Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-12-15
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

l
Message is so great as to render its publication
in full in our paper an impossibility. I. occu
L pies nine aud a half columns of the ssEnouirer'
in small type. We, must therefore, upon the
principle of cutting the coat to suit the measure
OF the cloth furnish synopsis of its contents il
lieu of a full report.
The President rapidly reviews the events of the
past year, remarking that whilst our successes
nave not equalled our expectations have checked
the enemy everywhere in his advance. Our re-
iatlons with foreign nations are discussed at con-
siderable length. The President regrets that
| there mas been no Improvement since the mes.
sage OF January last, and that the conduct OF the
European nations is less impartial and in some
cases mas assumed character positively unfriend
" TO the commissioners which were sent abroad
tor the purpose of entering into negotiations prop.
or TO nx the relative rights ard Obligations of the
Confederate and United States under treaties en-
tered into with foreign nations prior to the sep
aration which has taken pia 70; but this tender
ON our part was declined hence as we have
| oeen refused the beneh: of these treaties, they
certainty nave ceased to be binding and in the o.
p!nion OF the President our relations with Euro
peah Aatiohs are now controlled exclusively by
the general rules of the law of nations.
| Legislation upon the subject of finances is
earnestly recommended Although the magn-
taQe and duration of tae war was not at fret an
uclpateu, stiii the resources of the country are
50 ample ana the spirit OF the people SD devoted
to It's cause that relief is within our reach.
The financial policy Of the Government since
| IT'S lormaaon IS discussed, ahd the President con-
| tends that whilst thepfuyiSons OF the permanen:
constitution in reference to Street taxation can
not be carried into effect in the mode pointed
OUT 1t Is plain that it is the duty of congress to
execute the general intent of the Constitution br
making taxes uniform throughout the Ccnfeder-
ate Stales. These considera.ie5s ara greatly en-
W lug n'@-.on that an attempt to appor-
i .axes amongst the Ssates, some of which
are wholly or partially in the occupation of hos
tile forces, would subvert the whole intention of
the trainers OF the Constitution, and be produc-
i tive OF the most revolving injustice instead of
that just correlation between taxation and rep
resentation which their purpose secured With
| large portions of some of the States Occupied BY
the enemy, what justice would there be in impos
| ing on the remainder the whole amount of tax
alton of the entire State in proportion to is rep
| resentationl
] What else would this be in effect than to in
crease the burthen of these Who are the heaviest
sufferers by the war and make our own inabili--
ty to protect them from invasion, as we are re-
qured to do by the Constitution, ground for ad-
ding to their losses by an attempted adberance
to the letter in violation of the spirit OF that in
| strument, No such purpose could have been
entertained and no such result contemplated by
the trainers of the Constitution 1t may add t.,
the of weight these considerations if we re fleet
that although the Constitution provides that it
/ should go into operation with a representation
Temporarily distributed among the States, ii ex
pressly ordalns that after providing for census
WITHIN three years this temporary distribution OF
Representative power is TO endure until such e-
Enumeration shall be made. Would any one que
that because the census cannot he made within
the fixed period the Government must at the ex-
piration of that period perish for want OF rep-
4 resentative body In any aspect in which the
subject can be viewed am led to the ;nnctusio1
already announced, and which is understood to
be in accordance WITH vote taken in one or both
houses at last session. l shall therefore until
We are able to pursue the pre- else mode reouir-
ed by the Constitution deem It my duty to APP
prove any law levying taxation which you arr
bound to impose for the defence of the country,
in any other pl acticable mode which shall dis
tribute the burthen uniformly and impartiay
on the whole property of the people.
In your former legslatiCns you have sought
to avoid an increase of the volume of notes in
circulation by offering inducements for yoiunta-
rally fuuding. Measures adopted for that pug-
pose were bat partially successful, the amoant
has now reached such magnitude as to permit OF
d no other remedy than compulsory reduction OF
currency to the amount required by the business
/ of the country.
Il This reduction should be accompanied by a
pledge that under stress of circumstances
| will that amount be exceeded. No possible
mode of using the credit of the government can
be SO disastrous one which disturbs the basis
of exchange, renders impossible ali calculations
OF the future values, augmentS IN constantly H.
ceeasing proportions the price of all commodi-
/ ties, and depreciates all fixed wages, salaries
and incomes as to render them inadequate to bare
j subsistence. IT to this be added the still more
fatal influence on the morals an character Vt the
/ people, to which L have already aGyerted, am
| persuaded, you will concur in tie conclusion
/ that an infexible adherence to limitation Of the
| currency at fixed sum is an Indispensable eie
ment Of any system OF hnance now to DC adopted.
Holders Of currency uow outstanding can only
be protected in the recovery of their just claims
| by substituting for notes some other security.
Ifthe currency is not greatly and promptly re
duced tho present scale OF inflated prices will
not only continue to exist, but by the very fact
of large amounts thus made requisite in the con.
duct of the war, those prices Will reach rates
| still more extravagant and the whole system
will fall under its weight, rendering the
redemption of debts impossible and destroying
/ its whole value in the hands of the holder. Ii,
on the contrary, founded debt. with II terest
| secured cy adequate taxation, is substituted for
the outstanding currency, its entire amount viii.
| be available to the holder and Government will
be in condition enabling it beyond the reach of
any probable contingency to prosecute the war
! To successful issue.
1t is, therefore, demanded as we'll by the inter
est of the creditor of the country at large
that the evidences of public debt now out-stand-
| ing in the shape OF treasury notes be converted
/ into bonds bearing adequate interest with pro-
vision for taxation Sufficient to insure the pune
tual payment and final redemption of the whole
debt.
| The President recommends to the considera-
ton Of Congress the reportiof the Secretary OF
the Treasury, and hopes it will engross the con-
| sideratioD of that body until disposed of in the
manner best adapted to attain the important re-
| suits which the country anticipates from its &C
| ton.
The President believes the army to be, in all
resi- ects, IN better cond tion than at any previ-
Gus period OF the War. lie recommends the res
| toraton TO the army Of all who are improperly
absent, putting an end to subs titutlo modify
ing the exemption law, restricting details and
| placing in tie ranks able bod led men now en-
ployed as wagoners, nurses, cooks and employ.
ees doing service for which negroes may be
| found competent.
| he concurS IN the opinion expressed by the
Secretary OF war that there is nc ground for the
objection that new provision to include those
VINO furnish substitutes unCer the fortser call
| would be breach of contract. The action of
the several executive departments is reviewed!
| anu Inc gratifying aAauunct ment mace that the
receipts Of the post Office department are six huu-
dred and seventy five thousand dollars in excess
OF the expenditures communicable with Trans
MSslsslppi is SO obstructed to render difficult
compliance with the executive needs. Legisla
ton is required providing for the exercise OF
| temporary authority, especially in the Postal
department aud Treasury, for which the sub
secretaries are recommended, while for military