The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-10
WI e S S A G. Z
President of the United States.
OF THE

Upon the reassembng OF Congress 1t again be-
comes INV duty to call your attention to the state OF
the Union and to Its continued disorganized condi-
ton under the various laws which have been passed
upon the subject OF reconstruction.
1t may be safely assumed as an axiom in the gov
eminent OF States that the greatest wrongs inflicted
upon people are caused by unjust and arbitrary
legislation or by the unrelenting DEGREES OF despotc
rulers and that the timely revocation OF injurious
and oppressive measures is the greatest good that
can be conferred upon q nation. The legislator OF
ruler who has the wisdom and magnanimity to re-
trace his steps, when convinced OF error, win sooner
or later be rewarded with the respect ana gratitude
OF an intelligent and patriotic people.
THE RECONSTRUCTION QUESTION.
our own history, although embracing period less
than century, affords abundant proof that most
not all OF our domestic troubles are directly trace
able to violations or the organic law and excessive
legislation. The most striking illustrations OF this
fact are furnished by the enaaments OF the past
three years upon the question OF reconstruction.
After fair trial they have substantially failed and
proved perncious in their results and there seems
no good reason why they should longer remain upon
the statute book. States to which the constitution
guarantees o republican form OF government have
been reduced to military dependencies in each or
winch the people have been mace subject to the
arbitrary will OF The commanding general. Although
the constitution requires that each state shall be
presented in Congress, virginia, Mississippi and
Texas are yet excluded from the two houses. and,
contrary 10 the express provisions OF that lnstru
ment were denied participation in the recent cleo
ton for President and Vice President OF the United
states.
The attempt to place the white population under
the dominion of persons of color In the South has
impaired ii not destroyed, the kindly relations that
had previously existed between them, and mutual
leading in some instances to collision and bloodshed
mas prevented that cooperation between the two
races so essential TO the success OF industrial enter
prlses In the southern States. Nor have the inhab
tants OF those states alone suffered from the dis
turbed condition OF affairs growing out OF these Con-
greSsiOnal enactments. The entire Union has been
agitated by grave apprehensions OF troubles which
might again involve the peace OF the nation its in-
teTests have been injurouSy affected by the derange-
ment OF business and labor, and the consequent want
VI prosperity throughout that portion OF the country
The federal cOnstituiion-the magma cbarta OF
American rights, under whose wise and sautary
provisions we have successfully conducted all our
domestic and foreign AFFAIRS sustained ourselves In
peace and In war and become great nation among
the Powers OF the eartb-must assuredy be now
adequate to the settlement OF questions growing out
OF the civil war waged alone for Its vindcation This
great fact is made most manifest by the condition OF
the country when Congress assembled In the month
of December, 1865. Civil strife had ceased; the
spirit Of rebellion had spent its entire oece; in
Southern States the people had warmed into national
life and throughout the country healthy reaction In
public sentiment had taken place. BY the applica
ton OF the simple yet effective provisions OF the
constitution the Executive Department with the
voluntary aid OF the States, had brought the
work OF restoration as near completion as
within the scope OF its authority, and tire nation
was encouraged by the prospect OF an early and sas
factory adjustment OF all It's difficulties Congress,
however, interviewed, and, refusing to perfect the
work SO nearly contaminated, declined to admit men,
bers from the uurepresented states, adopted series
measures which arrested the progress OF restora-
ton, frustrated all that had been successfully ac-
complished and, alter three years OF agitation and
strife has LETT the country further from the attain
ment OF union and fraternal feeling than at the in-
ception OF the Congressional plan OF reconstruction
IL needs argument to show that legislation which
CONSEQUENCES SlOud
abrogated or else made 10 conform to the genuine
principles Of republican government.
THE TENURE OF OFFICE BILL
Under the influence OF party passion and sectional
prejudice other acts have been passed not warranted
made familiar with my views respecting the Tenure
OF once bill. Experience has proved that It's repeal
~ demanded by the best interests OF the country and
mat while 1t remains in force the President cannot
enjoin that rigid accountability OF public officers 20
essential TO an honest and efficient execution Of the
laws. Its revocation would enable the Executive
Departments to exercise the power OF appointment
and removal in accordance with the original design
Of the federal constitution.
THE SOUTHERN MILITIA.
me act OF March = 1867, making appropriations
Tor the support OF the army Tor the year ending June
which interfere with the Presidents constitutional
functions as cornmander-inchief OF the army, and
deny to States OF the Union the right to protect them
selves by means OF their own militia These provi-
slons should be at annulled Tor while the first
might, IN times OF great emergency, seriously em.
the common strength of the nation for its protection
aud PRESERVATION the other Is contrary to the express
declaration OF The constitution, that "a wei regu
lated miuta being necessary to the security of Tree
state the right OF the people to keep and bear arms
shall not be iniringed.n
IL is believed that the repeal Of oil such laws would
be accepted by the American people at least par
tal return to The fundamental principles OF the gov
eminent and an Indication that hereafter the consti
tuition Is TO Ice made the nations safe and unerring
guide. They can be productive OF no permanent
benefit 10 the country, aud should not be permitted
20 stand rs so many monuments OF the deficient wis.,
dom which has characterized our recent legis-
Aaton.
THE FINANCES.
The condition OF our finances demands the early
and earnest consideration or Congress. Compared
with the growth OF population the public expen-
ditures have reached an amount unprecedented In
our history.
she population OF the United States In 1900 was
nearly four millions OF people. Increasing each de-
eade about thrty-lhree per cent II reached in 1850
thirty-onc millons-an increase OF seven hundred
per cent the population IN 1890. In 1850 IL Is esd
mated tuat It viii reach thrtyeght millions, an
increase OF eight hundred and siAy-elght per cent
The annual expenditures OF the federar govern.
ment la 1891 were S42O0oo0 In 1890, SIS. 200 900;
IN 1862 SAL 100000; in 1850, s630oO,oo0; In 1865
nearly ST. 100000 and In 1869 IL Is estimated by
the Secretary the Treasury In his last annual
port, that they viii be 100000
By comparing the public disbursements OF 1902 as
increase or expenditure since the beginning OF the
government has been s,6l3 per centum, while the
Increase OF the population for the same period was
only 500 per centum. Again: the expenses OF the
government in 1862 the year OF peace Immediately
preceding the war, were only <oS,OoO,OvO, Whlle IN
1862 the year OF peace three years after the war; II
Is estimated they VIII be S352 6)o 0o0an increase Of
$50 per centum, while the increase OF population
was only lweny-one per centum FOR the same period.
These statistics further show that in 1871 the
annual national expenses compared with the popu-
iaiOn, were little more than dollar per capita.
and In 1860 but two dollars per eapa while Ia 1859
they viii reach the extravagant sum " nine dollars
and seyentyeight cents per capita
IL Win be observed that all these statements refer
10 and exhibit the disbursements OF peace peritds.
II may, therefore, bc OF interest to compare the ex-
pendiures OF the three war periods--the war with
Great Britain, the Mexican war aud the war OF the
rebellion.
In ls14 the annual expenses incident 70 the war OF
1917 reached their highest amount, about s3 000 600
while our population slightly exceeded 100000.
showing an expenditure OF only IS 50 per capita In
is4T the expenditures growing out OF the war with
Mexico reached $5j 000 600 and the population about
a. 900 900, giving only ~ GO per capita for the
expenses OF that wear. In 1896 the expenditures
called for by the rebellion reached the vast amount
III 900 900, 00O which, compared with population
" "A. 100000, gives s35 20 per capita.