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About Nebraska advertiser. (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1876)
flnV Bc 9H-B si B3 . . .MWiQ T"r ffTHR?'FaWH9TBrxitrc;TTh'ri "TiThitniHn IB l" f-F . r- c ji-- r.,--- -npsar- . LmM-ag1MM:::gMIrTnKgaEaHa ! ncsmT.wwiiii iwn-n , . ,..., .., i . i..- M miithKiw ,. , i ,, , . . ---.- mi Hiff Ji.ZBMWfc---" rm-Amm - . . JRCR IJ,? THE ADVERTISER. 6. f. KAIRBROTHER. T. C. HACKER, PAIRBROTBEB & HACKER, Publishers and Proprietors. Published Every Thursday Morning AT BROWNVILLE, NEBRASKA. TERMS, IN ADVANCE I One copy, one j ear One cony, six months ....-,. thrne months-." JEST yo papersent from the office until paid for. READING MATTER ON EVER PAGE P8 To Me Sciafe and House of Repre sentatives: In submitting my eighth and last annual message to Confess, it seems proper that I should refer to the events and official acts of the past eight eais. It was my fortune or misfortune to he called to the ofliee of chief executive without any previous political train ing. From the age of 17 J have never even witnessed the excitement at tending a Pi esidential campaign but twice antecedent to my own candidacy, and at but one of these was I eligible as a voter. Under such ciicumstance3 it is but reasonable to suppose that errors of judgment must have occurred: even had they not, differences of opinion between the executive, bound by an oath to the strict performance of his duties, and writers and debaters must have arisen. It is not neces sarily evidence of blunder on the part of the executive because there are these differences of views. Mistakes have been made, as all can see, 1 admit; but it ser ins to me oftener in selections made of assistants appointed to aid in carrying out the various duties of ad ministering the government, in neaily every case selected without personal acquaintance with the appointee, and upon recommendations of the repre sentathes chosen directly by the peo ple. It is impossible where so many trnsts are to be allotted that the right parties should be chosen in every in stance. HISTORY SHOWS that the administration, from the time of Washington to the piesent, has not been free from these mistakes; but I leave comparisons to history, claiming only that 1 have acted in every instance from a conscientious desiie to do what was light, within the constitution and law, and for the best interests of the whole people. Failures have been er rors of judgment, not of intent. My civil career commenced, too, at a most critical and difficult time, less than four years before the country had emerged from a conflict such as no other nation had eversurvived. Near ly one-half of the States had revolted against the government, and of those remaining faithful to the Union a large per centuge of the -population sympathized with the rebellion, and made an enemy in the r?ar almost as dangerous as the more honorable ene my in the front. The latter committed errors of judgment, but they main tained them openly and honestly; the former received the protection of the government thev would see destroyed, and reaped all the pecuniary advantage, to be gained out of the then existing state of affairs many of them by ob taining contracts and by swindling the government in the delivery of their joods. Immediately on the cessation of hostilities the then noble President who had carried the country so far through its perils, fell a martyr to his patriotism, at the hands of an assassin. The intervening time to my fust inauguration was filled up with wrangling between Congress and the new executive as to the best means of reconstruction ; or, to speak plainly, as to whether the control of the gov ernment should be thrown immediate ly into the hands of thosa who so recently and persistently tried to de stroy it, or whether the victors should continue to have an equal voice with them in this control. RECONST RUCTION as finally agreed upon, means this and only this, except that the late slave was enfranchised, giving an increase as was supposed to the union loving and union supporting voteas. If free in the full sqnse of the word they would not disappoint this expectation. Hence, at the beginning of my first administration, the work of recon struction, much embarrassed by the Jong delay, virtually commenced. It was the woik of tlse legislative branch of the government. My province was wholly in approving the acts, which I did most heartily, urging the legislatures of States that had not yet done so to ratify the Fif teenth amendment to the constitution. The country was laboring under an enormous debt, contracted in -the sup pression of rebellion, and taxation was so oppresive as to discourage production. ANOTHER DANGER also threatened us-a foreign war. The last difficulty had to be adjusted, and was adjusted without a war, and in a manner highly honorable to all concerned. Taxes have been reduced within the last seven years nearly 300,000.000. and the national debt has been reduced in the same time over S43o,000,000. By refunding the six per cent, bended debt for bonds bear ing five and four and one-half per cent, interest, respectively, the annual interest has been reduced fiom over 8130,000,000 in 1SC9 to but little over S100.000.000 in 1S7G. THE BALANCE OF TRADE has been changed from over .$180,000,- 000 against the United States in 1SG9, to more thanS120,000,000 in our favor )nl876. It is confidently believed that kiiwht" Luf ULii i u 100 .- "" JU . ESTABLISHED 1856. Oldest Paper in the State. J the balance of trade in favor of the United States will increase, not di minish, and the pledge of congress to resume specie payments in 1879 will be easily accomplished in the absence of the much denied further legisla tion on the subject. THE INDIAN POLICY. A policy has been adapted towards the Indian tribes, inhabiting a large portion of the teiritory of the United Statei:, which has been humane, and has substantially ended Indian hostili- ties m i lie wnoie nmu.eAcept in a ,,u- tion of Nebraska and Dakota, u yo- ming and Montana territory, the Black Hills region and approaches theieto. Hostilities there have grown out of THE AVARICE OF THE WHITE MAN who has violated our tieaty stipula tion in his search for gold. The ques tion might be asked why the govern eruhient has not forced obedience to the terms of the treaty, prohibiting the occupation of the Black Hills re gion by the whites. The answer is simple; the first emigrants to the Black Hills were removal by troops, but lumors and fresh discoveries of gold took into the Hills increased numbers. Gold has actually been found in paying quantities and an ef fort to remove the miners would only result in the desertion of the bulk of the troops that might be sent there to remove them. All difficulty in this matter has however, been removed. subject to the approval of Congress, by a treaty ceding the Black Hills and approaches to settlement bjr citizens. The subject of the Indian policy and treatment is so fully set forth by the Secietary of the Inteiior and Commis sioner of Indian Affairs, and my views so fully expressed therein, that I refer to their repoits and recom mendations as my own. FOREIGN RELATIONS. The lelations of the United States wilh foreign powers continue on a friendly footing. Questions have aiisen trom time to time in the for eign relations ol the government, but the United States have been happily free for the past jear horn the compli cations and embarrassments which have surrounded some of the foreign poweis. The diplomatic correspond ence submitted herewith, contains in formation as to certain of the mat ters, which haveoccupled the Govern ment. The cordiality which attends our re lations with Ihe powers of the earth was plainly shown by the general par ticipation of foreign nations in the exhibition which bus just closed, and by exertion made by distant powers to sltow their interest and friendly feeling towards the United States in commemoration of the Centennial of the nation. The Government and the people of the United States have not only fully appreciated this exhibition of kindly ieeling, but it may be justly expected that no small benefits will result, both to ourselves and other nations from a better acquaintance and a better appreciation of our mu tual advantages and mutual wants. REDUCED ArPROPRIAl INNS. Cong less at its last session, saw fit to reduce the amount usually appro priated for foiiegn intercourse by with holding appiopnations for represent-. atives of the United States in certain foreign countries, and certain consul ar offices, and by using the amount us uallj appropriated for certain other diplomatic posts, and thus necessitat ing a change in the grade of repre sentative for these reasons. Immedi ately upon the passage of the bill making appropriations for the diplo matic and consular service for the present force, instruct ions were issued to the representatives of the United States at Bolivia. Equadorand Colum bia, and to the consular offices for whom no appropriation had been made, to close their respective lega tions, and consulates and cease from the performance of their duties, and in like manner steps were taken to substitute chaiged'affairs for minis ters resident in Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland and Paraguay. While thoroughly impressed with the WISDOM OF SOUND ECONOmY in the foreign service as in other branches of the Government, I cannot escape ihe conclusion that in some instances the witholding of appropri ation will prove an expensive econo my and that the small letrenchment secured by a change of grade in cer tain diplomatic posts is not an ade quate consideration for the loss of in fluence and importance which will at tend our foreign representatives under this reduction. I am of the opinion that a le-examinatum of the subject will cause a change in some instances in the conclusion reached on these subjects at the last session of Con gress. The court of commissioners of THE ALABAMA CLAIMS, whose functions were continued by an act .of the Jast session of Congress until the 1st day of January, lS77,bas carried on its labors with diligence and general satisfaction. Bv a renoit from the clerk of the court, transmitted herewith, bearing date Nov. 14th, 1876, Lit appears that during the time now alloweJ by law the court will have disposed of all the claims presented for adjudication. This report also contains a statement of the general results of the labors of the court to date thereof. It is a cause of satisfac tion that the method adopted for the adjustment of claims submitted to the court which are of lonfi standing and justly entitled to early considera tion, should have proved successful and acceptable. It is with satisfaction that I am en abled to state that the wmk "f the Jojnt Commissfon for determining the BOUNDARY LINE between the United States and British Provinces, fiom the northwest angle of the Lake of the "Woods to the Rocky Mountains, commenced in 1S70, has been completed. The final agreements of the Commissioners with the maps have been duly signed, and the Com mission is complete. The. fixing of the boundary upon tiie Pacific Coast by the protocol of March 10, 1873, pur suant to the award of the Emperor of Gei many, by Art. XXXIV, of the trea ty of Washington, with the termina tion of tht work of this commission, adjusts and fixes the entire boundary between the United States and the British possessions, except as to the portion of territory ceded by Russia to the Unitetr'Stales under the treaty of 1SG7. The work intruted to the Commission has been well and satis factorily performed. The final agree ment of t fie Commissioners was signed upon the 2Glh of May, 187G. with the original list of astronomical stations observed. The original official list marking the international boundary lines, and maps, records and general reports relating to the Commission, have been deposited in the Depart ment of State. The official report of the Commissioner on the part of the United States, with the report of the Chief Astronomer of the. United States, will be submitted to Congress within a short time. RECIPROCITY. I reserve for a sepaiate communica tion to Congress a statement of the condition of the questions which late ly arose with Great Britain respecting the surrender of fugitive criminals under the treaty of 1842. The Ottoman government gave no tice under date of Jan. loth. 1874, of its desire to terminate the tieaty of 18G2 concerning commerce and navi gation, pursuant to the provisions of the twenty-second article thereof. Un der this notice the treaty terminated upon the 5th day of June, 1876. The government has invited negotiations towaids the conclusion of A NEW TREATY. By the act of Congress of March 23rd, 1S74, the President was authoriz e'd, when he should receive satisfacto ry information that the Ottoman gov eminent, or that of Egypt had organ ized nw tiibunals like! to secure to citizens of the United States th-it same impartial justice enjoyed under the exercise of judicial functions by diplomatic and consular offices of the United Slates, to suspend operation of act of June 22nd, 18G0. and to accept for citizens of the United States, ju risdictions of new tribunals. Satis factory information having been re ceived of the organization of such tribunals in Egypt, 1 caused a procla mation to be issued on the 27th of March last, suspending the operation of the act of the 27th of June. 18G0, in Egypt, accoiding to the provisions of the act. A copy of the proclama tion accompanies this message. The United States has united with other Powers in the organization of these courts. It is hoped that the juiisdic tional questions which have arisen may be readily adjusted and that this advance in international jurispru dence may be hindei ed by no obstacles. THE HAWAIIAN TREATY, The necessary legislation to carry into effect, the condition respecting the commercial reciprocity concluded ?! 1. TT ?? .-r i - -, with the Hawaiian Islands in 1S7 having been had, the proclamation to carry into effect the convention, as provided by the act approved August loth, 1S7G, was duly issued upon the first Tuesday of September, last. A copy thereof accompanies this mes sage. , MEXICO. The commotions which have been prevalent in Mexico for some time past, and which unhappily seem to be uot yet wholly quieted, have led to complaints of citizens of the United States of injuries by persons in au thority. It is hoped, however, that. these will ultimately be adjusted to the satisfaction of both governments. The frontier of the United- Slates in thatquaiter has not been exempt from acts of violence by citizens of one Republic or those of the other. The fiequencyof these are supposed to be increased, and their adjustment made more difficult by the considera ble changes in the course of the. lower part of the Rio Grande River, which river is a part of the boundary line I netween me two countries. These changes have placed on either side of that rivpr riiirMmi nf Imwl wliinli w 1 -.......,.,,.-, .u..KuiuicJU- risdictionof the government on the .opposite side of the river. The siib - BROVYNVILLE, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1876. --.' .n'uimum c f the adjustnimt of this cause jec of the difficulty is under consideration between the two Republics. COLUMBIA. The government of the United States of Columbia has paid the re ward in the case of I lie steamer Mon tijo siezpd by the authorities of that Government some years since, and the amount has been transferred to the claimants. It is with satisfaction that I am able to announce that the joint com mission for the adjustment of the claims between the United States and Mexico under the convention of 18G8, the duration of which has been sever al times extended, has brought its la bors to a close. From the report of the agent of the United States, which accompanies the papeis transmitted herewith, it will be seen that within the time limited by the commission 1017 claims on the part of citizens of the United states against Mexico.were referred to the commission. Of these claims 831 were dismissed or disal lowed, and in 186 cases awards were made in favor of the claimants against the Mexican Republicamount ing in the aggregate to S4.125.G22.22. Within the same pel iod 0(58 claims on the part of citizens of the Mexican Republic against the United States were referred to the commission. Of these claims S31 weie dismissed and disallowed, and in 1G7 cases awards were made in favor of claimants against the United States, amounting in the aggregate to S15,049,841. By the terms of the convention the amount of these awards is to be de ducted from the amount awarded in favor of our citizens against Mexico, and tlse balance only to be paid by Mexico to the United States to make provisions for their proportion of the awards in favor of its own citizens. I invite your attention to the legis tion that will be necessary to provide for the uaymen t. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. In this connection I am pleased to be able to express the acknowledge ments dtie to Sir Edward Thornton, the umpire of the commission, who has given to the consideration of the laige number of claims submitted to him, much time, unwearied patience, and that fairness an'd intelligence which are well known to belong to the accomplished representatives of Gieat Britain, and which are likewise recognized by the representative in this country of the Republic of Mexico. VENEZUELA. Monthly payments of a very small part of amount due by the govern ment of Venezuela, to citizens of the United States, on account of claims of the latter against that Govern ment, continue to be made with rea sonable punctuality. That govern ment has purposed to change the sys tem which it has hitherto pursued in this respect, by issuing bonds for part of the amount of the several claims. The proposition, however, could not, it is supposed, pioperly be accepted, at least, without the consent of the holders of the certificates of the in debtedness ot Venezuela. These are so much depressed that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to ascer tain their disposition on the subject. NATURALIZATION ETC. In former messages I have called theattention of Congress to the necess ity of legislation with regard to fraud ulent naturalizaton, and to the subject of expatriation, and the election of nationality. The numbers of persons of foreign biith seeking a home in the United States, the ease and facility with which the honest emigrant may. alter the lapse of , reasonable time.he como possessed of all the privileges of citizenship of the United States, and the frequent occasions which induce such adopted citizens to return to the country of their biith, lender the sub ject of nat utilization and the safe guaids which experience has proved necessary for the protection of the hon est naturalized citizen of paramount impoitance The very simplicity in the requirements of law on this ques tion affords opporfunily for fr.iud.aud the want of uniformity in thepiocecd ings and records of the various courts, and in the forms of the certificates of naturalization issued.afforda constant source of difficulty. I suggest no addi tional requirements to the acqui.-ition of citizenship beyond those now exist ing, bur, I invite the earnest attention of Congress to the necessity and wis dom of some piovudons regaidinguni founity in the records and certificates, and providing against the frauds which frequently take place, and for the vacating of a recoid of naturaliza tion obtained by fraud. These provis ions are needed in aid and for the pro tection of the honest citizen of foreign birth, and for the want of which he is made to suffer not unfrequently. The United States has insisted upon the right of expatriation, and has oIh tained after along struggle an admiss- ion of the principle contended for bv arqiresence therein on the part of many foreign powers, and by the con elusion of treaties on that subiect. It :., i .. . . .. I ,s' miwever, nut justice to tne govern-i ment to winch such noturalized citi- zens have formerly owed allegiance, lns woli -H ,,,, TT-.;t ei-..-- A.-.. i I -' -.. iu iv i-iiu UIIIIW OlHllVB, llldl I ""-'J.1'-" ' ti" r,1 certain fixed and definite rules should be adopted governing such cases, and providing, how expatriation may be accomplished. While emigrants in large numbers become citizen of the United States, it is also true that persons, both NATIVE-BORN AND NATURALIZED, once citizens of the United States, either by formal acts or as an effect of a series of facts and circumstances, a bar.don their citizenship, and cease to be entitled to the protection of the United States, but continue to assert a claim to protection in the absence of provisions on these questions. And in this connection I again in vite your attention to the necessity of legislation concerning the marriagps of American citizens contracted a broad, and concerning the status of American women who may marry foreigners, and of children born of American parents in a foi eign country. The delicate and complicated ques tions continually occurring with ref erence to naturalization, expatriation and the status of such persons as I have above referred to, induce me to earnestly direct your attention again to these subjects. In like manner X repeat my recom mendation that some means be pro vided for the hearing and determina tion of the just claims of aliens upon the Government of the United States within a reasonable limitation, and of such as may hereafter arise. "While by existing provisions of law the Court of Claims may be in certain cases resorted to by an alien claimant, the absence of any general provisions governing all such cases, and the want of a tribunal skilled in the disposition of such cases upon recognized, fixed and settled principles, either provides no remedy in many deserving cases, or compels a consideration of such claims by Congress or the Excutive Depart ments of the Government. It is be lieved that other governments are in advance of the United States upon this question, and that the practice now adopted is entirely unsatisfactory. COLORADO. CongresR. by an act approved the 3d of March, 1S75, authorized the inhab itants of the Territory of Colorado to form a State Government, with the name of the State of Colorado, and therein provided for the admission of snid Slate, when formed, into the UnionjLUqg an equal footing with the 'onfcp na?Statesr A cons fftu tlon hav ing been adopted and ratified by Ihe people of that State, and the Acting Governor having certified to me the facts as provided by said act. together with a copy of such Constitution and ordinances a provided for in the said net, and the provisions of aaid act of Congress- having been duly complied with, t is-ued a proclamation upon the 1st of August, 1S7G. a copy of which is hereto annexed. All MY AND NAVY. The reporL of (lie Secretary of War shows Hint the army bus been active ly employed during the year in sub duing, at the request of the TiKlian Bureau, certain wild bands of the Sioux Tudian Nation and in preserv ing peace at the South during elec tion. The Commission constituted under the act. of .Inly 24. 1S7G, to consider and report on the whole suhjest o! re form and reorganisation of the whole army in Aogu.-t last, has collected a large mass of statistic and opinion bearingon the subject before it. The.-e are now under cnu-idemtion. and I he report is progressing. I am notified, though, by the President of the Coin-nii.-sion. that it will be impracticable' to comply with thf- clause of the act requiring the report to be presented through me to Congress on the first day of thi" session, as there has not yet been time for that mature deliber ation which the importance of the -object demands. Therefore, I ask tbiit the time of making the report lie extended to the iZOtii day of Jnnuan. la 1 1. In accordance with the resolution of Aug. 15. 1S7G. the army regulations prpparediimder the act of March 1-t, 1S75, haeSiot been promulgated, but are held until after the report of the above-mentioned Commir-sion shull have been received and acted upon. By act of Aug 15. 1876. the cavalry force of the army wa- increased by 2. 500 men, with a proviso thnt they -bould be discharged on the expira tion of the ho-ti!ities. Under thisau thoiity the cavalry ngiments have been strengthened, and a portion o! them are now in the liebl, pursuing the remnants of the Indians with whom they have been engaged dur ing the summer. The estimates of the War Depart ment afe made upon the basis of the number nf men autboiized by law, and their requirements as shown by years of experience, and also with the purpose of a part of the Bureau officers to provide for all contingencies that may arise during the time for which the e-timates are made exclusive of engineers' estimates presented in ac cordance with acts of Congress call ing for purveys and estimates for im provements at various localities. The estimates now presented areaboutSG, OnO.GOO in excess of tho appropriations for the years lS74-'75and 1S73-'7G. This increase is asked in order to pro vide for the increased cavalry force ... should their services be necessary ; to prosecute economical work upon the imnortant public, buildings? to nro.itbe Government, and n rirftntlv rec- - i.i. v,r M.Q oV . r r-.-;n-- "" " - niiuailiClll' .' luiiiuta- T . - - i tious and the manufacturing of small arms; and to replenish the working stock in the supplydepartments. The appropriations for these last-named have for the past few years been so limited that the accumulations in store will be entirely exhausted dur ing the present year, and it will be ueces-ary to at once begin to replen ish them. I invite your special attention to the following recommendations of the Secretary of War: First That the claims under the act of 4th of July, 1S64. for supplies taken t3' the army during the war, be removed from the ollice of the Quar termaster and Commissary Generals, and .transferred to the Southern Claims Commission. These claims are of a precisely similar nature to those fiow befoie the Southern Claims Commission. This Commission and the War-Debt Bureau have not the clerical force for their examination nor proper machinery for invt-stigat-ing the loyalty of the claimants. Second That Congress sanction the scheme of an annuity-fund for the benefit of the families of disceased of ficers ; and that it also provide for the permauentorganizntinn of the regular service, both of which were recom mended in my last annual message. Third That manufacturing opera tions of the Ordnace Department be concentrated at three arsenals and an armory, and that the remaining arse nals be sold, and the proceeds applied to tbi object by the Ordnance De partment. r?Mm o i-nrM-ri i, f IrkMe fnp rtt'nr n n rl M III Cljf.l .ifi acii.i'ii .v. . . -. ..a... habor improvements- for the current year were So.015,000. With my ap proval, the Secretary of War directed that of this amount $2,000,000 should be expended, and no new works should i.e begun, and none prosecuted which were not of national impor tance. Subsequently this amount was increased to $2,237,000, and works are now progressing on this basis The improvement of the South Pass of the Mississippi River under James B. Eadsand bis associates, is progress ing favorably. At the pre.-ent time there is a channel of twenty and three tenths feet in depth between the jet ties at the mouth of the passes, and eighteen aud a half feet at the head of the pass. Neither channel, how ever, has the width required before payments can be made by the United States. A Commission of Engineer officers isuow examining these works, and their reports will be presented as soon ns received. "The report of the Secretary of the Navy .shows thnt branch of the service to be in a condition as effective as it is possible to keep it with the means the appropriations gives the Depart ment. Jt is, of course, impossible to rival tlse costly and progressive estab lishments of great European Powers with the old material of our navy, to which no tncrenehas been authorized since the War, pxcept the eight small crui-ers builttosupply the placenf oth ers which bail gone to dtcay ; yet the most has been done that was posihIe with the means at command, and by .-ubstantialJy rebuilding some of our old ships with dm able material, and completely repniringand refittingour monitor H-et, the navy has been grad ually so brought up that though it does not maintain its relative po-Hion among the progressive navies of the world, it is now in a condition more powerful and effective than it ever has been in time of peace. The com plete repairs of our five heavy iron clads are only delayed on account of the inadequacy of the appropriations made la-t year for the working bu reaus of the Department, which were actually less in amount than those made before the war. notwithstanding the greatly enhanced price of labor and material, and the increase in the cost of the naval service, growing out of the universal use and great expense of steam machinery. The money nec escaiy for these repairs should be pro vided at once that they may be com pleted without further unnecessary delay and expense. When this is done, all the strength that there is in tbenaty will be developed, and use ful to its full .capacity, and all will be pewerful for the purpose of defense and also for offensive action should necessity for that arise within a reas onable distance from our shores, and the fact that our navy is not more modern and powerful than it is has been made a cause of complaint against the Secretary of the Navy by persons who, at the same time, criti cise aud complain of his endeavors to bring tiie navy that we have to its best and most efficient condition. But the "good sense of the country will understand thnt it is really to his practical action that we have at this time any effective naval force at com mand. OUR POSTAL SYSTEM. Therf-poitof tlse Po.-tmaster-Gen-eral shows. I lie excess of expenditures, excluding expenditures on account of previous years, over receipts for the fi-crtl ear ending June 30, 187G. to be $-1,151 R8S.GG. The estimated expen ditures for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1S78, are $3 672 343.243. The esti mated revenue for same period is 30.- G45.1G5, leaving an estimated exces of of expenditure to lie appropriated as a deficiency of S6.07S.2G7.43. The Postmaster-General, like his predecessor, is convinced that a change in the basis of adjusting the salaries of Postmasters of the fourth- class is necessary for the good of the service, as well as for thu interests of . .,Q ., m.-. -..... -.r uuiiuouuc vunt w.c UUIUllUUCavixu Ul VOL. 21 NO. 25. .'J .VJ'I U. I.Jfc 1 - I I the class of Postmasters above men tioned be based upon the business of their respective offices as ascertained from the sworn returns to the Audit or of stamps canceled. A few Paymaster? in the Southern States have expressed great apprehen sion of their personal safety on ac count of their connection with the postal service, and have specially re quested that their reports of appre hended danger should not be made public lest it should result in the loss of their lives; but no positive testi mony of interference has been stib- mitted except in the case of a mail administration of the affairs of Gov messenger at Spartanburg, in South I ernment. Many nations have volun- Carolina, who reported that he had been violently driven away while in charge of the mails on account of his political affiliations. An Assistant Supeiintendent of the Rail ay Mail Service investigated this case, and re ported that the mesrenger had disap peared from bis post, leaving his work to be performed by a substitute. The Postmaster-General thinks this case is sufficiently suggestive to justify him in recommending that a .more se vere punishment should be provided for the offense of assaulting any pers on in charge of mails, or retarding or otherwise obstructing them by threats of personal injury. A very "ratifying result is present ed ; in faot the deficiency of this De partment during the lot fiscal .year was reduced tn$l 081.700 IS. as against S6.1G0 !)3S.SS of the preceding year. The difference can be traced to the large increase in its ordinary receipts. which greatly exceeded the estimates therefor, and a slight decrease in Its expenditures. The nrdinnry receipts of the Post-Office Department for the past seven fiscal years have increased at on average rate of over 8 percent, per annum, while the increase of ex penditures for the same period has been about 5 percent, per annum, and the decrease of deficiency on the rev enues has been ot the rate of nearly 2 per cent, per annum. AGRICULTURE. Tho report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, accompanying this mess age, wi!l be found one of great inter est, marking, as it does, the erat pro gress of the last century in the variety of products of the soil, increased knowledge and skill in labor of pro ducing, saving and manipulating the same to prepare them for the use of man ; fn theimprovementof niacihne ry to aid the agriculturist in his labor, and in a knowledge of scientific sub jects necessary to a thorough system in economy in agricultural produc tion, namely, chemistry, botnny, en tomology, etc. A study orthis report by those interested in agriculture and deriving their support from it. will find it of value in pointing out those articles which are raisd in greater quantity than the needs of the world require, and must sell, therefore, for less than the cost of production, and those which command a profit over the cost of production, because there is not an overproduction. I call special attention to the need of the Department for a new gallery for the" reception of the exhibits re turned from the Centennial Exhibi tion, including the exhibits donated by very manj' foreign nations, and to the recommendation.1) of the Commis sioner of Agriculture generally The reports of District Commission ers and the Board nf Health are just received, too late to read them and ta make recommendations thereon, and are herewith -ubmitted. THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. The InternatinnalExhihitinn held at Philadelphia this year in commemo ration of the one hundredth anniver sary of American Independence has proven a great success, and will no doubt be of enduring advantage to the country. It ha? shown the great pro gress in the arts, sciences, and me chanical skill made irs a single centu ry, and demonstrated that we are but little behind the older nations in any one branch, while in some we scarce ly have a rival. It has served, too. not only to bring the people and products of skill and labor from all parts of the world together, but in bringing to gether people from all section of our own country, which must prove a great benefit in the information im parted and pride of country engen (ierei. It hn been suggested by scientists interested in and connected with the Smithsonian Institution, in a com munication herewith submitted, that the Government exhihit be removpd to the Capital mid a suitable building tie erected or purchased for its accom modation as a twrmnuen; exhibit. I earnestly recommend thi, and believ ing that Congress would second this view. I directed that all Government exhibits at the Centennial Exhibition should remain where the3- are, except aueh as might be injured by remain ing in a building not intended a pro tection in inclement weather or such .is may be wanted by the Department furnishing them, until the question of a permanent exhibition is acted on Although tiie moneys appropriated by Congress to enable the participation of the several Executive Departments in the Internatioual'Exhibit.rtn of 18 7G were not sufficient to carry out the undertaking to the full extent at first contemplated, it gives me pleasure to refer to the very efficient and credita ble manner in which tiie Board ap pointed from these several Depart- ments to provide an exhibition on the part of the Government, have dis - ! nh-rrr-ft thoi- diiii ivid. Mm r.ttw?- nianwi nt ti,.i, ,mmn.i wm.nnt-. ... . r... .,: i .i I UICUCUCUl IU KUIUU LUVU1 11. iu litcy. prep- THE ADVERTISER' o. .rAinuROTiiEB. T.c.nAt 3. FAIR BROTHER. &. IIACILES, Publishers &. Proprietors. ADVERTISING KATKS. Onelsch.one year - .. Two ttrches. one year .910 OS , 15 Co Each succwitnj: Inch. pr year- epl al vprtlsc rnts at Jcjr-1 rate- On? square (10 lines of yonpareJI. or less) first Insertion , fl.o . each subsequent Insertion. fee. .53-All transient advertisements must be p& forln advance. - t OFFICI A UJiEItQFjniKCaUJiTT aration of such a display. The-success of their labors was amply attested by h" sustained attention which the contents of the Government Building' attracted during the period of exhibi tion, from both foreign and native people. I am strongly impressed with the Talue of the collection made by the Government for the purposes of t.ho Exhibition, illustrating as it does the general resources of the country, the sf itistieal and practical evidences of our growth as a nation, and the us es of the mercantile arts, and the ap plications of applied science in the tarlly contributed their exhibits to the United States to increase the interest in any permanent exhibition Con gress may provide for. For this act of generosity they should receive the thanks of the people, and I respect fully suggest a resolution of Congresi to that effect be adopted. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. The attention of Congress cartn'otbe too earnestly called to the necessityof throwing some greater safeguard over the method of choosing and declaring" the election of a President. Under the present system there seems to bo no provided'retnedy for contesting-tbe election in any one State. The reme dy is partially, no doubt, in the en lightenment of Electors. The com pulsory support of the free school and the disfranchisement of all who' cannot read and write the Enlish lans guage, after a fixed probation, wouj meet my hearty approval. I wliuld not make this apply, howler, to those already voters, but would to all becoming so after t&eexpiration of the probation fixed upon. Foreigners coming to the country to become citi zens, who are educated in their own language would acquire the requisite knowledge of ours during the neces sary residence to obtain naturaliza tion. If they did not take enough in terest in our language to acquire sfil cient knowledge of it to enable them to study the institutions aud laws of the country intelligently, I would not confer upon them the right to make laws nor to select those who do. RAN DOMINGO. I append to this message for convent ient reference a synopsis of adminis trative events, and of all the recnm- mendations to Congress made by me during the last seven years. Time may show some of these recommen dations not to have been wisely con ceived, but I believe the larger part will Ire no discredit to the Adminstra tion. One of these recommendations, met with the united opposition nfono political party in the Senate, and with a strong opposition from the other namely, the treaty for the annexation of Santo Domingo to the United States to which I shall specially refer, main taining as I do that, if my views had been concurred in, the country would tie in a more prosperous condition to day, botli politically and financially? ftanto juommgo is tertile, and upon It soil may be grown just those tropical products of which the United States use so much, and which are produced or prepared for market now by slave labor almost exclusively namely, sugar, coffee, dye-wood, mahogany, tropical fruits, tobacco, etc. About To per cent of the exports of Cuba are con sumed in the United States. A large percentage of the exports of Brazil also liud thesame market. Thesearepaid for almost exclusively in coin, legisla tion, particularly in Cuba, being un favorable to a mutual exchange of the products of each con try. Flourshipped by the Mississippi River to Havana," can pas3 by the very entrance to the city on its wuy to a port in Spain,' then pay the duty fixed upon articles' to be re-exported, transferred to a Spanish vessel, and brought back almost to the point of starling, pay a second duty, and still leave a. profit over what would be received In direct shipment. All that is produced' in Cuba could lie produced in Santo Domingo. It being a pnrt of the United States, commerce between the i-land and the mainland would be free. There would lie no export duties on her shipments, nor import duties on those c( ming here. There would be no import duties upon the supplies of machinery, etc. going from theStates. The effect that would have been pro duced upon Cuban commerce with these advantages possessed by a rival is observable at a glance. The Cuban question would have lieen settled long ago in favc of free Cuba. Hundreds of Ameiican vesseN would now be ad vantageously u.ed in transporting th valuable woods and other products of the soil of Hip island to a market, nd in carding supplies and emigrants to it. The inland i? but sparsely settled, while it ha an area sufficient fr the profitable employment of several mill ions of people. The soil would have soon fallen into the hands of United States capitalists. The products are so valuable in commerce that emigmtion there would have been encouraged. The emancipated race of the South would have found there a congenial home, where their civil rights would not be disputed, and where their labor would be much sought after. The poorest among them could have found the means to go. Thus, in case of great oppression and cruelty, such a, has been practiced upon them in" in ninny places within thelasteleven years, whole communities would have "found refuge in Santo Domingo. I do not suppose the wJioIp race woqld have gone, nor is n rlecirablethnt they should go. Thpir labor i desirable indispensable almost where they now are. but the possession of this territory would have left the npgro master of the situation by enxblfog him to demand bis right's nt lmmeon pain of sending them elsewhere. I do not present these views now ns :, recommendation of the renewal nf the subject of annexation, hut T refer to it to vindicate my previous action in resrnrd to it. With the present Congress my official life terminates Tt is not probable thnt public nffnirs trill ever ngain se cure attention from me. further than i ns n citizen of the Rppublio always ' taking n dpen inrerest in the honor. nn .in!eer.!ty. and property of th$ iwlioieinnd. . IT. s: G-RANS- Executive Mansion, Dec: 5 ISM HTPPIITT 5 CO S L kvi a. 'J Sfc