Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1868-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Tho las. of the messages Of President
johnson, is ike AL the other communi-
cations to Congress from the same source
a vigorous. luminous aud comprs hen
siye state papr At the very threshold.
the President calls the attention of Con-
qress 20 the disordered condition Of the
country under the various laws which
have been passed upon the subject of re-
construction, which, he declares, after a
fair trial. have failed, and there seems to
be no good reason why they should lon
ger remain on the statute book. The
views Of the President upon this subject
are in the main those which he has stated
on former occasions, and are expressed IN
tone of great emphasis and esrnestness.
The consistency and steadfls ness with
which President johnson, from the be-
ginning to the end of his administration,
has adhered TO his views upon the constl-
tutional question involved in rec3nStruo-
ton, challege admiration from all whose
Judgment is not olouded by party prelu-
dice and passion, and viii be remembered
hereafter IS Distinguishing aud honora-
bic characteristics Of the man and his sd-
ministration. Although he can have no
hope of Influencing Congress to change,
wet the utter failure, SO far to realise the
happy results which were to flow from Its
Legislation, naturally confirms the Presi-
dent in his original convictions on the
subject.
In regard TO the tenure-of- Office bill
the President urges that its repeal IL de-
marded By the hest interests OF the coun-
try. He also regards the army approprl-
alton act Of March ,, 1857, as containing
provisions which interfere with lis con
stitutlonal functions ~ conmander-in IN
chief.
The condition of tie fuances IS next
considered ard it is stated that, comp4r-
ed with the growth Of oar population. the
public expenditures have reached an
amount Unprecedented IL our history
The facts which go to show this are OF
great iuterest. and worthy the special at
ten,ion Of the reader. These considera-
lions are employed to illustrate the ne
o,.ssitv Of retren h!nent IN all branches Q!
the public service. The receipts Ct N
ternal revenue and customs are said, dur
ing the past three years. to have gradG-
ally diminished, and the continuance OF
e1travsgant expenditure will involve US
in national bankruptcy, or else make
an increase of taxation inevitable. hef-
erence il made to the report OF the Seore-
tary Of the Treasury, which shows that
the receipts for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1868. were S405, 63s ,0s3, and
that the expenditures for the same period
we're S37T. $40, 284. leaving in the treas
urv surplus of SIS, 297 1913. 1t is es-
timsted that the receipts during the pres,
ent fiscal year ending June 80, 1869, will
lie S341 ,3o2 S68, and the expenditures
1856 ,152.470, showing small balance
OF IS, 240, 1913 in favor of the govern
went. For the fiscal year ending june
80. 1870, it is estimated that the receipts
viii amount 10 S5.7 600 900, and the ex-
penditures to 5000, 600. 600, leaving al
estimated surplus Of S24 ,000, 600.
In this come ION. The PEeslaent re
fers to our pubic indebtedness, which Ia:
accumulated wiki such an alarming "a
pidity, and which, rom dets Of sixty
four millions just prior TO the outbreak O.
the late war, had risen at It's CONCLUSION
to 81, S7S. s92 ,90q.
The Secretary Of the Treasury shows
tia. on the first day of November, 1867
this amount had been reduced 10 g., 49l
| 5o4, $50, but st the same tllae, bis
report exhibits an increase during the
PISS, year OF SIS, o25. lo2 for the debt
on the 1st day of November last
IS stated to have been S22,527 .l2e,
So. 1t is estimated by the Secretary
hat the returns for the past month will
sud TO our liabilities she further sum OF
eleven ml!llons-naking total increase
during thirteen months Of foEtysix and :
Aalf millions
The presiden. renews bis recommen-
dation in his message Of December 4,
1865, 10 devise policy 10 begin 10 et-
feet reduction Of the public debt snd
make provision tor the payment OF our
obligations s. as early period as may De
practicable He states that various plans
nave been proposed for the payment Of
the public debt, and that, however they
may have varied az 70 the time and mode
in which it should be reduced. there i a
general cen reuce IS 10 the proPrle,y
OF the reduction IN the present. rate Of in-
tsrest Ttc u b',ano- : - e1is.l' s