Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-05


safe in proportion as its people are free; that
| the debt OF a republic is the safest of all Our
history confirms and establishes the theory,
| and is, l firmly believe, destined to give it a
still more signal illustration. The secret OF
this superioaiIy springs not merely from the
TACT that in republic the national obligations
are distributed more widely through countless
numbers in all classes of society; il has ats
IN the character of our laws.
Here all men contribute 10 the public well
| iare, and bear their fair share of the public
| burdens. During the war, under the impulses
| OF patriotism, the men OF the great body of the
people, WITHOUT regard TO their own cornpara-
tive want of wealth. thronged to our armies.
ana hlied our fleets of war, and held them
selves ready to offer their lives for the public
good. Now, in their turn. the property and
income of the country should bear their lust
proportion of the burden of taxation, while in
our lmpost system, through means of which
increased vitality is incidentally impair ed to
| ali the industrial interests of the nation, the
duties should be so adjusted as 10 fall most
heavily on articles of luxury, leaving thd ne
cessarles of life as free from taxation rs the
absolute wants of the Government econpfni-
caIIy administered. will Justify.
No favored class should demand freedom
| from assessment. and the taxes should be so
distributed rs not 10 fall unduly on the poor,
but rather On the accumulated wealth of the
country. We should look at the national debt
just as ii isnet as a national blessing, but as
heavy burden on the industry Of the country,
| 10 be discharged without unnecessary DELAY
1t is estimated by the Secretary Of the Treas
| ury that the expenditures for the fiscal year
| ending the 30th of June. 1866, will exceed the
| receipts SIP, 1t is gratifying. how
ever, 10 state that 1t is also estimated that the
revenue for the year ending the }Uth of June
| 1e67, Will exceed the expenditures in the sum
OF SiII'CS2,Sle; This amount, or so much rs
may Ne deemed.s ufficient for the purpose, may
| be applied TO the reduction of the public debt
| which, on the 31st day of October, 1865, was
| S2,T4U, ,S5i, $50.
Every reduction will diminish the total
| amount of interest TO be paid, and so enlarge
the means OF still furiQer reductions, until the
| whole shall be lIquidated; and this AS will be
| seen from the estimates of the Secretary of the
Treasury. may be accomplished by annual
| payments even within a period not exceeding
thirty years. have faith thas we shall do all
| this within Reasonable tIme that, as we have
| amazed the world by the suppression Of a civil
| war which was thought TO be beyond the con-
uol OF any Government so we shall equally
| show the superiority of our Institution. by the
| prompt and faithful discharge of our national
| obligations.
The Department OF Agriculture, under its
present direction, is accomplishing much in
developing and utilizing the vast agricultural
| capacities of the country, and for information
respecting the details OF its management refer
ence is made to the annual report OF the Com
1 have dwelt thus fully on our domestic
| affairs because Of their tTanScendent import
| snce. Under any circumstances, our great px-
| tent of territory and variety of climate, pro-
ducing almost everything that is necessary to
the wants and even the comforts OF man, make
us singularly independent of the VARYING poI-
| icy OF foreign Powers, and protect us against
every temptation to "entangliug alliances"
while at the present moment the re-establish-
ment of harmony, and the strength that comes
fICm harmony, will be our best security against
''nations who feed power and forget right"
For myself, IL has been and il will be nv
constant aim TO promote peace and amity with
all foreign nations and Powers and have
every reason 10 believe that they all, without
exception, are animated by the same dispo-
siuon. Our relations with the Emperor of
China, so recent in their origin, most friend
ly. Our commerce with his dommions is re-
celvng new Developments and il is very
pleasing TO hnd that the Government Of that
great Empire mapifests satisfaction with our
policy, and reposes just confidence in the fair
Less which marks our intercourse.
he unbroken harmony between the United
States and the Emperor of Russia IS rec living
new support from an enterprise designed TO
carry telegraphic lines across the continent of
Asia, through his dominiCns. and SO to connect
us with all Europe by 4 new channel of en-
itTcouTse. Our commerce with South America
If about 10 receive encouragement by a direct
line OF mail steamships TO the rising Empire OF
Brazil. The distinguished party OF men of
science who have recently left our country to
ma ke scientific exploration of the natural
history and rivers and mountain ranges Of that
region, lo, n,He received from the Emperor that
generous welcome which was to have been eX-
pected from his constant friendship for the
United States. and his we'll known zeal in pro-
noting the adyan cement of knowledge.
hope Is entertained that our commerce
with the rich and populous countries that
border The Mediterranean sea may De largely
increased Nothing will be waning, on the
part OF this Goyernmect, to ex end the protec-
tlon OF our nag over the nterprise OF our fel-
low-citizens. We receive from the Powers in
that region assurances of good Will and II is
worthy OF note that special envoy has
brought us messages of coincidence on the
death OF our late Ceief Magistrate from the
Bey OF Tunis, whose rule includes the old
dominions OF Carthage, on the African coast
Our domestic contest, now happily ended,
has left some traces in our relations with one
at least Of the great maritime Powers. The
formal ~ haTl r;ok
lnsurgent States was Unprecedented, and has
not been justified by the issue. But in the
systems OF neutrality pursued by the Powers
marked difference. The materials of war for
the insurgent Stases were furnished. in a great
measure, from the workshops of q Ieat Britain /;
ana Brltfsh ships. manned by British subjects
and prepared for receiving British armanents
sailed from the ports of Great Britain to make
war on American commerce, under the shelter
OF commission from the insurgent States.
These ships, having once escaped from Brit
lsh ports, ever afterwards entered them in
every part OF the world, TO refit, and so to re-
re" ihelr dfpredations. The consequences of
this conduct were most disastrous TO the States
then in rebellion, increasing their desolation
and misery by the prolongation of our civil
contest IL had, moreover, the effect, to a great
extent, 10 drive the American flag from the sea
and TO transfer much OF our shipping and our
commerce 10 the very power whose subjects
mad created the necessity for such a change
These events took place before / was called
to the administration of the Government The
sincere desire for peace by which am anima-
ted led me TO approve the proposal, ALREADY
made, TO submit the questions hich had thus
arisen between the countries 10 arbitration
These questions are of such moment that
they must have commanded the attention of
the greal Powers, and are SO inteoworen with
the peace and-lnterests Of every one OF them as
TO have ensured an impartial decision. re-
sret tn inform you that Great Britain declined
the arhiirament, but on the other hand, in
yited us TO the formation Of Joint com mission
10 settle mutual claims between the two coun-
tries, from which those for the depredations
before mentioned should be excluded The
proposition, In that verp unsatis sactory form,
has been declined.
The United States did not present the SUBJ
lect as an Impeachment OF the good faith of a
Power which was protesting the most friandly
dispositions, but as involving questions of
public law, Of which the settlement is essen
tlal TO the peace of nations; and, thongh pecu-
mary rrparation to their injured citizens wouls
have followed incidentally on a decision
against Great Breat Britain, such compensa-
ton was not their primary object They had
higher motive, and it was in the interests of
peace end justice 10 establish important prfn.
ciples Of International law. The correspond
ence Will be placed before you.
he r1rhip no tICh NfnfS