Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1863-12-18
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


RICHMOND, Dec. s.-Congress re- assem-
oled at noon today. Tho Presidents Mes
sage was received and read. The follow.
ing is usynopsis of its leading points:
10 tho opening paragraphs the Presi-
dent rapidly reviews the events of the
events of the past year, remarkinp that
"h''st oar success may not have equalled
Our expectations, whe have checked the
enem! every where in his advance:
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with foreign nations are
discussed at considerable length. The Pres
idcht regrets that there has been no i'm
ProvemenI in those relations siuce his Mes
sage IN January last, and that the conduct
OF European nations is less Impartial and
IN some cases has assumed character DOS
'llvely unfriendly. Commissioners were
sent abroad for the purpose of entering in.
TO negotiations proper TO fix the relative
rights and obligations Of the Confederate
and United States, under the treaties enter
Cd into with foreign nations, prior 10 the
preparations for the separation which has
taken place but this tender on our part
was declined. Here, as we have been re-
fused the benefit of those treaties, they
have ceased to be binding, and, in the orin
ion of the President, our relations with Eu
ropean nations are now controlled excll-
sively by the general rules of the laws Of
nations.
TIE CHARACTERIZATION
Legislation upon the subject of the fnan
ccs is earnestly recommended. Although
the magnitude and duralien of the war was
at first anticipated, still, the resources of
the country are SO ample, and The spirit of
the people SO devoted to its cause, that re-
lief is within our reach. The financial pol
icy OF the Government since its formation
is discussed; apd the President contends
that, whilst the provisions Of the Pcrma-
ncnt Constitution, in reference to direct
taxation, cannot be carried into effect, the
mode pointed out is plain ; and that it is
the duty OF Congress to execute the gener-
al intent Of the Constitution. by making
the tax uniform throughout the Coufeder0
ate States. These considerations are great
ly enforced by the reflection that the at
tempt to apportien taxes amongst States.
some Of which are wholly or partially in
occupation OF a hostile force would sub
vert the whole intention Of the trainers of
The Constitution and be productive of the
most revolving injustice, instead of that
just correlation between taxation and rep
resentatlon, which it was their purpose to
secure. With large portion Of some
States occupied by the enemy, what Jus
tice would there be in imposing on the re-
mainder tile whole amount of taxation of
the entire State in proportion to its repre-
sentaton What else would this be. in
effect, than to increase the burthen of those
who are the heaviest sufferers by the war.
and to make our own inability 10 protect
them from ivasion, as we are required to
DO by the Constitution, ground for add
ing to their losses by an attempted adhe-
renee to the letter, in violation Of the
spirit OF that instrument No such purl
pose could have been entertained and IL
such result contemplated by the framer bf
the Constitution. 1t may add weight to
these considerations, continues the III gsi-
dent, II we reflect that, although the u on
stitution provided that it should rd into
operation with representation Temporarily
distributed among the States, it expressly
ordalns, after providing for census within
tnree years, that this Temporary distribu-
t'on OF representative power is to endure
until such an enumeration shall be made.
would any one argue that, because the
census cannot be made within the fixed
period, the Government must, at the ex-
plratlon of that period, perish for want OF
representative body 2 In any aspect in
which the subject can be viewed, I am led
TO the conclusion already announced, and
which is understood to be in acc ordsnce
with the vote taken in one or both Houses,
at the last session. shall, therefore, until
we are able to pursue the precise mode re-
CURED by the Constitution, deem it nv
DUTY to approve any law levying taxation,
which you are bound to impose for the de.
fence of the country, in any other prac-
ticable mode, which shall distribute the
burthen uniformly and impartially on the
whole property Of the people.
THE cURREkcY-FuHDINa.
In your former legislation you have
sought to avoid an increase in the volume
OF, notes in circulation, by ofrerinq indnca-
ments for voluntary funding. The mea.
sures adopted for that purpose have been
but partially successful aud the evil has
reached sucha magnitude as to permit no
other remedy than compulsory reduction
OF tue currency to the amount required bv
the business of the couptry. This reduc.
ton should be accompanied by pledge
that, under no stress Of circumstances, will
that amount bes exceeded. No possible
lmode OF using the credit of Government
can be so disastrous as one which ,disturbs
the basis OF all exchanges, renders irnapossi,
Die all calculatiens Of future values auo.
lnenta, in constantly increasing proportions.
the prices OF all commodities, and 90 de-
preciates all fixed wages, salaries and in.
comes comes as to render them inadequate 10
bare subsistence. If to these be added the
still more fatal Influence on tie, e,morals and
character oeHhe people, to which j have
already adverted, am persuaded you, will