The Van Buren press., 1867-12-13


The message goes on to argue the
dangers OF the elective franchise. and says
that four millions Of ;.egrassss: slaves o.
yesterday cannot be made intelligent
freedmen to day. The President Is vii.
ling to join in any plan to better the con
dition Of the negroes in all their rights,
save transferring TO them political en-.
franchisement The President alludes to
the millions that the congressional plan
has cost, and says it will increase the
burden of taxation and may bankrupt US.
1--WE must not" he adds, "delude our.
selves. 1t will require strong standing
armc, and probably more than seven mil
lions per year. to maintain the supremacy
of negro governments when they are es-
tablished. The money thus thrown
away, if put into a sinking fund would
pay the national debt in fifteen years It
is vain to hope the negroes will maintain
their own ascendcncy.' ot a
He discourses the extent to which the
President may go toward protesting the
constitution and opposing the unconsti-
tutional acts Of Congress, and says It has
caused him much solicitude and he be-
lieves that executive resistance to uncon-
stitutional acts in times Of, high party
excitement might lead to civil war. The
executive would concede much to pre-
serve the peace, but there may be times
when he would have to take stand, re-
gardless of the consequence. The so
called reconstruction acts do not come
within the purview just mentioned, though
clearly unconstitutional The people are
not wholly disarmed of the power for
self defence. ,a lart
In all the northern States they still hold
in their hands the right Of protection, and
the late results Of the ballot show, he
says, that his faith in the people was not
misplaced. ~ ~
The civil tenure bill is next discussed,
and denounced as unconstitutional and
extrajudicial, and promotive of fraud in
preventing the removal of dishonest Of
ficers.
The President then elaborately discuss
es the financial question and invites to it
the early consideration of Congress. In
comparing the currency circulation of
seven years ago with now he says that
strict faith makes 1t the obvious duty Of
the government to take such measures rs
will enable the holders Of its notes and
those of the national banks to convert
them without loss into specie or its equiv
alent. A reduction Of our circulating
paper medium need not necessarily fol
low. This would depend on the law Of
demand and supply though it should be
borne in mind that by making legal tend
ers and bank notes convertible in coin or
its equivalent a. the present par value,
would be to enhance one hundred per
cent, the various issues OF our bonds;
and the gold and paper interest Of the
same is alluded to at some length. Then
the President declares that equal and ex-
act justice requires that all the creditors
of the government should be paid in a
currency of equal value-not gold for one
and paper for another. He favors the
measure of retiring our paper currency,
that gold and silver may cease to be ar.
tiales oftraflic and returns to our avenues
Of trade. 1t is unreasonable to expect,
he says, a return to a sound currency 50
long as the government by continuing to
issue irredeamable notes fills the channels
of circulation with deprecated paper.
The attention of Congress in earnestly
invited to the necessity Of thorough re-
vision Of our revenue system, and large
reduction In the number Of articles taxed
is urged.
The President says peace has been Sc
cured with the Indians, but that he has
no official details from the commission
ers. The reports Of the interior, navy,
war, and post Office departments are
briefly alluded to; hut the figures have
been published already. 3 i'io
Regarding foreign affairs, the President
says Mexico is relieved from foreign in.
tervention, and peace reigns in Central
and South America. The United States
were credibly represented at the Paris
exposition, and ut general conference
of all nations, where an universal system
Of gold coinage was agreed on. tae
Or the Alabama claims, the. President
speaks as follows: "No arrangement
has been reached for the settlement OF
our claims tor British depredations upon
the commerce Of the United States. ]
have felt 1t my duty to decline the propo-
s;tion ofarbltration made by Her Msjes-
ty's government, because it has been &C.
companied by reservations and limitations
incompatible with the rights, honor and
interests Of our country. 1t Ia not to be
apprehended that Great Britain will per
sist in her refusal to satisfy these just and
reasonable claims, which involve the 70.
cred principle of non intervcntion--a
principle not more important to the
United States than to all other CONNER
cial nations"
The President says that a treaty has
been concluded with the King or Den.
mark for the cession Of the islands ofSt.
Thomas and 81. Johns TO the United
States. The President asks pay for Alas
Lo 80 ropcrnvc