Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1867-12-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

This very important State document frs
reached US in the Deseret Ereaing Neacs o.
Dec 4th. Although somewhat lengthy, it is .
I very interesting, instructive and able Message
4 The arguments and views set forth in reference
] 10 the RECOMMENDATION Of the South, the Tenure
Of once Act, Che condition of the National
currency. the Internal Revenue and the Tariff
are wise, statesmanlike, mastery, and in places
refreshingIy patriotic. It is greatly to be re.
GREETED that Andrew johnson, who now, az
i President, utters sentiments and expresses
views SO full of wisdom, and so replete with
genuine republicanism, did himself, within the
past seven years, as Senator, as Provisional
Governor of Tennessee, and even as President
commit the very same class of transgressions
and violations of the Constitution, and perpe-
trate usurpations of constitutional authority,
equally evil in their tendency and operation,
as the transgressiOns, violations and usurpa-
tons which he now so ably, convinciugly and
eloquently deprecates, mOurns and condemns,
that have been committed by the Radical party
| in Congress and in power.
Want of space prevents us from laying the
Message before our readers in complete form,
and we think it an unwelcome mode to print
| it piecemeal, in consecutive issues. We shall,
therefore, merely give the synopsis of it which
we find among the dispatches of the week,
with such alterations, additions, and amend
ment as careful perusal of the whole Message
ljusti6es at our hands:
The President urges the repeal of the Recon strnc-
tion Tenure of Office, and other Acts, especially di-
rected against the South and of the encrOachment of
the Legislature upon the Executive Department of
the Government and counses aresert to the faithful
application of the Constitution and laws. He urges
against the capacity of the negro for segovernment
the Southern States almost entirely in the hands of
the negroes and says it will cost $500 900 yearly
to maintain the supremacy Of the negro governments
He refers to the recent elections additional
reason for change of policy with reference to re-
construction. He has given much consideration to
the questions How far it is the Presidents duty to
protect and defend and preserve tie Constitution
and how far it requires him to in opposing the un
constitutional action Of Congress He has felt anx
ious to reach proper conclusion on these serious
and important questions. He says Executive resist
ance to an Act Of Congress passed according to the
forms of the Constitution might provoke civil in
times of high party excitement, which should only
be resorted to the last remedy. But cases might
occur where the Executive might be compelled to
protect his rights, regardless of consequences For
example, if the Legislature should undertake to
abolish coordinate Department of the Government,
the President must take the responsibility of his
high Office and save the life of the nation at all haz-
ards. He thinks the reconstruction acts though
resistance on the part of the Executive. These
wrongs may be redressed by the ball0t; and the re-
cent elections show that they win be.
In connection with his views upon the policy which
the Radical Congress has adopted towards the South
the President uses the following language:
am unable to communicate any definite ADJUST
ment, satisfactory to the American people, Of the.
questions which, since the close of the rebellion
have agitated the public mind. Candor compels me
to declare that at this time there is no Union our
fathers understood the term and they meant it to
be understood by us. The Union which they estab-
lished can exist only where all the States repre-
scented in both Houses of Congress, where State
is free another to regulate its internal concerns
according to its will and where the laws of the
Central Government strictly confined to matters of
National jurisdiction apply with equal force to all
the people of every section. That such is not the
present state Of the Union is melancholy facts and
we all must acknowledge that the restoration of the
States to Their proper legal relations with the Federal
Government and with one another, according to the
terms OF the original compact would be the greatest
temporal blessing which God, in His hndest Provi-
dence, could bestow upon this nation.
He then refers to the frauds on the Treasury, an
the temptation to corruption the part of revenue
officers, and denOunces the Tenure Office Bill as
measure which prevents the Executive from dis
charging dishonest officials. He charges immense
revenue frauds result of the operation of this
bill, and says the President is made common in-
former by it. against corrupt officials, as it takes
away the power of removal. He thinks the Presi-
dent should be released from all responsibility if he
his own discretion. The danger to the public service
comes from the power of appointment not from the
power of removal unrestricted while it gave the SEN
ate the right to reject appointments which they
deemed unfit 81
Considerable space is devoted to the question of
finance He urges speedy resumption of specie
denounces the present system of currency
and gives copious statistics with regard to the pro-
ducti0n of gold and silver in this country. Facts
and figures with regard to exports and imports show
that it would be comparatively easy matter to re-
turn to specie payment He prOnounces disorder
all the contrivances for cheating the aboring classes
none has been eectual than that which deludes
them with paper money. He expatiates at consider.
able length upon the evils of depaeciated currency
and advises the construction Of import law which
will press most heavily upon luxuries and secure
the reduction of taxation on number of necessary
articles. He urges retrenchment and economy in all
the Departments of the Government.
The Navy Report shows there 238 vessels in the
service of which &c. carrying 507 guns, in squad
duty. Work on all vessels in the Navy yards or
machinery for them, has been stopped or is slow
~ proceeded with, to curtail expenses. The expend
iture in that Department for the fiscal year ending
June 80 1867 of $3l O34, OIL; and the Goth Sept
there was surplus fund of $65,00O,000, received
from the sale of vessels and other property and re-
sides which appropriations for the Navy have been
asked since the close of the war. e4
The payments to the War Department from Janu- |
airy l. to October 90, 1867-ten months-were $I09,
$4,000. On the 3Oth September the total force of
the Army was $40 men, rank and file. a. a
Brief allusion is made to the Indian hostilities on
the Plains, and the plan of concentrating all the
tribes upon remote territory for their exclusive
possession, is recommended. s.l si66
In referring to the various Pacific Railroad enter
prses, the Message pays deserved compliment to the
Union and Central Pacific line, and concludes that
norton nv saving there STRONGEST assuraflee