The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-12-14

ment and the condition of the postal service
IL very favorable light, and the attention of
Congress is called to its practical recommen-
dations. The receipts of the Department for
the year ending June 80, 1867, including all
| special appr opriations for sea and land service
and for mail service were sig 9,97S,693. The
expenditures for all purposes were l9 1885, ,4S3,
| leaving an unexpended balance in favor of the
Department of $74s, ,2l0, which can be applied
towards the expenses of the Department. for
| the current wear.
The increase of the postal revenue, indie
pendent of special appropriations FOR the year
| 1867 over that of 1866 was $3.50, ,O4O. The In
crease of revenue from the sale of stamps and
stamped envelops was 1882 ,44O. The increase
| of expenditures for 1867 over those of the
previous year owing chiefly to the extern
sion of the land and ocean mail service
TIE productions of precious metal In the
United States from lS49 TO 1857, inclusive,
| amounted ts $579, ,0l 5 900 from 1888 to 1860,
inclusive, $127, 500, 900, and from 1861 to 1867
inclusive, to $457, 500, 900, making the grand
aggregate of products since lS49, 81 ,l74.o0O,-
900. The amount of specie coined from 1S49
TO 1867 1914, 100000. Exports of specie since
| lS4S, S433, 900 900. There are In the Treasury
| Sill ,00O, 900; in coin, something more than
| $500 ,000, 900 in circulation on the Pacific
coast and few millions in the National and
other banks-in all about Sl6O, 200, 600. This
| however, taking into account the specie In
the country prior to lS49, leaves more than
for by expectation and therefore may yet
remain in the country.
If deprecated paper is to be continued as
| the permanent currency of the country and
all our coin is to become mere article of
| tratflc and speculation to the enhancement IN
price of ali that Is indispensable to the com
fort OF the people, it would be wise economy
to abolish our mints, thus saving the nation
| the care and expenses incident to such estab-
| llshments and let all our precious metal be
1 81
| however; when the government and national
banks should be required to take the most
! efficient steps and make all necessary arrange
ments for a resumption of specie payments at
the earliest practicable period. Specie pay
| ments having been once resumed by the Gov
ernment and banks all notes or bills of paper
| issued ofa less denomination than twenty
dollars should by law be excluded from circu-
lation so that the people may have the benefit
and convenience of a gold and silver currency,
which in their business transactions will be
uniform In value at home and abroad.
No arrangement has yet been reached
for the settlement of our claims tor British
depredations upon the commerce of the Unit
ed States. L have felt it my duty to decline
the proposition of arbitration made by Her
Majesty's Government, because it has hitherto
been accompanied by reservations and hmIta-
tions incompatible with the rights, interests and
honor of our country. 1t is not to be appTe-
heDded that Great Britain will persist in her
refusal to satisfy these just and reasonable
claims which involve the sa cred principal of
non-intervention, principal henceforth not
more important TO the United States than to
all other comercial nations.
He recommends an appropriation to pay for
Alaska and also the island of St. Thomas, be-
lieving these naval outposts to be of vital
importance to the country in time of war.
The following, is in regard to the conflict of
authorities in regard to the Fenians.
In connection with this subject the atten-
tion of Congress is respectfully called to n
singular and embarrassing conflict of laws.
The executive Department of this Government
has hitherto uniformity held it now holds
that naturalization In conformity with the
Constitution and laws of the United States abb
solve the recipient from allegiance to the
/ British crown while another theory Is held
that it is indefeasible and that the recipient
| is not absolved by our laws of naturalization.
| British Judges cite courts and Law authorities
of the United States in support of that theory
against the position held by the executive
authority of the Unite ed States.
The Message closes with a recon"
/ mendation to discontinue the squadron
for the suppression of the slave trade.
AS an argument against the policy of
Congress, it is well prepared, carefully
| studied document. The same tone of
.'unconstitutionality" pervades it that
characterized the effcsions of Vallan-
digham and his compeers when they
proved so conclusively to some that the
sons of the Republic had no constitu-
tional right to protect it. 1t is techni-
chal, insidious, perverse, and in its spirit
is an encouragement to the people of
the South to rebel against reconstruction
as now in progress. To this, and a de-
nunciation of Congress, is devoted fully
one-half of the Message. From those
portions not long since produced in veto
messages, we have made liberal extracts.
The liberty taken to thus pervert the
message to a harangue of his hobbies,
viii meet with very little commenda-
tion from any PARTY, and the assumption
of the prerogatives not vested in the
executive, of deciding arbitrarily on the
constitutionality of acts, contrary to the
decisions of the Supreme Court, and
charging Congress with fragrant, will
full and continuous violation of their
oath, is an unwarranted, unprecedented.
and thoroughly Johnsonian act of die
tatorial, abusive impudence. How diff
ferent is the fiercely petulant tone OF
this from the grandeur, and greatness, and
goodness of Lincoln's messages, where
even the enemies of the country were
spoken of more in pity than in anger,
with malice toward none and charity
for all.
HARD To BELIEvE.-It is currently
reported that Col. w. w. Chapman,
father of Thomas Chapman who was
tried at the last term of the district
court, at this place, for the murder OF