American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-12-12
President,s Message.

the 'Gern,entown Telegraph. It gives, in
a nut she'll, all that is really contained in
this State document:
The annual Message of President
johnson to Congress is "a biief aud nod
erately toned document. Ii opens with
a reference TO the abatement of the pes
thence, the proclamation OF peace, and
the restoration of the civil authority In
the lately iusurgent districts. lie says,
what many of our readers will think
rather string expression under all the
circumstances, that the enforcement Of
the laws is no longer Instruct ID, though
we join with him 10 saying that an en-
tire restoration of fraternal feeling must
be the earnest wish of every patriotic
heart. The President suecinctly recapi
tulates the leading events OF his recon-
struction, and expresses regret that the
has reconstited have not been recognized
by either HQuse. lie goes over much
the same arguments as heretofore on the
subject. The excessive anxiety uf the
President TO secure seats Tor his rebel
friends leads him into an argument to
show that these States have been repeat
edly during the war aud since the war
recognized AS States by all branches of
the Government, Congress- included, and
it il rendered manifest that his views
have undergone no change at all in con-
sequence of the disastrous failure of his
attempt to dragoon Congress aud defeat
the Republicans in the popular elections.
The .uage of the President is cuur
teous anu good tempered thr. ughout. in
striking contrast with offensive tone Of
hisspeeches, but his positions are through
out the same and he insInuItes adroltly
ceuiralzing. usurping. and unconstitu-
t onal policy Oh the part OF Congress -
From this portion of the message it is
clear that all the efforts t. get up a truce
between the Presinent aud Congress have
failed, that he has not advanced single
step toward cUDciliation, and .hat his
professions tu members were wholly de-
c'ptive.
He com ncnds 10 Congress the senti-
meats expressed in the Treasury Report
and calls attention to the necessity of car.
rying into every department ot the Gov
ernmeut a system ot rigid accountability,
thorough retrenchment aud wise economy
and he adds ihut with no unusual or ex.
eepti,na exI lures the oppressive bur-
thens oi taxation can be iessened by
modification of the revenue laws. Dur>
ing u period Of fourteen months the Ma
tionaI deDt has been reduced Slh6.379.-
sos, instead OF its being increased Sll2.-
1874 967 us the Secretary of the Treas
ury iguorantly estimated in bis last annu-
al report, the receipts of the year having
been SS9 905 9O5 more and the expendi-
lures $500 $40. 235 less ;han he estima-
ted. The receipts Tor the fl cal year
ending June 10th, 1866, We're $50 032.-
go, and the expenditures S52075O go,
being surplus OF S37 2Sl $50, and it is
estimated that the receipts Tor the pres
ent fiscal year will be S472.06l.3 and
the expenditures S3l6 42S.U7S, leaving
surplus of Sl5S 633.3US, but the Sec
retary shot So wide of the mark last year
that we need not attach much value to
his ealcuIatlans now. The President can
see no good reason why taxes may not be
reduced as the country advances in pop
uation and wealth. and get the debt ex>
tinguished within the next quarter of
century.
In the War Depai tmeut the message
says that few volunteers now remain in
the ser ice, and they are being dscharg-
ed as rapidly as they can be replaced by
regular troops. i he army is to be furn>
ished with breech loading small arms
Sufficient war material has been return
ed to meet any emergency. Notifications
on the coast aud frontier have received
more powerful armaments. Prepara
tions have been made for the payment OF
the additional bounties authorized during
the recent session of Congress, under
such regulations as will protect the Goy.
eminent from fraud and secure to the hon
urably discharged soldier the woll-e.rned
reward of his services.
The Navy has lis vessels u com mis-
sion, aud the whole naval force consists
OF 378 vessels armed with 1851 guns
The number of men in service is $4,000.
The President strongly urges the Senate
to pass the b'il accepting League Island
Tor m iron-clad naval depot.
The expenditures OF the Postal De-
purtmeEt are S965 093 ir excess of the
cepts, as is always the ease when the
South has to he supplied with mail ser
vice
In regard to the Public Lands the Pros
ident endorses the existing system, be-
hevlng that immediate settlement is If
mJre consequence than revenue. lie
urges some stringent provisions to secure
a faithful application of the land grants
to iailroad and other corp, rations, in
which we most heartily agree with him.
lie states that the Pacific Railroad will
be completed within the period designa-
ted by Congress.
! ! he pension rolls include 126 722 per-
sons, involving last year disbursement
of Sl3.459.J96 and it estimated that
S33 QUO OUU will be required for the mex
fiscal year.
Treaties have been made with rebel
Indians.
I he message recon mends measures to
preserve the levees of the Mississippi
river.
The District of Columbia, he thinks.
Ct.n M H. II