Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 8, 1875, Page 9

THE NATION. |5 President Grant’s Re- view of a Century’s Progress. Dangers that Threaten and Remedies that Should Be Applied, A Broader System of Free Edneation the Best Safeguard for the Nation, Qur Foreign Relations Upon a Peaceful and Satisfac- tory Footing. The Cuban Question Discussed, but Without Definife Recommendation, A Decided Expression in Favor of a Tariff for Revenue Only. The President Anxious for an Early Resumption of Specie-Payments, The Annual Report ot the Becretary of the Treasury. Receipts and Expenditures for the Viscal Year Ending Juno . 30, 1875, Estimates for the Fiscal Yoar Fnd- ing June 30, 1877---Redun- tion of the Publio Debt, The Sinking Fund~Refonding the National Deht—Resumption of Specic-Pay- ments, Tho National Banks-~Coinage--Revenue from Customs--Internal Revenue. Dxports and Imports---Commerce and Navigation---Public Buildings--« Claims Against the Gov- ernment, THE MESSAGE, STATE OF THE COUNTRY. ONZ HUNDRED YEARS, To the Senats and Houss of Representatives: In submitting my seventh annual mosssge to Congress, in this Centenninl year of our national exiastence 23 a fres and indopandent peopls, it lorda mo great pleasure to recur to the ADVANGEMENT TUAT IIAS DEEN MADR from tho timo of the Colonies, ono bundred years 830, We woro then s pooplo numbering only 8,000,000; now, wo number mors than 40,000,000, Then, indastries were confined almost exclusive- Iyto the tillage of the soil; mow, manufactories sbsorb muck of the Isbor of tho country, Our libertios remain unlmpaired. Tho bondsmen bavo been fraed from aiavory. Wo have bocome Poracasod of the rospoct, If not the friendsbip, of all civilized nations. Our progrosa has been Freat fn all tho arts, in sclence, sgriculturs, com- mercs, navigation, mining, mechanics, law, med- leng, eto,; and, in general sducatlon, the prog- wsa i likewise encoaraging, ‘ur thirteen Statos kave becoms thirty-sight, ~laclaging Colorado, whioh haa taken the initis- tory steps to becomo Stato, and eight Yarri- teries, including the Indian Torritory and Alas- ks, and excluding Colorado,—mnaking & territory sxtending from the Atlantiotothe Pacifie, On Ao souths, wa have extonded to the Gulf of Mexleo; and, on the weat, from the Mississippl ‘o the Pacific. One hundred yoara ago, the cotton-gin, the Sesmahip, tho rallroad, "the tolegraph, tha reap- ing, newing, and modorn printing machines, aud Bumerous other inventions of scarcoly loss valuo 42 0ur businous and happiness, wera entirely un- knomn, MANUPAOTURES, Ia 1776, manufacturos scarcoly existed even in Bame in all this vast territory; in 1870, more than 3,000,000 of porsons wore employed in manufactories, producing more than $2,100,- 00,000 of produce in amount annually,—nearly equalto our nmational dobt. From noarly the ¥hole of tho populstion of 1778 being ongaged in the one occapation of agricalture, In 1870 50 Bnmezous aud divorsifiod Liad bocoma the oeca- Patlona of our yieaple that lesa than 6,000,000 out ©of more than 40,000,000 wero 80 ongaged. Tho xtraordinary effect produced in our country by 8 resort to euch ocoupationa hias built n market for the products of fortile landa distant from tho Seaboard and the markets of the world, Tho Americansystom of working various and extensive manufactories, next to the plow and the pasture, ind sddiug connecting railroads and utenmboaty, Produced tn our distant country results not qualed by the intelligent parta of other ma- tons, Tha ingenuity and skill of American me- chanioa have been demonstrated at home snd sbroad, in 5 mannor moat fsttering to their Pride. But for the extraondloary geniue and sbillty of our mechanlcs, tho schiovements of our agriculturists, msnafucturers, and trans- porters, throughout the. country,would heve been Impossiblo of sitainment, MG, Tho progross of the mioor has slso beea Breat. Of coal our rroduction was small; now, Wany millione of tons are mined suoually. Bo with iron, which formed scarcely an appreciable Part of our products half a century Bgo; we 90w produss mors than the world :““"mfli st the beginning of our ‘luon;l existence, Lead, ziuc, and copper, b':m belog articles of imports, wo may expoct to 2 12780 exportern of in tlio near future. The velopment of guld and silver miues through- 0% the Slates and Territorios Las not only been ‘emarkable, but Las had a large influsnce upon Vo business of all comumeorcial natious, OUR MERCUANTS x w418 la4) hundrod years have had success 83d kave astablished a roputation for entesprise, magaeity, progiers, and Sntogrity. unenrparsal by pacpls of vlder nutionslities. Thts good nume 18 not coatine to their homes, bat gose ot up- on evoty wen nud into every port whera corm- meres enters, With oqual pride wo ean poiok to our progress dn all tho learn- od professtous. As we st now about fo enter wupon one wicond Contennial, commencing onr sianhool a4 & nation, it ia woil 10 Yook back upon tho past, and study what wall ba tieat to prexervo anid ad vancs our future groat- nesu, From tho fall of Adam for his transgres- nion to the present day, no nation has ever heen fres from (hreatoned danger to ita prospority and lappiness. We should look to the dangers threatening us, aud romedy thoia so far na lies 1o our powor, e EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS, IMPORTANCE. OF BUUCATION UNDIR OUR FOMM OF AOVERNNENT, Wa are a Ropublic whoreof oue man In as gooil aa another befora the law, Undor asuch a form of government. it ia of the groatost Importauce that all should bo possossed of edneation and intolligenca onough to cast n vots with a right underatanding of its meaulug. A lurgo aseoci tion of fgnorant mon capact, for any cor nidorable porlod, oppone o muscosstul rs. sistance to tyranny awd opprossion from the educated fow, but wil Inevitally slok {oto acquiescence to tho will of intelli- souco, whether directad by the dsmsgogno o by priesteralt, Ifoncn, the ed'seation of the massos bacomes of tha firat necersity for the PreEoTva. tlon of our tustitutions. "hoy ure worth presory iug, bocausothey haviy secured the grentyat goad to the grealeut proportion of the nopula- tion of any form ot Rovernmout yet devised, All otber forms of gossrnmont approach It jnat in proportion to the wanoral diftusion of oducation aud ludopendenco of th ouglit and nction, FREE BCHUOLY, 'VITIOUT RELIGIOUA TEACTENG, As tho pritaary atep, therefors, to our advance- meat to all that has marked our progress fn tho last coutury, I suggest for your enrncet aooyideration, nod most earnostly recom- tond it, st s constitutional amendmont be submitted to tho Tiogislatures of "the soveral Huatos for. ratification, making it the duty of enchi ol the sovoral Statesto catablish aud for. ovor rastatsin fies public schools, adequate to tho exltication of all the children in tho rudi- e’y branches within their respective Jimits, irrearicctivo of sox, color, birth-place, or relig- 10°a ; forbidding the teacling in said achools of 1 eliglons, atucistic, or pigan tonels; nnd probitiuting tha granting of any school-tunds or nchool-tazes, or any part thoreof, oither by lef;n- | 1ativo, musicipal, or uther authoritios, for tho beuolt of any other object, of any naturo or Lind whatave TAXLTION OF CILURGH PROPERTY. In conuection with uhis imuortant ynoation, T waould also call your attention to tha hnportance of correcting sh ovil that, it perilted (o cone tinie, will probably lead ta great trouble in our 1aud Lafora tha close of tho nivetcenth cenlury., It in tho accutaniation of vari amounts of un- taxod church property. In 1339, I toliove, the church property of the Uaited States, which paid no_tax, municipal or Stste, amounted to about £83,000,000, In 1800 tho nmount had doublod ; in 1875 it 18 about $1,000,600,000. iy 1900, without a check, it i snfo to kv that tiin rroporty will reach o sum oxcecding 9,000,000, 000. Ho vast a aumi recesving all the j rotection end bouofits of Goveromient withont bear- ing its proportion of the burdons and expenses of tho sawe, will not bo lookad upon acquickcently by thoss who have puid taxes, Ju agrowiug country, where real estue eahaucer no rapldly with time ns in the United States, thoro i ucatcely o limit to tho wealth thut may bo acquired by corporations, religious or otberwiie, if ollowed to retain real catats with- ont taxation. The contomplation of 9 vast o {um»mynn bioro alluded to without taxation may [ to sequestration without coustictiiional authority, and through blood. I wouid sugpest tho tazation of all properiy oqually, whothor ¢hurch or corporation, cxompilug ou'y the lnst resting-piaco of the dead, mod possivly, with proper rustrictions, ehurch-editices. e FOREIGN RELATIONS. PRESENT CONDITION, Our rolatlons with most of tho foreign powers continue on a satistactory and friendly footing. Incrossed intorcouras, tho exteusion of com- morco, aad tho cuitivation of mutual interests have stoadily improved oar rolations with tho largo majority of the powars of the world, rou- aenng practicablo tho peaceful molution of questions which from tima to time nooossarily arino, and loaving few which domand extended or particular natico. The correspondo co of the Dapartment of Stato with our diplomatio rop- musoutatives abroad 1% transmitted horewith, TORTUUAL, T am happy to anuounco tho passage of an act by the Gonural Cortez of Portugal, procluimed einca tho adjourminent of Cougreas, for tha abolitton ‘of servitude in tho I'ortuguosc Colonjos. It {8 to bo hoped that puch legisiation may be snother stop toward the groat cousum- mation to be reachiod whon no mnn shiall be por. mitted, directly or indiroctly, undor any gulus, Roxcuso, or form of law, to Lold his follow-man 1 bondage. Iam of oninion, also, that it is the duty of tho Unitod Btatcs, a8 cootributiug toward that ond, and required by tho apirit of the age in which wo live, to provide by sultable leglstation that no citizen of the Unitod States shall hold slaves a8 property in any othor sountry, or bo 1n- totosied thoroin. enrL has made reparation in the csse of the whala- ship Good Return, seized without suflcient causo upwards of forty yeara ago. 'I'hough alis bad itherto deniod her accountability, the do- ninl was pover acquicsced in by this Govern- mont, and the justice of the claim han been ro earnostly contonded for that 1t hau been gratify- ug that she sbould &ave acknowledgad it COLOMDIA. The arbitrator in the case of the Unlted States steamor Montijo, for the meizure sud detontion of which the Uoverumont of tho United Hiates of Colombia was hald scoountablo, has decided in favor of tho claim, Thin docision has sestlod a question which hao beon ponding for several yosrs, and which, while it contiuued apen, might woro or less disturb the good uodersianding which it ia_dosirable should bo maintained be- twoou the Kepublics, BANDWICH 1SLANDA. A reciprocity treaty with tho Kiog of the Ha~ waiian Jslanda was concluded somo mouth~ ago. Ad 1t containu a stipulation that it shall not take offoct until Cougrese shall suact the proper logislation fur the purposs, coples of the ln- strument are Lerewith pubmitted, in order thut, 1f auch should be the pleadure of Cungress, the necessary legislation upon tho subject may be adoptod. BPAIN—TUE VIHOINIUS, In Maroh laet an arrangemens was made through Mr, Cushiog, our Minlstor in Madnd, with the Bpanish Goveromeut for tha paymont by tho latter to the United Siates of the vom of 80,000 in coln, for the purpose af the relic of the families or poruons of the ship's company d cortain psssengers of the Virgiuius, The Bame was to have been Enld i threo inatalls monts, at two months each, Iv is duo to tho Bpanish Guvernment that Ishould stato that the paymenta were tully aud spsodily anticipatod by that Uovernmont, and that she whols amount wae lum withiu but & few days more than two months from tho date of tho sgroswent, a copy of which is herowith tramimitted, In puraus ance of the terms of thie adjustmsnt, 1 bave di- rected distribution of the swount among the partios eutitled thereto, including tho ship's company aod such of tho passengers as wore Amoerican citizons, Tha paymeuts sre made so- cordingly, on tue application of the parties entls tled thereto, wuns. ‘The past year haa furnished no evidence of sn approacbiug enito the rutnous contlior which had been raging for weven years in the noighbor- ivg Ieland of Uuba. Thoe sama disregerd of the laws of civilized warfare and of the just de- mands of humanity which have beretofore calted {forth expredsious of nondemnation from the ua- tions of Chriswondom Lave continued to blacken tho sad scone. DFAOLATION, RULY, AND PILLAGE aro pervading the rich ields of ous of the most fertile aud producuive rogious of the earth, rnd the wceudiary's torob, firing plavtations aud vals uable factorien and buildings, is tha sgent inark- ing the alternate advanco or retreat of tha cune teuding partiva. The protracted coutinuance of the sizifo soriously affucts tho iutoresis of all commorcisl pations, but thoss of the Unlted Htates moro than others by rosson of ita closo roximity, its larger trade aud intercource with t’nhA. sud the frequent aud iutimate persopal | relations which bave grown ug be- tizene aud those of the islaud, Moro- over, tho property of aur citizens in Oubs is largo, snd is rondered 1usecurs and depreciated iu valuo sodin capacity of production by the continusnce of the,etrifo and the unnatural modo of i conduct, 'I'no samo is tiue, cilfering ouly in degree, with ruspoct to the lutsrosis and peo- Dplo of osher pationy, aud tho sbueuce of any roae 116 CHICAGO TRIBUNE: 80! sharanee of o near tarn) m of thn conilict BIet ol nec.asity woon compl the States thaa goiToring ta cananler v hat the intarests of their own veo da and their duty towards (1 #elven mav gomaud, 1 hinve hopad sl wonl § bo wunhind to establish peace In bor colony, to af- ford rocurity to tun peoporty aud the 1ntoresta of our citizenw, nud 1o allow & legitimatn scopn to trado ad commares aud the natural pro- ducticns ol the fdand. Nesausn of this hopo, aud from mn extiows relactanca to interfero* in the affuira of another and a fricodly naton, cepecially of ono whonn svinpsthy oud friendship fn tho atrug- alng infancy of tur riwvn cxtutanen must ever hn romembored with qistitude, I have pationtly and anxigunly waited Lho progress of cvents, Our Qi i I8 too recout for unhot to cone tios wlich surronnd & Govory- mont disttacted by 2 dynrntic 1obollicn at hone, AL tho £atno timo that It hias to copo with a wope arato insurcection 1 a dintant colony, Jat, whatovar caures iy have prodiced tho situa- tun nhich so grsvonsly alfocts oue internsts, It oxists with all ita nttandant o.fis, operating di- rocus upon thiy country and it poople. This far ail tho reso:ts of Siain 1avo roved abortive, and timo Lsn marked o {mprovement in tha mituation, Cho armed bands of efther sy nouw ocenpy nearly the same groand es o the paat, with the difference, from tinie to time, of more Hves wacritlend, mure property desteoyed, awd widor oxtants of fottila nod productive fields nnd more valuablo property conetantiv nud wan- tonly sacriticed to the fucendiary s torel WHAT CONSEITUTRS A NA11 Tn conteats of this natnre, whers a considor. able body of Pionto o hav nsiomptol to. freo tiemsolvas of the contiol of the rujerior Goy- ernment hava reached suck & polnt in tha cecu- pasion of territary, in powwer, nn‘d in genoral or- ranization us to constitute iu fact a nody politis, havivg a Governraaut, in substanco ns well nai: name, porsessed of tho clements of rtublity snd equipped with machinery for the administra- tion ot tha Internal policy and the excen ion of its laws, aud prepared and able to admimsier Justico at homs A well as fn ity dealings with athor powers, it 18 within the province of thosy other powers Lo recogoize ita exixtonco aw nov aud jndependent naticn, In such cases other netlons ewnply deal with an actunlly exmting condition of things and recngnizo as une of tio powoers of the earzh that body politic whick, pusaessing the neconsnry clements, hias 1 fact Locome o new poser. Jn a word, tho ereaticn of a now Stata iu a fact. To establish the condition of things essential Lo the Toconnition of & fact, thero munt Lo a paoplo ve- cupying & kuovn ternitorg, united undor eomnn kouwn aod defiued form’ of Governmout, ac- Enowlodred by thoso subject thercto, 1u which the funztions of Governmnent ars ndministered by theurual methods ; compotent to mcte out juy- tien to citfzens and strzngers; Lo afford remodies for pablic and for privato wronzs, and nbio to carumeo tho correlative Intornational obtigations and capable of performing the correspondiog international dutics rerulting fiom its acquisi: tion of tho rights of novereignity, A puwer thould oxist comyplete In its orgunization, ready to tako an‘ nblo {3 maintain e pleco smong tho vatlous of the world. CUBA NOT YET WOTTIT. While conxcious that the insurrection in Cuba haa enown strength and endursuee, which wnlio 1t at least doubtful whother it Do in the power of Bpain to weablue it, it eeoms queations ablo whettier uch civil organization oxists which ay ho recopnized as na independ- ent Goverument capablo of performing its obligations, mul entitled to o treated as cuo of tho pawers of the earth. A recogmtion under pucl eircumstances woald bo incousistont with tho facty, awl would cotpel the power giving it 8aou to support by fores tho Governmeot to which it bad really given its ouly renl claha of cxistetico. In my judgment iho Umted Staten should adbers to tho policy and tho principles whicl bave heratotors been its sure aud safe guides in Jike coutcets betwean revolted colonies and thoir motlier country, und, actiugg ouly upon tho clearest ovidence. uhonld avoid any paseibility of the suspicion of au imputation, A recognition of the fudepen- denco of Caba beiug, in my optnlon, impiact- cuble and indefousible. ‘Ihio question which next prezeuts Ituo!f ie that of the ILCOGNITION OF BELLIGEREST RIGUTA in tun par to the coutost, In a former niehusso 1o Conpress, T had oceasion o con- sider thiv question, aud renched the conclusion that tho cooflict in Cuba, dreadful and dovastat- ing a8 are {tr incidents, did not risc o tho fear- ful dignity of war. lugarding it now, after thia large of timo, I am unable to aco tuat any notablo success or kuy marked or roal advanca on the purt of the insurgents Las essentintly changed tho chsracter of the conteat. 1t hng acquited greater ago, but_not grester or more tormidabie proportions, Itis possivlo that tha acts of foreign pawers, and oven tho ncts of Bpuin horself” of this very nature, might bo pointed to in defonso of such recngnition, but now, ns fn ita post bistory, the United States shonld carofully avoid thio false lights which might load it into tho mazes of doubttul law and of questionable propriety, avd adhero righdly aod seernly to the rulo which has bucn its guide, doing ouly that which is right and bonest and of goodioport. The question of according or of withbolting righws of bolligoreucy must be Judized in overy caso in viow of tho particularat- tonding facts. Unless justified by necessity, it ia al'vays avd justly regardod as an unfriendlv act and o gratutious demonseration of moral support tu tho robollion. It iw necessary aud ft ig ro- guirod whon to futerests and right of anothor Govornwent, or of its people, ara #o far affected B & ponding civil confict a8 to re- quiro n definition of its relations to the vartics thereto. Dub this conilict must bo ono which will bo recogutzed fn tha sewso of wteruativnal Inw a8 war. BELLIOERENCE, ton, la & fact. The moro existonce of contend- in g armed bodion and their occasional conflicts dv not couatituto war in the seunso rofetred fo, Apolyivg to the oxisting condit:on of afTalrs in Cuba, the tesis 1ecognizod by publicists and writera on intoruativnsl law, snl which Lave beon observed by nationa of dignity, hovesty, and power, wlen irec from sonuitive, or selilsl, aud unworthy motives, I fail to find s tho e asirrection tho exintouce of such n substantial politleal orgaunization,real, palpable,aud inanifoat to the wortd, haviog the formsand capable of tho ordivary functiona of Goveromont toward ita own pooplo and Lo other Btates, with conrts for tho administration of justice, with » local Labitatiou, possessing such oryanization of forco, such matorisls, such ocoupetion of torritory, as to take tho contest out of thecatogory of o mern roboltioua fnsurraction or oconsional #lirminbes and place it ou tho terrible footing of war, to whicl n recoguition of belligeroncy would aim to elovato it, The contest, moraover, is olely ou land, The insursoction has not posscased it- self of & singls soaport whonce it may send forth ita flag, nor has {4 avy tmeans of communieation with foroign Powers oxcopt through tbe wilitary linen of ua adversarics, No opprehcnsion of auy of those nuddou and DITVICULT COMPLICATIONS which & war upon ocean ia apt to precipitate upon tha veusels, Loth commercial and uutionsl, aud upon the consular ofticetn of otber powers calla fur tho detiution of their relations to ths poriios to the coutest. Cousiderod ns a quea- tion of expedionoy, I regard the mccurdance of bulligerent nghtsstill to bo as USWINK AND VIEMATURE a2 I regard it to bo at prerent indefonsivle. As n meaysure of right,such recognition entails upon the couutry uccording the rights which flow from itw difliculs aud complicated duties, aud raquires tho action from the contdndiug partivs of tho strict observauca of their rights and obli- gations, 1t coufers the right of ‘wearch upon tho llxlmh soss by vossels of both pacties. 1t wonl subject © tho carrviog of arms and amuuvition of war, which uow may bo transpurted freely aud without interruption, in tho veasels of tho Umted States Lo doteution aud to posaible soizure. It would g1ve riso 10 countioss vuxatioun quustious, wonld roleaso tha putont Government from responsi- bility for acts done by the fnnurgents, aud wou'd linvest Bpawu with the right to oxescise the su~ porvision recognized by our Tieaty of 1703 over our commerce on tho hich seus, 8 vory large pare of which, in its traflio Letween tho Atlantio aud Gulf States, snd hetweow all of them and tho Btatey uEun the Pacific, passos through tho wators which wash the shores of Cuva. The oxercise of this wupposition coutd scarce fail to load, 1f not to abuses, certafnly to collisiony porilous to tho poacetnl relatious of tho two Btatoa, Thoro can ba listle doubt to what resule such suporvieion would befuro loug draw thia nation. It would ba uuwortby of tho United Btates to ivaugurate the pousilnlities of ch result by mueasures of quesliousbls tighe or expediency, or by sny mdircction, Apart from any question of theoretical righs, [ am gatistied that, wluls tho accordance of bel- ligerent rights to the insurgonta in Cuba might Rivo them & hope mnd inducoment 10 protract tha struggie, 1t would bo hut e deiusive hove, anl \vanfirnut removo tho evily which this Govern~ went aud ity quEh! aro experioucing, but would draw (ho Ubited Btates futo complications which it bas watted lung aud alrondy suifered much to avoid. WHAT BHOULD BE DONE. The recoznition of iudependuuco or of bel- ligorsncy beiug tbus, 1 my jJudgment, oqually lusdmivuable, it romaiua to considor what counie s#hall be adovted sbould the contlict nut soou be brought to au eud by acta of tho paitios them- molyes, aud saould tho ovils which result there- w, afilicilug all nations, and particularly the United Biates, continue. In such ovent, I mn «fopinion thst otber uations will be compellud WEDNESDAY DECLEMBER to greumo the rempon-als upon them. aud I thy only remainlog menrure. po and intervoution, Owingr, pashg expanye of water seramting the slind fram tia Tberian Ventnauta, the wans of harmaony end of r-eraonsl svmoathy betweon the fubabitnuts of tha colony and thosn reut thither lo rafa tiem, and the want of a fapietion of tho gneient cols on’'nl rvatem of Enrore to the preasrt timea d Lo tle idena which tha evoatn of ths past ivury hnve devslopoe), the eontonding yartise ar to hiava oithw themeelves no dupository of comaon contidensc to izt wisdom whon paduion aud axsitemans have thole wiras, and t) Assume tho part of peacemaker, In this view, in tha sarly dayy of the conteas tho good oflicrs of tha Gmtod Biutesas a medistar were toaderad 1 good faite without oy wellsh purposs, in tha folereat of bLumanity, and I siucera mondanp of Leth Lt wers, My at the tas, decisred by i wich tho deciara- tion, novertholews, that, st s futirn fimo, thuy would bo indivpesauble, Nolutimation has beoi received that, tn ths opinion of S,uin that time haa baen reached, and yed tha rinfa cootinues with sl ita dread horrors, aud all its 10j:rien to tho interents of the Unitod Siates und of olher nations. Lach pacty aceins quite working great {nfury ol damage 1o the othier, ap well asto sl tho relations aud fntercsta do- pendent on the eximtenio oi but thoy recra incapsbleo of s auy adjist- ment, and both havo thus fur failed of achiny- ing auy varcess whelaly one party alul] [ owsesy and control the isinnd” to the exeluaion of the other, Under these circimstances tho axeuey of others, edher by wediction or mteivenon, tuptis 0 be tho only alvrhaiive wh.ch must sooner o later bo'invoked fur tho ter- mination of he atnfo. At tho Ente tme, while thop finpreeecd, I do not, at thi. tine, recommeud the adoption of anymeas 16 of mter- veutlori. I shall be ready st all Limes, and ey the equal fricud of both partice, to respond 10 A auzgestion that the zood olices of the United $taton will bo neceptabie 1o ald i bringing abont & peace Lonarable ta both, It is dua to Spain, 80 far na this Government is concerned, thal tuo ageney of 8 third po ser, to which 1 have adyert- ed. shnll bo ndopted ouly nynlst exnedient. Had it been the desire of tha United Ktates to interfero fu the affars of Cula, repeated oppostunities for yo doing lave heen pre- wentod within tho last fow suars, but wo haye ramalued passive, and have performed our whole daty and all interuational oblications to Bpain with friendsbin, firness, and fidehty, and with n pirit of patienco nnd forboarancs which nogatives every possiblo nugrostion of w dediro to interfore or to ald 1o the duiicnlties wita which stio bas born surrounded. WIAT MAY BE DONE, Tho Governuiont of Hpmin has recentls wah- mitted to tur Miusters ot Madrid cortain jroe lmn.’lls swhiieh it §8 Lopad mas La found to ba thae uats, I not tho actual submiasion, of teim) to meet the requirements of the particulor gricfs of which this Uovernment ling feit itself cntitled to complain. Thene projposals have not yet reached me in thelr full text. On their arrival they will ba talien into careful oxataination, sud tead tn 2 eatisfactory adjustment n, to which thoy refer, and removy itz of futura occacreucss euch ax bnvo given 1m0 to onr just eomy laines, 1t @4 unders staod, also, that renened offorts aro being made to futroduce roforu it the miiernal adminstra- tion of tho Islatd, P'eraunded, Lowever, that o proper regurd for tao in.orehz of tho Unitod States and of ity citizons entitle to relief frum the strait to which they have been subjectod by tho diltienltien of the questians and the wron nnd loskes which arite from thoe e mtest fu Caba, and that the inter:rts of Wnmenity ftae:f dowund tie cornation of the strifo befure tho whols 1sland shail be laid wasts and Jargor sacsifices of hfo be made, Ishadl feol it iy duty, should iy hopes of n eatwelnctory” sdjustment auld o the early restorativn of pesco mnd tho removal of future causes of complant bo unhappily disappoiuted, to muke a farther commuuication to_ Cougress 8t Bomo period uot fur recwte, and during the prepont seasiun, recommending what may then sucw £ mo to be necessary, HEXICO, The I'reo Zone, so-called, poveral yoars since establisbind by tho Mexicau Guvernment in cor- taiu of the States of that lepublic sdjacons to our froutier, remainy in full operation. It bas atwave been matonally injurious to honest trailic, for it oporates a3 an 1uceutive to tradeis in Mexico to sui-ply without cusloms charges the wants of fububitants on thu sido tho lina, and provents tho samo wants from betug rups piled by merchantsof tho United States, therety, to a consideradlo extent, defranding our revonia sud chocking honest comuercial onterprixe Depredations by armed bauds from Moxico o1 tuo peoplo of Toxas, near the froutier, cou- tinue. "Though tho main abject of the iucursions 14 robbery, they frequentiv result in the murdor of uuarmod aud peaconbly-disposed potvons, and, in suto justauces, eveu the Uuited States Poxt-Olices and il commuuicrtions have been altncked, Henewed remonstrances upon this subjecs lave beeu addressod to the Mexican Gouvernment, but withous much apparent effect, ‘The military foico of this Government disposa- ble for rervice mnthat quarter i3 quite inade- quate to effectually guard tho lioo, even at thowe poinis where tho incursioss ate ususily made. An oxperiment of an armed vessol on the 1o Graude for that purpods is oo trisl, and it s Loped chat, if not thwartod by the sballowness ot tho river and otier nataral obstacles, it, muy materielly contributo tu tha uvrutoction tho hordsmen of Texas, The proccedings of the Joint Commienion under the Convestion be- twoon the United States and Moxico of the 4th of July, 164, ou the subjact of claims, will soon bo brought to a close, Tho result of thess yro- ceedings will theu bocommunicated to Congresa. VENEZULLA, T am Lappy to annonace thiat the Gavernment of Veuozuols bas, upon fucther consideration, ractically sbandoned its nbjeciion to pay to the mited Statos that anara of ite revenue which some yeors wsince it nllotted towards the extine guisbmont of claums of foreiguors gonermly. In thus reconsldoring i dalermmation, that Gov- ernment lias showu & just senso ot solf-reapoot which caunot fail to roflect credit upoun it in tho oyes of all disiaterestod parscns oisowhare, It i# to bo 10gretted, howorer, that its paymenta ou tho sceount of tho claims of citizeus of the Unitod States aro still vo meagro in amount, and that tho autnlnimu of the treaty In regard to the suwne to bo paid and the periods when those payments woere Lo take placo should hiave been 80 eignally disregardsd, PUNTHEN TREATIES, Bluco my last anuusl mesyaco the exchange bins been mado of the ratifleation of & treaty of commerce and navigation with_Bolgium, and of convontions with tho Mesican Republic for the further extonsion of the Joint Commision, re- specting claung with the Hawailan Islaods for commercial reciproeity, and with the Oltomau Ewjparo for oxtradition, sl of which bave beeu duly proclaimed. ALABAMA CLATNS, The Court of Comniraioners of tho Alabams Clalms has proaecuted its important duties very sssiduously. It convoneat and was orgsnized vn tho 22d day of July, 1874, and by the terms of act ~ under ~ woich 1t was created wau to exist for ome yesr from that aato. The acz provided, however, that, should it bo found unpracticable to cotmplete the work of the Court bofore the expiration of the year, the Iresidout mnght, by praclamation, extoud the timo of its duration to & poriod not moro than six montls bevond tho expiration of the oue vear, Having receivod satiefactory evidence that it would be impracticable to completo the work within the timo originally fixed, I fssnod o proclamation (a copy of whuch'is prosonted hero- with) extending the tune of tuo duration of’ the " Court for o poriod of six snonths from and after the 22d day of July last, A report mado through the Clork of the Unurt (communteated Lorowith) #hows the coudition of tho calendar on the lat of November Iast, aud the Jarge amount of work wlich has hoen accorplisbed. Thirteon hundred and eighty- two clailos have boen preseuted, of whicl 682 hail been disporod of at tho date of the report, 1 am informed that 170 casos wore decidad dur- fog the mooth of Novomber, Argumcnts are being mado aud decisious ‘et 1 tho remsin- fng envod with all tho dispatch consisient with the propor cansidoeration of tho questious sul- witted. hhu{ of theso clatms arv i behalf of aariuers, or depend on thie evidenvs of mariners whoso absonco hus dolwyed the taking ot the nocensary evidenco, 1t 14 represouted o me that it will be impricticablo for the Court to tinaliy disposs of all the cases hefore it within the proseut linutof its duratiou. Juatico to tho vartien elanuant, who hing been at largo ox- penso projanug thele claims and obtmniug ovidones {u thoir snpport, sugyoets a whort ex- teusion to enable tha Court tadisnose of all of thw clalmis which have bost pressntol, Iiecommend tho legisistion which may be dovmed proper to enablo tho Cuurs to completo tas work bulure it. 1 recommend that some suitallo provision Le mado by tho crastion of & spoxial conrt, as by wonforninig the nocessary jurisdiction upon such appropristo tribuval tor tho considuration and determination of the claious of ahions against bo Governwent of the United States which beve urison vitliu somo reasonsble limitation of thne, or which muy heroafter asbe, oxclutling wil clauns barrod by the troaty provisions or other wise. It hias been found ‘imposmbla Lo give ‘roper cousideration 10 thess clauus by the xceative Dopurtment of the tioverument, Huch nribuuu‘ would afford &n opportunity to alieny ather than British subjects to prescut thelr olaims on sccouut of “scte committed sguines thelr persons or property durivg tho Re- *, 18756.—TWELVE lzy to thos KAt an enbadent IR, ol not e organized prcen. thin rovisions of tho Treaty of Wading TILL ELECTRIC TELEGTATI 1108 hnorme nn eraent, i finpengabis ngent, 10 the R cet rod pocld ieg. Aacer, Itsoperation on land and within thae lunie of | articnlur States is necesrarile unler the cautrol of the juriadiotion within which 1t opnr- wter, The Lnca on Ui bigh send, however, ra not subjees o the particular control of any one Unvernment, In 1409 n concesnion was granted by the Frenst Government t a companuy which pln‘)'mflfl o layaceb'e trawm the phoros ol Franco t0 tho United niated, A% that tiae (hore wan & tolegraphic eonnection betanna the United States ot the Continmnt of Laraie tharoush the pos- fesqonB of tireat Hritain at either ond of the line. Tha control of wuch an seecciation, which had st a large outlay of capital snd at greal rws deaonetrate]l Lo practica- L7 of maintalving euel tacsiy - of communicatios, ww pranted the e anpans, I war, however, & Leavy chatge tupan s means of comtuuuiation wi soctal amd cotn nere Jound to bs a Ui conceskion 1 that slready invenied wan 1y to entor huio comretition Wit iho a-suianzo of wu adojunte return for their outla; couviction tiat the iaiereats not ouly of tue peopts of tha United Kiates, Lut of the worlil st large, demsndet or would da. wmaud the mutiplisation of much mosng of communicalion Lelween separatad contiuonts, 1 wus desitous that the pro- pose] eouusction shoud bo male, but cortam provisions of ihin concewsion wera doomed by mo to bo objectionatle, partivulazly ono which gave for a loug terw of years tho exclue af telographic commuaication by st cablo hetteen tho shores of I'rance aud the Cuiod Staten, 1 conld not concolo that any pusrer should elsim the riebt to laud o cables on tho xhores of ths United Hiates and at tho samo titne deny to the United Staten, or tu its citizens, guarautees of an equal rizht to lau.d a cuble on 1t ehorer. The rigat to contiol the conait.ous for tho taviog of & cable withu the juad.etion of tho United States, to connect our shares with thora of any fureien biate. pertaing exclusively to tha Government of tha Un.ted Sistes, ut:dar sieh Limitations and conditions as Cangrows sy impose. In thoadsonce of legislation by Congross I wax unw..lling, on the one haud, to ¥iold 10 o fareizn Stata tho sight to say that its grantany nughe land amonges us while & denied & mmilar right t5 our people to land on its ehoros; and, on tha othor haud, I was reluctant to deny 1o thi rreat interesta of the world and of aiviitzation the facilitien of such eommunicazion os were proposed. I thereforo withheld sny resistsuce ta tha Ianding of any cablo on condition that ttie nifensivo nionopolv-fenture of tho concession bn abantoued, and (hat the right of auy cable which may be established by authority of tink Governmeut to land upon Fiench territrs und to eonucect with French land lines and enjoy a.l the necepmary facilities or privilegos incident to tho wye thereof upon as favorite tormy as any o‘her company bo conceded. A1 the resuit thereaf, the ™ Company in aestion ro- nounecd the excluavo priviley and the representative of I'rance was inrormed that, nnderstavd:nzz this relinquichment to bo con- stred ar granting tho catire reciprocity and aqual facilities which had beon demanded. thy oppuritiun to thn lauding of a cablo nas - dran. The cabio, uuder this French ¢ meas- sion, waw Janded i the mouth of July, 1569, and has been an eitivient aud valuabl a1 of com- muniteation botwack this cunatry and tha Conti- nont, It woon pawsed under tun control, how- ever, of thore who had the management of the cahle conncetiog Great Brtain with this Consi- nent, and thus whatever benefit to thy publ migiit bavs enaned from competition between was lost, waving tho greacer fac:li- h the progross in the 1 interouirst o1 the worl | ad the ublaiug of marno tiea ol an adulitionsl Ke, and tho additional se- corty in caso of secident to ono of thom, Dut :heso Increased facilities, aail this alditional mecurity, tozetber with tho control of thie combined capital of ths two com- pautes, tave also greatar power to prevent fature cauntraction of otber lines aud 10 it the con- trol of telograpl commuuication between tho two continunts to thoso yousesnng hined already tad, Within a fow monthy past a cable hias been laul knovn as the United States Direct t'ubly Company, cotnecting the Cuited Statos dircotly with Giroat Dritain, Aw svon 88 this cable way roported to be o workting order, $ha rates of the theu cxintiug consulidatod company wore gront- & WA A= 1y reduced. Boun, however, nounced 1m this now cable, rates of tho other lino, which Liad vean reduce: wera again rawed, Fhis cable lieng now r pairad, the rates appoar ot to Lo roduced by cither line from thoso formerly charged by the other company, Thero i+ rearin to behavo that largo amouuts of capital, botih &t homo aud abroad, arc ready tn seok prolitalile iuvestment in tha advancemcnt uf this useful aud most civiliz- g meas of jutercourss and correspondonce, Tuey swait, however, thy assurunce of tho 1ocans and couditions on which they mar safely bo made tributary to the general good. A these cnble telegraph lines connect sejurate Btaies, thero are qucstions as to their orguuization and control which probiably vau bo best if not salely wettled by conventions between tho respective Htates, In tho absenco, bowever, of tuterna- tional conventions on tho subject. tegisiation wnay socure mwany points which appesr to me im- portant, if not ind.spanxable, fur the protection of the public agaiuat the extortions which may result from & mouopaly of 1ho right of nfivru!lnu cablo telegramy, or frow a combinativn Letween #overal linow, 1, No lins should be allowed ts lsnd on the shoren of tho United States under thy cotiensfon from anatlier power, whiich doos uot adnit the right of sny e ling or tincs formod in ths Catted Staies to 1o | freoly counect witl, aud operate through, land ai lae line should he allowed to laud on the shores of the United Btates which is mot by tresty stipalation with the Governmient from. whode shares It procecds, or by prohibition lu lta chisrter, or othorwise, to the tidlaction of tuls (iovernment, hibitad from con- wolidating or amalzamating with auy other cable tels. graph lue, or comubining thereniy for the piirposo uf regulating and maiutalniug the cost of telegraphic commuuication, 3, All lines thould he bound to give procedence In the transwiselon of the ofliclal messages of the Gov- anlmann of the two countrins botwoen which It may n1d, 4. A power should be rescryed to tho two Gavern- meats, either confolutly or to eich, &a rogards tho messages dlapitebed from ita aborea, 10 Az a limit to bo malutained for the trausmission of mesusgen, I present this subjoct to tho earnest consider- ation of Congreas in the meantime, and, unloss Congress otherwiso divecs, L sball uot oppose the lauding of any telegrapio cabla waich com. phes with, and asseuts to, the priuts sbove enumsrated, but wil fool 1t my duy 10 provent the lsnding of any which does uot conform to tho first and sccoud points as atated. and which will not stipulate to coucede 1o this (overnmout the precedence in tho transmiasion of ita oflicial messaies, aud mill not enter into a satislactory arrangement in rogard toits charges, BELFISIS CITIZENS, Among tha preseing and important subjecta to which, 11 my opinton, the attoution of Couross ehould bo directed ara thosa relating to fraudu- lont naturalization wod expatrintion, The Uuited Btates, with great livorality, ofters its citizonsbip to all who in good faith complywith the require- weuts of law. Tacac roquircmonts aro as sim- pla and upou as favorable torms to the emigrant s tho high privilogo to which Lo 18 admitted can or siould permit. 1o nat proposs any addi- tional 1oquirewputa to those which the law pow demnuds, but the very simplicity aud want of uccessary formality in our law hava mado fraudulent naturahization not infrenuent, to the discredis aud injury uf all honest cltizous, whethor nutive or naturalized, Cases of thi chiaractor aru continually boing brought to the notico of the Governmont by our roprescuta- tives abroad, and nlso those of persons remdont iu othor countries, Mout froquontly those por- sons, i they have rematuod in this country_lon, anough tu outitle them to bocome naturalized, lave gonerall not much over-passod that poniod, and hava roturned to the country of their origin, where thoy resida, svoiding all dutios to the United Ktates by their absouce, and clalming to bo esempt from all duties to the coun- try of their mativity and of their rosi. donco by aeason of * their allewed natural- 1zation. It 18 duo to this GQoverutnaut ituoif and o the groat tasd of tha waturalized citizeny who eatirely, both fn nuino aud 10 tact, becowo citizons of the Unitod Btates, that the high priviiege of citizonship of tha United Blaics aliould” not bo held by finud or i derogation of the lnws and of the good name of every honest citizen, On many occasions it has been brouglt to the knowlodgo of tho Uovornment thit cor- tificatos of unturatization aro held and protec- tion or non-mtorference clsimed by parttes wLo admit tbat not ooly they were not within the United Btatos st the (e of their nratonded uralization, but that they havo nover resided iuthe United Statos, In ofbers the cortiieatn and rocord of the Court ahow on their faco that tho person clanning to be naturahized had now rosided tho roquued timo 1o the United Heates, 1u others it is adnutied upon oxanination thut tho roruirements of the law have not been com- plied nith, Iosome carea, even, such ceriiticatos havobueu matters of purchiase, Thove arenot ko~ latod cases ariaing a¢ raro jutervaly, but of cowm- uion occurranco, aud which are reported from all quatters of the lflUW- Buch ocourrences cannot and do not fail to reflect npon thoe (tov- ernmient, apd snjure all boocst citizena, Buch a traud boing discovered, lowever, thero is no practicablo meaus within the control of the Qov- A bro of Cireat | ernment by shueh the o < whom it nay have nuthine t er capitul thau | Lvprensed witli th | wicery citizens of tha United Staten, biote naturals PAGER. 1 ol naluralization ean bo vacated, and, il the cortifisats he taken wup, an it narally by tha dipiomatie end conanlur representativen of tha Governmont to bhaen prounnted, thars is tr prevent tho person claiming liavn bean nataralized from alitsine ' 0o tew certifieate flom the United Staten thien of tnat whish has been taken fr-um bion 1l evil haa bocomo #0 great and of such frequout oceurrence that I canunt too strongly recommond that some effective moas- urea ba adonted to provide a proper romeds, and means for $he varating of Any record thus fraud. ulently mute and of pumehing the guiity panios to the tranwastion AING ALLEATANC eonnectiom I refer alio to the queation of expatristion and the elece tion of uationality. The Uwnited States wan foremost in upholhing theilght of oxpatriszion, nnd was principally instrimeontal {u overthrowing the doctring of parpotnnl allegl- ance. Congress Las declurad tha right of ex- potriation o bo & national inberont right of all geople, whly manv olher nations have laws providing what for. mal-lica sball b uacensary to work a change of alleglance. Tho Unied Biates has onacted the provistons of tno Ia v, and baw i1 no rospect mulked out bow and when expatristion may bo A ymihiaied by s cliizens. Instances are broagut to the stten'ion of the (lovernment In this ized or nativesLorn, bave formully becom s citi- 2004 Or mabjrcty of foretgn powers, but who, nevortheteos, in the abaedce of any provisiond of loyinlation on theso questions, wien fnvolved i difficulties, or whan It mecms to bo their interoat, c'uim ta bo citizons of the Unitod Hates, and deman1 the intervent.on of a Government which they bave long siuce alan- doned, and to which for vears thoy hava ren- dered no mervice, nor licls thomsalves in any wav atnenablo. In other cases, naturalizod citi- zens, immediately after unatura’izasion, have re- turned to their nativo country, have becimo on- #aged in bumness, have aceejited oflices or pue- suits incousisteut with Awmerican citizenship, and bave evidenctd no ntent t ratarn to the United States until called upon to dmcharge #omo duzy to the country whero thav aro reeld- ing, when ot once they avgart thoir citizensip, and call upon the rapresentatatives of the (foy- crnment to aid thom in their unjaxs | retensions, Itlabut Justice to all honn-fide citizous that no doubt rbould exist on such questions, and that Congreas shoald deterinine, by enactment of lax, how expatriation will hs ‘mceamplshed anld ebange of cilizen<bip be establisacd, AMELICAS \WOMEN AND CHILDULN IN TOLEIGN 1ANDAL L also invite your ution to the necesnity ofy rezulating Ly law tho status of Atericat woinnn who may inarey forciguere, sud of delining more f1ily that of chiilren born lu & foreign country Amertean parenn who may rerido siroag, and also of womo furiber crovision reguisting or @ving leal oficet (o marriages of Ameiican cibizens contructed 1u foreign countries, TiE COBEESFONDENCE achmitted herowith siinws 8 fow of the con- stauntly oceurring questions on these points pre- Aented to tito coundderation of thy Guveroines, Thero ure fow pubjects ta eugn-e the atlention of Congters ou whick mure delicate ro! dopending. ———— THE ARCHIVES. BAKE IS THE XEW LronT, In the month cr July Jant, the buildiog erasted for tho Departmont of State was takon posses- ¢ion of and vceunied by that Depariment. Iam bappy to eay that the arch.ves aml valuable propirty of tha Government in the cuato Iy of that Department are now safeiy deposited and proporis cared for, P THE TREASURY, CUSTONN WECELETS, The report of the Secrelary of the Treasury Bliows tho rereipts from cavtoms for tho fiscal year ondiug Juna 30, 1974, t2 have been £ 103,871.60, and for tho fiscal vear endiny Juno 31, 1475, to have been #157, 5. 8 decrense for the fast fiwsnl wear of £5,916,11134, 1 calpta from internal rovenua for thy year euding 80th June, 1874, wars £102.499,74L.%, and for the year ending 30tk Juno, 1475, wero 110,007, 493,59, Increase, £7,597.703.08. The report Also shotwa a camplete history of the workiag of tue Departiment for tho laws year, and contaius recommendations for reforms and for legislation which I coucur in, but csnuot commeut on sa (uliy:as T slionld I'ko todo, if udace would per- mil, bue will consine myeelf Lo 8 few vuggeations whick I ook upon w8 vital to the Lest mtorents of the whole peonle comiug withiu tho puriiew of the Treasury. I mean 'E BESUMPTION, T'ng mneh siress caunot bs 1aid upon thin quetion, and I hopo Congresa mav be induert &t the earlinst day practieabio to insure the cou- sumwmation of the act of the Jast Uouzress ab its Iast session to bring about spocie rosumption on and after the 1ut day of Jauuary, 1879, at fur- thest, It wouid Lo a graat blossing if this could bo consnmumated ovon at an carlier day, Nothing seems 1o mo more certain than that a fali, hoalthy, aud permancut reaction caunot take place in favor of tao iudustries and tinancial welfare of tho country uwoll we raturn 10 & messure of values rocognized througu- out the civilzed world. Whits wo use 8 currency not oquivalent to this stand- ard, the world's recognized standard— spocie—becomesa commodity lizo tho produces of thn sotl, tho sarplus seeking s warket whoeravor there 15 a domsnd for it. Undor our present svatem we wbould want none, nor would wo bhave auy, were 1t not that customs daca must be pad incoin, and beranro of the pledus to vay the in- terest of the public debt io coin. The yield of precious metats wonld flow out for the purchinge of foreigu prodnctions and leave tho United States howers of wood and drawers of water bs- causp of wiser lexislalion un the wabject of finance by the nations with whom wo have dost- tngs, I am not propated to way that L ean suge gost the Lest legislation to seciire the ond most hoartily commendod. It will bo a source of great Rrautication to me to bo avlo _to approve anv measure of Cotpress Jooking effoctively toward securing resutaption. USLIMITED INFIATION would probably bring about anecic pay. ment more arocdily than any legislation lookitg 10 the resumption of legal-tendersin coin, but it would be at the cxpenso of bonor. The logal- tenders wonld have no value beyond metthuz preeont liabilities, or, properiy “speakiug, re- pudiating them, Thoy nould buv notung after tho debta wera sl settled, Thero arc o fow meagures which seom to mo Important iu this cousioction, and which I commend to your oarnest consideration. A repoal of 8o much of the legal-tunlor acts as make thesw notoa MECEIVABLE FOI DENTS contractod after a date to be fixed in the act it- solf, say ot Iater than the 1st of January, 1377, Wo shoald then have quotations at roal values. not tletitions ones, Gold would no lovger bo at s premium, but cirrency at adiscount, a healthy roaczion would set {u ot onco, and with it a do- sire to mako the currency oqual to what It pur- ports to be. The marchauts, mauufasturors, sud tiadoninen, aud evory Mumf‘ could do Lusiness on & fair margio of profit, tho niouey to ba re- coivod haviug an unvarviog value.” Laborors aua sll classes who work for stipulatsd pay or salary would rcceive more for theiv iucome, be- causd extra proflis would no loncer be charged by tho capitalist to compensate fur the risk of & downward fluctuation in_the valua of tho cur- reucy, Becond, that the Becretary of the I'reas- ury be autliorized to redecal, eay not to ex- coed €2,000,000 mouthly, of legal-tonder notes, by wsuing in their stead loug boad {wulug nterost ot tho rate of 3 65-100 por cont per annum, of denuminations ranging from $50 to £1,000 each. ‘This would in tume re- duce tho legal-tender notes to a volume that could be koyt atloat without demanding redomp- tlon in large suws sundeulv. Third, tuat addi- tns) power be given to the Bacretary of the ‘Lreasury to accuciulate gold for tlual ‘redomp- tion, oithor by iucreasing the revenues, curtailiug expenses, or both. [t 1a preferable to do both, and [ recommend that & reduction of expendi+ tures bo 1wade wheravor it can bo done without impaiting tus Government obligations or crip- pling the due execution thersof. Uue imoasuro for ueroasiog tho revenus, aud the ouly ous [ think of, is the rostaratiou of THE DUTY ON TEA AND COTFEX. Thesa dutios would add probably 519,050,000 to tho prosent amount roceived fcr imports, sud nouldin no way lnore the prives pard for toue articlen by the cousumerd. ‘Lheso articles aro ths products of countnos collectiug revento from exports, aud as we, the largest consumers, raduce the duties, they proportoasily increase them, With thus addition to the rovenue many duties vow collected, and which giva but an o wigniticant return for tho cost of collection, might b remitted, und to the direct advauntsge of cousumors st bomv. I would mention thoss articles which enter into mavufacturcs of all sorts. AN duty paid npon sucl: ariicles goes di- rectly to tho cost of rhuarticla when mauuface wured bere, uud must be paid for by the cooe sumers. Vho datios uot only come from tue cunsumerd at hume, but act as a proteation to ftoreigu munufactol.re of tho sawme comploted articlea in our own aud distant markets, CLALXY. I will suggcat ur mentiou anotlier subjech bear- jug upon the problem of the bour tu eaable ths Bocrotary of the Treasury to accumulste balsncos. It ia to davine nome better method of voritying clalmn mgains: the (lovernment thsn At prosent oxista through tha Court of (laima. capecislly thona claima growing ontof the Jatn War. Nothing is moro cortain thna that n lac: porcontazo of the amounta passed and 1aid ata port or wholly fraudrlent, or aro far fn es.rens of tho roal lossos suntatned. Tho Iarga amonut of losres provon .on pood testimony sceor lng 1o nlnth Jans, by afiidavits of tictitious ar un- serupulons peraong, to have besn sustat el o rmall farms and plantations, are nov cnly far beyond the poanitla yiold of those places far v one year, but amevery ono knows who ha< perinnco in tiling the soll, and whoting visf » rcenes of thean apoliations, are in many nnre than the individual claimants wor r rorth, eluding thelr peraonal and roal r 1. The report of “the Attornos-Qenorsl, whi- be submitted to Cangress at an oarly de contain a detailed history of awards mid - awl of cimms ponding of tho class hioro referre ! to. ———— THE WAR DEPARTMENT, ALMY APPROPRIATIONE, . The report of the Secretars of War, accompa- pying thit meesage, gives a dotailod accout of army onerations tor the vear Just passol, ex- penees for muntenance, otc., with recomm :nds- tions for lemistation, to which 1 reancctlnlly in- vlte your atiention. Towomo of theeo I invite spacial notics : First—The nececsity of makiog 800,000 of the apprapriation for tha Subaistonce Depar:ment available hefore tho berianing of the next fissa: yaar. Without this provision troopaat a point distant from tho supply prodaction must either Ro without food or existing laws must Fa violated. It is not attendod with cost tntas Treasury, Second—Ilis recommendation for the en: ment of a ayztem of annuitics for tho fami deconned oflicers by voluntary deductions from the monthly pay of officorn, ~ This, again, is not attondod with a burden tpono the Treasar , at would for the {1tare reliova mnch distrens <y cvery old army officer baa swwitnessod in the 1 of ofticera dving puddenly orbeing nliod, le1v families withoat oven ‘the meansof rowtun~ their fricude, if fortuuate enough to hava triends, to aid tham, Thard—The ropeal of the law abolishing im:lr- age, aud a return to the old syatem, THE TOUPEDO SY8TEL, Thoe trial with (orprdoes undor the noers, sud aporopriations for tns ELotld war evor oceur betwoen the 1°ni* ¢ Stites and any maritimo pawor, torpedoa be amang, if not the mora effectiva and cheo ¥ 1o tho defons of the harbors, anc s of nggrossive nperations that wo can ! 4a», Heneaitiv zd Lin to loarn by exnetireeut. Ufi'_m st colstruction and application a8 wuil na efleet, 8 1 THE SI0NAL S8ERTICE. be A permanent orgauization for the nal Sg;ucu eotpa, Lhis gervies has now cono 4 uncessity of neica a3 woll ns war, ©) tha ndvancement mado by the prezent abls 1. agemnnt, Sreth—A renewal of the appropriation * . com)iling tho odiv v7da of the War, otc, OUR NAVY. CONGIATULATART, The coudition of our Navy at thie tima i1 subjeat of natisfaction. 1t does uot contakr. - is true, any of the powerfal cruising iron~ i !« which msko 0 much of the maritime etre:: «i% of roms other nations. but neither oar « - tinental situation mnor our forelgn p .. require that wo suouwid have n larga numbe o7 shins uf this character, while their situation an thie naturo of our ports continuo to mako the s+ of otlier nations little dangerous to us wrcer auy circumntuicon. Ouc navy does contun, however, a consdorabln numbor of moN of tho mouitor clasx Iy eruin Eor ar. shores, Of these. all the sur fifteen fn oamber, liave tinlly rebuilt, their rotten replaced with aron. thew Lulls wtremctie oncd, and their engioes and machiv: thoranghly repaired. £o thas they are now in tas mast aiciant eondvion and rady ta 2ot to 1 %503 93 the can hy masned awd pat i v wnon. The tive double-inrretad aron-clads to. Iouging to our navy, by far the moet powes 1l of onr stupa fo tne purpassd, are clae o hanl, undergomy comoteie repuiry, and conln 'y rend ¢ for kee in periods varving nom four to . ix monthy. Vith thew completed according to 1 prosent deaign, atd owr 1wo iron torpedo nos rexly, v iron-ciat flest wili be for they, pore of dafazze ot home mqual w any furce 1.at cast be readuty bronght zgains! 114 OUR WOLLLN NAVY, aldo, cruis:rs uf varivus eutes Lo the num's v of ubaas fosty. incluling thme now in com: wion, are in the Athtic, and conld ho ready 1or dnty os farz an mon coutd bo eulintod for thow not altendy m comummston, Of thoko ongsth 13 are, (o effect, pew sbif, and thuugh some of the remstnler el cunsiderablo repaird to ther buiters aud mackhinory, t are or can readily te niada offective.. This constitnisy a fleas of MORE TILN FIFIT WAR-SILIPY, of which fifteen wrv tran-clad, uow in hand on the Atisutic couss, Thn pavy las bees brots i 12 this conditton by a juiciods aud practical < e plication of nbat could be ypared from thocurr 1t appropriations of the last fow vears, and fiuu that mede to meet tho posmble omergeuncy of two yours ago. It has beon dooe quiatly, with. out proclamat:on or display, and thoagh i has necessarily struguned the Department in ics ordinary expenditure, sud, as far as the irou- clads afo coucernod, bas added nolbing to tue cruising foree of thu navy, yat tho resait is wot the lesy ustisfuctory, bocause it is to be found in & groat incresse of tosl athor thsn apparent fores. 'I'ho expensed incucred in the mantes nauce of an effectivo naval forcein all iva braaciiea sro neceswarily Jurge, bit such a force s os cu- tial to our position, relations, and charac.or, and affects serionaly the weight of our prin- ciples and poliey throughont the whale sph.2ro of naval respondibihities, Tho estimates for tha regular vapport of this branch of the service for the next yesr amount to a little less in the ng- giegato than those made for thoeurrent year, but somo ot pro-of. Hfotivo for woodon bewne ADDITIONAL: APFROPRIATIONS ars asked for objects not Included in the ondi- nary mainteuanco of the navy, but believe ! to bo of pressing jmportanco at this time. [t would, {n my opiniou, bs wise a; onca to al sullicient moans for the immodiate compl of tho livo donble-turretod monitors now do1gzoing ropairs, which must othierwiso advance slowly and only as the monoy can be sparcd Irow carrent oxpenses, Supplemanted by those, our navy, armad with the deastructive weapins of modern warfars, manued by our seacien, aod in ohargs of our lustructed ollicers, will present a force powerful for the home purpcess of a rogpousibie, though peaceful, nation, —— POSTAL AFFAIRS, THE UEVENUES, The report of tho I'ostmaster-Genaral, bre- with trausmitted, gives s full hiatory of the wor‘flma of tho Dopartment for the year juit past., It will boe observed that the doficlency to be suppliod from the General Troasury incresod over the amonut refunded for the preceding sear. In o country so vastin ares as tho United Htates, with large portions sparsely settlel, it must bo expected thay this lmportant servicn witl be more or luss & burden upon the ‘Lreasury for many yesrs to comn, but there is uo branen of thio public service which interesis tha whoio people moro than that of cheap and rapid trans. misston of the wails to avery inhabited part of our tertitory, Next to tho Freo Bohool, the Poat-Oftico 1s tho great educator of the peo| and it may well receivo the sapport of the Gan- oral Uoverumeunt. BOUTH AMERICAN MAIL, Tho subsidy of 3150,000 per sonum given to vessels of the United Braten for_carrylng the maits batwaen New York and Rio Jaueiro having ocased on the 30th day of Baptember last, we ara witbout direct mail facilitios with the South Awmerican States, Thie is greatly to be regiet .2, snd ! do ot hesitats to recowamend the auti ization of a renowal of tust coutract, andilsy that the service may he {noreased from mootal/ to eemi-montiny tring. The commorcial advan- tagos to be gainod by a direct liwe of Ameri-un utoamers to the Boalh Awerican States will fur outweigh the expenso of the service. L PACKAURY. o3 By act of Oougress approved March 3, 1875, slmost all matter, whether properly mail mat - or not, tuay ba vent auy distance throughout { 1n malls in packages pot vxooediog 4 pounds in weight for the suu: of 10 cents por pouud, =3 {ar as tho tranumission of real mail matter go-s. hue would soom eutirely proper. 1 suggesttla the law be ko amended 88 to exciude from f.: maila merchaudiss of sl descriptions, sad Heue this trausportation to all ariioles eaumeratid. and which way Lo ¢l as matt proper. TERRITORIAL, TIE BLACK HILLA, The discovery of goldin the Black Hills, s portion of the Sioux resorvatios, bas had the elfect to induoe a large emigration of miners W