The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-12-04
Terms Eight Dollars per dfss,ans, in Advance.

.;f"ieS .;f ooisututlOnal ana legal Qualitica-
lions Ii refused admission as a member for
% want OF due allegiance to the Government
,,, aatu !etuTned to his constituents they are ad-
IT,it y 1eu ~ tnat none but persons loyal TO the
fen;sIa atates will be allowed a voice in the
politicai ,o,r Uounelis OF the Nation, and the
.r.ss 90 power ana moral influence OF Cor
sress are thus effectively exertad ~ tl,o -.
80. - ~ u ,Iroyalty TO the Government and fdelity
e9t; " sns onlon. Upon this question 40 vitaily
s,lr''a,,s .ne restoration of the Union and the
p,ant ~ y, our present form of govern
- hIen', ny CONVICTIONS, heretofore expressed
have undergone no change Lnt on - easeu'
trary, their correctness has been CONF r,ooS L.
reflection and time. If the admission af -,
members to seats in the respective Uonsao "f
congress was wise and expedient a wear ago
1T is no less wise and expedient now. II mi,
anomalous condition is right now-if. in tho
exact condition of these States at the present
time, it is lawful to exclude them from renre-
sentation, do not see that 'he question win
be changed by the efllux of time. Ten wears
hence, II these States remain as they are, the
right OF representation will be no steoncer-
the right of exclusion will be no weaker.
The Constitution of the United States makes
y the duty of the President to recommend to
.ne consideration OF Congress "such measures
as as nc slisl Judge necessary or expedient."
,.in''S nmoM ., no measure more imperativel de-
inalded id by every consideration of national in
terest, sound policy, and eauaf>iustice. thar
Cne ADMISSION OF loyal members from the now
unrepresented States. This would consuu
lilass tne WoLk OF restoration, and exert most
sanitary lnnuence in the re-establishment OF
peace, harmony, and fraternal feclinp. It
would tend greatly to renew the Confidence NJ
tne American people in the vigor and stabiIifv
OF their institutions. 1t woulf bind us more
closely together as 8 natJn, aud enable us 10
snow to the world the inherent and reoup era
tLv1 wv. power OF aGoVernment four ded upon the
wiz OF the people, and established upon the
principles OF liberty, justice and inteilIrence
Our increased strength and enhanced prosper-
lty would irrefragably demonstrate the faliacy
OF the argum nts against Tree institutions
lrawn from our recent national disorders by
the enemies OF republican government The
admission of loyal members from the Statoa
now excluded from Congress- nv alIov;11s,
doubt and apprehension, would turn caniioI
now awaiting an opportunity for investment
lnto the channels of trade and industry. NJ
would alleviate the present troubled conJition
0! those states, and, by inducing emieration
ald IN the settlement of fertile regions now nm
cultivated, and lead to an increased produc-
ton OF those staples which have added 40
greatly to the wealth of the nation aud the
commerce OF the world. New fields of enter
prlse would be opened to our progressive peo-
pie, and soon the devastations of war wouId
be repaired, and all traces of our domestic 5if
lerences etfaced from the minds of our coun-
Fymen.
STATE RIGHTS.
In our efforts to preserve the unity of Gov
ernment which constitutes us one people." Nv
re ISstoTInS tne states TO the condition which
they held prior to the rebellion, we sbould la
cautious, lest, having rescued our nation from
perlls of threatened disintegration we resort fn
and in the end absolute desnot.
ism, as remedy for the recurrence of similar
troubles. Inc war having terminated, ami
with lt all occasion for the exercise of powers
OF doubtful constitutionality, we should hasten
TO nrlng legislation within the boundaries pre-
scrlbed by the Constitution, and to return TO
the ancient landmarks established by our faith
ers m for the guidance of succeeding generations.
The Constitution which at any time EXISTS
until changed by an explicit and authentic act
OF the whole people, is sacredly obligatory up-
on all" If, in the opinion OF the people. the
or modification of the constitution
al powers be, in any particular, wrong, let it be
by an amendment in the way i'm
which the Constitution designates" But LET
there be no change by usurpation; for at is
the customary weapon by which free Govern
ments are destroyed" Washington spoke these
words to his countrymen, when, followed bv
their love and gratitude he voluntarily retired
from the cares of public life. "To Keep in all
things within the pale of the constitutional
powers, and cherish the Federal Union as the
only rock of safety" were prescribed by JeffeE-
son as rules of action to endear to his coun-
trymen tho true principles of their ConsttI-
ton equally ausp cous 70 fbeiP happneasnsa ana and md
safety" jackson held that the action of the
General Government should always he strictly
confined to the sphere of Its appropriate duties
aud justly and forcibly urged that our Govern
ment Is not to be maintained nor our Union
:" by invasion OF the rights and pow-
ers of the several States. In thus ATTEMPTING
to make our General Government strong, we
make 1T weak. Its true strength consists in
leaving individuals and States as much as pos
sible to themselves; in making itself felt, not
In its power, but in its beneficence; not in its
control, but in its protection; not in binding
the State more closely to the centre, but leav-
ing each to move unobstructcd in Its proper
constitutional orbit" These are the teachings
Of men whose deeds aud services have made
thom illustrious, and whO long since with
drawn from the scenes Of life, have loft to their
country the rich legacy of their example, their
wisdom, and their patriotism. Drawing fresh
inspiration from their lessons, let us emulate
them in love of country and respect for the
Constitution and the laws
THE NATIONAL FINkNcEs
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
affords much Information respecting the reve-
nue. and commerce of the country. His views
upon the currency, and with reference to
proper adjustment of our revenue system, In
ternal as well as impost, are commended to
the careful consideration Of Congress. In my
last annual message 1 expressed my general
views upon these subjects. / need now ONLY
call attention to the necessity of carving into
every department of the Government a system
ofrigid accountability, thorough hretrenchment,
and wise economy. With no exceptional nor
unusual expenditures, The oppressive burdens
Of taxation can be lesscned by such o modifca-
ton of our revenue laws AS will be consistent
with the public faith, and the legitimate and
necessary wants of the Government.
The report presents q much more satisfacto-
ry condition of our finances than one year ago
the most sanguine could have anticipated. Dur
ing the fiscal year ending the Both June, 1865,
the last year of the war, the public debt was
increased $941 ,902 5S7, and on the 31se of Octo-
Der, 1865, it amounted to $3,740 ,S54,75O. On the
31st day of October, 1866, it bad been reduced
to 500, ,31O,0O6, the diminution, during n pe-
rlod Of fourteen months, commencing Septem-
Der 1, 1865, and ending October 81, 1866, having
been $685. ,379, ,565. In the last tannual report on
the state of the finances, it was estimated that
during the three quarters of the fiscal year end
ing the Both Of June last, the debt would be in
creased Sill, ,194 During that period. how
ever, it was reduced S31 1856 3S7, the receipts of
the year having been $89, ,9O5, ,9O5 moro, and the
expenditures SOC, ,529,235 less than the esti-
mates, Nothing could more clearly indicate
than these statements the extent and available
lty OF the national resources, and tho rapidity
and safety with which, under our form of gov
ernment, great military and naval establish
ments can be disbanded, and expenses reduced
from war to peace footing.
During the fiscal year ending the Both OF
June, 1866, the receipts were $55S03262O and
the expenditures $500, ,75O 940, leaving an avail
able surplus of $37 2S1 $50. 1t is estimated that
the receipts for the fiscal year ending the Goth
June, 1867, will be $475 06i 1856 and that the ex-
penditures will reach the sum of S3l6. .428 O7e.
leaving in the Treasury surplus of $i58, ,633,-
3O9. For the fiscal year ending June so, 1865,
it is estimated that the receipts win amount TO
$4,000, 600, and that the expenditures win be
S3JO, ,247 ,641--sbowing an excess of $85,752, ,359
in favor OF the Government. These estimated
receipts may be diminished by a reduction of
excise and import duties; but alter all recess
sary reductions shall have been made, the rev.
enue OF the present and of following years
will be sufficient to cover all Legitimate charges
upon the Treasury, and leave large annual
surplus to be applied to the payment of the
principal of the debt There seems now to be
no good reason why taxes may not be reduced
as the country advances in popelation and
wealth, and vet the debt be extinguished with
in the next quarter of a century.
THE ARMY.
The report of the Secretary of War furnishes
valuable and important information in refer
ence to the operations Of his Department dur
ing the past year. Few volunteers now remain
in the service, and they are being discharged
as rapidly as they can be replaced by regular