organic structure of the (Jovernmcnt ; and if there be neither judical remedy f r wrings it indict, nor power in ths people topiotcct themselves without the orticial aid of their fl:te l defenders; if, for instance, the I.e-L-'i.itivu Department should pas nn act, von through ail forms of law. to abolish a -ordinate department of the Government, in such c..se the lVesidnt must take the high responsibility cf his office and save the life of the nation at all hazard. Tlie :called reconstruction acts, though as pb;!ily unconstitutional as any that ran bo imagined, wer; not believed to bo within the cla-s last nieutioncd. The people were not wholly disarme t of the power of t-elf-ilefca e. la all the Northern States they Rtitl had in their hands the sacred right of the ballot, and it wan uafe to believe that in da2 time they would come to the rescue of rhttr own institutions. It gives me pleasure to add that the appeal to our common con. Ktitmnts was not taken in vain, ami that my conft lonce in their wisdom and virtue seetus not to have Veen misplaced. It is well and publicly known that enor mous frauds have been perpetrated on the Treaitir', ami that colossal fortunes have been made at the publiccxpen.se. This spe cies of corruption ha increased, is increasing, aud if not diminished, will soon bring us in to total ruin and disgrace. Public creditors and tax payers are alike interested in an hon est administration of finances, and neither clas.4 will long endure birgo handed robber ic of the recent past. For this discreditable htate of things there are several causes. Some of the taxes are eo laid as to present ;ui irresistible temptation to evade payment. Great suns which officers may hold, will, by connivance with fraud, create a pressure which is more than the virtue of many can withstand, an j there cm bono doubt that opeu disregard of Constitutional obligations, wvowed by some of the highest and most in lluential men in the country, has greatly weakened the moral sense of those who serve in subordinate places. The expenses of the United States, includ ing thd interest on the public debt, are more than times as much as they were seven years ago. To col'ect and disburse this vast amount requires careful supervision, as well ns systematic vigilance. The system, never per tec ted, was muck disorganized by the tenure of oflioe bill, which has almost de stroyed official accountability. The President may be thoroughly con vinced that an officer is incapable, dishouest or unfaithful to the Constitution, but under the law which I have named his utmost en deavors will be to complain to the Senate, aud ask the privilege of supplying his placo with a better man. If the Senate be regard ed as personally or politically opposed to the President, it is natural and not altogether unreasonable for the officer to expect that it will take his part as far as possible and re t-tore him to his place, aud give him a tri umph over his executive superior. -The offi cer has ether chances of impunity arising from accidental defects of cvideuce. Under the peculiar mode of investigating it, and the eccrccy of bearing it, it is not wonderful that official malfeasance should become bold ia proportion as delhjucnts learn to thiLk themselves safe. I am entirely persuaded that under such an irresponsible rule the President cannot perform the great duty as signed to him of seeing the laws faithfully executed, aud that it disables him moct ess pecially from enforcing that rigid accounta bility which is necessary to the duo exeeu tion of the revenue laws. The Constitution invests the President with authority to de ride whether a removal shall be made in any given case. The act of Congress declares in substance that he shall only accuse such as he suppoststo be unworthy of their trust. The Constitution makes him sole judge in the premises, but the statute takes away his jurisdiction aud transfers it to the Senate, and leaves hkn nothing but the odious and sometimes impracticable duty of becoming a prosecutor. Prosecution is to bo conduct ed before a tribunal whose members ire not, like him, responsible to the whole people, but to separate constituent bodies, and who may hrrar his accusition with great disfavor. Tb'j Senate is absolutely without any kuo.va btandard of decision applicable to Mica a case. Its judgmeut cannot beantici pated, for it is not governed by any rule. Law does not define what shall be deemed a i:ood cause for removal. It is impossible even to conjecture whatonay or may not bo aj considered by the Senate the nature of the subject forbids clear proof. If a charge be incapacity, what evidence would support it 1 Fidelity to the Constitution may be understood or misunderstood in a thousand liferent ways by violent party men iu vio lent party times. Unfaithfulness to the Constitution tnay even come to be consider ed meritorious. If officers be accused of Ois l.onc;ty ho.r shall it be made out ? Wiil it be inferred from acts unconnected with pub lic duty, from private history, or from fcen- 0. al reputation ? Or must the Prc;iuwUt .wait the commission of an actual misde meanor in office? Shalt he in the meantime rule the character and interests of the uation i;i the hands of men to whom he cannot idvo his confidence? Must he forbear his com p'aint until mischief is done and canuot be prevented ? If his zeal in the public service should impel him to anticipate an overt act. must he move at peril of being tried himself I r t lo olfduce of slauderi:-g his suboidinate? Ia the present circumstances of the country tMtne one must be held re.-pouible for .flK ci-il delinquencies of every kind. It is ex trernsly diilimlt to say where that responsi bility Viould be thrown, if it is not left where it has been placed by the Constitu tion ; but all just now will admit that the PresMent ought to bo entirely relieved from Mich rospotniiLility ir he cannot meet it by roasou of restrictions placed by law upon his actio:. The unrestricted power of re moval fio'u office is a very great one to be trusted .even to a magistrate chosen by the geoeral sutl'iage of the whole people, md ac count iblo to them for his acts. It is un doubtedly liable to abuse, and at some pcri mis of our history, perhaps, has been abided. Jf it be thought desirable aud constitutional hat it should bo so limited as to make the President oert ly a common informer against fcher public .1 jents, he should at least be permitted to act that capAcity before some open tribuual, independent of party politics, rc?dy to investigate, the V ril of every case, furnished with the means of ;aking evidence. a I b-iiind to decide according to established rules. Thi would guarantee tht" safety of the accuser when he acts in go l fait:', and :it the sanifc ti.me ucuro the rights of the other party. I speak, of course, with all 1. roper repect f-r the present Senate, but it does not Resin to me th.it any legislative body can be so constituted an to insure its fitness for thcte functions. It is notMhe the r.rv of this government that public offices Arc the property of thoe who hold them. They arc given merely an a trust for the pub lic "benefit sometime for a fixed period r sometimes during aod behavior ; but gu- erally they are liable to be terminated at the plea-tire of the appointing power, which represents the collective maje-ty and epeaks the will of the people. The forced retention iu office of a single dishonest person may work great injury to the public interests. Danger to the public service cornea not frrm the power to appoint; therefore it was that the frarccis of the Constitution left thepow cr of removal un restricted, while they gave the Semite the right to reject alt appoint ments which, iu its opiuiou, were not fit to be road. A little reflection on this subject will, probubty, satisfy all who have the good ol tho country t heart, that onr beet courso is to take the Constitution for our guide, walk in the path marked out by the found ers of the Itepublic, and obey the rules, made Bacred by observance, of our great predecessors. The present condition of our finances and circulating medium is one to which your early consideration is invited. The proportion which the currency of any country should benr to the whub value of the annua! produce circulated by its means is a question upon which political econ omists have not agreed ; nor can it be controlled by legislation, but must bo left to irrevocable laws which everywhere reg ulate commerce and trade. The circulate ing medium will ever irresistibly flow to those points where it is in greatest demand. The law of demand and supply is a9 uner riii" as that which regulates the tides of the ocean, and indeed the currency, like the tide, lias its ebbs and flows through out the comtnerial world. At the begin ning of the rebellion, the bank note circu. lation of the country amounted to not much more than two hundred millions of dollars. Now the circulation of National bank notes aod those known as legal ten ders, ia nearly seven hundred millions, while it is urged by some that this amouut should be increased. Others contend that a decided reduction is absolutely essential to the best interests of the country. In view of theso diverse opinions, it may be well to ascertain the real value of our pa per issues, when compared with a metallic inconvertible currency. For this purpose we inquire how much gold and silver could be purchased by seven hundred millions of paper money now in circula tion. Probably not more than half the amount of the latter,shoving that when our paper currency ia compared with gold and silver, its commercial value is compressed into three hundred and fifty millions. This striking fact makes it tho obvious duty of the Government as early as may be consistent with the principles of sound political economy to take such measures as will enable holders of its notes and those of National banks to convert them with" out loss into specie cr it3 equivalent. A reduction of our paper circulating medium need not necessarily follow; this, however, would depend upon the law cf demand and supply, though it should be borne in mind that by making legal tender and bank notes convertible into coin or its equivalent, their present ppecie value in tlie hands of their holders would be en hanced one hundred per cent. The legis lation for the accomplishment of a result so desirable, is demanded by the highest public considerations. The constitution contemplates that the circulating medium of the country shall be uniform in quality and value. At the time of tho formation of that instrument, the country had just emerged from the war of the revolution, and was suffering from the effects of a re dundant and worthless paper currency. The sages of that period were anxious to protect their posterity from evils which they themselves had experienced, hence, in providing a circulating medium, they conferred upon Congress the power to coin money and regulate the value thereof, at the same time prohibiting the States from making anything but gold and silver a tender in the payment of debts. The anomalous condition our currency is now in, is a striking contrast with that which was originally designed. Our cir culation now embraces. First. Notes of National banks which are made receivable lor all dues to the got eminent, excluding imports, and by all its creditors, excepting in payment of in terest upon its bonds and securities them selves. Second. L-gal tender notes issued by the United State?, which the law re quires i-haU be received as well in payment of all debts between citizens as of all gov ernment dues, excepting imposts ; and Third. Gold and silver coin. liy the operation of our present system of linancn, however, metallic currency, when collect ed, is reserved only for one class of govern- meat creditors, who, holding its bonds. semi-annually receive their interest in coin from the national treasury. Ihey are thus made to occupy an invidious position, which may be used to strengthen the argu ments of, those who would bring into dis repute the obligations of the nation in tho payment of all its debts. The plighted faith of the government should be inviolably maintained ; but while it acts with fidelity toward 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, hav ing rescued the Union from the perils of rebellion, now bear the burdens of taxa tion that the Government may be able to fuhill itn engagements. There is no rea son which will be accepted as satisfactory by the people, why those who defend us on land and protect us on tea ; pensioners upon the gratitude of the nation, bearing scars and wounds received in its service ; pubiic servants in the various departments of the Government; fanners who supply the soldiers of the army aod the sailors of the navy ; artisans who toil in the na tion's workshops ; mechanics and laborers who build its edifices and construct its fort- and vessel, should, in payment of their just and hard earned dues, receive depreciated paper, while another class of their couutrymcn, uo more deserving, are p id in coin, gold and silver. Eqoa'l and c xaet justice requires that all creditors of the Government phuuM be paid in a cur rency possessing a uniform value. This can ordy be accomplished by the restora tion of the currency to the standard estab lished by the Constitution, and by this means wo would remove a discrimination ivhich may, if it has not already done so, create a prejudice that may become deep rooted and wide-spread, and imperil the national credit. Tho feasibility of making our currency correspond with the constitutional stand ard, may be seen by reference to a few facts derived from our commercial statis tics. The production of precious metals in the United States from 1849 to 1857, inclusive, amounted to 579,000,000 ; from 1858 to 18G0, inclusive, to 137, 500,000, and fiorn 18G1 to 1867, inclu sive, to 457,500,000 making a grand nggresate of products since 1849 of 1, 174,000,000. The amount of specie coined from 1849 to 1857, inclusive, was 039,000,000 ; from 1858 to 1860, in clusive, it was 125,000,000, and from 1861 to 1867, inclusive, "it was 310, 000,000 making the total coinage since 1849, 874-,000,000. From 1849 to 1857, inclusive, the net exports of epecie amounted to 271,000,000 ; from 1858 to 18G0, inclusive, to $148,000,000, and from 1861 to 1867, inclusive, it was 322,000,000 making the aggregate net exports since 1849, 741,000,000. These figures show an excess of product over the net exports of 433,000,000. There are in the Treasury 111,000,000 in coin, something more than 40,000,000 in cir culation on the Pacific coast, and a few millions in national and other banks in all about 160,000,000. This, however,, taking into account the specie in the coun try prior to 1849, leaves more than 300, 000,000 which have not been accounted for by exportation, and therefore may yet remain in the country. These are impor tant facts, and show how completely in ferior currency will supercede better, forc ing it from circulation among the masses, and causing it to be exported aa a mere article of trade, to add to the money cap ital of foreign lands. They show the ne cessity of retiring our paper money, that the return of gold and silver to the avenues of trade may be invited, and a demand created which will cause a retention at home of at least so much of the produc tions of our rich and inexhaustible gold bearing fields as may be sufficient for pur poses of circulation. It is unreasonable to expect a return to a sound currency so long as the government, by continuing to icsue irredeemable notes, fills the channels of circulation with depreciated paper. Notwithstanding the coinage by our mint? since 1819 of 874,000,000, the people are now strangers to currency which was designed for their use and benefit, and soe- cimens of precious metals bearing national devices, are seldom seen except when pro duced to gratify the interest excited their novelty. If depreciated paper is to be continued as the permanent currency of the country, and all our coin is to become a mere article of traffic and speculation, to the enhancement in price of all that is indispensable to the comfort of the people, it would be wise economy to abolish our mints, thua saving the nation the care and expense incident to such establishments, and let all our precious metals be exported in bullion. The time has come, however, when the Government and national banks should be required to take most efficient steps and make all necessary arrangements for a resumption of specie payments at the earliest practicable period, w Specie pay ments having been once resumed by the Government and banks, all notes or bills of paper issued by either, of a less denom ination tlwn twenty dollars, should, by law, be excluded from circulation, so that the people may have the benefit and con venience of a gold and silver currency, which in all their business transactions will be uniform in value at home and abroad. Every man of property or indus try, every man who desires to preserve what he honestly possesses, or to obtain what he has honestly earned, has a direct interest in maintaining a safe circulating medium such a medium a3 6hall be real and substantial not liable to vibrate with opinions, not subject to be blown up or blown down by the breath of speculation, but to be made stable and secure. A dis ordered currency ia one of the greatest po litical evils. It undermines the virtues necessary for the support of the social sys tem, and encourages properties destructive to its happiness. It wars against industry, frugality and economy, and it fosters the evil spirits of extravagance and specula tion. It has been asserted by one of our profound and gifted statesmen, that of all contrivances for cheating the laboring classes of mankind, none has been more effectual than that which deludes them with paper money. This is the most ef fectual of inventions to fertilize the rich man's field by the sweat of the poor man's brow. Ordinary tyranny, oppressions, excessive taxation these bear lightly on the happiness of the mass of community, compared with a fraudulent currency and robberies committed by depreciated paper. Our own history, has recorded for our in struction enough and more than enough of demoralizing tendency, injustice and intol erable oppression on the virtuous and well disposed, of a degraded paper currency, authorized by law or in any other way countenanced by the government. It is one of the most successful devices in times of peace or war, expansions or revulsions, to accomplish the transfer of all precious metals from the great mass of the people into the hands of the few, where they are hoarded in secret places or deposited in strong boxes, under bolts and bars, while the people are left to endure all the incon venience, sacrifice and demoralization ro sulliug from tho uso of paper money. The condition of our finances and tho operations of our revenue system are set forth nd fuily explained in the able and instructive report of the Secretary of the Treasury. On the 30th of June, 1866, the public debt amounted to 2,783, 425, 879 ; on the 30th of June last.it was 2, 692,199,215, showing a reduction during the fiscal year of 91.226,664. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1807, the receipts were 490,634,010, and expend-" itures 346,729,129, leaving an availa ble surplus of 143,904,880. It is esti mated that the receipts for the fiscal year ending Jimo 30, 1868, will ba 417,161, 928, and that the expenditures will reach the sum of 393,269,220, leaving in the Treasury a surplus of 23,892,702. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, it is estimated that the receipts will amount to 381,000.000, and that the expenditures will be 372,000,000, showing an excess of 9,000.000 in favor of government. The attention of Congress i3 earnestly invited to the necessity of a thorough re vision of our revenue system. Our inter nal revenue laws and impost sj'stem should be so adjusted as to bear most heavily oa articles of luxury, leaving tho necessaries of life as free from taxation as may be consistent with the wants of ti.e govern ment, economically administered. Tax ation would not then fall unduly on men of moderate means, and while none would be entirely exempt from assessment, all, in pro portion to their pecuniary abilities, wou'd con tribute towards the support of the State. A modificatiou of the Internal lteveuue system, by a large reduction of the number of articles now subject to tax, would be followed by re sults equally advantageous to the citizens aud the government. It would render tho execu tion of the law less expensive and more cer tain, remove obstructions to industry, lessen temptations to evade the law, diminish viola tions and frauds perpetrated upon its provi sions, make its operation less inquisitorial, and greatly i educe in numbers the army of tax gatherers created by the system, who take from the mouth of honest labor the bread it has earned. Retrenchment, reform and econ omy should be carried into every branch of the public service, that the expenditures of the government may bo reduced aud the peo ple relieved from excessive taxation. A sounds currency should be restored, and public faith in regard to the national debt faithfully ob served. The accomplishment of these impor tant results, together with a restoration to the Union of all the States upon the principles of the Constitution, would inspire confidence at home and abroad in the stability of our insti tutions, and bring to the nation prosperity, peace and good will. The report of the Secretary of "VTar ad in terim exhibits the operations of the army and of the several Bureaus of the War Depart ment. The aggregate strength of our mili tary force, on the 3Uih of September last, was G,315. The total estimate for military ap propriations is $77,124,704', including a de- iiciency in last year s approoriations of 1 13,000.000. The payments at the Treasury on account of the service of tho War Depart ment from January 1 to October 'Z3, 18i7 a period of ten mouths amounted to $100, 807,UOO, The expenses of the militury tstablishmeiit, ns well as the numbers cf the array, are row three times as great as they ever have been in time of peace ; while the discretionary popr is vested in the Execu tive in add millions to this expenditure by an increase of the array to the maximum strength allowed by the law. lhe menacing attitude of some of the war like bands of Indians inhabiting the district of country between the Arkansas and Platte rivers, aud portions of Dakota Territory, recpaired the presence of a large military loroe in that regiou. Instigated by real or imaginary grievances, the Indiana occasion ally committed acts of barbarous violence upon emigrants and our frontier settlements, but a general Indian war has been providen tially averted. The Commissioners under the act of 20th July, 1SG7, were invested with fail power to adjust existing difficulties, ne gotiate treaties with the disaffected bands, and select for thorn reservations remote lioui the traveled routes between the Mississippi and the Pacific. They entered without delay upon the execution of their trust, but have not yet made any official report of their pro ceedings. It is of vital importance that our distant Territories should be exempt from InJiau outbreaks, and that the construction of the Pacific Itft:lroad, an object of national importance, should not be interrupted by hostile tribes. These objects, as well as the material interests aud the moral aud intel lectual improvement of the Indians, can be most effectually secured bv concentrating them upon portions of country set apart for their exclusive use, aud located at points remote from our highways aud encroaching white settlements. Since the commencement cf tho second session of the Thirty-ninth Congress, five hundred aud ten miles of road lmve been constructed on the main line toi bram-hei of the Pacific Railway. The line from Omaha is rapidly approaching the eastern ba.-e of the llocky Mountains, whilst the terminus of the last section of constructed road in Cali fornia, accepted by the Government on the 24th day of October last, was but eleven miles distant from the summit of the Sierra Nevada. The remarkable energy evinced by tho companies offers the strongest assurance that the completion of the road from Sacra mento to Omaha will not long be deterred. During the last fiscal year, 7,C4i,0l4 acres of public land were disposed of, aud the cash receipts from sales and fees exceeded by one half million dollnrs the sum realized from those sources during the preceding year. The amount paid to pensioners, including expenses of disbursements, was $18,G19,0oo, and 3G,481 names were added to the rolls. The entire number of pensioners on the 30ih of June last was 155,474. Eleven thousand six hundred and fifty-five patents and designs were issued during the year ending September 30, lltl, and at that date the balance in the Treasury to the cred it of the Patent fund was $i6,bo7. The report of the Secretary of the Navy states that we have seveu squadrons actively and judiciously employed, under efficient and able commanders, in protecting the persons and property of American citizens, maintain ing the dignity and power ot the govern ment, and promoting the commerce and business interests of our countrymen in every part of the world. Of the 238 vessels com posing the present navy of tbt United States, 53, carrying 507 guns, are iu squadron ser vice. Tho total expenditures of the Naval Department for the fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1867, were $31,034,011 . No appropria tions have been made or required since the close of the war for the construction and re pair of vessels, for steam machinery, ord nauce, provisions and clothing, fuel, hemp, &c., the balances under these several heads having been more than sufficient lor current expeuditurcs. The report of the Postmaster General Bhows the business of the Postotiice Depart ment and tho condition of the postal service in a very uyoraoie Jignt. The receipts ot the Department Tor the year ending J'inc 30, 18S7, lt.elu iinir all special appropriations ior sea an I hind service and for free m i:l matter, v.-crc 10,978. r,03. The expenditures for all purpoaes were 19,233,483, leaving an uaex pended balance infuvor of the Department of STi? )in ' The report of the Acting Commissioner of .Agriculture concisely presents the condition, wants, aed progress of an interest eminentlv wormy tne tostering care of Congress, and ex hibits a large mea3ureof useful result achiev ed during the year to which it refers. The re-establishment of peace at bom? and the resumption of extended trade, travel and commerce abroad, have served to increase the number and variety of questions in the depart ment for foreign affairs. None of these ques tions, however, hare seriously disturbed our relations with other States. The Republic of Mexico, having been re lieved from foreign intervention, ii earnestly engaged in efforts to re-establish her consti tutional pystem of government. A good understanding continues to exist between our government and the Republic of Hayti and San Domingo, and our cordiui relations with the Central and South American States re main nnchanged. The tender, made iu con formity with resolution of Congress, of the good offices of the Government, with a view to an amicable adjustment of peace between Brazil and her allies, on the one side, and Spain on thu other, though kindly received, U1J " neuner case Deen tully accenK-d bv tne belligerents. The war in the valley of aUa is sun vigorously mantained. On tho other hand, actual hostilities between the Pacific States and Spain have been more than a year suspended. I shall, on any proper occasion that may occur, renew the concilia tory recommendations which have been al ready made. Brazil, with enl.giiie.-ied sa gacity and comprehensive cutesuinnship, has opened the gra.it channels of tho AiiiH7.cn and its tributaries to universal commerce. One thing more seems needful to assure a rp idaud cheering progress in Sou h America. I refer to those peaceful habits without which States and nations cacnot. in this acre, well expect material prosperity or social advance ment. The Exposition of Universal Industry at Paris has passed, and seems to have fullv realized the high expectations of the French Government. If the allowance be made for the recent political derangement ot industry here, the part which the United States has borne in this exhibition, of indention and art may be regarded with very high satisfaction. During the Exposition, a conference was beid of delegates from several nations, the United States being one, in which the inconvenien ces of commerce and social intercourse re sulting from the diverse standaras of money value were fully discussed, and plans were developed for establishing, by universal con sent, a common principle for the coinage of gold. Ou the 25th of February, 1862, Congress 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 United States. An annual remittance of $30,000, less stipulated expenses, accrues to claimants under the Convention made with Spain in iS34. These remittances, since the passage of thit act, have been paid in such notes. The claim ants insist that the Government ought to re quire payment in coin. Ths subject may be deemed worthy of your attention. No arrangement has ss yet been reached for the settlement of coir claims for Dritish depredations upon the commerce of the Uni ted .States. I have felt it my duty to decline the proposition of arbitration made by Her Majesty's Government, because it hus hith erto been accompanied by reservations aud limitations incompatible with the rights, interests and honor of our country. It is not to be apprehended that Great Britain will persist in her refusal to satisfy these just and reasonable claims, which involve the sacred principle of non-intervention a principle henceforth not more important to the United States than to all other commercial nations. The West India Islands were settled and colouized by European States simultaneouj with a settlement and colonization of the American continent. JIst of the colonies planted here became in Jcpendei.t uatious in the ch se of the 1 ist and the beginning of the present century. Our own country embraces communities which, at one period, were col onies of Great Britain, Prance, Spain, Hol land, Sweden, and Russia. The people of the West Indies, with the exception ot those iu the island of Ilayti. have never attained nor aspired to independence, nor have they be come prepared for self-defense. Although possessing considerable commercial vnlue, they have been held by the several Iiaropean States which colonized or at some time coa quered them, chiefly for purposes of military and naval strategy in carrying out European policy and desiyas m regaiu to this conti nent. I'i our revolutionary war, ports and harbors in the Wi-st luii i Id.mds were used by our enemy, to the gi-p.at injury and embar rassment of he United States. Wo had the same experience in our second war with Great Britain. The same European policy for a loi:g rime excluded us even from trade with the West Indies, while we were at pe.ice with all nations. In o jr recent civil war, the rebels and their piratical, blockade-running allies found facilities in the same ports for the work, whiih they too successfully ac complished, of injuring ani devastaiin-j the i commerce which we are now engaged in re building. We labored esneciMllv under this disadvantage that European sieam vessels, employed by our enemies, fjana friendly shelter, protection, and supplies in West In dian ports, while our own nav;.l operations were necessarily carried oa from our own distant shores. There was then a universal feeling of the want of an advanced naval outpost between the Atlantic coast and Eu rope. The duty of obtaining such an out post peacefully and lawfully, while neither doing nor menacing injury to other States, earnestly engaged the atteution of the Exec utive Department before the close of the war, and it has not been lost sight of since that time. A not entirely dissimilar naval want revealed itself during the eauie period oa the Pacific coast. The required foothold there wa3 fortunately secured by our late treaty with the Emperor of Russia, aud it now seems imperative that the more oovious ne cessities of the Atlantic coast should not be less carefully provided for. A good andjeon venient port aud harbor, capable of easy de fense, will supply that want. With the pos session of suet, a btation by the United States, neither we nor any other American nation need longer apprehend injury or ot fense fiom auy Trans-Atlautic enemy. I Hgree with our early statesmen that tbe West Indies naturally gravitate to ir.d may be ex pected ultimately to be absorbed by the Continental States, including our own.- I agree with them, also, that it is wise to lcav; the question of such absorption to this pro cess of natural political gravitation. The islands of St. Thomas and Si. Johns, which constitute part of the group called the Vir giu Islands, seemed to offer us advantages immediately desirable, while their acquisi tion could be secured in harmony wilh the principles to which 1 have ailuued. A treatv has, therefore, been concluded wilh the King oi uenmark, lor the cession ot those islands, and will be cubuiitted to the cu;ilc for con sidti ation. It wili hardiy be nec-s-rv lion of Cotiores t the sub: for the piymiMit to It i-si i o lated in the trentv fur the 1'- Sun c: i onr VommUinr?r t, . 1-"e'n"" to . . i"'. - winwjj . "'"v:,i i vmai-, a the present in cara of a military force k tinii such civil organization as Bhall htdM cd by Congress. The annexation of manv Emi;i States to Prussia, and the Veorgani that country under a new and liberal con,2 tution, have induced me to renew the eff0r" to obtain a just and prompt settlement of hl long vexed question concerning the claim of foreign States for military service from ih.t subjects ratnralired in the United States In connection with this subject, theAtten tion of Congress is respectfully called to singular and embarrassiop; conflict of laws The Executive Department of this Govern ment has hitherto uniformly held, as it now holds that naturalization, in conformity with the Constitution and laws of the United States, absolves the recipient from his native adcgiance. The Courts of Great Britain hold that !lcg;ance tc the British Crown is inde feasible, and ia not absolved by our laws cf naturalization. British Judges cite Courta and laws authorities cf the United State in support of that theory against the posfcfoa belu by the Executive authority of the United States. This conflict perplexes the public mind concerning the rights of naturalized citizens, and impairs the national authority abroad. I now again respeftfullv appeal to Congress to declare the national will unmis takably upon this important question. Tte abuee of our laws by the clandestine prosecution of the African slave-trade from American ports or by American citizens has altogether cessed, and, under existing'cir eumstances, no apprehensions of its renewal in this part o" the wcrld are entertained. Under thee circumstances it becomes a ques tion v.-h'tN-r we shall not propose to Her Majesty's tiovernmeut a suspension or discon tinuance of the stipulations for maintaining a naval lorce for the suppression of that trade. Andrew Johnson. Washington, December 3, 18G7. Mills & Davis, llth street, Ebcn3 bur, are cramming their store with goods for the holidays. Oqc and all are invited to give them a call, and if tha call should be repeated seventy tituea seven, the proprietors would not object. Ou tbe contrary, we feel sure they would rather like the operation. If "OU want bargains in Clothing, bar gains in Dry Goods, bargains in Groce ries, bargains in Hardware or Queen.ware, bargains in Doots or Shoes, bargains iu Hat? or Caps, bargains in anything, go to V. S. Barker's! Weston, the pedestrian, vriil shortly attempt tha ieat of walking from Chicago to Kbensburg in filteen days. He will come here, fiiat, to win a bet of $500, and second, to buy a bill ol wiuter goods at A. A. Barker's tuamructh store. Jim. Thompson hasJately received his now goods lor the winter. Have ycu seen the stuck ' It is the largest, p requ est, and cheapest in towa. Go aud see! Go to-day ! They SAY that the skating is now ex cellent. It you want to put yourself in proper trim to enjoy it, to to Thomas Williams' hardware store and buy a pair of the elegant skates svld there. It is a fact that C T. Kobcrts keeps the best stationery "n town, and the best petis and the bestiuk. This, we say, ia a lact. Bear it in ruiud when next joa mike any purchases in that line. Good News to Owners or Horses. Hiv ing secured the aid of a good fcdioer, aad being well supplied with Nails and Shut, i am determined to offer to each cuiji r: the greatest inducement held out in thi? .ice iince things were low. You ean hiive your Horse shod all round for One Dollar and Fif ty Cents. I will also iroa Weighs and .Sleds, mate Y"agon Tire and all kinds of Chair-, aud do everything in the Klacksniit'ning Li::e at gitiitly reduced prices for tut enth. Shop near the Foundry cf E. Gla?3 " It. II. SlNiI&. Ebcniburg, Dec. 12, lSo7-3m. IIartioku Live Stock Issuuasce Co. call the attention of owner3 of horses and cattle to the advantages offered by the Hart ford Live Stock Insurance Company. Kerr A Co., 100 Main street, Altooaa, are the Gen eral Agents. The Company offers insurance against loss by theft or death. Its capital is half a million, giving ample.security for the ability to settle all losses, however exten sive, while the undoubted character of the gentlemen connected with it is a guarantee of honorable action. Farmers tnd others will Sr.d it to their interest to insure their live stook, as by the payment of a small an nual premium they will secure themselrei against loss. All necessary particulars may be obtained of the agents as above. "f ST HAY. Can.e to the residence of the subscri ber, iu White township, Cambria countr, about the !."-st of October- lusti a White Co, "v:!h red Ppe-V, and supposed to be about 9 years old." The owner will come forward. ! p:-evc vr -perty, pay cuarges, ana k nwav, cr n ...11 oe uisposeu oi accorui' law. ROBERT IIULLK.V. December 12, 1867-3t. I73TRAY. li Came to the premises of the subscri ber, ia Washington township, Cambria coun ty, during the mouth of September lis'., last spring's Erindle Bull Calf. The owner will come forward, prove propery, p "- g?s, and take it away, or it will be of according to law. Dec. 12. ISG7.31. THOMAS A-- i i luieuu lent nig iuc juuj - , time, and am desirous of having my ' , settled. All knowing themselves ndeU'j will please call, as you can settle on tt terms with me than wiih any one else- WALTER 13LLL. Summit, Dec. 12, 1SG7.21 if-I cheerfully recommend my s -j sor, Dr. uevereaux, nJ Pliveinan el rsiciaa :, to the confidence of the people oi and vicinity 17L1JUIDGE STILES, Pi EdexsbiRS, .Manufacturer of Barrels, Keg?, iu-Wooden-ware generally. Meat sun Kraut stands ou hand and for sale. p., Rfiairina douc cheap tor ca . Orders from a distance promf Nov. 1, 1 cd to. AMES C. EASLY, Attorney J Carrolltown, Cambria 'untJ'grecifi ti.firal Drawings fla ;! r- U"n- Mtious made. A
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers