Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-12-12
The President,s Message.

Tho Mes aGe of President JOHNSON to the Con-
cress of the United States, which assembled on
Monday thc Srd instant, is before tho country,
and is commanding (at the South at.least) uni
vcrsal regard and Oommendalion. Circur stances,
owing to our inability to mako arrangements for
charging the Advertiser before tho beginning Of
the new year, preclude the possibility of our lay
ing the Message entire before our readers I. is
very calm and moderate in tone, and as firm in
purpose as firm can be. Alas! that such high and
conscientious Grmness should be so utterly una
vailine A few weeks back, it was said that the
President was being strongly urged by prominent
Democrats and conservative Republicans to re-
commend, in this Message, universal amnesty in
return for negro suffrage Hehas, however, done
nothing of the kind, but has adhered religiously
to his formerly expressed convictions. He does
not swerve.to the right or left from his original
and patriotic policy in regard to the restoration
Of all the ten States now unreprcsented. Ho
makes the Constitution of the United States his
political Bibse, and utterly ignores all recommcn-
dntions or propositions for tampering with that
sacred document. He presents the true and wise
course Of stategma anship and fastens upon Con-
gress indisputabiy and indel:bly, though not
seeming to write with such design, the stigma
of unoonsitutionality, inconsistency, insnoerity,
duplicity, tyranny and revenge And in the con-
clusion of this part of his Message, he allude'
very forcibly to q view Of the continued exclusion
of the Southern States, which has been often
taken by observing men; to Wit, that the delay
of restoration will increase tho obstacles to Its
consummation. IF, as is now moro than proba-
bic, the Radicals shall prevent restoration for saY
cral years, both sections will become familiarsod
with the. policy of separation, and adapt their
courses and views'to this state Of things.
The Report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
says Mr.. JOHNSON presents > much moro Satsfnc-
tory condition Of our finances than, one year ago,
the most sanguiuc could have Anticipated.
During the fiscal year ending tho seth June,
1865. the last year of the war, the public debt
was increased a941 1.9O2,5 ,537, md on the Slst Of
October, 1865, it amounted to $2,74O Sa4, $50. On
the 3lst day, Of October, 1855, it. had hecn re-
duced to s2,55l, $40, ,O06, the diminution, during
a period of fourteen months, commencing Sep
tcnber l, 1855, and ending October 81, 1865,
has been S206,3I9,o"o.
He then states that tho Revenue is afording,
after the payment Of the expenses Of the Govern
ment, large annual surplus to be applied to the
reduction of the national Indebtedness He re-
recommends reduction of the taxes, and argues
that even with this dirniuution the public debt
can be entirely iauida!ed within the next twenty
five yea:s.
Concerning the Report of the Secretary OF
War, Mr. JOHNSON says;
Few volunteers now remain In the service, and
they are being discharged IS rapidly as they can
D. replncel by regular troops The army has
been promptly paid, carefully provided with medi-
cal treatment, well sheltered and subsisted, and
IS to &c furnished with brecch loading small arms
The military strength Of the nation hs, been un-
impaired by the discharge Of volunteers, the dis
position Of urscrviceable or perishablc stores
and the retrenchmcnt of expenditure. Suf6cen'
war material TO meet any emergency has been
retained, and, from the dishanded volunteer
standing ready to respond to the national call
large armies can be rapidly organized equipped!
and coucentr ,ted Forti6cstOns on the coast and
frontier nave received, or are hcing prepared tor
more powerful armamants; luke surveys and har-
DOR and river improvements are in course OF en-
.rgc,ic prosecution. Preparations have been
made for the payment of the additional bountic'
authorized during the recent session Of Congrc"
under such regulations rs will protect the Gov
e.nment from fraud, and secure to the honoraby
discharged soldier the we'll caTned reward of his
fathfulness and galiantry. Moro than Blk thou.
sand manned soldiers have received artificial
limbs or other surgical apparatus and forty-o
national cemeteries, containing the remains o
,526 Union soldiers, have already been csao-
shed. The total estimate Of military approprn-
tion is S25 POS, ,6e9.
In conne1ion with the Report Of the Secretary
of the navy, it is announced that the naval force
at this time consists Of two hundred and ser.
enty y-eight vessels, armed with two thousand thres
hundred and ffty-ou guns. or these, one hun.
drcd and fifteen vessels, carrying one thousand
and twenty nine guns are In commission, distri
buted chiefly among seven squadrons, The NUN
Der Of men in the servic, is thirteen thousand S1
hundred.
Speaking of the Postal affairs Of the Nation
the President sayi: I" The mail service is rapid y
Increasing throughout the whole country, and i'll
steady extension in tho Southern States indicatei
their constatly improving condition" We have
only to say that this steady extension" as far a
Edgchcld District is concerned is entirely myt thi
cal.
He urges upon Congress, as matter OF th'
highest moment to devise such Legislation as may
be necessary for the preservation Of tho Levee'
of the Mississippi River. lie says it is mattel
of national importance that early steps should e'
taken not only to add to the efficiency OF those
barriers against destructive inundatons, but fol
the removal of all distractions to the froe snt
safe navigation Of that great channel OF trade
and commerce.
The District of Columbia has heretofore becr
without representation. 1t is recommended bJ
Mr.. JonSsos that it bc placed upon tho footing
of Territory and entitled to Delegate in Con-
grcss.
Upon an important subject Mr.. Johnson speaks
thus:
Tho resolution of Congress protecting agnins
parions by foreign Governments Of persons con
ycted of Infamous offences, on condition OF emil
grafton to our country, has been communicated Il
tho States with which we maintain intercourse
and the practice, so justly the subject of com
plaint on our part, ha. not been renewed.
With France, ho gays, there will remain ne
serious subject Of difference, provided her forces
are Withdrawn from Mexico.
He does not seem to be very bitterly opposed
to the Fenians, but nevertheless says that the
Neutrality Laws must be strictly and rigidly en-
forced: