The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-12-17

encouraged by the prospect Of an early
and satisfactory adjustment of all its diff
fculties. Congress, however, intervcn-
ed, and refusing to perfect the work so
nearly consummated, declined to admit
members from the unrepresented States,
adapted series of measures which ar
rested the progress Of restoration, frustra-
ted all that had been so successfully ac-
complished, and after three years of agita-
tion and strife has left the country, far
thor from the attainment Of union and
fraternal feeling than at the inception OF
the Congressional plan Of Reconstruction.
1t needs no argument to show that legis-
ton which has produced such baneful
consequences should be abrogated or else
made to conform to the genuine priuci-
pies of Republican government.
TENURE OF OFFICE BILL.
Under the influence of party passion
and sectional prejudice other acts have
been passed not warnted Constitution.
Congress has already been made familiar
with my views respecting the Tenure
of Office bill" Experience has proved
tha; its repeal is demanded by the best
interests of the country, and that
while it remains in force the President
cannot enjoln that rigid accountability of
public officers so essential to an honest
and efficient execution of the laws. Its
revocation would enable the Executive
Department to exercise the power of sp
poiutment and removal in accordance
with the original design of the Federal
Constitution.
The act of March %, 1867, making
appropriations for the support of the army
the year ending June Both, 1868, and
for other purposes, contains provisions
which interfere with the Presidents Con
stitutional functions as Cemmauder-in-
Chief of the Army, and deny to the
States of the Union the right to protect
themselves by means of their own mi
litia.
THE TREASURY REPORT.
The message reviews Secretary Nc
Culloch's report, and speaks at length on
finances aud substantially in the same
veiu as the Secretary's report. He pic
lures the evils of a deprecated currency,
the necessity for return to specie pay
ments, and indorses the main PROPOSE
tions Of the finance report. This is the
concluding paragraph:
1t is one of the most successful devices
in times of peace or war, of expansions or
revolutions, to accomplished the transfer
of all the precious metals from the great
mass of the people into the hands of the
few, where they are boarded in secret
places, or deposited under bolts and bars,
while the people are left to endure all
the Inconvenience, sacrifice, and demora-
lization resulting from the use of depre-
ciated and worthless paper.
The President then takes up the other
Departmental reports in their order, as
follows
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE IN
TERROR.
The Secretary of the Interior in his re-
port gives valuable information in refer.
ence to the supervision of his Depart
ment, and reviews the operations of the
Land Office, Pension Office, Patent of
fee, and the Indian Bureau, During the
fiscal year ending June 30th, 1868, six
million six hundred and fifty five thous
and seven hundred acres of public land
were disposed of. The entire cash re-
ceipts of the General Land Office for the
same period were 81 ,632, ,T45, being
greater by S284,SS3 than the amount re-
allied from the same sources during the
previous year. The entries under the
Homestead Law cover two million three
hundred and twenty eight thousand nine
hundred and twenty-three acres, nearly
one fourth of which was taken under the
act of June 2lst, 1866, which applies on
ly to the States Of Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Florida. On
the 30th of June, 1868, one hundred and
sixty-nine thousand six hundred and for
ty.three names were borne on the pension
rolls, aud during the year ending on that
day the amount of pensions paid, includ-
ing the expenses of disbursement, was
S24, ,0l09S2, being $5,39l ops greater
than that expended for like purposes dur
ing the preceding year. During the year
ending the Both Of September last, the
expense of the Patent Office exceeded
the receipts by one hundred aud seven
ty Que dollars, and including reissues and
designs, fourteen thousand one hundred
and fifty three patents were issued Trea
ties with various tribes of Indians have
been concluded and will be submitted to
the Senate for its Constitutional action.
cordially sanction the stipulations which
provide for reserving lands for the var
ious tribes, where they may be eucourag
ed to abaudon their nomadic habits and
engage in agricultural and industrial
pursuits This policy, inaugurated many
years since, has met with signal success
wherever it has been pursued in good
faith and with becoming liberality by the
United States. The necessity for ex
4 l. 4 10,