1868,, waa duly paid and haS been put in course of distribution'in pursuance of the act of Congress providing for the same. This satisfactory situation between - the,. two countries leads me to anticipate anexpan sion of our trade with Mexico, and an in- Oreased contribution of capital and in dustry by, our people to the development of the great resources of that country. I earnestly commend to the wisdom . of Congress the provision of irritable legisla tion looking to thil result. - Diplomatic intercourse with Colombia is again fully restored by thearrival of a Minister from that country to the United, States. This is especially fortunate, in view of the fact that the question of an interoceanic canal has recently assumed a new and important aspect and is now under discussion with the Central Ameri can countries, through whose territory the canal by the Niceragua route would have to pass. It is trusted that enlighten ed statesmanship on their partwrill see that the early prosecution of such a work will largely inure to the benefit, not :only of their own citizens and those of the United States, but of the commerce of the civilized world. It is not doubted that, should the work 'be undertaken under the protective auspices .of the United States, and upon satisfactory con cessions for the right of way and its security by the Central American Govern ments, the capital for, its completion would readily he furnished from this country and Europe - which might, failing such guarantees, prove inaccessible. ' Diplomatic relations with Chili have also been strengthened ; by the reception of a Minister from that country. The war between Peru. Bolivis a ih4Chill still continues. The United : 'bevel* deemed it.proper to Intatpase them* . ter further_ to :ta - en.< Govenuneltetoncirreleg AtIC tlsenrrdoq that the &delft' ofilowiPt" tbCGOverti• ment of the tholtedilltatis for the tion of • pesoU•npos _Aar 1101k4010 will be esteuded, fia - pale the belligerents exhibltsy reackleisstrto soespt them. -Cordial sedation. condone- withßrazil and, the' Argentine Republie, and trade with those countries is improving. S A provision for regular and more frequent comtunticattOrkin Par 'Alper; between the ports of,thiamtrylinsitte nations of South Atierica, seems to. me to deserve the attention of Congress as an effential precentor of , an enlargement of our commerce with them and anwsten slowof onrcarrying trade. A tecentrevo: 'talon in Venezuela has beeti followed by the establishment of a provisional Gov ernment. This Government has not yet been formally recognized, and. it ia deem ed desirable to await the proposed action of the people which is epected to give it the sanction of . constitt tional forms. A naval vessel.has been sett to the Samoan Islands, to,make surveys and take . pos whiten of the privileges ceded to the United States by Samos, in the harbor of Pago4)ap. A waling station is to be established there, 'which will be conven ient and useful to 'the United States ves sels. The subject of opening diplomatic; re lotion; with Roumania' and Servia, now become independent sovereignties, is at present wader consideration, and is the , subject of diplomatic compondence. There is a gratifying increase of .tradii with nearly all European and American countries, and it is believed that, with 1 judicious action in regard to its develop;„ meat, it can and will be still more en: : chanced, and that American products and' manufactures will find new and expand ing markets. The reports of diplomatic and consular officers upon this subject, under the system' now adopted, have re sulted in obtaining much valuable infor mation which has been and will continue to be laid before Congress and the public tram time to time. TIIE,CONDITION OP ALASKA. The third article of the treaty With Bessie of March ED, 1667, by Which Alaska was ceded to the United States, provides that the Inhabitants of the , ieded te rritory, with the exception of 'the model- Med native tribes, shall be admitted to the enjoy ment of all the rights of enlaces of the United States, and shall .be maintained and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty of property and religion. The uncivilized tribesmen subject to such laws and regulations as the United ,. States. may from time to time adopt In regard to the atioriglnal of that country. Both the obligations of this treaty and the necessities of .the people require that some organized form of .griveniment over the Territory of Alaska' be adopted. There appears to be no law for the arrest of persons charged with common law offenses, such as assault, robbery, and murder, and no magistrate authorized to Issue or execute process In such cases. Serious difficulties have already arisen from offenties of this character,' not only among the original Inhabitants, but among citizens of the Untied States' and other countries who have engaged in mining,. fishing, and other business operations within the Territory. A bill authorizing the appointment of Justices of the Peace and constables, and the arrest and detention of persons charged with, criminal offenses, and providing for an appeal to United States courts for the District of Oregon, In suitable eases, - will, tit a proper time, be submitted to Congress. TUB PUBLIC TINA:Nuts 'The attention of Congress Is called to the annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the con dition-of the public finances. The ordinary reve puss from all sources for the fiscal year ended June 30. 1879, were 1'273.877,181 46. The ordinary ex penditures for the lame period were $208,947,08353; leaving 'a surplus revenue for thlyear of 68,879,- 300 93. The receipts for the present fiscal - year, ending June 30, 1880, actual and estimated, are as follows : Actual receipts for the first quarter,Com encing July I,' 1879, 179,843,683 61 ; estimated receipts for the remaining three-quarters of the year, 41204,156.336 39; total receipts for the current fiscal year, actual and estimated, r,88,000,000, The expenditures for the same *period_ will be, actual and estimated, as follows : For the quarter com mencing Jay 1, 1879, acrual expenditures, 591,631,- 2113 10; and for the remaining three-quarters at the year, the'expenditnres are estimated at $172,- 316,614 90: making the total expenditures ve3,006,- 000, and leaving an estimated surplus revenue for the year ending June 30, 1880, of $21,998.000„. The total receipts during, the next fiscal year, ending June 30, 1881, estimated according to exist ing laws, will be 1288,000.000, - and the estimated ordinary expenditures for the same period.will be 11278.097,866 39, leaving a surplus .9[59,907,633 61 for that year. The large amount expended for arrears of pensions during the last and the present Anal year, amounting to $21,747.249 60, has prevented the application of the full amount required-by law to the sinking fund for the current year, but-these arrears having 'been substantially paid. it is be lieved that the sinking fund'. can hereafter be maintained without any change of .exiitieg Tug ARMY AND NAVY The Secretary of War reports that the War Dee. partment estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, are #10480,428 93, the same being fors less sum of money than any annual estimate' rendered to Congress from tact department during a period of at least 12 years. Ile concurs with the General of the Army In recommending such Meditation as will authorise the enlistment of the full number of :5,001/men for the line of the Army, exclusive of the 3,460 men required for detathedr duty, and therefore not available for service in the field: He also recommends that Congress be asked to provide by law for the disposition of a large number of abandoned' military posts and reservations, which, though very valuable in themselves, huge been ren dered useless for military purposes by the advance of civilisation and settlement. He unites with the Quartermaster-General in recommending that an appropriation be made for the construction of a cheap and perfectly Ore-proof building for the safe storage of avast Antonin of money. accotints, vouch ers,-cialms, and other valuable record,, now in the Quartermaster-General's office, and exposed to great risk of. total destruction by fire. II& also recommends, In conformity with the views of the Judge Advocate-General, some declaratory legisia- lion in reference to the military Statute of Limi tations, as applied to the crime of desertion.. In these several recommendations I concur. - he Secretary.of War further reports that the worirfor the Improvement of the South Pass of the Slissis alppl River, under contract with Mr.-James B. Eads, made in pursuance of an act of Congress, has been prosecuted 'during the past year, with a greater measure of success In the attainment of results than during any previous year. The chart -mil through the South Pass which, at the begin ning of June, 1876, had a depth of only 7,4 feet of water, bad, on the Bth of July. 1879, a minimum ; depth of '2B feet, having a width of not less than; 200 feet and a central depth of 30 feet. Payments have been made In accordance with the statute the work progressed, amounting In the aggregate; to 54,280,000, and further, payments wit) become due, as provided 'by the statute, In the event-of • success In maltitaining the channel now secured. The reports of the General of the Annyand of his. subordinates present a full and detailed account of the military operations for the repression of hos tilities among sbe Indians of the UM and Apache tribes, and praise is Justly awarded to the concers and troops engaged, for promptness. skill and .courage displayed. The past year has been one of almost unbroken peace and quiet bra the Mexican , "frontier, and there is . reason , to believe that the efforts of this Government and of Mexico to main tain order in that region will prove permanently successful. ' This department was unabled,illiting the. past year, to find temporary though crowded accommodations and a safe depository for a portion of Its records in the completed east wing of the building designed . for the State, War, and 'Navy Departments. The construction of the north wing of the building, a part of the structure intended for the use of the War Department, is being car ried forwent with all possible dispatch% and the work shocild 'receive from .Congress such liberal appropriations as will secure Its speedy completion. The report of the. Secretary of the Navy shows 'continued improvement -in that branch of the ser vice during the last fiscal year. Extensive repairs have been made upon vessels, and two new ships have been completed and made ready fortes. The tete! expenditure at the year ended June 30, 1879, Including speciflci appropriat ions net estimated for by the department, were 513,555,710 09. The ex penses chargeable, to the year, after deducting-jitte amount of theses pecific appiopriations, were eta,. 3431317 79, but this is subject to a reduction of 5283,725 99, that amount having been drawn upon warrants, hut not paid out during the year. The amount of apprepriitions applicable to the Mat fiscal year was 514,438.616 17. There was, therefore, a balance of 51,479,054 37 remaining , unexpended and to the ireelt of the department on June 30.1879. The estimates for the lineal year ending June ae, 1881, are 1114,8a11,147 9.5,' which exceeds the appropriations for the present demi year 8361,897 28. The reason fur this increase is explained in' the Secretary's report. The appropriations available for the present fiscal year are 1141,502:2410 67, which will, in the opinion of the Secretary, answer all the ordinary demands of the see vice. The amount drawn- from the Treasury from July 1 to Nev. 1, 1879, was 86.769,401 12, of which 111.095.440 3a has been' refunded. , leaving eve the ex- Panditu re for that period 51. 8 74.883 78. If the expen diture, of the remaining two-thirds of the year do not exceed the proportion fi,r. theme four months, there will remain unexeend-d arthe end of the year 5177,- 359 30 of the current appropeiations. The report of the Secretary shows the gratifying fact that among all the disbursing oMcers of the pay corps of the Navy there ie not one who is a detail ter to the extent of a single &liar. I unite with him in recommending the removal of the observatory to a more healthful loca tion. Tbst institution reflects credit upon the nation; and has obtained the approbation of scientific min In all parts of the world.' In removal from its i 'preaera locality would not only be ambient, to the health of its officer, end Professors, but weal•l greatly increase itseusefulnese • - Theaperoprietion for judicial expeMem ' which hail •keretofore been made for the Department of Justice in gross, was subdivided at the last session of Omer's., and no appropriation whatever was made for the pay ment of the fees of Marshals and their depeties, either to the service of process or for the discharge of other dulles,and since June 90 these officers have continued the performance, of their dative without compensation from tbeG overemejtik taking upon themselves the trocemary'incidentaeoutlays as well as rendering their reitif service*. „In only a few unavoidable instance. has the proper execution of the process of the United States filled by reason of the nemisita appropriation. This thane of °Medal %conduct on the part of these officers, highly creditable to theft fidelity, was advised by the Attorney-General, who informed them, how ever, that they would neemearfly hive to' rely for thee compeneatiou'ution the prospect of future legis lation by Congeals. I therefore especially recommend that immediate appropriation be mode by Coegress for this purpose.. The act making the petncipti ap propriattop for the Department of Janice at previous leaden has uniformly contained the following Maine, "And for defraying MI, expenses which may be in curred in the enforcement of !heart appoint reb. 28, 1870. entitled An act to amend ai act approved May 30.1870. entitled An act to enforce the right of citizens of the United elates to vote In the several Stoma of the United Stites, and for other ,purpoeee, Or any ams amendatory thereof, or supplementary thereto." No appropriallon was made for' this purpose for the cur rent year As do general election of members of Con •greas occurred, 'the omission , was a matter of little practical imp Mance. Stith electiun will s - however, ' tate place during the ensuing year, and the appro. pristion made fur the pay of Marshalsand Deputies should be sufficient to embraes compensation fur the sondem they may be required to perform at such el ection-. • - = mat suntans or rue and • . - Dee baldness of the Supreme Court Is at present largely In arrests. It cannot be expect:of that more, ceases can be decided than are now alleged din Its annual serdon. or that by any -assiduity the Mean . magillindell who oomposethcourt cart ikon. plidtmons than is now done. in the courts of anipr of the decal* also, the bootees. ha Increased $. :each 110 saten t *lst delay of justice will call - the inset. Mon of to an appropriate remedy. it Is be. 'Moved that I isdotte in etch Circuit which can fairly be expected from Its Nadel force. The evils arising frost a delarimetlese heavily • felt be the United Mateo than by ptits, suitors, as its causes are advanced by the Courts when It is seen that they - involve the die, cession olf gestate= of a public character. The; rem. tidy suggededlby the Attorney•Oettend is the appoint meat of additiOnal Clear.' Judges, and the erection of an Intermediate Colin of ' ltrrore end Appeal., which shell relieve the Supreme Court of a pert of its Jude. diction, whiles' bigger force is also obtained far the performance of Circuit duties. I commend :we ills. geotion to the constditation of Commas. :It would Magattuaffecdrataady. sad. wea' Involve. leadditional Circuit dodges are appointed, an ea, cailnevret Mnspreeentteetst wf .is hitMe,ef not mere so pfM i yrian which'wolfid flettliety • te sm e ll in oempart.en with the object. le be attained. • The report of. the Poitmaster•Geneyai bytes teatte mouy to the genegafrevivizraCrniiineest throughout the coubtrv. Tliserecelpte mf-tlie , -Priell °Mee Depart. .ineutfor tha Jest enditmluna3o..l329. were 149,911,-, 981 86, being' $708,465.01 more than the revenues of the Precftding Year. „ The amount realized-from the solo of Pt/WM Mentol;Miterapiet envelopes, and piste{ cards was 11764,463 Ul more than In the preceeding year. and 112,387.860 T 1 more than in 1877. The ex.' penditurrs of the departanest-,wire tf1.4411,8 1 10 t'e, of -which the sum' Of 1146,4 M 63 was paid onMaidlitire Incurred in the preceding year. The eipenditures aafbitther.Tese.:efere.llo,l,269 11 thtus in the preceding year. This reduction Is to be attributed mainly to this - operation: of the taw pasted June 17, 1878; abstains the compensation of Postmaaters from a comenswien on the value .of stamps - mid,' to a coin. Weskits on - stamps cancelled. The -amount drawn from the Treasury on appropriatiou.„ in addition to the 000 mines of the deportment, was $1,1111,444 34, be1nt82,276,197, 86 less than In the preceding year. The expenditures for the fiscal year ending June :PS, 1881, are estimated At 1 i:10,920,89),mnd the receipts from all sources at 534410,00 0 , leaving a deficiency In be appropriated for ant of - the ?reentry of 8 7 :7/ 0 . 900 . The relations of the department with railroad cumpan. les have been harmonised. notwithstanding the gen *eel reduction by Congress of their compeesation, by the apprepriattoli fur special facilities, The 'railway Post arcs lines have been greatly extended t cpecially in the Southern States. The interest* of Railway Mall Service and of the public rout I be gristly pr.x. motet,. sad the eipeimiltures could be mere, readily omtrolled, by the charineetton of the employes of the railway mdi service as recommended by the Post umaterAlleuend, the oppoitalation for *Maths, with respect to which the tuatimunt limit le already diet .by law, to be made in moss. The Postmaster•Geneml .recommends in amendment of the law regulating' the Increase of compensatiou fur Increased serviim end in creased speed In mar routes, so as to enable him to advertise for proposals for such increased service and speed. lie also suggests the advantages to accrue to the commerce of the country from the enactment of peersl law, authorizing contracts with American !built steamers, carrying the American flag, for trans. porting the mane between ports of the.,United States ports of the t Weit Indies and South Amami!, at a fixed maximum price per mile ; the amount to be ex. pended being regulated by 'annual! appropriations, in manner with the amount paid for the domestic stet service. The; arranceinent MAW* by the root master-General and the Secretary of - the Treasury for the collection of duty upon books received in the mail from foreign countries has proved al sati.fact,ry In its practkal openitton that the recOnimemlatlon is now. made that Congress shall extend the provisions of the act of March 3, 1879, under which this arrangement was made, ao us to apply to all other datable articles received in the mails from foreign Countries. I= 'The riporte of the Secretary of the Interior and of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, setting forth the' prevent state of our relations with the Indhin tribes on our territory, the measures taken to advance their clviliiatfon and prospeilty; and the probes ulrea4 achieved by them. wiltbe found of more than ordinary interest. The general conduct of our Indian popula tion Las been ell satisfactory that the occurrence of two distorbances,which resulted in bhest-died rind destruc tion of property, is all the more to be lamented. The history of the outbreak on the White Rives Vte Reser vation. in Western Colorado, has become so familisr by elaborate reports in.' the public pre-5 that its re— mutable incidents need not be stated, here in detail. It la expected that the settlement of this difficulty will lead to such nioveluents as prevent.., further hostile contact between the Indians and Aire border !settlements in Wgstern Colorado. Trio other disturb- Race occurred at the Meecaleru Agency, in Now •II exr- - co, where Victorie, the heed of a small band of ma , random, alter oommitling many atroMtlis, being Jig-. orously chased bye military force, made his way across the Mexican border, - aud is uow on foreign soil While these occurrences, le .which a comparatively small number of Indians were 'engaire'd, are most de: plonsble,a vast m tiority of eur Indian population have fully Jibdified, the expectat.ons of tho4e who be -tiered that, by humane and peaceful influences, the ludian can be led to almndoti the habits of savage RP and to develop a capacity fur useful and nivilival ix enpationa W hat they have already accomplished in the pursuit of agricUltural and mechanical work. the remarkable success which has attended the experi ment of employing as freighters a rims of Indiana hitherto count•-d among the _wildest-and most intrac table, and the general and urgent desire 'expressed !by them for the education of their children, may be :I,sken an suflicient pls.( that they will be fond oafs - able. tof accomplishing Much more if they. couti 11110 to he •wisely and fairly gnid. d. The Indian policy sketched in the report of the Secretary of the Interior, the ote Jeri of which In to make liberal provision for the edu cation of Indian youth, to settle the Indians :open farms-lots In severalty, to gire them title in fee to dielrfarms, Inalienable fur a certain number of years, and when their wants are thus provided fur, to ilispise by male ',Attie lands on their reservations net ocictipird and used by them, a fond to be formed out of the pro ceeds for the hintfit of the Indiat e, which will grad ually feller. the Government of the 'expenses now provided for by annual appropriations, must commend itself as Just and beneficial to the' Indolue. and an also calculated to remove threw obstructions which the ex istence of large reservations prearnte to the settlement and development of the country. I thereforevarnestly li recommend the enactment of a law enabling the Gov raiment to giro Indians a title in • fee, inaliedible for 25 years, to the farm lands assigned to theta bY,Sillot tuent. I-also repeat the recommendation made In my first annual Message that a law be passed' adulating Indidda who can give satisfactory proof of having by their own labor supported their families for a number of yeah, and who are willing to sdetacti• theno,eives froaineir tribal relations, to the benefit of the Home slued actoand to grant them patents contaiuing the same provide,. of inalienability for certain period. Th-e experiment of sending a number of Indian child ren of both sews to the ilatuptirn Normal and A griFule turat histanto irrTirginia to receive - an elementary English education and practical insiruetion in farming. and :other usefill industries, has) l'ed to results so proniPing that it was thought expeiliOt • to turn over the cavalry barracks at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, to* the tiltrotor Department, for the establishment - of an Indian school on o -larger scale. This school heir now 1705 pupils. Selected from various tries, and is in full operationT Arrangements are also made for the edu cation of a number of Indian boys and girls, belonging to tribe§ on the Pacific slopes, in a Alai i.Ar manner, at I Forest Grilse in Oregon. These institutions.% ill".eume mend trieSisolveir to the liberality of Congress and td the philanthropic munificence of theAmerioan people. Last Siding iuforma.iou was revived of the orgent- Litton of extensive movement In' the Wetern States, the iiPjert of which was the occupation, by un antliorizisl persons, of certain lands lu - the Indian Territory, ceded by the Cherokees to the Government for the purpose of settlement by . other Do llen tribes. On the liflth of April. I Poued a proclamation atoning all persons against participation In' such an attempt, and, by the co-operation of a military force, the inva sion wan promptly checked, It Ii my purpose. PI pro— tett the rights of the Indian inhabitants of that Terri tory to sh e foil extent of Executive-power; but it would be nowise to ignore the- firSt that a Territov co large and so ' f Jail.. with a a population so span se and an great a ma alai of unused reeoinces, will be.fouild • more exposed to the repetiti 'of rural attenipts as happened this year when the minting States are more densely settled-and the; es ward worement of out population looks still more eagerly for fresh lands to occupy. Under such circumstances, thii difficulty a - Maintaining the Indian Territory*. its present slate will greatly, increase, and tit.. 1111i412 tribes It would do' well to prepare for MO a contingency. I therefore fully approve oft he advice given to them by the Secretary of the Interior, iirs a recent occasion, -to divide among themselves in severalty as large a ipiatt• lily pf their lands an they can cultivate, to eolithe ins thvidual titles in •fee. instead Of their present tribal ois runlet:lip in common.and to consider in "What num ber the balance of their hinae may be disposed of by the Government for their benefit. By -adopting sect. a policy they w o ol.; more ceramly aecurc for tlone selves the value of their possession... and at tire same time promote their prorreis in civilization and proa perity. thaii endeavoring to perpetuate the present state of things in de Terriniry. The question V. toiler a chafige it the control • of the IT - Oben 13Crl ice Should be toads was to the Forty•fifili Congress,, referiiiel to ajoint committeii of both houses for inquiry and Tel port. In my last swami_ Message, I expreseell the helms that the decision of that question. then in lip”. pert, - .would arrest further air:alarm of this sulaect;' such agitation tieing alit to produce a disturbing effect upon the service, Is well as the Indiana thoniseliea." nee then, the committee having revirted. the lien has been decided in tt.e negative t y u vote in the House ail Itepresentativ. a for the reasons here:dated. and In view of the fact that further uncertainty en this point will he calculated to 01-Striot other noir needed legielation.to weaken the discipline et the ser vice -,and to unsettle salutary measures now in pro gri4s for the goveropient and improvement of die Indians, I respectfully. recommend that the decision arrived at by Congress at its last Session be permitted to stand. = . . Efforts made by the Depattment of the interior to arrest the depredations 'on the timber lands of the United States have been continued, and have met with' conelderable eurcess. A large number of cases .of trespass have, been prcisecuted in the courts of the rutted. States. Others Live - . keen aetttlec,the tres passers offering to make payment-to the Govenimea . for the value of the timber taken by them. The pro; coeds of these prosecutions end settleniente, turned in to the Treasury, far exceeds in amount the sums nitro plated by Congress for this porpoise, A more impor tant result, how/ e'er, Cs:instils in the fact that the de-• 'traction cf our public toheds kV depr,gdatiOes,eit hough. Ruch canes still beetle, has been greatly educed its ex ! , tent, and it is prebeble that if the 'present, policy Is vigorously eursued and sufficient provision to that end is made by Congress, such trespassers, at least those on a large orate can be entirely orippreesed, except in the Territories where timber for the daily requirements of the pepulatiotecennot under the present : state of the. law, be otherwise obtained. I therefore earnestly in vite the Atte/stint% of . Congress to, the recommendation made by the Secretary of ibe interior, that a law be. enacted enabling the Government to sell timber from the public lands, without nonveying the fee,. eher 0 such land. are principally valuable kw - the timer thereon, such sake to beim regulated as to cent,n7, to domestic wenteand. business reioremente, whil at the same. time guarding againet* IS W eeplugdestruction of the foreshi. The enactments of such s& law appears td become a more pressing necessity every day. - My recOmmendation. In former Meseolge. -are re ratted, in fiver of enlarging the hicilitire of the De partment of Agriculture.. %sericulture ii the leading Interest and thepermatient industry of, our people. It Is to the abundance of agricultnral product.ots„ 1101 cone. pared with our home consumption, and the-largely In! creased and highly profitable market abroad which we have enjoyed in recent yearn, that we are mainly Indebted for our present prosperity as a people, We moot look for its continned inaintenanceto the same substantial resource. There is no branch or industry in which labor, "directed by neientific knowledge, yields inch increased preelection in comrairisAu with unskilled labor, and no branch of the publicaetvice to which the encouragement of liberal aaelOPtlailana can -be more appropriately extended. The omission to render such aid is not a wise economy, but, on the contrary, undoubtedly results in losses of Immense stuns annually that might be saved through well directed effort& ley the Government to promote this vital Interest. The results already accomplished with the very limited . mesins heretofore placed' at the com mand of the Department of A ericulture is an earnest -of what may be expected, with increased appropria- Gobs for the /several purposes ludic ted In the report of the, ikunmhationer, with a view to placing the de.' partment anon a footing which will. suable It to prose cute more effectively the of for which it is ,esteb-- tidied. Appropriations are needed for a Hove! com plete I/Oratory, fer.the establishment of a veterinary division and a division of forestry, and for' an increase • , 1 . force. The requirements for three and other pur views indicated in the report of the Conimiesioner, nut. der the head of the immediate .necessities of 'the de-: pertinent will nut involve any expenditure of money that the country cannot with propriety new undertake in the interest of agriculture. It is gratifying to learn from the Berea of Educa tion the extent to • which. educationa privileges throughout the United States bare been ail, Anted dur ing the year. No enure fatelatuentid. responsibility rests Upon Congress than that of devising appropriate me/seines of fineneial aid to celui eitiOn. suppletneotal to local action in the States and Tertitoties and in the District of Columbia. Theorise forethought of the founders, of our Government; has 134 only furnished ..-- I •ths belle kr- !be capperi of the etteatiitetebilottyrw boa ofthe sewn ,hut. lahLibe foneffailobe for the inatelenstece eif,thete salemillierated College* of tagektltsteandthe. therbahle aria: kedgeree in itc-, cordance with this tnelnianal. pulley-Jar the farthety . .bsuellt et idi these interred*, and the eaten:lots of the WM*, odeantsges to seam purliett..4 'the country,. it le hoped will receive. your favorable conelderatioty. To preserve and perpetuate the national 'literature should be anions the roomed cares of the' National Legialattite. - The Übrsry whetted at the °IOW& NMI lettwiet nuprovistod,with any - acconlincidailone for its tepidly increasing storm -Tile tosirnitade „end int- pomace of titifiwilectiori, increased as le by the de. ,pealle amide ander the law of capyrisht, by dngneetic and foreign exchanger, and by the scientific/ linter? ofthe Institution, call for building' sc. countiodatlone.widcle shall be at once renal and lire proof. The location of *nth s. poplin building, trit.rh should provide for the. pouring hectseitirs of the .and tor the vast Increase of the natlon'A boots i tit future nearer which addressee He.: f ileadlscr:tlou of tunitnese; It le earinettlY rt,enn,- amended el • MeilaUlrelWhich Aosta seawall euffniges, lead which' *meld no longer be delayed.. tut wimmisivos agoisratrir. . „ The joint comttiteefoi.. trotted by the act of Coogrets of August 2,1876, for the purpose of superilaing and . directing the tionipletion of the . Westilngton National _ . . . tom:lmmo, of which commistiott - the Presideat iv ti member, leas attrusi careful attention to Mtn subject, end already the strengthening of Mai faun dation has eo „ st. . far progressed ale b lear,, the entire succ, IA of lii,L, • - part of the work km:Liaise layer or maeunry hit . • 'been introduce,' below the original foundation, widen-. log the base, teeretioing the etattllity of the structure, MO rendering it.poseibte to carry the abaft to coultd.. lion, It is earnestly recommended that aucliferthee , appropriations be made for- the continued prosecu t ten of -the work as may be necessary for the 'compintion of. this national monument at en early den In former Memtagee, iniproieett with t he impotar,ce of the subject, I have taken occasion to tone-n.l to Congress- the adopiiiin of a Rebmann polky toward - the District of Columbia. The report of the Commitisionert of the District, herearth trenAnntted, contains anggestioni and recotumentiationo, to all of which 1 earnesily invite your careful attention. ; I ark your early and fayorable consideration of the views , • which they express as to the urgent need of leg - Isla- - tlon for the reclamation of the marshes of the Potomac and its existent branch, witlint the . limits of the City, and for the repair of the streets of the capital, hereto fore laid with wooden Meeks, atd stew by diary ten dered almost israpssestble, and a sionists of imminent - danger to the health of itk citizens.. The means at th e disposal of the Commissionetra are Wholly inadequate for the accomplishment of these important "sot ks, and should be supplemented by timelyaptirtiptiattonsfr n , the Federal Treasury. The !iilq of the flats In fr-ill of the city. will ,add to the adjacent lands and casks, now owned by ,fro United States, a lease afiti ealuatle domain, sufficient, It in thought, to reimburse its en tire cost, and a ill aloe ; WI au incidents! rase it, ~,,,,,,,„ . the'permaitent f - roprsedentent of the riser- for th e per. • percent' nartgation. The constitution basing inst.'', il Cunt:teas with sovietise and exclunivejitilinfictlon o'er the District of Belumbia, its citizens must of nec.,,ity, looked to Coogreas alone . for all ocedfut • legisistinu affiratng their interests, and as the territory it thin , District la the common p ota - rty of 'the prove of tl e Uts,till States. who,--equeily with its resident oit.a.eno, are intertided in the prosperity of their capital, 1 eau . nor doubt tliat . yon will he amply sustained by, the general voice of the contary in sly zneasureis yi.intresy . adopt for thisipurpotie. I also invite- the favorif P , consideration of Congress to the -w - ati - its of the .pubte school* of thin District as exhibited in the report of the covornidoners. While the number of pupds in rapidly inerearing, no adequate presinitin exists fur a cerresporoling hit:Tease - a sch• •ol accommodation, and the commissioners I. r • st atoll ti•e means Is meet 0 1 ,, urgent need.- A number of the buildings now nied for school I:llrfaat.a are rent- d and are, in tilijK. , ll , lot par i icU lure .4 nal; ite I. for the purpose. The s. 411ar of ts.to•• lar eduen-ition its the !nitric& of Columbia is sorery en titled to the lame connigeration at the bands of it, National Government as - in the tessera: Staten and 'I es riteries, to which munificent grata+ of Ilse pubic, binds lucre 'been made fu the rndo• [Bent of ad. ow 1 and 11111 Vprei Hill. - Burn rerenn B. Batts. EXECi'TIVE MANSION, Dec. 1,1879. , - PBESIDET HATE.S - spent Thanksgiving day in a truly orthodox manner. He at tended church in Fraukford in the fore- noon; ,dined ,:siimptuously with Bishop SI3IPSON, after the seri - lees were conclud ed; visited the Methodlit Orphanage fair in the • aftcrnoon . ;.was serenaded by the band,pf the Soldiers' Orphan's Institute, and took the . 11.30 train for Washington. This President was probably o¢er san guine when he expressed some hope that complications. Which exist in the Virginia LegisOure a Republic= could be elected to th'e Cuited States Senate. ONE. EXPERIENCE FRC& MANY:—." had been sick and miserable-So long and had caused my husband so mach trouble and expense, no one seemed to know what-ailed - Me, that I was. completely dis heartened and discouraged. In this frank of Mind, I got. a bottle of Hop Bitters and used them ynknown to myfamily. I soon began to,improve and gained so-fa.,5:- that my husband and family thought F. strange and unnatural, but when I tolit them what had helped - me; they saia - . 14 HUrrah for Hop Bitters ! long may thdy prosper, for they-have made Another. well -and us happy."—The Mother.—llan' Journal. • Reporter Clubbing List for 14860: We have made arrangements with the publishers of the foliewing,periodicais by`which we c.iu wry' . anyone of thorn I.t connection with the Irs.ronrca at greatly reduced rates: We will send the ItE PORTER with any of the papers named belew, f• r oit year, at the frgures Indicated: ' • Reporter anti Weekly*Tribune 416. Semi-Weekl • y " " Weekly Times " Semi-Weekly . " Weekly ETelling Post " " Semi-Weekly " • - " Philadelphia Press I==l9 NM " American Airleulturist. Country Gentleinan.... " - Rural New Yorker t' Harpers Weekly " Bazar - I= " 31 agazt ne " Scribner " St. N lehohis " - Wide Awake, " Baby Ldnd " Living Age--; • S'." ". The Nursery 2 :; " Appleton's,Journal • - 4 t. " .Popular Science Monthly.... a 2; " Peterson's ..ilagaztlie.4. .2 _0;1 " Goaers " • I.lpplncott's " " At!swig Monthly Ohio Fartuoi...— Laurister Fanner ^ CO " :Demurest; vyithutti premium _ - Fa " with premium-- 3 1,0 7etv AbveTtOements. ,EDWARD WILLI,AMS, PIWITICAL PLUMBERt GAS FITTS]: . . Place of business - 1n 'Storm. Block, nett tbior to • Journal Office, oppobite:Public squasrr. :.,.Plumbing, Gas Fitting, Repairing Pumps of 311 thuh, and all kinds of Gearing promp i lly atteinlett ri. All- wanting 'work iii Ids line trkt , giNti "4, all. . "Dee. 4. IS:V. T.fcCORPOitATION NOTICE.— - Notice Is hereby given, that application will he made to the Coact fit t dConinion pleas of Itra , th,r.i eciunty, or the Pre4hlcnt Judge thereof, for -Ow Incorporation of, the Eirbtliaptist Church Society of Ithighttry,lnltidginiry township. The ollect.l of said ivisindatinn are. the maintenance Of the - pia!, lie worship Of Goti lit accordance with,ths rules and discipline of the Baptist Church. . - LAnisevx. • ..IiMN 11. AIcKEE, BIIBERT CLARKE. - ' WM. O:GONZALES. E. M. TUTON• Bidghury, Nov. 27, 1879• w t. ' A :SSIGNEE,S 'NOTICE.--In the District Court of the United States, for the Western District of Pennsylvania. In the Matter of JOhit .7. Grigithh bankrupt, in bankruptcy. Western District of Pennsylvania. - The creditors will take notice that a second gen eral meeting of the creditors of said bankrupt will be held at Towanda, on the Gmfylay of IMCF.M= DEB: A.. D. IMO, at 10 o'clock, A, M. at the otn, of It. A. Mercer, Esq... one of the iftegisteri In Bankruptcy in said District, for the purpose named In the 27th section of the Bankrupt Act of March tid, IW, to wit r a final dlstsibtifion of said bank rnprs estate; and at that meeting I shall apply to a discharge froM all liability as Assignee of said ;estatelr In accordance with the. provisions of( the 26th section of said Bankrupt.Acr. ' = ' JOHN. W. CORDING, Assignee. Towanda, Nov. 20,1879-w2: LIST OF,LEGAL 'BLANKS Printed and kept on sale at the Remit'Tin Orr E at wholesale or rttaW 1714. ed.• . • - , . . Mortgage. .. . . Bond. , . . . Tremotrer's-Bond. . - . . C.Mlector's Bond. . - . Lease. . . - • Complaint. . . Commitments. • - ' o . Warrant. . Constable's Return. Articles of Agreement, 2 fermi Bond on Attachment: Constable's Sales,. Collector's Sales. Execution._ Subpiena. - • • Petition for License. Bond for,Licetise - . .i..Zote Judgement. Note Judgement Seal, " " Note Jugement 5 per cent. added. - Town order Book., iSchool order Book. , • Summons. . . • 8300 A 'MONTH guaranteed. - Eft a day at home made by the industrlous. Cal! - hal not required ; we will start you. Men,women. boys and girls mato money taster at work for us than at - anything else. The work Is light and pleasant, and ouch as anyone can go right at. Tine... who are wise who see this notice will send-us their addresSes at once and see for themselves.' Costly Outfit and terms tree. Now is -the time. Tl.Obe already,at work are laying up large sinus of money. Address TIME & Co.', Augusta, Maine. TUE CENTAAL'HOTEL, ULSTER, PA.. -A t he. undersigned having ' taken . rwssession of .the above hotel. respectfully solicits the patron age. of his old friends and the public generally. iiug 1641. M. A. 'IOIIIIEnT. I n . :/ ... '2 I) MEE Times .. x I 41 . 1 . 2 E (
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers