The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-12-11 00:00:00

Ve.ESIDEIIst I'S IESSAGE.
The following is a summary t President'-. Grant's ;
11,,some to Congress, delivered on Deeembei : •
The country is blessed with peace at home, and is without
any entangling alliances &woe is
The crops have been exuberan, , and manufactures hitherto
apLuown are springing up
- The President trusts that he and C ingress will be able to
Tender a satisfactory account of their also inability. He re.
Niemand. Congress to adopt measures to restore American
hich was nearly driven from the teas during
r•
,oeiltdu.
The freedmen are advancing in education, arid are Indus-
eriks when properly remunerated
Reconstruction is progretsing favourably, considering the
difficulties which had to be encountered, aml seven of the
rebellious States are already restored to the Union.
The president suggests that inasmuch as the present,
~.wrgia Legislature has wrongfully expelled negro members,
caress should authorise the Governor to convene the
Legislature. The recent Virginia elections were, he says,
f.aly conducted, and the officers elected have conformed to
coagressional requirement& tie consequently advises
oat the Virginia delegation be admitted to seats in Congress.
The Preseleut recommends a gradual, not immediate, re-
wrn to specie payinents, and counsels Legislation to secure
this result, and ti stop fluctuations its the value of the cur-
Tory. Lie suggssis that Cagiest should uuthorise the
Treasury to reueem its paper at a Mimi price, arid says,
e our public credit should he the best en earth ; our entire
Piddle Debt could be paid in ten y,arii, hut the taxation
which would be necessary for that purpose is not desirable
Our ability to pay increases yearly eta rapid ratio."
The President believes that .11 the bonds now due can be
replaced by bonds bearing interest at not over 41 per cant..
and that the remainder of the bonds, on becoming due,
wahl lie replaced in the same manlier, Congress might
Wham the payment of the interest in the chief European
• uey centres The revenue are greater than the require-
ment, and may safely be reduced if the debt he funded at a
lower rate of iuterest.
rreSitlent Grant sugg-sts a modification of the tariff and
of taxation where unjust. Ile advises that a discrimination
should be made, but no general revision at present of the
laws. these subject.
The Treasury's reimrt shows the receipts of the Meal year
Whig June to, to he 371,000.000 dos., and the total ex
penditiire 321.: 00 000 dots. the estimates for the ensuing
year are still more favourable, and the message approves the
purchase of Government Bonds with the surplus currency.
With reference to Cuba, the President says : "The people
arid Governinent of the l'nited States warmly sympathise
with Clll4 in its impending struggle, tilt the contest has not
yet emanated to war in an international sense. The insur-
pets have not yet established a tie facto Government en-
titling them to recognition as bel,igerents. The United
States have no dispcsition to interfere in the relations of
Spain with her American colonies, endear offer of mediation
net having been accepted by Spain was withdrawn. The
Adannistration Gil hopes that Spain will accept our good
offices Spain has rendered ample satisfaction for the recent
seizure of American vs ssels. Toe ques toll of the Spanish
gunboats libelled at New York must be decided by the
courts."
The President approves the mjection of Mr. Reverdy John-
son's Ahtbauto treaty, and declares that its provisions Were
inadequate for the settlement of the grave wrongs sustained
by the United States; adding—" A sensitive people, conscious
or its powers, is more at ease under a great wrong who'll'
unatoned, than under the restraint of a settlement which
satisfies neither its ideas of justice nor it. grave sense of in-
justice stistained
Pre-blent Grant hopes that the two Governmeats will soon
be able to approach the que.tion with a proper appreciation
of their mutual rights, their dignity, and their honour, and
will then effect a settlement which will prevent future dif-
ferences and establish firm and Continued peace and friend-

ship.
The Presidential Message also recommends legislation to
secure the coolies in the United States against any foreign
ekslavimient ; approves the action of the Quaker Indian
commission: predicts an early satisfactory adjiptment of
Indian difficulties, arid urges the civilisation of all the Indian
trines.
The President gays that the reports of the War, Post Office,
Navy, and interior Departments are generally favourable,
showing increased econ my:i aid the Message concludes
with a !promise of rigid adherence to the laws and their
strict enforcement