president's Message
„ A of tie' Senate
and Honce y . Representatires
; lb, continued disorganization of the
1 ;‘,‘„,. 5 ,, w hich the President has so often
ci I the att• ration of ('ongress, is yet a
~ ~,,t iif profound and patriotic concern.
1% -,: ma y. however. find some relief from
, ! ,, at anxiety in the reflection that the pain
:, • political situation, although before un
:,,:l i. e o ut Selves. is not new in the experi-
I ,
cc , of n ations. Political science. perhaps
:.. Icicichly perfected iu our own time and
,
~iiiry as in- anv other. has rapt yet dia
.
l. ev mean: by whichTivil war can be
i„.., .t ..
;" 'nick provided. ;An enlightened mi
.'
i : titit'ti I". i wi th n wise and beneficent
;
;;li‘-titut ion of free,Goyernment, may dim
, -I, their frequency and mitigate their Re
„,,,iv, by directing all 'its proceedings in
~.,; ! danrce with its. fundamental law. When
....
,
' mar ha' been brought to a close, it is
ceile-th the first interest and duty of the n
....,:e to repair injuries which war has in
;, d arid to secure _the benefit of the les
s ;t inches ac fully-end speedily as p 05.,,,..
.,,,.. ithi., duty wits, upon the ternination
~.1 . :,. r ;cliellion, promptly' accepted, not
~.c, hr the Executive Department, but by
...,', o : a met i °nary States themselves, and
"„ r ,,t o en in the first moment of peace was l
c , ~,.1 to lie as easy and certain its it' Walt
' ',ii;iC Expectations, however, then
,„,,,,, a l !y amf coefidently entertained,
-, - -,c i lii-apriiinteil hr legislation from which
: , c.:t eewctrained by my obligations to the
c..cititufibn to withhold 11W assent
it ~ 0.,. r ,:f0re a source of, profound re
-,: ;hat. In complying with the obligation
-, •oe il upon . the President by the Censti
•,: ~1, to give Covress from time to -time
• ".,,cination of the :state iif the Union, I am
~',!c• to communicate any definite adjust
, st . -Ai-factory to the American people,
„ t h• q uestion'. which since the close of
; ,I.;l'eci, hat e iigitated the public mind.
~,,,,, ,outran. candor compels me -to des
:eve that at this time there is no Union as
, 11 . c,, t; ;;l--; '1111ijer•ti?,1(1 the term, and as
t ir`;iill it to be understood by us. - The
i , „ s aide+ they established can exist only
s,,,ne all St.etes are npresentml in both
ti,,a, , ..ef Congreq., where one State isins
.. a- another to regulate its internal con.
-. r:• J ecording to it, own will, and where
~,,.. id: MI control the Government ere
~.; i i, orintined to matters of national juris
; ~,, s oil
. apply with equal force to all
„. of es ery -ertion. That suet) is not
.i., 1 ,,.. cet state of the UMon is a. ntelatt
,. 7 f.ik`t, and 'we all must acknowledge
ic t'il ~ n•toration -of the States to their
...,, 1 ...r lei:iiiil relations with the Federal Goy-
Sr..) , at, and with one another, according to
~,
tenon of the original compact, would he
n.• ;Irr.tte , t temporal blessing :Which God
~'„ii kindest providence could bestow upon
• s ii.i.tion. It becomes our imperative
•,•t• to consider whether or not it is inipos
. ,: to effect this most desirable consum
t on. The'Union and Constitution are
. p.irable, for as long as one is obeyed by
, N itties the other wi .1 lie preServed, and
, ..c.,. hi. destroyed both must perish togeth
.; The destruction of the ,Constitution
,l' 7 ] ie. followed by other and still greater
.'aaities. 44 was ordained not only to
cr 7: a more perfect union between the
hat to establish justice, insure do
.,1•• tranquility, provide for common
~. , 5 .,., promote general welfare and
.O , ` the blessings of liberty to' ourselves
.. , -out prosterity. Nuthiug but implicit
.. dime to its requirements in all parts of
c".• country trill accomplish these great
, '.. 'Without obedience we can look for
. c.-,I Wily to continued outrages upon indi
c'oal right-% incessant breaches of Public
• etc.:bat:opal weakness, financial lotion
fetal lie:.: to our property. general cor-
•.,cilei, and moral and final extinction of
: ;14r freedom. To -save our country froth.
:1- fo appalling as these we should renew
• c 4rts again and again. To me the pro- .
r, , f
r ys ,, t oration seems perfectly plain and 1
•,, p i e. It conskts merely of a - faithful al,-
4 , p ;ahem of the Constitution and laws. The I
,t yahoo of the laws is not now obstructed
, • c:iiiii-ed by physical force. There is no
-all 'ary or other necessity, real or pretend
d, - Lich can present obedience to the
ee;emitutton either North or South. All
alits .111,1 all obligations of States and in
lls blue. can he protected. and enforced by
earls perfectly consistent with the funds
-1'0:d law. Courts may be opened, and,
Hcen. theifi process; would be unimpeded.
Cialnc s against the United States can he
~ ,,ciited or punished by proper judicial ati- -
I,,crii ii.g in a manner entirely practicable
1, cl hied There is, therefore, no reason
.It the Constitution should not be obeyed,
c.c I.- tio),4 , who exercise its powers have
..-:, mulled that it shall be disregarded and'
, ',late el The mere naked will of the goy
'Valli at. (ci.i.ine or more Of its branches, is
e, si.,taiile - that can exist, to perfect a union
, tall-the States. On this momentons (pea
' •• ..p. and some of the measures growing out
'.t I had the misfortune to differ from
.':cress, and I have expressed my comic
: c , ,; ultimo reserve, though with becom
'..: ch fi Nance to the opinion of the Legiela
i,o, Department. Those convictions were
:cc' ~n 1 unchanged but strengthened by slut).
• ec.c id wilds and further reflection. The
-•, , ..i talent importance of the subject Will
cc 7,
.ilff.-ient excuse for calling your attem
: ::1 tee .orate of the reasons is hich.bavi's-so
-ciccaely influenced my own judgment. I .
i..i.. that we may all finally concur in a
,
- -le- of .ettkntent consistent at once with
• true interests and with onr sworn duties '
sir Constitution. It is too oat oral and
'cc ',list to be_eaSily relinquished.
It ui clinr' to my apprehension that the
-.die lately in rebellion - are still members '
f the National Colon: -When did they
:'''”' to Ice Qo 1 The ordinances of seces
i c , a adopted bay a portion of their citizens
',,• mere nullities. If we admit now, that
•,, c mire valid i and efficient for the purpose
coded I-v their authors, we sweep from
- 7.6r-isin- feet the whole ground upon which
I , lictified the war. Were those Sta'es af
. :'-taards expelled from the t'uiou by the
sce? The direct contrary was averred by
il,. Government to be its purpose, and it
c:. •o understood by all' those who gave;
' l' 't blood and treasure to aid in its prose.
, al. It i-ttnnot be that &successful war,
ra':. , l for the preservation of the'Tnion,
ad thelegal effect of dissolving it. The
,' 4 •(''Y of the Nation's arms was not the
c' iczneii , et her policy. The defeat of &TM.
i '1,;1 1 the tattle field was not a triumph
',- ill 1 . 1, 0 1. 1.9 prim iple ; nor could Con-
Alit' or without the consent of the'
I reilltoic. do anything which would have
"cis iti,, t, directly' or indirectly, of separats
l:State. (tom each other., To dissolve the
,
' 'it , . i. i i repeal the ]Constitutiou which
it tecether, and that is a power which
cc is nut belong to any department of this
‘'rmsefit. or to all of them united. This
' - plain that it has been acknowledged by
l.rariches of the Federal Government.
II*: b ‘ ri de, essor, as well as tuyself and the
of all departments, have uniformly
.ecci noon the principle that the Union is
t..aly nrdissolved, but indissoluble. Con
'3 eilitnitted au amendrfient of the Con
' Ileum to be ratified by the Southern
: . .ti , ,, till accepted their acts of ratifies
'• mll a necessary and lawful exercise of
' , r highest, function. ' If they were not
I 'tats.. or States out of the Union, their
'runt to a change in the fundamental law
\ '
the rnitill would have been nugatory,
t'.il l'oligiois, in askirg it, has committed
'l'llitical absurdity. The Judiciary also
' •c" the solemn sanction of its authority to
'' 'amp 1 iew in the ease. Judges of tire
;;eras taunt have included the Southern
1,, t , in their circuits, end thiiy are con
eiceitly, in l'"ue and elsewhere, exercising
i7iiiction which does mot belong to them,
' lo
''''' tio States are States of the Union.
,
11,1• `it....tithe ru States are component parts
r the Union, thu Constitution is the su
s '' . '"in law for them as it is for all other
'xis • •
• ~ they are bound to obey it, and so
'" ."e. The, , right of the Federal Govern
e,,, i,t, which is clear and unquestionable,
enforce the Constitution upon them, im
ft" a co-relative obligation on our part to
" r terse its limitations and exemdep-ita'itstar.
.. I ' l ,','''. Without the Conititution, we are
',',
"use ; but through and under 'the Con
'''llisa, we are what it. -makes ins. • We;
A GUI
''' ,. o .T 4
the wisdom of the law. we may,
c ..,i .'lierov e of its provisions, but we can
, - t °late it merely because it seems to
F ( . 4,11fi. . .
within
'limits
, .° our rums narrower
c I. ' l ' 'se could wish. It is not ailuestion of
'" i 'idual, , or sectiona interest,
t • - u , li less t
or class
I‘ , o party predominaticS,' brat 'o'
L „ of a high and sacred duty, wbich'we
i `,'!: all morn to perform. alf we cannot
i
'itlicort the Coestitution with the cheerful
I , i frit.v of those who believe in it, we must
', a n n e, , ll at least the fidelity of public ser
i who net under solemn obligations and
uta t
sands which they dare not disregard.
- f.o nstitutional . duty is not the only one
. _
. .
. .
ME
which requires, the States to be' restored.
There is another consideration which,
though of minor importance, is yet of great
weight.• On the 22d day of. July, 1861,
Congress declared, by an unanimous vote of
both Houses, that the war should be con
ducted solelyfor the purpose of preserving
the Union and maintaining the supremacy
of the Federal Constitution and the laws,
without impidring the dignity, equality and
rights of the St:stetter individuals, and that
when this was done the war should cease. I
do not say that thilfdeclaration is personal
ly hindink on those who' joined in making
It, any more than on the individual
members - Congress are personally
bound to pay public debt created under
a law for which they voted; but _it - liras it
solemn public official pledge of national
honor; and I cannot imagine upon'• what
grounds tho repadition of it is to tie justi
fied. If it be said .that ire are not hOund to
keep faith with the rebels, let it bo remein
bered that this promise was not made to
rebels only but to thousands of true men in
he South, who were driiwn to• our standard
by it. and to hundreds of thousands in the
North who gave their tires in the belief that
it would be carried out. It was made on
the day after the first great battle of the
war had been fought and lost. All 'patriot
ic and intelligent men then saw the neces
sity of giving such an assurance, and be
lieving that without it the war would end
in disaster to our cause; having given that
assurance, in the extremity of our peril, a
violation of it now in our day of power
would be a rude rending of that good faith
which holds the moral world together. Our
country would cease to have any chill up
on the confidence of men. It 'would make
the war not only a, failure but a fraud.
Being sincerely' i*otivinced that these
views are correct, I would be unfaithful to
my duty if I did not reeomtnend a repeal of
the acts of Congress - which place tenf the
Southern States under the domination of
military masters. If calsi reflection shall
satisfy a majority of 'your honorable bodies
that the nets referred to are not only a vio
lation of national faith. but in direct con
flirt with the Constitution, I dare not per
mit myself to &Wit - that you will inunedi
diately strike them from the statute book.
To demonstrate the unconstitutional charac
ter of those acts, I need do no more than
refer to their general provisions. It must
he 111'01 at once that they arc not authorized
to dictate what alterations shall he made in
the Constitutions of the several States: to
control elect ions s. f State Legtslatures and
State officers,' mendieiS of Congress and
electors of Proident and Vice Prssident,
by arbitrarily declaring who shall vote and
who shall be excluded from that privilege;
to dissolve State 'Legislatures or prevent
them from assembling; to dismiss judges
and other civil functionaries of the State;
and appoint others without reference to
State law; to organize and operate all polit
ical machinery of the States; to regulate
the whole - administration of .their domestic
and local affairs according to 'the mere will
of strange and irresponsible agents 'sent '
among them' for that purpose. These are
powers not granted to the federal' govern
ment,
or to day one of its branches. Not
being granted, we violate our trust by
assuming them as palpably as we would by
acting in the face of a positive interdict,
for the Constitution forbids us to do What
ever it does not affirmatively authorize,
either by express words or by clear implica
tion. The authority we desire to use does
not come to us through the Constitution.
We can exercise it only by usurpation and
usurpation is the mast dangerous of political
crimes. By_ that crime enemies of free gov
ernments in all ages have worked out their
designs against public liberty and private
right. It leads directly and immediately to
the establishment of absolute rule, for un
delegated power is always unlimited.
The unrestrained acts of Congress in ques
tion aro not only objectionable for their as- ' .
sumption of ungrantod power, but'many of.i
their provisions are in conflict with the di
rect prohibitions of the Constitution.
Constitution commands that a republican
form of government shall be guaranteed - to
all the States; that no person shall be de
prived of life, liberty or property without
due process of law, arrested without a judi
mai warrant, or punish€4l without a fair trial
before an impartial jury; that the privilege
of habeas corpus shall not be denied in time
of peace, and that no hill of attainder shall
be passed even against 'a single individu il;
yet the system 'of measures established by
these acts of Congress does totally subvert
and destroy the form as well as the substance
of a republican government in the ten
Statesto which they apply. It binds them
hand and foot in absolute slavery, and sub
jects them to a strange and hostile power
Mote unlimited and more likely to be abused
than any other now known among civilized
men. It tramples down all those rights in
which the essence of liberty consists, and
which free governments Are always most
carer@ to protect •It denies habeas corpus
and trial by jury. ' Personal freedom, r,op
erty .and life, if assailed by the palmtop,
prejudice or incapacity of rulers, have no
security whatever. It has the effect of a
bill of attainder, or a bill of pains and pen
alties, not on a few individuals, but upon
the whole mass, including millions, who in
habited the subjugated States, and even
their unborn children. These wrongs being
expressly forbidden, cannot be constitution
ally inflicted upon any portion of our
'people, no matter how they may have come
within our jurisdiction, and no matter
whether they live in F•tetes, Territories or
Bistricts.
I have no desire to save from the proper I
and just consequences of their great crime
those who engaged in the rebellion against
the Government, bat, as a mode of punish
ment, the measures under consideratism are
the most unreasonable that could be in
vented. Many of these people are perfectly
innocent many kept their fidelity to the
Union untainted to the last, and many were
incapable of any legal - offence. A large
portion even of the persons. able to bear
arms were forWir into the rebellion against
their will, and - of those who were guilty
with their own consent,- the degrees of guilt
are as various as the shades of their charac
ter and temper. But these acts of Con
gress—confound them all together in one
common doom! . Indiscriminate vengeance
upon classes, sects and parties, or upon
'whole communities for offenses committed
by a portion of them against the govern
meats to, which they owed obediencoa . was
common in the barbarous ages of the.world,
but Christianity and civilization have made
such progress that recourse to a punishment
so cruel and unjust would meet with the con
demnation of all .unprejudiced and right
minded men. The primitive justice of this
age, and especially of this country, does
not consist in stripping whole States of
their liberties and reducing all their people
without distinction to the condition of
slaves. It deals separately with each indi
vidnal ; confines itself to the forms of law,
and vindicates its own purity by ati impar
tial examination of every case. This does
not satisfy all our desires withregard to the
Southern rebels. Let us console ourselves
by reflecting that a free constitution, tri
umphant in war and unbroken in peace, is
worth far more: to us and our Children than
the gratification of any present feeling. I
know it is assumed that this system of gov
ernment for the Southern/hates is not to be
perpetual. BIS trim this Military govern
ment is to be only :provisional, but it is
through-this temporary evil that • greater
evil is to be made perpetual. If the guar
antees of the Constitution can be broken
provisionally to secure a temporary purpose
and in a part only of the country, we can de
stroy there ermywhete; and , for all' time.
Arbitrary measures often change, but they .
generally change for the worse. It is the
curse of despotism that it has no 'halting
place. The intermitted exercise of its
power brings no sense secnrity to, its sub
jecte, for thiy no "
know wlitAzioie
they will .be called to endure when its red
right hand is armed to plagues them again,
nor is it possible to conjecture how or why
power unrestrained by law may seek its next
victims. States that are- stillLfree4nay be
enslaveit any,pmement,- for thp Consti
tution 'doei not prefect - ill it pieteCts
none; it is negro % suffrage denounced.
It is manifestly and avowedly the "object
of these lewd tri , ennfei ntigreis the
privilege - of votifig, and to' disfranchise
such number of , white citizens give
the femur a clear majority at all 'elections
in t h.e sis . 4thogißtli,fog.• Thip, Ig_thc'mairole
of sonic persons, isaciimportant that a vie
' lationiff the "Ceristitation is 'justified as a
means of bringing 'about: 'Morally that
is always false, which excuses - a wrong be-,
cause it proposes to accomplish a desirable
end. A e are not permitted to do evil, that
good may conic ; but in this case the end
itself is evil as well as the means. 'lire sub
jugation of the States to negro domination
would be worse than military despotism no
der which they are now suffering,. It was
believed beforehand that that the people
would endure any amount of military op
pression' for any length of time, rather than
degrade themselves by subjection to the ne
gro race. Therefore. they have been left
without a choice ; negro suffrage was estab
lishedy
ct
o p e i cp •r s e i t i f • t re h e
clothingc o a i n o ; n t ( i l l ' Fl n g t e re o g En I•;....aelneer and
n vir ; n e l i n i t i g h l i . t .t t a rt e !
political privileges togoveru white
The blacks in the South are entitled to be
well and humanely governed and to have the
protection of jut laws, for_ all their rights
of person and property. If it were predi
cable at this time, to give them .a govern
ment exclusively their 0111; - =under which
they might manage their - own affairs in their
own way, it would become a grave question
whether we ought to do so, or whether com
mon humanity would not require ns to save
them from themselves. But, under the cir
cumstances, this is only a speculative point..
It is net proposed merely that they shall
govern.,themselves, but that they shall rule
the white ram, make and administer State
laws, elect Presidents and - members of Con
gress, and shape to a greater Or less extent
the filtere destiny of the whiite whole coun
try. - Would such a trust and powerbe'iafe
in each, hands ? The peculiar qualities
which should characterize any people who
are fit to-decide upon the management of
public affairs for a great State, have seldom
been combined. It is the glory of white
men to know that they have had these Ted
ties in u sufficient measure, to build upon
this continent a great political fabric, and
to preserve its stability for more than ninety
years, while in every other part of the
world, all similar experiments have failed.
But if anything can be proved by known
facts,-if all reasoning upon efforts ii not
abandoned, it mist be acknowleged that in
•the progress of nations the negroes have
shown less capacity for government then
any other race of people. • No , independent
govertimeet of any form has ever been suc
cessful in their hands. On the contrary,
wherever they have been left to their own
devices, they have showu a constant tenden
cy to relifise inio barbarism. In the South
ern States, however, Congiess has under-.
taken to 'confer upon them tlin priteleges of
the ballot; Just relieved from slavery, it
maybe doubted whether, as a class, they
know more than their ancestors how to or
ganize and regulate civil society; indeed, it
is admitted that the blacks of the South are
not only regardless of the right of property,
but their voting can consist in nothing
more than carrying a ballot to_ the place
w 1 ere they are directed to deposit. it. I
need not remind you that the exercise of the
elective franchise is the :highest attribute iu
an American citizen, and that when guided
by virtue, intelligence, patriotism and the
proper appreciation of our free institutions,
it constitutes the true basis of the , Demo
cratic form of government, in which the
.sovereign power is lodged in the body of
the people, a trust artificially created not
for its own sake, but solely as a means of
promoting general welfare. Its influence
for good must necessarily depend upon its
elevated character and • the true allegiance
of the'eleetur. It ought, therefore, to be
reposed to none except those who are fitted;
moraly null mentally, to administer it well,
for if conferred upon_ persons who do not
justly estimate its valve, and who are in
different us to itaresulte, it will bnly servo
as the means of placing power in the bands
of the unprincipled and ambitious uud must
eventually end in the 'complete destruction
of that liberty of which it should be the
most powerful observator. I have, there
fore, heretofore urged upon your attention
the great danger to be apprehended from an
untimely extension of the elective franchise
to any new class in our•country, espelially
when a large majority • of that class, in
wielding the' power thus placed in their
hands, cannot be expected correctly to com
prehend the duties and responsibilities that
pertain to snifter. Yeiterday, BA it were,
four millions of persons we held inn condi
tion of slavery which had existed for gene
rations. To-day they are freemen, and are
assumed by law to be citizens. It cannot
be presumed from their previous condition
of servitude that as a class they are as well I
informed as an intelligent foreigner who
makes our land the home of his choice. In
the case of the latter, neither a-residence of
five years, nor the knowledge of our institu
tions which it gives, nor attachment to the
principles of the Constitution. are the only
conditions upon which he can be adniittedto
citizenship. Ile must prove, in addition to
a good Moral character, and thus give rea
sonable ground for the belief, that he will
be faithful to the obligations which he as
enures nazi citizen of a Republic, where a
people, the source of all political power,
speak by their suffrage, through the instru
mentality of the ballot-box, It must be
carefully guarded against the control of
those who use corruption in principle, and
are enemies of free institutions, for it can
only become to our political and social gyp
tem safe conductor of healthy popular
sentiment when kept free from the demoral
izing influences controlled through usurpa
tion by a designing anarchy, and despotism
mast inevitably follow. In the hands
of the patriotic and worthy our gov
ernment will be preserved upon the pritici•
plea of the Constitution inherited from our.
fathers. It follows, therefore, that inmd
mittiug to the ballot-box a new class of
voters, not qUalified for the exercise of the
elective franchise, we weaken* our system of
government instead of adding to its strength
and'darability. I yield to no one in attach.'
meat to that rule of general suffrage which
distinguishes our policy as a nation, but
-there is a limit wisely observed hitherto,
which makes the ballot a privilege and a
trust, and which requires of some classes
a time suitable for probation'and prepara
tion. To give it indiscriminately.to a new
class, wholly unprepared by previous habits
and opportunities to perform the
trust which it demands,. is to - degrade
it, and finally to destroy its power, for it
may be saly; assnme4 that no' political
truth is better established than that such in
discriminate and all-embracing extension of
popular suffrage must end at last in its over
throw and destruction. I repeat the ex
pression of my willingness to join 'in any
plan within the scope ,of — our con
stitutional authority which promises to bet
ter the condition. of the negroes in the
South, by encomrag,ing them in indtistry, en
lightment and improvement in their morals,
and giving protection to all their just rights
as freedmen, lint to transfer our political in
heritance to them would; in my opinion, be
an abandonment of a duty which we owe'
alike to the memory of our fathers and to
the rights of our children. The plan tif .
putting the Southern States wholly, and the
Federal government .partially, into the
hands of the negroes, ie proposed at a time
peculiarly übpropitiona. - - The foundation of
society has been broken up by civil war; in
dustry must be reorganized, justice re-es
tablished, public credit maintained, and or
der brought out of confusion. 'l'o 'aeeoni
plish these ends would require all the wis
dom and Virtue of the great men who formed
our institutions originally. I confidently
believe that'thelr descendants - will be equal
to the arduous task before
_them, but it is .
worse than madness to expect that the ne
groee will perform it for us. Certainly we
Ought not to ask, their tutaistaues Until we
_despair of our own competency . The great
difference between the two races, in physi
cal mental, and moral characteristics, will
prevent an amalgamation or fusion -of them
together in one homogeneous meas. If the
inferior obtains the ascendancy over the
other, it will govern with reference only to
its own interests, for it recognises no con
mon interest, and creates such a tyranny as
this continent has nevetiyit witnessed. Al
ready the negicies are influenced by proms
ises - of Confiscation and plunder. They•are
taught to regard as an, enemy , eve white
man who has any respect for the rights of
'big own race.
If this continoesi it must becomes,worse
and worse, until all order will besubverted,
all Indir a / 3 r eirarie s , and the ,fertile fields. Of
the South grow up.into a wilderness. Of
all dangers which oaf nation has yet encoun
tered,.noneare equal to those whuich must
result-front 'the streftess of the effort now
making to:Atricaniie .helr of our conlitri:
would not put the considerations of money,
in cetapetition.irith , justice and right, but
the expenses incident to reconstruction, en
de? the - system adopted by Congree#, aggra
vate what L regard as the instnnsic wrong.
of tbs.-mgasure .It, has cost uncount-.
ed shiady, and if persisted in will
addlargely too the weigfft of taxation al
ready too oppressive to be borne without
just complaint, and may finally reduce the
treasury of the nation, to a condition of
bankruptcy. We must not delude ourselves.
It will require a strong standing army and
probably more than two hundred million of
dollars per annum to mantain the suprema
cy of the negro governments after they are
established. ,The sum thus thrown away
wonlit ir,properlyrtsed, forma sinking fund
large "Smougli to pay the whole national debt
in less than,fifteen - years. It is in vain to
hope that the negroes will maintain their
ascendancy themselves; without militory
power; they ainwholly incapable of hold
ing in subjection the white people of the
South. ' I sribrait to • the judgment of Con
gress, whether the public credit may not be
injuriously affected by a system of measures
like this with our debt and vast privnte in
terests-which are complicated, with it. We
caunot be too.',cautious of a policy which
might by a posilibilifyimpair the Confidence
of the world in ortegovernment. ' That con
fidence can onbt be retained by carefully in
culcating' the principles, of justice and hon
or on the popular mind; and by a most scru
pulous fidelity "in all our engagements of
every Writ. Any breach of the organic law
persisted in - tor a considerable time, cannot
but create team for the stability of our in
stitutiona. Habitual violations -of pre
scribed rules: Which, we bind ourselves to oil-
serve must dpmcieslifos the toeople: Our on
ly standard citarbril dirty being set at nought
the sheet-ancherof 'our political morality is
lost, and public coirscrence- swings from its
mooring and yields to every impulse of -pas
sion and interest. Ifwe repudiate the Con
stitution-we will net he expected to care much
for mere pecuniary obligations. The viola
tion of such a pledge as we made on the
22d of• July, 1561, will assurecUy,diminiah
the inarkok_value of our other pro-siises; be
sides, if -we now acknowledge Oita the na
tional debt was - created, not to hold • the
the States in The Union, ns.tax-payers were
led to-supPose,' but- to expel them from it,
and hand therm over to be governed by ne
groes, the moral duty to pay it May seem
much less clear.' I say it may seem so, for
I do not admit that it or any other argu
ment in favor of -repudiation can be enter
tained as sound, lint its 'influence on some
' classe's of minds may well be apprehended. -
' The financial honor of a meat commercial
on
tinn, largely. indebted, and with a republican
fornsof government administered by the agents
of popular choice, hen thing of delicate texture,
and the destruction of it would be followed by
such unspeakable calamity,sthat over truelmt
riot must clothe to avoid whatever mightexpose
it to the slightest danger. The great interests
of the country require immediate relief from
these enactments. Business in the South.-3s par
alyzed by a sense of general intecirritysty ter
ror of confiscation, and dread of negro siiprent
acy. Southern trade, : from which the North
would have derived so greats profitundera gov
ernment of law. still languishes, and can never
be revived until it c'enSim to be fettered by arbi
trary power, which makes ell its.oterations un
safe. '. That rich country—the richot in natural
resources that the world ever saw—is worse than
lost if itbe not soon placed ender the prolee
lion of a free Constitution. Instead of being,
as It ought to be, a source of wealth and power,
it will become an intolerable burden upon the
rest of the nation. • AnOther reason for retrac
ing our steps will doubtless be-seen by Congress
in the late manifestations of public opinion up
"on-this subject. We live in a country where the
popular will'always enforce obedience to itself.
sooner or later. It Is vain to think'of opposing
it with anything short el legal antliorityslmelted
by an overwhelming force. It cannot have es
caped you attention that from the day on which
Congress fairly and formallY pmentisl the prop
osition to govern the Southern States by milita
ry force, with a view to the ultimate establish
ment of negro snittertmey, every express-lower
general sentiment his been more or less adverse
to it. The uffectiotua of 'this generation cannot
be detached from the institutions of their an
rodent. The tletennineticn to preserve the in
heritance of free govenament in their own hands
.and transmit it undivided and unimpaired to
their own,pesterity ia.too istrong to be success.
fully opposed. Every weaker passion will die
appear before the hive of liberty and law ,
. for
which the _American people are dfsdingtusbed
above all others hr the world.
how far the duty of the President to pre
serve, protect and defend the Constitution, re
quins aim to go in opposing an imeonstittition
al act of Congress. is a t ery serious and impor
tant question, and one on which I deliber
ated much, and felt extremely anxious to reach
a proper conclusion. Where an sct has been
posed according to the- turns of the _Constitu
tion by the supreme legislative authority of the
country. executive resistance to it. especially in'
times of high party excitement, wOuld be likely
to produce a violent collision between the re
spective adherents of the two branches of the
Government. This would be simply civil war,
and must be resorted to only as the last remedy
for the worst of evils. Whatever might tend to
provoke it, should he most carefully avoided.—
A faithful and conscientious, magistrate will
concede very much to honest error, and some
thing even to perversernalice before he will en
danger the public peace. And he will not adopt
forcible measures, or such as might lead to force,
as long as chances which are feasible remain
open to him or to his constituents. It is true
that cases may occur in which the Executive
would be compelled to Aand on its, rights, and
maintain them regardless of consequences. If
Congress should pass tin act, which is not only
in palpable conflict with the Constitution, but
will certainly, if carried_ out. product) immedi
ate and iireparible injury to the organic etruct
ore of the-Government, and if there be neither
judicial remedy for the, wrongs it inflicts,• nor
power in the people to protect themselves with
out the.otlicial aid of their elected defenders ;
if. for instance. the legislative department should
pars an act. oven though rill the forms of law,
to abolish a co.onlinate department of the Gov
ernment, in such acaeo the President must take
the high responsibilities of his office and save
the life of a nation at all hazards. The so-called
reconstruction acts, though as plainly
unconstitutional as any that may be imagined.
where not believed to be within the class last
mentioned. The people are not wholly dis
armed of the.power of self-defence In all the
Northern States; they still bold in their hands
the 'sacred right of the ballot, and it is safe to
believe that in due time they would come to the
rescue of their own Institutions. It gives me
pleasure•to add that appeal to our common
constituency was not taken in vain, and ,that
my - confidence in their wisdom and virtue seems
to not have been misplaced. •
It is well and publicly known that enor
mous frauds have been perpetrated on the
Treasury and that collossal formnos have been'
made at public expense. This species'of cor
ruption has increased and is increasing, and if
not diminished will soon bring 'us into totat
ruin and disgrace. 'Public creditors and tax
payers are alike increased in an honest ad
ministration of the finances, and neither class
will long endure the large handed robberies of
the recent past. For this discreditable state of
things there are several canoes. Some of the
.taxes are so laid as to
_present an irresistible
temptation to ev.ade payment. The great sums
which officers may realize by connivance at
frond create a pressure which Is more than the
virtue of many can withstand, and there can
be no doubt that the open disregard for con
stitutional obligation's,. avowed by some of the
highest and most influential men in the cinin
try, has greatly weakened the moral sense of
those who serve in subordinate place.
The expenses of the United States, including
interest on the public debt, are more than six
times as much as they were seven years ago.
To collect and diabntss this vast amount re
quires careful supervision aswell as systematic
vigilance. The system, never perfected; was
much disorganized by the tenure of-office bill,'
which has almost destroyed official accounta
bility. The President may be thoroughlrion=
winced that an office is Incapable, dishonest. or
unfaithful to the constitution, but under the law
which I bare named, hie utmost endeavor is to
complain to the Senate and ask the privilege of
supplying his place with a better man. If the
Senate be regarded as personally or politically
hostile to the Presidentit is natural and not al
together unreasonable for, the officer to expect
;that it will take his part as far as possible,,re
store him to his place and give - him a triumph
over his Executive superior officer: . Other
chances of impurity arising !tom accidental de
tect/for evidence made of investigating it and the
secrecy of hearing it is not wonderful that of
ficial malfeasance should become - boldin pro
portien as the delinquents learetto think them
selves safe. I am entirely persuaded that under
such a rule the President cannot perform the
great duty assigned to him of seeing the laws
Atithlblly ex/exited, and that it disables him
most especially from enforcing that rigid ac
countability which is necessary to the execution
of the revenue laws. The constitution invests
the President with authority to decide whether
a removal shall homed() in any Eisen cunt The
act of Congress declares in substance that he
shall only accuse such as he supposes to ; be un-•
worthy of their trust The constitution makes
him sole judge in the premises, but the statute
takes away his..jurisdictlon, transfers it to the
Senate, and leaves hird nothing but the' odious
and sometimes impracticable duty. efts:coming
a prosecutor. The prosecution Is to. be con
ducted before a tribunal whose members! are not,
)the hint-responsible to the whole people,' but
49 separate constituent' bodies, and who may
hear his accusation with great disfavor. The
Senate is absolutely without any known stand
ant of decision applicable' to etch a vase.
Its judgment cannot be anticipated, for
it is . not goierned by any , rule. -The
-law does not define) what shall be deemed
good cause for =mat. It is Impossi
ble even to cordectuto - ,whet - may or may
not to be considered by the Senate. • Tbo nature
of-the subject forbids clear proof. • -If the charge
be ipeapacity, what evidence: trill support it?
fidelity to the Constitution egitilie:Anderstood
'kw misundereloood in a.thousand. difikeemt ways.
, rad by violent party menin violent party times
unfaiththlneia to the Constitution may even
come to be considered meritorious. If officers
be accused cf dishonesty, bow shall it be made
out? Will it be inferred from acts unconnected
with their public duty, from their private Mato.
r 3, or from their general' reputation, or must
the President await the commission of an actual
misdeatner in office! Shell he in the meantime
risk the character and the interests of the nation
In the bands of men to Whom be cannot give his
confidence? slnst be forbear his complaint en
tit the mokhir fis done, and cannot be prevent
ed? If his natio the public serviceshould help
him to anticipaie an overt act, rated he move at
the peril of being tried himself for the offence of
slandering his subordinate? In the present cir
cumstances of the country,. some ode must be
held resporrible - for his official deliquency of
every kind. - It: is extremely difficult to say
where that responsibility should be thrown, if
it be not left when: it had lx-en placed by the
constitution.. Hut all just-men will admit that
-the President oughtto be relies ed from such re
sponsibility. if he cannot reach it by MINH) of
restriction plactsi by the law upon his actions.
Unrestricted -potter of removal from office
is very great, and when •trusted even to a
magistrate ehOsen by the gederal suffrage of the
whole people and aceountable directed to them
for his ads, it it undoubtedly liable to abuse
and at some period of our history perhaps has'
been abused. If it be thought desirable and
itinstitutional that - it should be so limited rts to
make the President merely a common in
former against other public agents. he
should at leaf be permitted to act in
that capacity before some open tram,
nal, independent of party polities, ready to
investigate the merits of every case furnished
with means of taking evidence!, and bound to
'decide according to an established rate. This
would guarantee the safety, of the accuser when
he acts rn good faith, and at the same time se
cure the right of -the' other party. I speak of
course with all 'proper respect for the present
Senate, but it sloes nut seem to me that any
le.rislative body can be so constituted as to-en
sure its fitness for these functions. - It is not the
theory of this government that public offices are
the property of those who hold them. They are
given-merely :ma trust for the public benefit,
sometimes fors fixed period, rometilnes during
Rood behavior, but generally they are liable to
be tetminated at tho.pleasure of the appointing
power, which represents the collective majesty.
and speaks the will of-the people. The fore •d
retention in office of a single dishonest person
may work great injury to the public . ..interests.
Danger to the public service comes not from the
power to temove, but from the pOwer to appoint.
Therefore it was that the framers of the constitu
tion left the power of retnot•al unrestricted.
while they gave the Senate the right to-reject.
all appointments which. in its opinion, were.not
fit to be made. A little reflection on -This sub
ject will probably satisfy all who hive the good
of the count M - -at heart thnt our hest course is to
take the con titution for our guide, walk in the
path marked out by the founders of the Repub.
lie, and obey the titles made sacred by the ob
nervance of our vent predecessors.
,The present condition of our.flnanCes and cir•
misting medium is one to which your early
consideration , is , invited. The proportion
which the currency of any country-shonld bear
to the whole value of the annual products, cir
culates' by its means, is a gnostical' upon which
political economists have not agreed. nor can
It be controlled by legislation, but must beleft
to inevrteable laws. , which everywhere reZn
late commerce and trade. The circulating
medium will ever irreeistably flow to those
points,where it is in greatest demand. The law
demands it, and the supply is as unerring as
that which regulates the tides of the
ocean; and indeed currency is like•the titles has
its ebbs and flows throughout the commercial
world. At the beginning of the rebellitin the
hank note circulation of the country amounted
to not much more than two hundred millions
of dollars. Now the circulation of the Na-
tional bank notes and those knovn as legal
tenders is nearly seven hundred millions.
While it is urged by some- that this amount
should be increased, others contend that n de
cided reduction is absolutely essential to the
interests of the country. In view' of these di
ver's) opinions it may be well to ascertain the
real value of oar paper limes when compared
with, a metallic sr controvertible currency. For
this purpose let us inquire 'how much gold ttotl
silver could la purchased by the seven hun
dred-millions of paper money now in.circula-
tion. Probably nor more ttnin half the amount
of the latter, showing that when our paper
currency b compared with gold and silver
its commeraal value is compressed into thee'e
hundred and five millions. This striking fact
makes it the obvious duty of the government
as early as may be consistent with principles of
sound economy to take such measures
as will enable the holders of notes, and those
of the National banks, to convert, them with
out loss into specie, or its equivalent. A reduc
tion of our paper c minting medium will not
necessarily follow. This, however, would de
pend upon the law: of demand and supply.
though it should lie borne in mind that ley mak
ing legal tender and bank notes convertible into
coin or its equivalent their present-speck Value
in the bands of their tolders, would lie en
chanced one hundred per cent. Legislation for
accomplishing a result so desirable is demanded
by the higeest public considerations. The Con
stitution contemplates that the circulating me
dium of the country shall be uniform in equal
ity and value. At the time of the formation of
that instrument the country ,had just emerged
fr m a war of revolution, and • was suffering
front the effects" of a redundant and worthless
pap- . r currency. The sates of that period were
anxious to protect their posterity from evils
which thev. themselves, had experienced ;
hence, in providing- a circulating medium, they
conferred upon Congress the power to•coin mon
ey and regulate t. o•value thereof, at the same
time prOhibiting the States from making any
thing lint gold and +direr tender in payment of
debts. The anomalous condition of our cur
rents is in striking contrast with that which was
originally designed. Our circulation now em
braces : -
Ffnst—Notes of - National. Banks which are
made receivable for all dues to the Government
excluding imposts. and for all its credits except
ing the payment of interest upon its own bonds
and securities themselves..
Second—The legal tender notes issued by the
'United States; and which the law requirnlshalk
be received as well in 'payment of .11 debts be
tween citizens as of all government dues ex
cepting iniports ; and.
Third—Gold and silver coin, by the operatiOn
of our present system of finance, however.
metallic currency, when collected, is reserved
only for one class of government creditors, who,
holding its bonds. semi-annioilly receive their
interest in coin from the National Treasury.
They are thus made to occupy an invidious po
sition which may he used to strengthen the ar
guments or those who would bring into disrepute
obligations of then - nation in the payment of all
its debts. The plighted faith of the government
should be inviolably maintained, but while it I
acts with fidelity toward the bond holder who
loaned his money, that the integrity of the
Union might - be preserved. it should at the
sonic time observe good faith with the great
masses of the people, who. having rescued the
Union from' the perils of the rebellion, now
bear the burdens of taxation • that the Govern
ment may be able to fulfil its obligations. There
is no reason which will bo accepted as satisfac
tory by the people why those who defend us on
land and - protect mum soh. ths'pensiopers upon
the gratitude of the nation, bearing scam' and
wounds received while - in the service; the
public servants in ithe various departments of
the Government, 'the farmers who supply the
soldiers of the army, and sailors of the navy ;
the artizan who toils in the nation's workshops.,
and the 'Mechanics and laborers who build its
edifices and construed its forts and vessels of war,
should in payment oftheir hard-earned dues. re
ceive depreciated paper, while another class—
their conntrymen—no more deserving, are paid
in coined gold and silver. Equal and rxact
justice requires that all creditors of
the Government should be paid in a cur l
rency possessing a uniform value. This can
only be accomplished by the restoration of
the, currency to the standard established by the
Constitittion, and by .th:s means, we would re
move a discrimination which may, if has not
already. done so, -Create a prejudice that may
become deep rooted and wide spread. and im
peril the national credit. The feasjbility of
making our co Abney correspond witb"tho Eon:
stiintional standard may bo seen by reference to
a few fachi derived from our commercial statis
tics.. The production of the precious Metals in
the United States—from 1849 to 1857 inclusive,
amounted GM $579.000,000; from 1858 49 1860,
inclnsive. to $137,500,00, and from 1861 to
1867, inclusive in $45.7,000,000, making a grand
aggregate of the products since 1849, of $1,174,-
000.000. The amount of specie coined, from
1849 to 1857, inclusive, was $439,000,000 ;
from 1858 to 1850, inclusive, $125,000,000, and
hem 1861 t 01867, inclusive. $310,000,000, mak
ing Di totalceinago Pint* 1849, of $874.00(000.
From 1849 to 1837, - inclusive, the net exports of
specie amounted to $271,000,000 ;'from 1858 to
1960, inclusive, t 0.5148,000.004- and from 1861
to 1867; inat4tive, $332,000,000. making a total
aggregate of net. eiports since 199, of $741,-
000.000. ' These figures show an excess of pro
duct Over net exports of $435,600,000. -There
aro in the Treasury $111,000,000 in coinv some
thing -more, than $4,000,000 in circulation on
the Pacific coast. and a few millions in the-Na
tional another banks in all about. $160,000.-
000: !This, however, taking tote 'account. 'he
specle in the country prior to 1849, leaveamere
than $300,000,000 which. have not been ac
counted for by exportation, and therefore may
yet remain in the country. These are: imlior
hint facts to show haw completely inferior curs .
rency will snlimeede • the latter,
forcing it. from • circulation among the
mimes and causing it to be, exported.
as 4 mere articto of. trade --to add to
money capital in foreign lands. Mop. -show
the necessity of retiiing our paper money, that
the return ofgold and silver to 4he.:- avenues of
trade may be invited and a - demand created,
which' will Minim a totentiotuttlome of at least
so rn TO gibe productions of oui --rich ; and in
exhiliatibleVold-bearing fields as may be suffi
cient for the purpose of circulation. leis unrea
sonable to expect a sound =menu so long as
the GOvernMent, by continuing, to issue irro
deematile mites fills the channel or circulation
with iltpredated paper, Notwithstanding the
coinage'orour mintsssinco 1949 of $874,000,000,
the people aro now strangers to a currency
which was designated for their use and benefit,
and speciming of the precious • metals bearing
national devices are seldom seen, except when
produced to gratify the interest excited by their
novelly: If depreciated currency Is to be con
tinued as a 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 indispmsable to the comfort
of the people. it won't) be a . wise - economy to
abolish our mints, thus waving the nation the
care and expen , e incident to such , establish
ments. and let our precious medils be exported
in bullion. The time has come, however, when
the Government and banks should be requitisl
to take the most eStelent steps and make all
necessary arranolnents fee the re-nmption of
specie payment at earliefd practical - pert d.
Specie pa!, meat having once been resumed by
the Government and banks..-all notes or bills
or paper- issucdby either of a less
denomination than tvientydollars,chould by
be excluded front circulation," so that thi. peo
ple may have the lametit and convenience of a
gold and silver currency which, in ail their Nisi.
seas term: a_ is 111, be uniform in value at
,bread.home and ,bread. ery man who desires to
preserie is bat he honestly pocsectes or to ob
tain is bat be ran honestly earn. has n direct in
teract in maintaining a safe circulating medium;
such a medium as shall be real and substantial.
not h all^ to ‘ibrate .with opi n i ons , no t
subject to be blown up, or blown down by - a
breath of speculation. bat to be made stable
and secure. A dkordered currency is one of
the greatest pOlitical evils; it undermines the
virtues nece.,ary fur the support of the Social
system'and encourages its evil prhensities and
isil&structive of its happine.ss. It wars against
indto.try. frugality and economy, and it fosters
the evil spirit of extravagance and speculation.
It has been asserted by one of our profound
and most gifted statesmen that of all contri
mice.; for cheating the laboring clacck of man
kind. none has been mcre effectual than that .
which
most
them with apaper money. This
is the most effectual of inventions to fertilize
the rich mart's fields by the sweat of the poor
man's brow. Ordinary tyranny. opplessibn
and excessive taxation bear lightly on the hap
piness of the mass of the cbmninnity, com
pared- INV) a fraudulent surrency, and
robberies committed, by depreciated paper.
In our own history there is recorded for
our instruction enough. and.; uteri.. than enough
of the deMoralizing tendency. , injustice and in
tolerable oppression on virtuous and well dis
posed of a degraded paper currency authorized
by law or in any way countenanced by the
govenumMt, It is ono of the most successful
devices in times of peace and wnr, expamions
or revolutions, to accomplish the transfer of
precious metals from the went' mass of the
people into the bands of the few, where they
are hoarded in secret places or deposited ih
strong boxes under bolts and' bars. while .the
people are left to endure WI 'the inconvenience,
sacrifice and demoralization resulting front the
use of depreciated and %mirthless paper money.
The condition of our finances and operations
of our revenue sraorn as set forth and fully
explained in the able and Introetive report of
the Secretary of the Treasury. On the :sorb of
June. 1866, the public debt amounted to $2.-'
783.423.879; on the 30th of. June last, it was
$2,602,199.215, showing u - reduction through
the fiscal- year of $81.266;664. During the fis
cal year ending. Juno 30, 1867. the receipts
were $490,634,010. and the expenditures $346,-
729.129, leaving au available surphAs of $143,-
904.880. itbis estimated that the reeeipti for
the fiscal - wear ending Jnno 30. 1868. will Ist
$417,161.928. and that the expenditureswill
-
reach $393,269,226,, leaving in the Treasury a
surplus 'of $23,892,102. For, the fircal year
ending June 30, 1869. it is estimated that the
receipts will athonnt to $381,000,000, and that
the expenditures will be $372,000,000, showing
an excess of $9.000'000 in Myer of the Govern
ment.
During the fiscal year, 7.01,114 aeres of pub ,
lic land were disposed of, and cask receiptsfrom
sales and fees exceeded by a half million the
sum realie.cal from those sources during the pre
ceding year. The amour 4 paid to pensioners,
including expenses and disbursements, was $lB,-
619,956. and :16,482 names were added to the
roll. The number of pensioners on thr I:ith of
June last was 155.47.1. Eleven thousand sit
hundred and fifty-tiro patents and designs were
issued during the year ending September" 30,
1867. and at that date the balance in the Trea..-
the credit of the patent fund was t.t.,•282;-
607,100.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy states
that we have 'seven squadrons actively and ju
diciously employed under efficient and able
commanders in protecting the persons and pro
perty of American eidzens: maintaining thedig
nity and power of the Government, and promot
ing the commerce will business interests of our
countrymen in every part of the world. Ottbe
twu hundred and thirty-eight vessels comprising
the present navy of the United State., there are
fifty-.Urcarrying five huminsi and seven guns, in
the squadron service, During the year, the
number of vessel); in commiasion has been re
duced to twelse, and there are thirteen lees on
squadron duty than there were at last report. A
largeitumber of vessels were commenced and in
course of construction when the war terminated.
and, nlthough Congress has mule tlie necessary
appropriations for their completion, the Depart
ment has either suspended the work uPon them,
or limited a slow completion of the ethlitil yes
selg so ask), meet the contracts fur mac hinerY.
made with private establishments.
The comprehensive report of the Secretary of
the Interior tarnishes interesting information in
reference to the important branches of the pub
lic service connected with his department. The
menacing attifudo of some warlike bands of
Indians'inhabiting the district of country be
tween the Arkansas and Platte'rivers and por
tions of Dakota,' territory required the prosence
of a largo military force in that region. Insti
gated by real or imaginary grievances, the In
dians occasionally committed acts of brrbar.,A,
violence utut the emigrants and our frontier
settlements. but a general Indian war has been
providentially avoided. The Commissioners,
under the act of July 20th. ISM% were invested
with full power to adjust the existing difficulties
and negotiate with the disaffezted bands, and
seleeted for them reeervations•remote from the
travelled. routes between the 3lissisAppi and
and the Pacific. They entered without delay
upon the execution of their trust. but have not
yet made any official report of their proceedings.
It is of vital importance that our distant terri
tories should be exempt from Indian outbreaks,
and that the construction of the Pacific railroad.
an object of national importance. should not be
ibterruptod by hostile hands.
and
objects.
as wetl as the material interests and the moral
and intellectual improvement of the Indians,
can be most effectually accomplished by concen
trating them upon portions of the country set
apart for their exclusive use, and located at
points remote from highways anti encroaching
white settlements.
Since the second session of the Thirty-ninth
Congress. 510 miles of mad have been construct
ed on the main line and branches of the Pacific
Railway. The line from Omaha is rapidly ap
proaching the eastern base of the Rocky Shrn
tains, whilst the terminus of the list section
constructed in California, accepted by the Gov
ernment on the 24th of October last, was hut
eleven miles distant from the summit of the
Sierra Nevada. The tomarkablil.energy evinced
by the companies offers the strongest assurance
that the completion of the road from Sacramen
to to Omaha will not be long deferred.
The attention. of Congress is invited to the
necessity for a thorough,revision of. mir ierTe
nue system. Our Internal revenue laws and
impost system should be so adjusted as to bear'
most heavily on the articles of-lnxury, leaving
the necessanes of life as free from taxation as
may be consistent with the real wants of the
government-economically administered. Taxa
tion would not then fall unduly on the man of
moderate means., and while none would really
be exempt front Meesslnent: all ire proportion to
their pecuniary abilities would contribute to
ward the support of the State. A. modification
of the internal revenue system by a large reduc
tion in the numberof articles now subject to tax
would be followed by results equally 'advantage
ous to citizen and Government It would rend
er execution of the laws less ex-pensive anti
more certain; remove obstructions to industry;
lessen the temptation to evade the law, diminish
the violations anti frauds perpetrated upon its
provisions ; make its operations less inquistorial
and greatly reduce in numbers the army of, tax
gatherers, who take from the moq,th of honest
labor the bread it has earned. Retrenchment,
reforniand econdmy should be carried into eve
rt, branch of the, public serfiee that the expen
ditures of the government may be reduced and
the people relieved from the oppression of taxa
tion. A sound currency should be restored, and
the public faith in regard 'to the national debt
sacredly observed. The accomplishment of
these important results, together with the re
storation of the Union upon the principles of
tte - Constitution' would inspire confidence at
home and abroad in the stability of our institu
tions, and bring to the nation prosperity, peace
and good will. _ •
-
The re-establishment of peace at home and the re- -
snmption of extended trade. , travel and commerce
abroad, have served to increase t he number and veils
tv of questions in the deportment of Foreign !Mini.
sons of these questions, however, have seriously dis
turbed our relations with other States. The Republic
of Mexico, having been relieved from foreign - inter
vention, earnestly engaged in efforts to re-estabffsb
her constitutional system of government. A good
underatanding continues to exist between our govern
ment and the:Republics of Hayti and San Domingo,'
and_our cordial relations with the Central and South*
Motel.= States remained unchanged. The tender
made in conformity with the , resdlution of Congress,
of the good °film , of the government, with a view to
en amicable adjustment of peace between Brazil and
her allies on one side, zuni.Paragnay on the other - and
between Chill and her allies on one aide, and Spain
on the other, though kindly received, has In neither
case been fully accented by the belligerents. The war
in the valley of the' Parana is still vimootisly main
tained. On the other hand, actual hostilities' between
Spain and the Pacific States have 'been more than a
year suspended. I shall, on any proper occasion that
may occur, renew the conciliatory- recommendations
which have already been made. - •
The annexation of many German Statesi to Prussia,
and the recrmanization of that country ander a new
and liberal Censtitation, have Induced me to renew
tho effort to obtain a just and prompt
_settlement of a
long vexed question, concerning the dolma of foreign
States Mite military service from the subjects nate-
Nixed in the Malted States, and in connection -with
this subject the attention of Congress is respectfully
called to a singular and embarassing conflict of the
laws. The Executive Department of this Government
has unifbrmly held, as it now holds, that naturaliza
tion In conlbrmity with the Constitution and laws of
the Baited. Witte's absolves the recipient from his na
tive alleßiahc9 'The t•otertit of Great Britain hold that
allegiance to the British Crown Is indefeasible, amid is
Stet absolved by our laws of naturalization; the Brit
ish judges cite the courts and law authorities of the
United States in support of that theory, against the
position held by executive authority of the Unitasi
• States.. This conflict perplexes the public mind con
cerning the rights of naturalized citizens, and impairs
the national authority abroad. 1 tailed attention to
, this subject in my last annual Menage, and =magma
I teeptetftdly appeal to Congeals to
. dociaro the us-
-------
.
tional rvlll tuuntAnkably upon till+ important (pm,.
tton.
T llO ntilMe Of Our )awti by the .clanrie.tine pm,tocn
Hon of ••lave trade from from Anierieln
port., or by American citizen. Inw nitozethec a•ll..ed.
and ender exlstinz circ, mstance. no noprt•lieto,ion or
it. renewal in thi part or the norki IN entermined
Under, the I - keno:luta:ice., it beCOMP+ n quo-thin
whether we shall not propo.i. to Tier 31nje.ty's ims •
ernment n eltApenAhtu Or 111,,, ontinunnen of the ztirnt•
latiozu for maintaining a nal al form• for the, inrppres•
Mon or that trade.
ANI)ItEW Jorr•;soN,
Wit.hington, December 3, knii.
fitly abbertioenteuto
PHILADELPHIA dt ERIE RAIL ROAD.
WINTER TI ME TABLE
Through and Direct Itoute bet weim
pliM, Baltimore, liarrkliurg,
port. zuel the
GREAT OIL REGION
OF PENISNYLVANIA
FtnGANT SLEEPING CARS
On all Night, Trains
/AN and after :%10NitAY, 'NOV.:nth, Itt+l7, the
trams oti the l'lttlatlelpitia S: Erie Itatlroud
will run as follow% :
ESTWARD.
Mall Train leave W s Philad phelia at 11:15 p.m. and
arrives at Erie at WA/
Erie Express leaves Philadelphia at 12:60 in., and
arrives at Erie at 9:45 a. m.
Warren Aneommodation leaves Warren at 12:55
p. m., Carry at 2:30 p. in,, and lirrlves at Erle
at 4:10 p. in.
EASTWARD.
Mall Train Leaves Erie at Mina. rt., and arrives
at Philadelphia nt X:5l a. tn.
Erie Express le:a•es Erie at 1:25 p. m., and ar
rives at Philadelphia at 1:00 p. in.
Warren Accominodatlnn leaves Erie at S:ii)
in., Carry at fi:li a. in., and arrives at Warren
at 11:15a. in.
Mall and Express eonneet ‘vith all trains
the Warren & Franklin Itillway.
leaving Philadelphia at 12:00 tn.; arrive at Irvine_
ton at 6:50 a. in., and Oil City at 9:50 a. in.
Leaving Philadelphia at 1045 p. M., arrive at
Oil City at -1:4-3p. m.
AU trains on the Warren fi Franklin Railway
make close connections at Oil City with trains
for Franklin and Petroleum Centre. BAGGAGE
CHECKED TIIROrGit.
ALFRED L. TYLER,
Geng Stmerlntendent
REM
Washington LiVrary Co.;
PHILADELPHIA
Is chartered by the State of 1- , en totyl en re ea, sod
4 Irwin Ized in alit of thr•
Riverside Institute,
Yoe —lneriti lig grat
and t.:A 1 r.<»t..:•
ORPHANS'
Incorporate , ' by tile State of New Jersey,
APRIL, S, 1867.
Subscription One Dollar I
THE WASHINGTON
LIBRARY COMPANY,
fly virtue of their Charter, and in neeortianee
with provkions, will dl.tribute
THREE'. ITUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
In Presents to the Sharehohleni, on
Wednesday, Jau'y 8, 1865,
AT P33MADELPHIA, PA.
=MEI
INSTITUTE, RIVERSIDE. N. J.
One Present worth 0,000. •
One Present worth 20,000.
One Present worth 10 000.
One Present worth .000. '
Two Presents worth $2 500 each. $5,000.
One Present valued at $lB,OOO.
2 Presents at 515,000 each, tz30.000: 1 Present at
$10,000: 4 Presents at .55,000 each, $29,1100 ; 8 Pres
ents at $3,000 each, 50,1Xi0; 3 Presents at :34,000
each, 33,(X00; W Presents at $.lOO each, 510,010. 10
Presents at 83110 each, 63,01 X); 3 Presents at $ll5O
5750:
_Ol Presents at S•2: - .. , 1 each, ,54,500: 55 Presents
at s^llo each, 811,000; 50 Presents at 8175 each,
110 Presents at .Z4OO each, 11,000: no Presents at
575 each, 81,500; 10 Presents at 801 each, 300.
The remaining Presents consist of articles of
use and value, appertaining to tire diffusion in
Literature and the Fine Arts, 502,000.
$306,000.
Each C'tq't illeate of Stack is accompan,leti with a
Beautiful Steel Plate Engraving,
WORTH MORE AT RETAIL THAN THE COST
OF CERTIFICATE.
•And also ensures to the holder a
PRESENT in the GREATDIS.TRIBUTION
Subscription One Dollar !
Any person sending us one dollar, or paying
the same toany of our local agents, will receive
immediately a fine Steel Plate Engraving, at
choice from the following list, and one certifi
cate of stock, insuring one present in the great
distribution.
ONE DOLLAR ENGRAVINGS.
• No. I—"My Child! My Child!" 2—" Th ey 're
Saved! They're Saved!" No. 3—" Old Seventy-
Six; or, the Early-Days of the Revolution."
Any person paying two dollars will receive
either of the following fine Steel Plates,at choice,
and two certificates of stock, thus becoming en
titled to two presents.
TWO DOLLAR ENGRAVINGS.
No. 1—" Washington's Courtship." No.
"Washington's Last Interview with his Moth-
THREE DOLLAR ENGRAVINGS.
Any person paylnk three dollars will reeelve
lie beautiful steel plate of
"HOME FROM THE WAR,"
and three certificates of stock, becoming enti
tled to three presents.
FOUR DOLLAR ENGRAVINGS.
Any person paying tour dollars shall reerave
thelarge and beautiful steel plate of
"TIRE PERILS OF OUR FOREFATHERS,"
and four certificates of stock entitling them to
four presents.
FIVE DOLLAR ENGRAVINGS.
Any person paying five dollars shall receive
he large and splendid steel plate of
‘' THE 31-IRRIAGE OF POC.A.IIONTAS,"
And live certificates of Stock, entitling thorn to
lave presents.
The engravings and certificates will be deliv.
erect to each subscriber at our Local Agencies,
or sent by mall, post paid, or express, as may be
ordered.
How to obtain Shares and Engrarings
Send orders to us by man, enclosing from $I to
sw, either by Post Otnee orders or in reregistered
letter, at our risk: Larger amounts should be
sent by draft or ex pres,.
JO shares with Engravituis S 9 :r
23 shares with Engravings 2.'1 51
5 - 1 shares with Engravings 48 51
75 shares with Engravings 69 01
it) shares with Engravings 90 ix
tA)CAL AGENTS WANTED. THROUGROVI
=I
THE RIVERSIDE INSTITUTE,
Situate at Riverside, Burlington county, New
Jersey, is founded for the a rrnose of gratuitous.
ly educating the sons of Tatted Soldier3.and
Sailors of the United Stat s.
The Board of Trust e,:.; of the Institute consisn.-
of the following well-known citizenm of Penn.
sylvunla and New Jersey :
How. WILLIASE B. MANN, District Attorney.
HoN. LEWIS R. B1100.11A1.1„ Ex-Chiur fotnei
U. R. Mint, and Recorder of Deeds,
HON. JAMES M. HCOVEL, New Jersey.
HoN. W. W. - WARE, New Jersey.
If ENwr GORMAN, EsQ., Agent Adams' Express.
Philad's.
.1. R. COE, EsQ., of Joy, Coe Co., Philad's..
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, WASitINGTON, D. C.,
Aprllll3, 1567.-office Internal Revenue :—Hart
lug received satisfactory evidence that the pro
ceeds of the enterprise, conducted by UM Wash.
ington Library Company, will be devoted tc
charitable uses, permission is hemby granted to
conduct such enterprise exempt from all charge.
whether from special tax or other duty.
E. A. ROLLINS., Commissioner,
The Association have appointed rts Receivers,
Messrs. GEORGE A. Comm d. Co., Si Sant h Third
street, Philadelphia, whose well known integri•
ty and business experience will be n murflelent
guarantee that the money intrusted to them wilt
be promptly applied to the prtrase stated.
PiIItADFJ,PRIA, PA., May 186?.
To the Officers and Members of the Washington
Library Co., N. S. READ, Secretary
Gentlemen—On receipt of your favdr of the
Mil inst., notifying us of our appointment as
Receivers for your Company, we took the MICA
ty to submit a copy of your Charter, with tApkin
of your enterprise, to the highest faikesori
ty of the State, and having received his favor.
able opinion in regard to its leg-41w, and-sym
pathizing with the benevolent' object of soot
Association, viz: the elltuw•tion and maims.
nonce of the orphan, children of soldiers and
saUors at the Riverside lilt:Mute, we have con
cluded to accept the trust, and to use our best
efforts to promote so worthy an object.
Respectfully yours, &c.,
GEO. A. COOKE & CO.
Address all letters and orders to
- GEO. A. COOKE :t CO., BANKERS,
'3lSouth ad St., Philadelphia, W.
Receivers for the Washington Library Vu.
• May , 4k Steal, 72 Walto
Agents at Erie.
Selling at Reduced Rates, by
dedU-tt. :J. C. SELDEN
t Arlo atibuttzentents.
A HANDSOME
Opren - ltlnlty for the t0.d1e... of Erie an!' vkluit3
to iwcore Inirgaing at t h e Two f for , , Store 01
GEO. B. 31EP.RILI. 3: CO., No. S IIOUSF:
In Dry Grad Iv , Cloakings,Trimmings and Fancy
Gorxls. A huslratul should say honestly to his
WIPE
that she can purchase at the lowest prices, and
articles Itolight Will 1.1
GUARANTEED'
ae reprosenti‘d,tind to siva sattatiotton or mon.
ey refunded. The fact is well known
TO EVERY
Lady and 9entleinau IA this vicinity that 'wo
keep the best weinrted Stock of DRESS GOODS
SHAW IS, HIP GLOVES, PRESS TRIMMINGS.
CLOAKS am! CLOAK CLOTHS, SILKS, SAT-
INS, P.C. And al
YOU NG
men about entering on Housekeeping will do
well to give us it call: We defy.
M A .N I
to direet WS wife; (Inualiternr son to any store
afrering greater Inducements than ours. Catl
LILT sae us, and bft r onvineed that we sell goads
at lower prkes than any boase
I IN
Westerii l'enusylvaula. 11.ese are faoln vrtilett
we boldly aasert, - and We ask the people of.
ERIE COUNTY
to call and examine the quality and prices ni
our roods and then decide for themselves
ocll-U