The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-28 00:00:00

THE PI?E-SIDENTS LETTER TO CONGRESS

To the Senate and House of Representatives :
While I am aware that the time in which Con-
gress proposes now to remain in session is very
brief, and that it is its desire as far as consistent with
the public interest to avoid entering upon the gene-
ral business of legislation, there is one subject
which concerns so deeply the welfare of the coun-
try that I deem it my duty to bring it before you.
I have no doubt that you will concur with me in
the opinion that it is desirable to restore the States
which were engaged in the Rebellion to their pro-
per relations to the Government and the country
at a 3 early a period as the people of those States
shall be found willing to become peaceful and or-
derly communities, and to adopt and maintain such
constitutions and laws as will effectually secure the
civil and political rights of all persons within their
borders. The authority of the United States,
which has been vindicated and established by its
military power, must undoubtedly be asserted for
the absolute protection of all its citizens in the full
enjoyment of the freedom and security which is the
object of the Republican Government. But when-
ever the people of a rebellious State are ready to
enter in good faith upon the accomplishment of this
object, in entire conformity with the constitutional
authority of Congress, it is certainly desirable that
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sperity. sperily. The Convention of the people of Virginia,
which met in Richmond on Tuesday, December 3,
1867, framed a Constitution for that State, which
was adopted by the Convention on the 17th of
April, 1868, and I desire respectfully to call the
attention of Congress to the propriety of providing
by the law for the holding of an election in that
State at some time during the months of May and
June next, under the direction of the Military Com-
mander of the District, at which the question of the
adoption of that Constitution shall be submitted to
the citizens of the State; and if this should seem de-
sirable I would recommend that a separate vote be
taken upon such parts as may be thought expedient,
and that at the same time, and under the same
authority, there shall be an election for the officers
provided under such Constitution, and that the
Constitution, or such parts thereof as shall have
been adopted by the people, be submitted to Con
press on the first Monday of December next, for
its consideration, so that, if the same be then ap-
proved, the necessary steps will have been taken
for the restoration of the State of Virginia
to its proper relations to the Union. I am
led to make this recommendation from the confi-
dent hope and belief that the people of that State
are now ready to co-operate with the National Go-
vernment in bringing it again into such relations to
the Union as it ought, as soon as possible, to estab-
lish and maintain, and to give to all its people
these equal rights under the law which are asserted
in the Declaration of Independence, in the words of
one of the most illustrious of its sons. I desire also
to ask the consideration of Congress to the ques-
tion whether there is not just ground for believing
that the Constitution framed by a Convention of
the people of Mississippi for that State, and once
rejected, might not be again submitted to the people
of that State in like manner, and with the pro-
bability of the same result.

U. S. GRANT.
Washington, D.C., April 7, 1869.

7'llE PUBLIC DEB? OF AMP:RICA.

The following is the official statement of the public
debt of the United States, on the Ist day of April, 1869:

DEBT BEARING COIN INTEREST.
Authorizing Acts and Amount Out-
character of Issue. standing.
June 16, 1858, bonds, 5
p r cent
June 20, 1860, bonds,
5 per cent
Feb. 8, 1861, bonds, 6 per

Accrued
Interest.

18,415,000 00 '276,225 00

cent.
March 2, 1861, Oregon
war bonds, 6 per cent...
July 17 and August 5,
1861, bonds, 1881, 6
p,r cent 183,317,700 00 2,839,461 00
Feb. '25, 1862, s•2o's, 6
per cent.
March 6, 1863, bonds, 6

945,000 00 14,175 00

75,000,000 00 1,125,000 00

per cunt.
March 3,18 C-1, 10-10
bonds, 5 per cent
3larch 3; 1864,5-30 bonds,
6 per cent.
June 30,1861, 5-20 bonds,
6 per cent.
March 3,1865, 5-30 bands,

194,567,300 00 810,697 08

6 per cent.
March 3,1865, 5-20 bonds,
6 per cent.
March 3, 1865, 5.20 Bonds
6 per cent 42,539,350 00 638,090 25

$2,107,876,650 00 $37,579,390 07
DEBT BEARING INTEREST IN LAWFUL MONEY.
March 2, 1867, July 2,
1868, 3 per cent, certi-
ficates
July 23, 1868, navy pen-
sion fund 14,000,000 00 105,000 00

54,605,000 00 819,075 00

$38,605,000 00 $924,075 00
MATURED DEBT NOT PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT.
April 15,1E42, 6 percent.
bonds
April 15,1842, 6 per cent.
bonds
April 15, 1842, 6 per
cent. bonds ............
Texas indemnity 5 per
cont. bonds
Treasury notes, 6 per
cent
Treasury notes, 5 to 54,-
per cent 2,400 00
Treasury notes, 6 to 12

6,000 00

360 00

48,850 00 2,931 00

134,050 00 5,36 G 00

252,000 00 15,120 00

104,511 61 3,135 35

120 00

•
per cent
Treasury notes, 6 per
cent
Treasury notes, 3-year
7-30's „
Treasury notes, 1 and 2-