THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Washington, Dee. 5. Following is the
President's Message to the donate and
House:
restoration or Tin: union.
To the Senate and JTov.se of lit p.-- - n In tires
in Congress Assembled:'
A year of peace and general proxperliy
to the nation lias passed since the last as
sembling of Congress. Wo have, through
a kind Providence, been blest with abund
ant crops, and have been spared from com
plications and war with foreign nations.
In our midst comparative haimouy lias
been restored. It is to be regretted, how
ever, that a free exercise 'of the elective
franchise has by violence and intimidation
been denied to citizens in exceptional ease,
and in several of the Stales lately in rebel -
ton, and the verdict of the people has t hero
by been reversed. TheSta'eof Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas have been resided
to representation in our national councils.
Georgia, the only State now without repre
sents t inn . tun v con fident 1 v he exnected f
take her place'there, also.at the boginningof
tne new year; ana tnen let us nope, win ue
completed the work of reconstruction with
an acquiescence on the part of the whole
people in the national obligation to pay tne
public debts, created as the price of our
Union, the pensions of our disabled sol
diers and sailors and their widows and
orphans, and in the changes to the Consti
tution, which have been made necessary
by the great rebellion.
There is no reason why we should not
advance in material prosperity and happi
ness as no other nation did after so pro
tracted and devastating a war.
AMERICAN PROTECTION TO foiieigxees IX
FRANCE.
Soon after the existing war broke out in
Europe, the protection of the United States
Minister in Paris was invoked in favor of
the North Germans domiciled in French
territory, and instructions were issued to
grant the protection. This has been fol
lowed by an extension of American pro
tection to citizens of Saxony, Hesse and
Saxe-Coburg, Gotha, Columbia, Portugal,
Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, Equa
dor, Chili, Paraguay and Venezuela, in
Paris. The charge was an onerous one, re
quiring constant and severe labor, as well
as the exercise of patience, prudence and
good judgment. It has been performed to
the entire satisfaction of this Government,
and as I am officially informed, equally so
to the satisfaction of the Government of
North Germany.
ATTITUDE OK THE UNITED .-TAXES TOWAIil)
FRANCE.
As soon as I learned that a republic had
been proclaimed in Paris, and that the peo
ple of France had acquiesced hi" the change,
the Minister of the United Slates way di
rected by telegraph to recognize it and
tender my congratulations and those of the
people of the United States. The re-establishment
in France of a system of gov
ernment disconnected with the dynastic
traditions of Europe, appeared to be a
proper subject for the felicitations of Amer
icans, and should the present struggle re
sult in attaching the hearts of the French
to our simpler forms of Representative
Government, it will be a subject of" still
further satisfaction to our people. While
wo make no effort to impose our institu
tions upon the inhabitants of other coun
tries, and while we adhere to our tradition
al neutrality in civil conflicts elsewhere,
we cannot be indiiferent to the strength of
American political ideas in a great and
highly civilized country like I ranee.
PROPOSAL FOR Til E UNITE!) STATES TO
MEDIATE IX EUROPEAN AFi'AII'.S.
We were asked by the new. Government
to use our good offices, jointly with those
01 tne j.uropeau lowers, m me ju..cjc.-l m
peace. An answer was made that the es
tablished policy and true interests of the
United States forbade ;hcm to interfere in
European questions jointly with European
Powers. 1 ascertained, informally and
nnofiicially, that the Government of North
Germany was not then disposed to listen
to such representations .from any Powers,
and, though earnestly wishing to see t lie
blessings of peace restored to the belliger
ents, with all of whom the United Stales
are on terms of friendship, 1 declined, on
the part of the Government, to take a step
which could only result in injury to our
true interests, without advancing the object
for which our intervention was invoked.
Should the time come when the action of
the United States can hasten the return of
peace by a single hour, that action will be
heartily taken.
XECTBALITY.
I deemed it prudent, in view of the num
ber of persons of German and French
birth living in the United States, to issue,
soon after the official notice of a state of
war had been received from both belliger
ents, a proclamation defining the duties of
the United States as a neutral, and the ob
ligation of persons residing within their
territory to observe their laws and the laws
of nations. The proclamation was follow
ed by others, as circumstances seemed to
call for them. The people, thus acquainted
in advance of their duties and obligations,
have assisted in preventing violations of
the neutrality of the United States:
FRAXCO-G ERMAX RELATIONS IX CHINA.
The massacre of French and Prussian
residents at Tientsin, under circumstances
of great barbarity, was supposed by some
to have been premeditated and to indicate
a purpose among the populace to exterm
inate foreigners in the Chinese Empire.
The evidence fails to establish such a sup
position, but shows a complicity between
the local authorities and tiie mob. The
Government at Pekin, however, seems to
have been disposed to fulfill its treaty obli
gations so far as it was able to do. I nfor
tunately the news of the war between the
German States and France reached China
soon after the massacre. It would appear
that the popular mind became possessed
with the idea that this contest, extending to
Chinese waters, would neutralize the
Christian influence and power, and that the
time was coming: when the superstitious
mass might expel all foreigners and restore
Mandarin influence. Anticipating trouble,
I invited France and North Germany to
make an authorized suspension of hostili
ties in the East, where they were tempora
rily suspended bv act of the commanders,
and to act together for the future-promotion
in China, of the lives and propeity of
Americans and Europeans.
AMERICAN-RRITISH TREATIES RATIFIED.
Since the adjournment of Congress, the
ratifications of the treaty with Great Brit
ain, for abolishing the mixed courts for the
suppression of the slave trade, have been
exchanged. It is believod that the slave
trade is confined to the eastern coast of
Vfrica, whence the slaves are taken to Ara
bian markets. The ratifications of the nat
uralization convention between Great Brit
ain and the United S'ates have also been
exchanged during the recess, ami thus a
lorn standing dispute between the two gov
ernments has been settled in accordance
with the principles always contended lor
bv the United States.
XEW BOUNDARY QUESTION.
Ill pril, while engaged in locating a
Militarv Reservation at Pembina, a corps
Qf engineers discovered that the common-
ly received boundary line between the Uni
ted States and British Possessions a that
place is about 5,700 . feet south of the true
position of the zenith parallel, and th'e iine
when run on what is now supposed to be
the true position 'of that parallel, would
leave the fort of the Hudson Ray Company
at Pembina within the territory of the
United States. This informatioYi being
communicated to the British Government,
I was requested to consent, and I did con
sent, that the British occupation of the fort
of the Hudson B ay Company, should con
tinue for the present. I deem it import
ant, however, that this part of the bounda
ry line should' be definitely settled by a
commission of the Governments, -and. I
submit herewith estimates of the expenses
of such a commission on the part of the
United States, and recommend an 'appro
priation for that purpose. The land boun
dary is already fixed and marked irom the
summit of th'e Rocky Mountains to Geor
gian Bay. It should" now be in like man
ner marked from the Lake of the Woods
to the summit of the Rocky Mountains.-.
THE ALAliAMA CLAIMS.
I regret to say no conclusion has been
reached for adjustment of the claims
against Great Britain, grow ing out of the
course adopted by that Government during
the rebellion. The Cabinet of London, so
fur as its views have been expressed, does
not appear to be willing to concede that Her
Majesty's Government was guilty of negli
gence, or did, or permitted any act during
the war by which the United States has
just cause of complaint. Our linn and un
alterable convictions are directly tiie re
verse. 1 therefore recommend to Congress
to authorize the appointment of Commis
sioners to take proof of the amounts and
ownership of vessels, and their claims, and
thai authority be given for tho settlement
of these claims by-the United States, so
the Government shall have the ownership
of the private claims as well asthe respon
sible control of all demands against Great
Britain. Whenever Her Majesty's Gov
ernment shall entertain a desire for a full
and friendly adjustment of these claims,
the United States wil enter upon their con
sideration with an earnest desire for a con
clusion consistent with the honor and dig
nity of both nations.
THE REVOLUTION IX i'URA.
It is not understood that the condition of
the insurrection in Cuba has materially
changed since the close of the last session
of Congress. In an early stage of tho con
test the authorites of Spain inaugurated a
system of arbitrary arrests, of close con
finements, of military trial, and executions
of persons suspected with complicity with
insurgents, and of summary embargo of
their properties and requisitions of their
revenues by executive warrant. Such pro
ceedings, as far as they cil'ect the persons
or property ot citizens ot the united Suites,
were in violation of the provisions of the
treaty of 17'J") between the United States
and Spain. Representations of inju
ries resulting to several persons claiming
to be citizens ot the united States by rea
son of such course, were made to the Span
ish Government from Apri!, ISfJo, to June
last. The Spanish Minister at Washington
has been clothed with a limited power to
aid m redressing such wrongs; but tin:
ower was found to be withdrawn in view
as it was said, of the revolutionary silua
tion in w hich tiie Island of Cubathuii was
which, however, did not lead to the sus
pension of the extraordinary and arbitrary
fundi ns excee led by the executive power
of Cuba, and we were obliged to make our
complaint at Madrid, and in the negotia
tions i bus opynod and still pending there,
the United States onlj' claimed that, for the
ititure, the riuht-v secured to then citizens
by treaty, should be respected in Cuba,
and that as to the past, a joint tribunal
should be established m the United Suites,
v.uh fuil jurisdiction overall sucn claims
before such impartial tribunal. The claim
ants would be required to receive his case
on the oilier hand, Spain would bo at lib
erty to traverse every material foot, and
thus complete equality would be done.
EXTR ADITIOX TKEATI ES.
The policy referred to, il is presumed,
will engage your earnest attention. It is
the obvious "interest, especially of neigh
boring nations, to provide against injury to
those who may havecommitted high crimes
within their 'borders and who may have
sought refuge abroad. For this purpose
extradition treaties have been concluded
with several of the Central American Re
publics, and others are in progress.
THE VENEZUELAN CLAIMS.
The sense of Congress is desired as early
as may be convenient on the proceedings
of theCom mission on tho Claims against
Venezuela, as communicated in the mes
sage of March 4th, 18U9, and March 1st,
1S70, and March 31st, 1870. It has not been
deemed advisable to distribute any of the
money which has been received from that
Government until Congress shall have
acted on the subject.
A CLAIM' DISPOSED OF.
A case which at one time threatened se
riously to affect the relations between the
United States and Spain, has already been
disposed of. This was the claims of the
Lloyd Aspinw all for illegal seizure and de
tentien of that vessel. It was referred to
arbitration by mutual consent, and has re
sulted in an award to the United Statos,
for the owners of the same, of 810,702 in
gold. Another and long pending elaini of
like nature, that of the whale-ship Canada,
has been disposed of by friendly arbitra
tion during the present year. It was re
ferred by the joint consent of Brazil and
the United States, and the action of Sir
Edward Thornton, Her Britanic Majesty's
Minister at Washington, who definitely
undertook the laborious task of examining
the immense mass of correspondence and
testimony submitted by the two Govern-,
merits, and awarded to the United States
the sum of 100,700 09 in gold, wdiieh has
since boen paid )y the Imperial Govern
ment. These recent examples show that the
mode which we have proposed to Spain
for adjusting the pending claims, is just
and equitable, and that it maybe agreed to
by these nations withont dishonor. It is to be
hoped that this moderate demandmay be
acceded to by Spain without further delay;
should the pending negotiations unfortu
nately and unexpectedly be without re
sult, it will then become 1113' duty to com
municate that fact to Congress, and invito
its action on the subject.
RELATIONS
WITH THE .SOUTH AMERICAN
REPUBLICS.
The long-deferred Peace Conference be
tween Spain and the allied South Ameri
can Republics has been inaugurated m
Washington, under the auspices of the
United States, pursuant to the recom
mendation contained in the resolution of
the House of Representatives of the ah ot
December, lStfii. The Executive Depart
ment of the Government proffered its
friendly offices for tho promotion of peace
and harmony between Spain and the allied
Republics; hesitations and obstacles oc
curred to the acceptance of the otler; ulti
mately, however, a Conference was ar
ranged, and was opened in this city on the
2th of October last, at which I authorized
the Secretary of State to preside. It was
attended by the Ministers of Spam, 1 eru,
r-biio ami 1-Vnn.idftr. Iii eonseoiience of
the absence of a Representative
from
Bolivia, the Conference was adjourned vnv
li! tho attendance of a Plenipotentiary
from that Republic could be secured, or
other measures could be -adopted toward
attaining its object.
Thealliod and other Republics of Spanish
origin ou this continent may see in this fact
a 1 lev, "proof ofour sincere interest in their
wf ll ii -. :uid of our desire to see them
ble.-x-d wit ii good Governments,', capable
of muinra-iuing order and preserving their
respective territorial integrity, and of our
sincere wish to extend- our o-.vn commer
cial and social relations with them. . The
time is probably not far distant when, in
the natural ourso of events, life European
political connections with this continent
will cease. ' Our policy should be shaped
in view of this probability, so as to ally
the commercial interests of the Spanish
American Stales more closely to our own,
and thus give the United States all the
pre-eminence and all tho advantages
which Mr. Monroe, Mr. Adams and Mr.
Clay contemplated when they proposed to
10m the Com
'.ress 01
Panama.
ION. OF SAX DOM ixuo.
PROPOSED ACQUIS!';
During the last session of Congress, a
treaty for the annexation of the Republic
of San Domingo to the United States,
failed to receive the requisite two-thirds
vote of the Senate. I was thoroughly con
vinced then that the best interests of the
country, commercially and materially, de
manded its ratification.' Time has only
confirmed me in this view. I now firmly
believe that the moment it is known that
the United Suites have entirely abandoned
tho project of accepting as a part of its ter
ritory the Island of San Domingo, a free
port will be negotiated for by European
nations, in the bay of Samaria. A large
commercial city will spring up, to which
we will be tributary, without receiving cor
responding benefits, by the more than folly
of our rejection. It is" agreed the Govern
ment of San Domingo has voluntarily
sought this annexation; it is a weak pow
er, numbering probably less thanone hun
dred and twenty thousand souls, and 3-et
possessing one of the richest localities un
der tho sun. capable of supporting a popu
lation of ten millions of people in luxmy.
The people of San Domingo are not capa
ble of maintaining themselves in their
present condition, and must look for out
side support. They yearn for the protec
tion of our free institutions and laws, our
progress and civilization. Shall we refuse
them? The acquisition of San Domingo is
desirable becairse of its geographical posi
tion; it commands the entrance to the Car
ribean Sea, and tiie Isthmus transit of com
merce. It possesses the richest soil, the
best and most capacious harbors, most sa
lubrious climate, and the- most valuable
products of the forests, mines, and soil of
any of the West India islands. Its posses
sion by the United States will, in a few
years, build up a coastwise commerce of
immense magnitude, which w ill go far to
ward restoring to the United States our lost
merchant marine. It will give to us those
articles w hich we consume greatly, and do
not produce, thus equalizing our exports
and imports. In case of a foreign war, it
will give us command of all tiie islands re
ferred to, and thus prevent any enemy from
again possessing himself of a rendezvous
upon our coast.
At present our coast trade between the
SUites bordering on the Atlantic and those
on the Gulf of Mexico is by the Bahamas
and the Antilles. Thus wo must, as it
were, pass through foreign countries to get
by from Georgia to the east of Florida. San
Domingo with a stable government, under
which her immense resources can be devel
oped, will give remunerative wages to ten
thousand laborers, not now upon the
island. This labor will take advantage of
every available means of transportation to
abandon the adjacent islands, and seek the
blessings 'ot its" freedom, and, as a conse
quence, each inhabitant receiving the re
ward of his own labors, Porto Rico and
Cuba will have to abolish slavery as a
measure of self-preservation to retain their
laborers.
San Domingo will become a large coii-
senier of the nroducts of the Northern
farms and manufactories. The cheap rate
at which her citizens can be furnished with
food, tools and machinery, will make it
necessary that the contiguous islands
should have rtie same advantages, in order
to compete with the production of sugar,
coffee, tobacco and tropical fruits. This
will open to us a wider market for our pro
ducts, and the production cf our supply of
theso articles will cut oil" more than one
hundred millions of our annual imports,
besides largely increasing our exports.
With such a picture it is easy to see how
eur large debt abroad is ultimately to be
extinguished. With a balance of" trade
against us, including tho interest on bonds
held by foreigners, and money shipments
to our citizens traveling in foreign lands,
equal to the entii3 yield of precious metals
in this country, it is not so easy to see how
this result is to be otherwise accomplished.
Tho acquisition of San Domingo is an ad
hesion to the Monroe Doctrine; it is a mea
sure of national protection; it is asserting
our just claim to a controlling iniluence
over the great commercial traffic soon to
flowT from the West to the East, by way of
the Isthmus ot J)arien; it is to build up our
merchant marine; it is to furnish new mar
kets for the products of our farms, shops
and manufactories; it is to make slavery
insupportable in Cuba and Porto Rico at
once, ana ultimately so in urazii; it is to
settle tho unhappy condition of Cuba, and
end an exterminating conflict; it is to pro
vide an honest means of paying our hon
est debts, without' overtaxing the people;
it is to furnish our citizens with the neces
saries 01 every-uay me at cneaper rates
than ever before, and it is, in fine, a rapid
stride toward that greatness which the in
telligence, industry and enterprise of the
citizens ot the United States entitle this
country to assume among nations.
In view of the importance of tins ques
tion, I earnest urge upon Congress early
action, and an expression of its views as to
the best means of acquiring San Domingo.
HOW THE ACQISITION MAY RE MADE.
Mv suggestion is, that bv a joint resolu
tion of the two Houses of Congress the Ex
ecutive may be authorized to appoint a
commission to negotiate lor a treaty witn
the authorities of San Domingo lor the ac
quisition of that island; that an appropria
tion be made to aenay tne expenses 01
such commission; that the question may
then be determined by the action of the
two Houses of Congress upon a resolution
of annexation, as in the case of the acqui
sition of Texas. So convinced am I of all
the advantages to flow from the acquisition
of San Domingo, and the great disadvanta
ges (I might almost say calamities) from
its non-acquisition, that I believe the sub
ject has only to be investigated to be ap
proved.
Til K " FREE ZOXE' OF MEXICO.
It is to he regretted that our representa
tions in regard to the injurious effects, es
pecially upon the revenue of the United
States, of the policy of tho Mexican Gov
ernment in exempting irom import unties
a large tract of its territory on our borders,
have not only been fruitless, but that it is
even proposed in that country to extend
the limits within which the privilege ad-
vertea to nas nunerio been engaged, me
expediency of looking into and giving your
serious consideration to the proper means
t'ov countervailing this scheme.(?)
THE CURRENCY AX I) TIIE BANKS.
At tho last session of Congress I respect
fully recommended that an appropriation
be made, and authority given to issue new
bills, upon such paper and in such form as
may be designated. Tho Secretary of the
Treasury, through the Comptrollerof Cur
rency, in ids report of 18G!, recommended
the establishment of an agency in the city
of New York, under control of the Natioi a'
Banks, for the redemption of their issue.
The substance of this recommendation
seems to be that it is not enly proper but
necessary, and that the expeure should be
borne by the Banks. . . .
Coupled with this 'recommendation, I
take this occasion to say that the banking
system of the country appears to be well
managed, ami to answer reasonably the
purpose for which it was established. It
is no doubt true that the Treasury notes,
in representing an equal amount of the
public debt without interest, are the most
economical circulation for theGovernment;
but it should be considered that tho bank
ing institutions of the country are the
agencies by w hich business is established
and fostered. Tiie whole system of bank
ing should be extended only for the pur
pose of meeting the demands of business,
but when the demands are urgent, a ton
cession should be made, upon the ground
that prosperity of business is more impor
tant than the mere savin" of interest aris
ing from the circulation of Treasury notes.
REVIVAL OF AMERICAN COMMERCE.
Our depressed commerce is a subject to
which I called your special attention at the
last session, and suggested that it would,
in the future, have to look more to the
countries south' of us and to China and
Japan, for its markets. Our representa
tives to all these Governments have exerted
their influence to encourage trade between
tho United States and the countries to
which the' are accredited, but the fact ex
ists, that tho carrying is done almost en
tirely by foreign bottoms, and while this
state of attains exists, we cannot control
our due share of the commerce of the
world. That between the Pacific States
and China and Japan, is about all the car
lying trade now conducted in American
vessels. I would recommend a liberal
policy toward that line of American steam
ers one that will insure its success and its
increased usefulness. The cost of building
iron vessels the only ones that can com
pete with foreign ships in tho carrying
trade- is so much greater in the United
States than in foreign countries, that with
out some assistance from the Government,
they cannot bo successfully built here.
There will be several propositions laid be
fore Congress in the course of the present
session, looking to a remedy for this evil;
even if it should be at some cost to the Na
tional treasury, I hope such encourage
ment will be given as will revive American
shipping on the high seas, and American
ship-building at home.
NEW BUILDING FOR STATE DEPARTMENT.
The condition of the archives of the De
partment of State calls for the early action
of Congress. The building now rented by
that Department is a frail structure, at an
inconvenient distance from the Executive
mansion, and from the other Departments;
it is ill-adapted to the purposes for which
it is used; lias not capacity to accommodate
the archives, and is not fire-proof. Its re
mote situation, its slender construction and
absence of a sunnly of water in the nidi-
boriiood, leaves but little hope of safety for
either tho building or its contents, in case
of the accident of a fire; its destruction
would cause the loss of the rollseontaininjr
the original Acts and Resolutions of Com
gress, ot the .history and records of the
Revolution and of" tho Confederation, of
the whole series of diplomatic and consu
lar archives since tho adoption of the Con
stitution, of the many other valuable
records and papers left with that Depart
ment when it was the principal depository
of the Government archives. I recommend
an appropriation for the construction of
building for the Department of State.
CHAXGES IX DEPARTMENTS RECOMMENDED.
I recommend to your consideration the
propriety of transferring to the Depart
ment 01 1110 interior, to winch they seem
more properiy 10 belong, all powers and
duties in relation to tho Territories with
which the Department of State is now
charged by law of usage, and from the In
terior Department to tho War Department
tho Pension Bureau, so far as it regulates
the payment of soldiers' pensions. I would
further recommend that the pa3'inent of
naval pensions be transferred to one of the
bureaus of tho navy.
EXPENSES OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Tho estimates for the expenses of the
Government for the fiscal year are 1S,24I,
34S 01 less than for the current one, but ex
ceeds the appropriation for the present
year, for the same items, .ss9,721 in this;
the estimates, however, included 22,:J3S,
27S 37, for public works heretofore begun
under Congressional provision, and of
which only so much is asked as Congress
may choose to give. The appropriation for
the same work for the prosent fiscal year,
was SHS,451,S0S.
RETURN TO SPECIE PAYMENT.
The average value of gold, as compared
with national currency for the year IStjO,
was about 134, and for the eleven months
of 1S70 the same relative value has been
about 115. This approach to a specie basis
is very gratifying, but the fact cannot be
denied that the instability of the value of
our currency is prejudicial to our prosper
ity and tends to keep up prices to the det-
riment of trade. The evils of a denreci-i
ated and fluctuating currency are so great,
mac now, wnen tne premium on gold lias
fallen so much that it would seem that the
time has arrived when by prudent legisla
tion Congress should lodk to a policy which
would place our currency at par with eold
at no distant day.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
The tax collected from the people has
been reduced more than eight million dol
lars per annum, by steadiness in our pres
ent course; there is no reason why, in a
few short years, the mational tax-gatherer
may not disappear from the door of the
citizens almost entirely. With the revenue
stamps dispensed by postmasters in every
community, a tax upon liquors of all sorts,
and tobacco in all its forms, and by a nice
adjustment of the tariff, which will put a
duty only upon those articles which we
could dispense with, known as luxuries,
and on those w hich we use more of than
we produce, revenue enough may be raised
after a few years of peace anil consequent
reduction of indebtedness, to fulfill all our
obligations.
REVENUE REFORM.
In addition to this, a reduction of inter
nal accounts may be relied on to make this
practicable. Revenue reform, if it means
this, has my early support; if it implies
a collection of all the revenue for the sup
port of the Government, for the payment
of principal and interest of tax, public
debt, pensions, Ac, by direct taxation on
the people, then I am against revenue re
form, and confidently believe the people
are with me. If it means failure to pro
vide the necessary means to defraj- all ex
penses of the Government, and thereby re
pudiate the public debt, then I arn'still
more opposed to such a kind of revenue.
Revenue reform has not been defined by
any of its advocates to my knowledge, but
seems to be accepted as something w hich
is to supply every man's Wants, without
any cost or elicit on his part. A tri:e
revenue reform cannot be made in a day,
but must be the work of National legisla
tion, and of time. As soon as the revenue
can be dispensed with, all duty should be
removed from coffee, tea and other articles
of universal
use, not produced .by our-
ncCeSSities ot !lm 'M.ntifr
selves. The
compel us to collect revenue from our im
ports. An army of assessors and collectors
is not a pleasant sight to the -itizns, but
that, or a tariff for revenue, is necessary.
Such a faritf, so far as it acts as an encour
agement to home products, -affords employ
ment to the laborer at living wages, in
contrast to the pauper labor of tho Old
World, and also in
the development of
home resources.
EXPENSES AND ESTIMATES
AND XAVV.
OF THE ARM Y
Under tho Act -of Congress of the R
h of
July, lb. 0, tne army has gradually been
reduced, so that on the 1st of January. 1871,
tuenumuoi o; commissioned ofiieers and
men, all will not exceed the number con
templated by that law.
The Department ljuilding is an old struc
ture, not lire-proof, and entirely inadequate
in dimensions to our present wants. Main
thousands of dollars are now paid annually
for rent of private buildings to accommo
date the- various bureaus of the Depart
ment. I recommend an appropriation for
a new War Department building, suited to
the present growing wants of the nation.
The report of tho Secretary of War shows
a very satisfactory reduction in the ex
penses of the army for the last fiscal year.
For this 3-ou are referred to his accompany
ing report.
The expeuscs'of the navy for the whole
of the last year, from Dec. 1st, IMP, the
date of the last report, are loss than nine
teen million dollars, or about one million
less than they were the previous year. The
expenses since tho commencement of this
fiscal year, since July 1st, show for the five
months, a decrease of over S2, 100.000 from
those of the corresponding months of last
year. The estimates for the current year
were S2S,20.",(78 05; those for the next year
are S20,GS2,317, with J35,100 additional for
necessary permanent improvements.
These estimates are made closely for the
maintenance of the naval establishment as
it now is, without much in the nature of
permanent improvements.
The appropriation made for the current
years were evidently intended by Congress
(and are sufficient) to only keep the navy
011 its present footing, by tho repairing and
refitting of our old ships. This policy
must, of course, gradually but surelv
destroy the navy, and it is in itself far
from economical, as each jTear that it is
pursued the necessity for more lepairsin
ships and navy j'ards becomes more im
perative and more costly, and our current
expenses are annually increased for the
mere repair of ships, many of which soon
become unsafe and useless.
PLEA FOR A MORE FORMIDABLE NAVY.
I hope, during the present session of
Congress, to be able to submit to it a plan
by which naval vessels can be built and
repairs made with a great saving upon the
present cost. It can hardly be wise states
manship in a Government which repre
sents a country with over five thousand
miles of coast lino in both oceans, exclu
sive of Alaska, and containing 40,000,000 of
progressive p
progressive people, with relations of every
i - - l . .
hiatlire witn aIniost every foreign country,
i. iwi nun .intii jiitiueijuiiie means 01 en
forcing any foreign policy, either of pro.ee
rion or redress. Separated bv the ocean
l'rom the nations of the Eastern Continent,
our navy is our only means of direct pro
tection to our cuizens auroad or lor tne en
forcement of any foreign policy.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The accompanying report of the Post
master General shows a most satisfactory
working of the Department. With the
adoption of the recommendations con
tained therein, particularly those relating
to a reform in the franking privileges, and
the adoption of correspondence cards, a
self-sustaining postal system may speedily
be looked for, and, at no distant day, a
further reduction of the cost of postages at
tained. I recommend the authorization by
Congress to the Postmaster General and
Attorney General to issue all commissions
to officials appointed through their respect
ive departments. At present these com
missions, where appointments are Presi
dential, are issued by the State Depart
ment. The law in all the Departments of
th Government, except those of the Post
office and of Justice, authorizes each to is
sue its own commissions.
CANADIAN MONOPOLY OF AMERICAN FISH
ERIES. The course pursued by the Canadian
Government toward the fisheries of the
United States, during the past season, has
not been marked by a frienuly feeling.' By
the first article of the Convention of 1818,
between Great Britain and tho U
States, it was agreed that the inhabitants
of the United States should have forever,
in common with British subjects, the right
of taking fish in certain waters, not includ
ed in the limits named in the Convention.
within three miles of ports on the British
coast. It has been Uiepiistoni ihrmanv
years to give intruding fishermen from tho
United States, a reasonable warnins? of Mm
technical rights of Great Britain.
llie Imperial Government is understnod
to have delegated the whole or a share of
its jurisdiction or control of these in-shorn
grounds, to the colonial authoritv known
as the Dominion of Canada, and this same
independent, out irresponsible agent, has
exercised its delegated powers in an un
friendly way. Vessels have been seized,
without notice or warning, in violation of
the custom previously prevailing, and
have been taken into the colonial oort.
their voyages broken up, and the vessels
condemned. There is reason to believe
that this unfriendly treatment was designeli
to near narsmy on tne L mted States, with
a view to a political etrect upon this Gov
ernment. The statutes of the Dominion of Canada
become still broader and more untenable
in their jurisdiction over vessels of the
United States; they authorize ofiieers or
persons to bring vessels hovering within
three marine miles of any of the coasts,
bays, creeks or harbors of Canada, jnto
port, to search the cargo, to examine the
master ou oath, touching the cargo and
voyage, and to inflict upon him the levy of
a pecuniary penalty. If answers are not
given, and if such a vessel is found pre
paring to fish within three marine leagues
of any such coasts, bays, creeks or harbors,
without a license, or after the expiration of
the period named in the last license grant
ed, they provide that the vessel, with her
tackle, etc., shall be forfeited. It is not
known that any condemnations have been
made under these statutes. Should the
authorities of Canada attempt to enforce
them, it will become my duty to take such
steps as may be necessary to protect the
rights of the United States.
It has been claimed by Her Majesty's of
ficers, that the fishing vessels of the United
States have no right to enter the open ports
of the British Possessions in North Ameri
ca, except for the purpose of shelter and
repairing damages, of purchasing food and
obtaining later news;" that they have no
right to enter at the British Custom House,
or to trade except in the purchase of wood
and water; and that they must depart w ith
in twenty-four hours after notice to leave.