The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-09
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.


The Presidents message will be sent to
Congress tomorrow OF O'Clock.
The President begins by calling the at
tention of Congress to the continued disor-
ganized condition of certain States of the
Union under the various reconstruction
laws. A timely revocation Of injurious and
oppressive measures is the greatest good
that can be conferred upon the nation.
The reconstruction laws have failed, after
three years trial, have proved PERM
cious in their results, and should 40 longer
remain upon the statute book. States to
which the Constitution guarantees repub-
lican form of government have been reduced
to military dependencies in each of which
the people have been made subject to the
| arbitrary will Of Commanding General.
Although the Constitution requires that
each State shall be represented in Con-
gress, Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas are
yet excluded from the two Houses, and, con-
trary to the express provisions of that in
strument, were denied participation in the
| recent Presidential election.
The attempt to place the white popula-
ton under the domination of persons Of
color in the South has impaired if not de-
stroyed the kindly relation that had pre-
| viously existed between them, and mutual
distrust has engendered feeling of ami
mostly which, leading in some instances to
collision and bloodshed, has prevented that
cooperation between the two races 30 essen
| tial to the success of industrial enterprises
in the southern States. The entire Union
has been agitated by grave apprehensions
| of troubles which might involve the peace
of the nation. The Federal Constitution ls
row ADEQUATE to the settlement Of the ques-
tons growing out of the late civil war.
The President reviews the condition OF
the country since the end of the rebellion,
declaring that the acts passed were not war
ranted by the Constitution. He says that
the best interests of the country demand
the repeal of the tenure of-ofice act, and
the appropriation act of March 2, 1867, in
terfering as it does with the Presidents
constitutional functions IS commander-ln-
chief, and denying to States the right to
protect themselves by means of their Own
militia, should also be repealed.
The financial affairs of the Union need
immediate attention, as the public ex'
penses are unprecedented. Here the
President sets forth substantially his let
ter to General Ewing.l Congress should
make early provision to pay the indebted
ness of the country; the fruits of labor
should be enjoyed by citizens rather thar
used to build up moneyed monopolies ii
our own and other lands the debt should
not become permanent; the interest on the
debt should be reduced, the owners of Gov
eminent securities receiving seventeen pei
cent. on each dollar. This favors the few
at the expense of the many. The nationa
credit should be sacredly observed. The
six per cent. interest now paid by the Gov
eminent should be applied to the reduction
of the principal in semi-annual install
ments, which, in sixteen years, would liqui'
date the entire national debt. The large
amount of capital now invested in Govern
ment securities should be released. The
resumption of specie payments is recon.
mended.
The condition of our foreign affairs i:
reviewed. The controversy with the Para
guayan Government is detailed. Negotia
tons are pending for the construction of 6
ship canal across the Isthmus of Darien
and a comprehensive national policy would
seem to sanction the acquisition and In
corporation into our Federal Union of the
several adjacent continental and insulal
communities as speedily as it can be done
peacefully, lawfully, and without any viola
ton of nation al justice, faith, or honor.
Foreign possession or control of these
communities has hitherto hindered thu
growth and impaired the influence of the
United States. When firmly established q!
an independent republic, or incorporated
into the United States, they would be s
new source of strength and power.
| No reference is made in the message Il
our affairs with England relative to the Ala
bama claims, the naturalization treaty, etc
The President renews his recommended
ton that the judgment of the people should
be taken on the propriety of amending thu
Constitution First, for the election of {
President and Vice-President by the direc
vote ofthe people instead of by the agency o
electors secondly, that distinct designation
should be made of the person who shall
discharge the duties of President in tht
event of vacancy in the office both Of Pre-
sident and Vice-P President; thirdly, tina
senators should be elected by q direct vote
of the people of the several States.
In concluding, the President says Lee
us earnestly hope that before the expira
ton of our respective terms Of service, nov
rapidly drawing to close, an all-Wlse Pro
violence will so guide our counsels as tt
strengthen and preserve the Federal Union
inspire reverence for the Constitution, re-
store prosperity and happiness to our whole
people, and promote on earth peace anc
good will toward men," WALLACE.
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, December s. Senate. -
| MI, oo,oto mot of MON and adjourned