ty aririnsr fo n aoctdental defect* of evidence, mode |
of iurestiK.itinst if, and secrecy of hearing. It i# not ;
Wonderful that official malfeasance should become
bold in proportion delinquents Icn-n to think,
themselves safe I am entirely persuaded that under i
such a rule the President cannot perioral <hff greatdfl- ;
ty as.si-ned to him of se< ing the laws faithfully execut
ed, en i that it disables hiui most especially from en
forcing that ritfi.l accountability which is necessary
to the execution of tho Revenue Laws, The Onsti- .
tulion invests the President with authority to deride
whether a removal should be rondo in any given
ease. The a. tof Congress declare*, in substance,
that he shall only <ic,-jtc su.h as he sup)ioses to be '
unworthy of their trut. The Constitution makes
hint sole jiidte in the premises, but the statute takes
away fcis jurisdiction, transfers it to the Senate, and
leave* him no'hing hut the odious and sometime*
iin practicable duty of becoming a prottculmr. I'roe
ecution is to be conducted before a tribunil whose
members are not, like him. responsible to the whole
people, but to separate constituent bodies, and who
may hear his accusation with great disfavor. Tb'. I
Ben..te is absolutely without any known standard of j
decision ap[ licahle to su ha case. Its judgment
cannot he anticipated, for it is not governed by any I
rule. The law uoes not define what shall be deemed
good cause for removal It is impossible even to
conjecture what may or tniy not be so considered by
tho Set-ate. The nature of the subject forbids clear
proof. If the charge be incapacity, what evidence
will support it 7 HJeliiy to the Constitution may
he understood or misunderstood in a thousand dif
ferent ways, and l.v violca! party men in violent par
ty times unfaithfulness to the Cnnsiitntion may even
• ome to he considered meritorious. If an officer be
accused of dishonesty, bow shall it be made out 7-
sVill it be inferred from acts unconnect d with pub
lic duty, from private UUstoty, or from general repu
tation ; of must the President await the commission
of an actual misdemeanor in office? Shall he, ir.
the meantime, risk the character and interest of the
nation in the hands of men to whom ho cannot give
his confidence 7 Most he forbear his complaint until
the mischief is dono and cannot be prevented ? If
hi# zeal in the public service should impel him to
anticipate the overt act, must he move at the peril i
of being tried himself for tho offence of slandering i
his subordinate ? In the present circumstances of |
the country, some one must be held responsible for
official delinquency of every kind It is extremely
difficult to say where that responsibility should be
thrown if it !e not left where it has been placed by
the Constitution. But all just men will admit that
the President ought to be entirely relieved from
such responsibility, if he cannot uivct it by reason of
restrictions placed by law upon his action. Unre
stricted power of removal from office is very great
one to be trusted even to a Magistrate chosen by the
general suffrage of the whole people and accountable
directly to them for his acts. It is ui.doubtedly lia
ble to abuse, and at some periods of our h'story per
haps has been abused. If it be thought desirable
ami constitutional thai it should be so limited as to
make the President merely a common informer
against other public agents, be should at leas! be
permitted to net in that capacity before some opeu
tribunal, independent of party politics, ready to in
vestigate the merits of every case, furnished with
the means of taking evidence, and hound to.deeide
according to established rules. This would guaran
tee the safety of the accuser when he acts in good
faiih, and at the same time secure the rights of the
other party. I speak. of course, with all proper re
spect for the present Senate ; but it does not seem to
me that *nv legislative body can he so constituted
as to insure it? fitness lor these functions. It is not
tho theory of this Government tbat the public offices
are the property ot those who hold them. They are
given merely as a trust tor tho public benefit, some
times for a fixed period, sometimes during good be
havior; but generally they are liable to be termi
nated at the pleasure of the appointing power. #hih
represents the collective majesty and speaks the
will of the pieopde. The forced retention in office of
a single difhouest person may work great injury to
the jiuhlic interest. Danger to the public service
co'iie# not froin the power to remove but from the
j# wer to appoint; therefore it was that the framer#
t.f the Constitution left the power of removal unre
stricted, while they gave the Senate the right to re
ject aTI appmrntuients which, in its opinion, were not
fit to be made. A little reflection on this subject
will probably satisfy all who have the good of the
country at heart that our best course is to take the
Constitution for our guide, walk in tho path marked
out by the founders ot the Republic. aaJ obey the
rules* made sacred ty the observance if our great
pre > :e#sor?,
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
The present condition of our Cnanres and circulat
ing medium is one to which your early consideration
is invited. The pwopjortion which the currency of
any ct.tintry should bear to the whole value ot the
nnnu il produce circulated by its means is aquestion
upon which jmlitical economists have not agreed;
nor can it bo controlled by legislation, hut must be
left to tbofe irrevocable laws which everywhere reg
ulate commerce and trade. The circulating medi
um will ever irresistibly fl..w to those points where
it is in the greatest demand. The Lv of demand
and supply is as unerring as that which regulates
the tides of the ocean; and, indeed, currency, like
the tides, has its ebbs and flows throughout the com
mercial world At the beginning of the rebellion
tlie bank uote circulation of the country amounted to
not much m re than s2t)o 060,000. .Now the circu
lation of the National Bank notes, and those known
as legal-tenders, is nearly $700,000,000. While it
i# urged by some tbat this amount should he in
creased, others contend that a decided reduction is
absolEt'-ly essentia! to the best interests of the coun
try, In view of these diverse opinions, it may be
well to ascertain the real value of our paper issues,
when compared with a metalile or convertible cur
rency. For this purpose let u# inquire how much
gold ~nd silver could be purchased by tha $700,000
000 of papier money now in circulation. Probably
not UMire than half the amount ot the latter, show
ing that wbc-u our paper currency is compared with
gold and silver, its commercial value is compressed
into $350,000,000. This striking fact makes it. the
obvious duty cf the Government, as early as may'be
consistent with the principle* of sound politics! econ
omy, to take such measures as will enable the hold
ers of its notes and those of the National Banks to
convert th.-ra without loss into specie or its equiva
lent A reduction of our paper circulating medi
um need not necessarily follow. This, however,
would depend upon the law of demand and supply;
though it should be IKHT.O in mind that by making
legal-tender and bank nut's convertible into coin or
its equivalent, their present specie value in the
hands of their holders would be enhanced one hun
dred per cent. Lcgislati in for tho accooiplUhmeut
01 a le.-ult so desirable is demanded by the highest
public considerations. The Cinstitution contem
plates that the circulating medium of the country
shall be uniform in quality and value. At the time
of the formation of that instrument the country had
just emerged fioiu the war of the revolution, and
was suffering fiom the effects of a redundant and
worthless paper currency. Tbc sages of that {.eri .d
were anxious to protect their posterity from the evils
vhich they themselves had experienced, ller.ee in
iu providing a circulating u%liuiu, they uoulerred
upon Congress the power to coin money and regulate
the vu-io thereof, at the same time prohibiting the
States from making anything hut .gold and silver a
tender iji payment of debts. The anomalous condi
tion ol our currency it in striking contrast with that
which was originally d signed. Our circulation now
embraces, first, the notes of the National Banks,
which are made receivable for all dues to Govern
ment, excluding imposts, aud by all its creditors, ex
cepting ic payment of interest upon its bonds and
securities themselves ; second, legal-tender notes, is
sued by the United Mates, and which the law re
quire# shall be received as well in payment of all
liekts between citizens, as of all Government dues,
excepting imposts j and third, geld and silver coin
By tho operation of our present system ot finance,
however, the metallic currency when collected is re
served only for one class of Government creditors,
who, holding its bonds, scrni-arnually receive their
interest in coin from the National Treasury. They
are thus matte to occupy an invidious position, which
may be used to strengthen the arguments of those
who would bring into disrepute the obligaxions of
the nation. In the payment of all its debts the
plighted faith ol the Government should he inviola
bly maintained ; but while it acts with fidelity to
wards the bondholder who loaned his money that
the integrity of the Union might be preserved, it
should at the same time observe good faith with the
great masses of the people, who, having rescued the
Union from the ja-riU of rebellion, now bear the bur
dens of taxation tbat the Government may be able
to fulfil its engagements. There is no reason which
will be accepted as sati.-factory by the people, why
tbvse who defend us on land and protect us on sea;
the pensioners upon the gratitude of the nation,
bearing scars and wounds received while in its ser
vice; the piublic servants in various departments of
the Government; the farmers who supplied the sol
dier* of the artny and sailor# of tbs navy; the arti
zans who toil in the nation's workshops, or the me
chanics and laborer* whv build its edifices and con
struct its forts and vessels of war, should, in pay
ment of their ju-.t and hard earned dues, receive de
preciated paper, while another class of their country
men. no tßota deserving, are paid in coiu of gold and
silver. Equal and exact justii^requiresthat all the
creditors of the GoVcrotuent should be paid in a cur
rency possessing a uniform value. This can only be
accomplished by the restoration of the currency to
the standard established by the Constitution ; aod by
this means we would remove a discrimination which
may, if it has not already done to, create a prejudice
that may become deep-rooted and wide-spread, and
imperil the Natiou.il sredit. The feasibility of mak
ing our currency correspond with the Coostitutional
standard may be netu by reference tu few fact*
derived from our commercial statistics. The pro
duction of precious metals in the United ?tatcs frmn
1849 to !5.7, inclusive, aitouotea to $579,000,000;
from 185? to 1850, inclusive, to $1.17,500,000 j and
from 1861 to 1807, inclusive, to $457,500,000 ; task- !
ing a grand aggregate of the products since 1849 of
•1.174,000,000. The amount of specie coined from
1849 to IRST. Inclm-ive, w*# $439 000,000; from 1858
k< 1860, itielusive, $125,000,000, and fro in 1861 to j
1567. inclusive. $3lO 000,000; making total coinage
Since 1549, $874,000.000. From 1849 to 1857. in
clusive, the net exports of specie amounted to $271,-
OOo.OOO; from 1858 to 1860, inclusive, to •148,000,-
000; and from 1861 to 1867, inclusive, o 322,000,-
000 making an aggregate of net exports since 1849.
of $741,000.0u0. These figures sln>w an excess of
product over net exports of 433,000.000. There are
in the Treasury 8111 000,000 in coin, something more
than $40,000 000 in circulation on the I'acific coast, \
and a tew millions in National and other banks—in j
nil about $160,000 000. This, however, taking into
account the sj>eeie in the country prior to 1849, leaves
more than $ >oo,ooo,tNiO which have not been ac
counted for by exportation, and therefore uay yet
remain in the country. These are important fcts
and sltow !tow completely the inferioi currency will
supercede the better, forcing it trotu circulation
among the masses, and causing it to be exported as
a mere article of trade to add to the money capital
of foreign lands. They show the necessity of rotir- 1
ing our paper innney, that the return of gold and
! silver to the avenues of tra e may be invited, and a
| demand created which will cause the retention at \
\ home of at least so much of the productions of our
' rich and inexhaustible gold bearing fields as may be
sufficient for the purposes of circulation Jt is un
rcison.blo to expect a return to a sound currency so
lo tg as the Government, by continuing to issue irre
deemable notes, fills the channels of enculation with
depreciated paper. Notwithstanding a coinage by
1 our mints since 1849, of
! now strangers to the currency which was designed
1 for their use and benefit, and specimens of the pre
i cious metals bearing the nattunul device are seb'om
; s"en except when produce 1 to gratify the interest ex
; cited by their novelty If deprecated paper is to
be continued as the permanent currency of the conn
-1 try, nud all our coin is to become a mere article of
: traffic an.l speculation, to the enhancement in price
i of all that is in JispT.sable to the comfott of the peo
ple, it would he wise economy to abolish our mints, '
thus saving the nation the care and expense incident
1 to such establishment', and let our precious metals
j be exported in bullion. The time h-iseome howev
er, when the Government and National Bankssht.uld
be required to take most efficient steps, and uiake all
necessary arr ngemcnts for a resumption of specie
'■ payments at the earliest practicable period. Specie
t payment# hiving been once resumed by the Govern
ment and banks, all notes or bills of paper issued by i
| either of a less denomination than 820 should by !
. law be excluJed from circulation, so tbat the people
may have the benefit and convenience of a gold and
! silver currency, which in all their business tronsae- j
i tions will be uniform in value at home and abrojd '
1 •' Every man of property or industry, every man 1
i who desires to pr serve what he honetlv possesses. I
| or to obtain what he can honestly earn, has a direct
interest in maintaining a safe circulating medium,
such a medium as shall bo real and substantial —not
liable to vibrate with opinions, not subject to be
blown up or blown down by breath of speculation,
but to be made stable and secure. A disordered
currency is one of the greatest political evils. It un
dermines the virtues necessary for the support of the
soc al system, and encourages propensities destruc
tive of its happiness It war* against industry, fru- ,
j guilty, and economy, and it fosters the evil spirits of :
j extravagance and speculation." It has been assert
i ed by one of our most profound and most gifted
statesmen that 44 of all contrivances of cheating the
! laboring classes of mankind none has been more ef
i f-ctual than that which deludes them with paper
! money This is the most effectual of inventions to
! fertilize the rich man's fields by the sweat of the
I poor m ill's brow. Ordinary yrar.ny, oppression, the
excessive taxation, these bear lightly on the happi
i oess of the mass of the community, compared with '
a fraudulent currency and the robberies committed
| by depreciated paper. Our own history has recorded
i fur our instruction enough and more than enough of
I the demoralizing tendency, the injustice and the in
tolerable oppression on the virtuous and wcll-dis- '
! posed o< a degraded papier currency, authorized by
j law, or in any way countenanced by the Govern
' uient." It is one of the most successful devices in
, times of peace or war, expansions or revuls : on*. to
j accomplish the transfer of all precious metals from
| the gvat mass of the people into the hands of the
few, where they are hoarded in secret places or de
| posited in strong boxes un-ler bolts and|bars. while
I the picoplc are left to endure all the inconvenience,
sacrifice and demoralization resulting from tho use
: of depreciated and worthless paperuiuaey.
The condition of our finances and the operations of
I our revenue system are set forth aud fully explained
1 in the able and instructive report of the Secretary of
j the Trea-ury. On the 3oth of June, 1866, the pub- 1
lie debt amouated to 52,733,4d0 879; on the 30:6 of
l June last it w is $2,692,190 215, showing a reduction
| during the fiscal year of s9l, #75.661. During the
fiscal year ending June 39th, 1867, the reee : pt#were
! $490 631.010, and expen iitures $316 729.129, Icav- I
j ing an available surplus of $141,904,580. It is esti
i uiateii that the receipts for the fiscal year ending
| June 39, 1868, will be $417,161,928, and that the ex
j penditures will te icb the suui of $393,269 226. leav- ,
j ing in the Treasury a surplus of $23,892,702. For the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, it is estimated tbat
' the receipts will amount to $3Bl 000,000. and that
I the expenditures will oe $372,000,000, showing an
j excess of $9,000,000 in favor of the Government.
THE REVENUE SERVICE.
The attention of Congress is earnestly invited to
j tho necessity of a thorough revision ot our revenue
, system Our internal revenue laws and impost sys
; tern should be so adjusted as to bear most bcavily on
' articles of luxury, leaving the necessaries of life as
; free from taxation a# may be consistent with the re
: al wants ot the Government, ecunoniumcaiiy adtnin
j isteied. Taxation would not then fall unduly on the
j man of moderate means, and while none would lie
. entirely exempt from assessment, all in proportion
: to their peconiarjr abilities would contribute toward
j the supi>ort of the State. A modification of the in
; tern.il revenue system by a large reduction in the
i number of articles now subject to tax, would be fol
i lowed by Results equally advantageous to the citizen
I and tho Government. It would render the execu
, lb n of the liw less expensive and more certain, re
tnove obstructions to industry, lessen the temptations
j to evade the law, diminish violations and frauds per
' ps" tinted upon lis provisions, make its operations less
| inquisitorial, and greatly reduce in numbers the ar
my of fax gatherers created by the system, who
"take from the month of honest labor the bread it
has earuoi " Retrenchment, reform, and economy
should be carried into every branch of the public
service, that the expenditures of the Government
m.iy be rcfuced and tbo pieo) le relieved from oppres
sive taxation; a sound currency should he restored,
and the public faith in regard to the national debt
sacredly observed. The accomplishment of these
important results, together with the restoration of
the Union of the States upon the principles of the
Constitution, would inspiire confidence at borne and
abroad in the stability of our institutions, and bring
to the nation prosperity, peace, and good will.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
The report ol the Secretary of War ad interim ex
hibits tho epic rations of the army and the several
Bureaus of the War Department The aggregate
strength of our military force on the 30th September
t last was 56,315. The rof.il estimate for military ap-
I propriations is $77,124,707, ffk-luding a deficiency in
last year's appropriation of fts 6U0,000. Payments
al the Treasury on account of the service of the War
Department from Jan. 1 to Oct. 29, 1867, a period
of ten mouths, amounted to $109,807,000. The ex
penses of the military establishment, as well as the
j numbers of the army are now three times aj great
as they have ever been in time of pieace, while dis-
J cretionary piwer is vested in the executive to add
millions to the expenditure by an increase of the ar
my to the maximum strength allowed by law.
THE INDIAN D 1 FFICI'LTIKS.
The comprehensive report of the Secretary of She
Interior furnishes interesting information in refer-,
ence to important branches "f public service connect
ed with his department. The menacing attitude of
some warlike bands of Indiaus inhabiting the dis
tricts of coun try between the Arkansas and Platte
Rivera, and portion* of Daeotah Territory, required
tho presence of a large military force in that reg'on.
Instigated by real or imaginary grievances, the In
dians occasionally committed acts of barbarous vio
lence upon emigrants and our frontier settlements
But a general Indian war has beew providentially
averted. The Commissioners, under the act of the
2Ulb of July, 1-867. were invested with full power to
adjust existing difficulties negotiate treaties with
disaffected hands, and select for them reservations
remote from traveled routes between the Mississippi
River and the Pacific. They entered without delay
upon the execution of their trust, bat have not yet
made any official report of their proceedings. It is
of vital importance that our distant Territories
should bj exempt from Indian outbreaks, and that
the construction of the Pacific Railroad, an object of
national importance, should not be interrupted by
hestile tribes. These objects, as well as the material
Interests and the moral and intellectual improvement
of the Indians, can bo most effectually secured by
concentrariug them upon portions of the country set
apart for their exclusive use and located at points
I remote from the highways and encroaching white
1 settlements,
PACIriC RAILROAD,
j Since the commencement of the seoond session ol
I the 'J hirty-ninth Congress, 510* miles of road have
been conetrueted en the main lino and branches of
tlie Pacific Railway. The line from Oma- i
ha is rapidly approaching the eastern base
of the Rocky Mountains, while the termi- 1
nus of the last section of the constructed j
: road in California, accepted by the Gov
ernment on the 24th of October last, was
' but eleven miles distant from the summit
of the Sierra Nevada. The remarkable
cncrary evinced by the companies offers the
strongest assurance that the completion of
the road from Sacramento to Omaha will
not long be deferred.
SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS,
During the last fiscal year 7,041,144
acres ol public land wer disposed of, anil
cash receipts from sales and fees exceded j
one-half million dollars more than the sunt
realized from those sources during the pre
ceding year.
PAYMENT OF PENSIONS.
• • 1
Idie amount pa : d to pensioners, inelud- i
ing the expenses of disbursements, was
$18,619,956, and 36,482 names were ad
<led to to the rolls. The entire number of
pensioners on the 2Uih of Juue last was
1 00,414,
ISSUES OF PATENTS.
Eleven thousand six hundred and fifty
five patents and designs were issued during
the year ending September 30, 1867, and
at that date tho balance in the Treasury j
to the credit of the Patent fund was §286,
607.
NATAL AFFAIRS
The Report of the Secretary of the Na
vy states that we have seven squadrons
actively and judiciously employed under
efficiant and able commanders in protect- -
ing the persons and property of American '
citizens, maintaining 'he dignity and pow
ier of the Government, and promoting the I
commerce and business interests of our
countrymen tn every part of the world— j
|Of the 238 vessels composing the present j
navy of the United States, fifty-six, carry
i ing five hundred and seven guns, are in 1
squadron service. During the year the
number of vessels in commission has been i
reduced 12, and there arc thirteen less on
squadron duty than there were at date of.
last report. A large number of vessels
were commenced and in course of construc
tion when the war terminated, and altho' j
I Congress has made the necessary appropri- ;
I ations for their completion, the Depart- :
ment has cither suspended woik upon
them, or limited the slow completion of
the steam vessels, so as to meet contracts
for machinery made with private establish
ments. The total expenditures of the Na
vv Department for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1867, were §31,034,011: No
appropriations have been made or required
since the clcsc of the war for the construc
tion and repair of vessels, for steam machi
! ncry, ordinance, provisions and clothing, .
fuel, hemp, Ac., the balance under these '
several heads having been more than suf
ficient fjr current expenditures. It should
I al-o be stated to the credit of the Depart
ment that,besides asking no appropriations j
for the above objects for the last two years,
the Secretary of tlie Navy, on the 30lb of
September last, in accordance with the act
of Mav 1, 1820, requested the Secretary
of the Treasury to carry to the surplus
' fund the sum of 505,000,t00 being the
amount received from sales of vessels and
other war property, and remnants of for
tner appropriations.
TOSTAL AFFAIRS.
The Report of the Postmaster General j
shows the business of the l'ostoffice De-!
parturient and the condition of the postal
service in a very favorable light, and the
attention of Congress is called to its prac
tical recommendations. The receipts of
the Depnrtment for the year ending June
i 30, 1867, including all special appropria- I
tions for sea and land service and for free
mail matter, were *19.978,693. The ex
penditures for all purposes were *19,235,- j
'j 483, leaving an unexpended balance in fa- j
vor of the Department of *743,410, which
can be applied toward the expenses of the
II Department for the current year. The in
crease of postal revenue, independent of
specific appropriations for the year 1867 i
over that of 1866, §850,040. The increase
,of revenue from the sale of .stamps and
stamped envelopes was §783,404. The in
crease of expenditures of 1867 over those
of the previous year was owing chiefly to
' the extensive land and ocean mail service.
, During the past year new postal conven- 1
| tions have been ratified and exchanged i
with the United Kingdom of Great Britain
| i and Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands.
Switzerland, the North German Union,
Italy, and the Colonial Government at
Hong Kong, reducing very largely the rates
F of ocean and land poßtagcsto and from and
; S within those countries.
1 1
: THE AGRICULTURAL BUKEATT.
I The Report of the Acting Commissioner
of Agriculture concisely presents the con
j dition, wants, and progress of an interest
i eminently worthy the fostering care of Con
• gress, and exhibits a large measure ot use
ful results achieved during the year to
s j which it refers.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
1 I
The re-cstablishment of peace at home,
and the resumption of extended trade,trav
el, and commerce abroad, have served to
J increase the number and variety of ques
: tions in the Department for Foreign Af
fairs. None of these questions, however,
s i have seriously disturbed our relations with
-j other States. The Republic of Mexico,
• having been relieved from foreign iuter
. vention, is earnestly engaged in efforts to
S re establish her constitutional system of
1 government. A good understanding con
tinues to exist between our Government
- and the Republics of Ilayti and San Do
mingo, and our cordial relations with the.
[ Central and South American States re
} main unchanged. The tender made, in
' conformity with a resolution of Congress,
f of the good offices of the Government,with
■ a view to an amicable adjustment of peace
I between Brazil and her allies on the one
\ side and Paraguay on the other, and bc
t tween Chili and her allies on one side and
r Spain on the other, though kindly received
II has in neither case been fully accepted by
t the beligerents. The war in the valley of
' the Parana is still vigorously maintained.
| On the other band, actual hostilities be
>! tween the Pacific States and .Spain have
| been more than a year suspended I shall
i on any proper occasion that may occur re
( new tb# conciliatory recommendations
r ■ which have been already made. Brazil,
with enlightened sagacity and comprehen
sive statesmanship, has opened the great
channels of the Amazon and its. tributaries
to universal commerce, One thing more
seemed needful to assume a rapid and
cheering progress in South America. I
refer to those peaceful habits without which
States and nations cannot in this age well
expect material prosperity or social ad
vancement.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
The Exposition of Universal Industry
at Paris has passed, and seen s to have
fully realized the high expectations of the
trench Government. If due allowance be
made for the recent political derangement
of industry here, the part which the Uni
ted States has borne in this exhibition of
invention and art may be regarded with
very high satisfaction,
6TANDARD COIN.
During the Exposition a conference was
held of delegates from several nations, the
United States being one, in which the in
convenience of commercial and social inter
course resulting from the diverse standards
of money value were fully discussed, and
plans were developed for establishing by
universal consent a common principle for
the coinage of gold. 'lhese conferences
are expected to be renewed, with the at
tendance of many foreign States not liith- '
erto represented. A report of these inter
esting proceedings will be submitted to
Congress, which will, no doubt, justly ap
preciate this great object, and be ready to
adopt any measure which may tend to fa
cilitate its ultimate accomplishments.
LEGAL TENDERS.
On the 25th of February, 1862, Con
gress declared by law that Treasury notes
without interest, authorized by that act,
should be legal tender in payment of all
debts, public and private, within the Uni
ted States. An annual remittance of $30,-
000, less stipnlated expenses, accrues to
claimants under the Convention made with
Spain in 1834. There remittances since
the passage of that act have been paid in
such notes* The claimants insist that the
Government ought to require payment in
coin. The subject may be deemed worthy
of your attention.
TILE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
No arrangement has yet been reached
for the settlement of our claims for British
depredations upon the commerce of the
United States. I have felt it my duty to
decline the proposition of arbitration made ,
by Her Majesty's government, because it
has hitherto been accompanied by reserva
tions and limitations incompatible with the
rights, interest, and honor of our country.
It is not Co he apprehended that Great
Britaiu will persist in Iter refusal to satisfy
these just and reasonable claims, which in
volve the sacred principle of non-interven
tion—a principle henceforth not more im
portant to the United States than to all
other commercial nations.
THE WEST INDIES.
The West India islands were settled and
colonized by European State- simultaneous
ly with the settlement and colonization of
the American Continent. Most of the
colonies planted here became independent
nations in the clo3c of the last and the be
ginning of the present century. Our own
country embraces communities which at
one period were colonies of Great Britain,
France, Spain,Holland,Sweden and Russia.
The ueople in the West Indies, with the
exception ol those of the Island of tiayti,
have neither attained nor aspired to inde
pecdenee, nor have they bec-. rue prepared
for self-defence. Although possessingcou
siderable commercial value, they hare been
held by the several European States which
colonized oral some tiine conquered them,
chiefly foi purposes ol military and naval
strategy, in carrying out European policy ,
and designs in regard to this continent. In
our revolutionary war, ports and harbors in
the West India Islands were used by our
enemy, to the great injury and embarrass
ment of the United States. We haJ the J
same experience in our second war with
Great Britain. The same European policy
for a long time excluded us even from trade
with the West Indies, while we were at
peace with all nations. In our recent civil ,
war the rebels, and their piratical and
blockade-breaking allies, found facilities in
.the same ports for the woik which they too
successfully aceomplised, of injuring and
devastating the commerce which we are
now engaged in rebuilding. Wc labored
i especially under this disadvantage—that
European steam vessels, employed by our j
i enemies, found friendly shelter, protection
and supplies in West Indian poits, while our
own naval operations were necessarily car- |
rieJ on from our own distant shores There
was then a universal feeling of the want of
an advanced naval outpost, petwecn the
I Atlantic coast and Europe. The duty cf
! obtaining sueli an outpost, peacefully and
lawfully, while neither doing nor menacing
injury to other States, earnestly engaged the
attention of the Executive Department
i before the close of the war, and it has not
I been lost sight of since that time. A not
| entirely dissimilar naval want revealed itself
i during the same period on the Pacific coast.
I The required foothold there was fortunately
! secured by our late treaty with the Emperor
j of Kureia, and it now seems imperative that
j the more obvious necessities of the Atlantic
coast should not be less Carefully provided
; for. A good and convenient port and har
bor, capable of easy defence, will supply
i that want. With possession of such a sta
tion by the United States, neither we nor
j any other American nation need longer
i apprehend injury or offence from any trans
| Atlantic enemy. I agree with our early
I statesmen that the West Indies naturally
gravitate to and may be expected ultimately
I to be absorbed by the Continental States,
I including our own. I agree with them,
also, that it is wise to leave the question of
such absorption to this process of natural
! political gravitation. The islands of St.
j Thomas ano St. JOIID, which constitute a
' part of the group called the Virgin Islands,
seemed to offer us advantages immediately
desirable, while their acquisition could be
. secured iu harmony with the principles to
, which I have alluded. A treaty has therefore
been concluded with the King of Denmark
for the cession of those Islands, and will be
submitted to the Senate for consideration.
THE Pl'ItCH 4SE OF ALASKA.
It will hardly he necessary to call the
attention of Congress to the subject of
provibing for the payment to Russia of the
sum stipulated in treaty fur the cession of
Ala-ka. Possession having been formally
delivered to our Commissioner,the territory
remains for the present in the care of a
military force, awaiting such civil organiz
ation as shall be directed by Congress.
NATIRALIZED CITIZENS.
The annexation of many small German
States to Prussia, and the reorganization
of that country under a new and liberal
constitution, have induced me to renew the
effort to obtain a just and prompt settlement
of the long vexed question concerning the
claims of foreign Stales for military servioe
from their subjects naturalized in the United
States.
In connection with this subject the atten
tion of Congress is respectfhlly called to a
singular and embarrassing conflict of laws.
The Executive Department of this Govern
rncnt has hitherto uniformly held, as it now
holds, that naturalization in conformity with
the Constitution and laws of the United
States absoives the recipient from his native
allegiance. The fdourts of Great Britain
hold that allegiance to the British Crown
i is indefeasible, and is not absolved bv our
laws of naturalization. British Judges cite
Court and law autboiities of the United
States in suppot of that theory against the
position held by the Executive authority of
the United States. This conflict perplexes
the public mind concerning the rights of
naturalized citizens, and impairs the nation
al authorty abroad. I called attention to
this subject in my last annual message, and
now again respectfully appeal to Congress
to declare the national will uuinistakably
upon this important question.
THE SI.AVE TitADE.
The abuse of our laws by the clandestine
prosecution of the African slavetrade from
American ports, or by American citizens,
has altogether ceased, and under existing
circumstances no apprehensions of its re
newal in this part of the world are entertain
ed. Uuder these circumstances, it becomes
a question whether we shall not propose
to II er Majesty's Government a suspension
or discontinuance of the stipulations for
maintaining a naval force for the suppression
of that trade.
[Signed,] ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 18G7.
New York City Municipal Election of
Dec. 3, 1867.
John T. Hoffman was re-elected Mayor
by 21,590 majority over both the oppos
ing candidates. The whole vote polled was
104,132, a reduction of about 8,000 from
the vote at the election last month, and 31,
000 less than the registered vote of the
city. All of the Aldermen elected are
Democrats. All bnt three were the nomi
nees of Tammany Hal!, The eonncihnen
elected were nil Tammany nominees. Of
the seven Schools Commissioners elected
three are Republicans
/if The Impeachment reports, printed
at the government printing office, by Sti
perintendent Dcfrees, will make a volume
of 250 pages. The additional evidence
taken since the Judiciary Committee met
this fall, which will make from 75 to 100
pages, is also being printed. In this addi
tional evidence Impcacher Ashley testifies
that the published letters with his name at
tached, and addressed to the perjurer, Sa- 1
ford Conover, were gnetiine, and written
by him (Ashley.) This volume will be ■
important in the liiture, as furnishing evi- ;
donee ot the mental and legal capacity of
the leading members of the Committee.
H. Ward Ueechcr, in his political
sermon or, Thanksgiving day at Plymouth
Church, Brooklyn, made use of the follow
ing language :
"The desperate condition of the South >
the antagonism between the whites and
black.-, the revolution that will follow the
return of the Southern States to the Union,
leads me to think thet we shall not have
reconstructed this nation when reconstruc
tion is completed, That was as sure as the
fact that the powerful party that carried
the country through the war were unable
to administer to its wants at the close."
The names of Governor English, E\-Gov
ernors Hawley and Buckingham, and of eigh
teen ulhei prominent citizens of Connecticut,
are attached to a published appeal of the
Christian women of the State in behalf of its
indigent, vagrant and vicious gir's. These
gentlemen and their associates propose to
raise a subscription of §25,000 with which to
commence and endow a girl's industrial school
Thtre are now in the State five hundred
girls, destitute of parents, property, home or
triends.
Rob't J. Walker on our National Finances.
The Hon. Robert J. Walker litis written
a long and able letter or, the subject of
ovr national finances, looking to the re
sumption of specie payments. He opposes
the present system of the secretary of the
treasury, and advocates a foreign loan of
$250,000,000. He contends that this loan
would be readily taken in Germany, as
was that of 1863 4—that Count Bismarck
will aid the measure,as he is a great friend
of American unity, and that the German
Bankers, having studied our resonrcos.will
readily take it at less rates of interest than
, it could possibly be sold for He op
1 poses any considerable payments at pres-
I ent on the national debt, and contends that
! the resumption of specie payments would
restore the prosperity of the count!y, and
j cause an immediate and immense reduction
;in taxation. Thi3 however,will be secured
j only by rigid economy our national expen
! ses. With this economy our national ex
. penditnres could be reduced to $244,000,-
, 000, which he proposes to derive from
; three sources ;
This revenue of 8-44,000,000 a year as
a maxim, I would derive from three sourc
es alone :
"1. By a tariff by revenue.
"2. Bv an excise on wines, malt, and
opinions liquors and tobacco ; abolishing
all other internal taxation.
"3. By a tax on our national banks, bas
ed upon just and fair equivolents, remem
bering how essential they are to the pros
perity of the country, and that we must
not drive them into liquidation by unfair
and unusual taxation, and thus revive the
wretched State bank system."
Cjje Democrat.
HARVEY TICKLER, Editor.
TUN KHAN NOCK., PA.
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1867.
t&T ADVERTISING AGENTS, EX
CHANGES, and til others interested, will
plea-e note the CHANGE of TITLE, ofthis
•per, from THE NORTH BRANCH DEM
OCRAT to WYOMING DEMOCRAT.
IMPEACHMENT. —The Presidential im- j
pcacliment business has turned out most
disastrously to its authors. The vote io
the House being for impeachment 57 ,
against 108. In their unjust attempt to
degrade the President, the red-mouthed
rads bare brought contempt and eventual
ruin upon themselves, verifying the old
adage—" Hive a rascal rope enough, and
he will hang himself."
' " THE M ESSAGE. —We make no apology ;
for the amount of space given in to-day's
paper to the President's message. None
will be required by those who read it, and
every mac, woman and child should do so.
It gives the finishing blow to the same old i
radical coon, which was so effectually
brought down from the tree, by the Au
tumn elections.
—
REPUDIATION.— Gen. Carer, a conservative
R< publican, eleced to Congress from the j
Cincinnati district, made a speech, after the
election, tn which he said :
•'I am in favor of paying the United S'ates !
bonds as we have agreed to pay them, and in ,
no other way, that is in lawful money,which
is greenbacks. So long as the laborer has to
take greenbacks as lawful money, the bond
holder should do the same. The capitalists
of the country ought to pay thef 6hire of I
the war debt."
tr The Radicals admit the cost of vo
ting the negtoes in the South will not be i
less than $75,000,000 for the present year. '
Let the workingmen of the North think of:
that. Every dollar of it is wrung from
their toil. $75,000,000 a year to keep ten ;
States impoverished and subject to negro j
rule. How do you like it fellow wot king
men ?
■ i
Tunkhannock Wholesale and Retail Pro
duce Market.
Corrected I Vcekly by BUXXELL <$- 8A.Y.Y.4 j
TYXE, at Samuel Stark's old stand, txo doors
below Warning Xationit Bank.
Wheat, per bushel 30@92 4C i
Rye. '• " 130
Com, " " i 25 |
Oats, " " 75
Buokwheat, " 90 j
Beans, " 2 00 !
Potatoes " 75 j
Butter, ft y 35@40 j
Egg*. per doxen, 30
Lord, ft, HI
T illow, ft, 121
Dried Apples, per bushel 2 50 j
Rags per ft, 03
Hay per ton, .....15 00 '
Wheat Floor per bbl 13 00@14 10 {
Rye Flour j*r bbl
Corn Meal per 100 f- 3 00 !
Chop per 1001b 2 50 i
Silt per bbl 325 |
Buckwheat Flour per 100 ft, 3
Hog, dressed, per fe , ..7c<#B J
Mess Fork, per bbl 28 00
Mess Perk, per ft, 15
The above named firm are dealers in Dry Goods,
Groceries and Provisions, Hardware, Hats and Caps.
Boots and Shoes. Notions, Ac., Ac.. and will sell at ;
the lowest cash price ruling at date of sale. v7D!I
IN THE DISTRICT COI'RT OF THE UNITED
STATES lor the Western District of Pennsylva
nia.
In the matter of William 11. Cortright, Bankrupt. .
IN BANKRUPTCY.
To whom it may concern • The undersigned here
' bv gives notice of his appointment as assignee of
j William H. Cortright of Meshoppen, in the county j
| of Wyoming and State of Pennsylvania, within said i
District, who has been adjudged a Bankrupt upon
1 his own petition by the District Court of said l>is- 1
I trict.
Dated at Meshoppen this 2d day of December, A, |
! D. 1567.
1 v7nlßw3 n. P. CARTER.
AUDITOR S NOTICE.
THE undersigned having been appointed by the
Court of Common Pleas of Wyoming county an
I Auditor to distribute the fund arising from the Sher
i tff's sale of the real estate of Stephen B. Hunt; will
attend to the duties of his appointment at his office
: in Tunkhaunock Borough on Thursday, December
I 26th, 1567, at 10 o'clock A. M , at which time and
place all persons interested in said distribution are
requested to present their claims or be debarred
1 from coming in for a share ot said fund.
HARVEY SICKLKR, Auditor
| Tunkhannock, Dec. 3, 1867.v7n19w4-
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE.
Letters of administration having been granted to
I the undersigned, upon the estate of Abraham Cas
i terline, late of Nicholson Tp., Wyoming Co. Pa
j dee'd. All persons indebted to said estate are noti
| lied to make immediate payments, and those having
claims against the same are requested to present
| them duly authenticated for settlement to
JOATHAM H CAS TERLINE,
| Administrator, or to his Attorney. T. J. CHASE.
| NicholsoD, Pa. Nov. 21, '67. v7nl7-6w.
DISSOLUTION NOTICE.
THE Copartnership heretofore existing between
Crane A Lull, of the Borough of Tunkhannock,
| has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. The
| business will lie continued at the old stand by F. M.
Crane, to whom the partnership accounts have been
1 assigned, and with whom all settlements must be
made. F. M. CRANE,
GEO. M LULL.
Tunkhannock, Nov. 5.1867.
All persons indebted to 'he above firm, by note,
book account or otherwise, are requested to make
immediate settlement of the same.
F. M. CRANK
Nov. 5, 1867
ESTKAY.
Came to the enclosure of the subscriber in Nichol
son, Wyoming County, Pa. on or about the 13th Inst
Two Red Bull Calves. The owner is requested to
come forward, prove property, pay charges and take
them away, otherwise they will be disposed of ac
cording to law
JOHN S. CAMP.
Nicholson, November 22, '67-v7nl"-3
SHERMAN &LA THRO P'B COLUMN.
TO M MM OF RAISE mm
GREETING:
fHE UNDERSIGNED HAVE JUST
OPENED AT THEIR STAND,
(First door below WALL'S HOTEL,ia Tunthanfiock)
THE LARGEST AND
MOST TASTEFULLY SELECTED STOCK
OF GOODS IN THEIR LINK
EVER BROUGHT
INTO THIS MARKET,
Comprising in part the following:
SILKS.
BROWN, BLUE. BISMARCK, MEXICAN BLUE,
AND MARIA LOUISA BLUB,
BLACK and BROCADE SILKS, of all gradu.
FRENCH Md IRISH,
and NEW STYLE,
PLAID POPLINS.
ORIENTAL LUSTRES.
MOHAIRS.
COBUROS.
EMPRESS CLOTH,
FRENCH MEKINOES and
ALPACCAS, of all Shades.
An endless variety ef
TRIMMINGS to match the above.
ZErUTR GOODS
of all kinds Knit and Woven.
SACKS AND CLOAKS,
COMPRISING
BEAUTY and
ELEGANCE.
THIBIT, BROCHEA, and
WOOL SHAWLS.
BALMORAL SKIRTS.
A Full and Elaborate Stock of Embroid
ered Goods.
White Goods of all descriptions,
Table and Towel Diaper,
Domestics, Delaines,
Prints, Ginghams, ic c.
Alexander's KID GLOVES,
of all shades,
Gents ar.d Ladies.
A Large Stock of Traveling Trunks-
Ladies' Reticules, Gents' Travel
ing Valises, kc., <kc.
FURS of all kinds for
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Carpets— Wool,
Two and Three Ply,
and Brussels,
Stair Carpets, Matting, 0.l
Cloth and Drugget.
Rugs, Mats and Hassocks,
Ladies' and Gents' Hosiery.
A large stock of FURNISHING GOODS.
*
SHIRTS
of the finest and most durable
quality,
UNDERSHIRTS, DRAWERS,
Cravats, Collars, &c„ dec.
SHOES—
Woman's, Misses, and Children's.
BEDDING—
Counterpanes, Coverlaids, Whitney
Blankets, German Blankets, <tc., dec,
YANKEE NOTIONS,
of all kinds.
Our Stock of CLOTHING is complete,
and not equalled in this, nor surpassed in
the best New York and Philadelphia mer
chant Tailoring Establishments. Suits
made to order in the latest and best style.
We have purchased our stock since the
last reduction in the prices of our goods.
We have purchased largely, and are deter
mined to sell at less prices than the same
kind and quality of goods can be bought at
any other establishment in tfe or adjoin
ing counties. We bought them to sell,
and all who call to see ns will readily be
convinced that we are bound to dispose of
them.
All goods cheerfully exhibited without
scolding if you do not buy.
Call and sec us.
SHERMAN * LATHROP,
TuDkbauoock, Nov. bik,