The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

people are caused Dy uni uSG anu drolIiAs ieE
islation, or the unrelenting DEGREES Of despotlt
rulers, and that timely revocation OF injurious
and oppressive measures is the greatest gooo
that can be conferred apon nation. 1he leg
islator who retraces his steps when convinced
of error will be rewarded with the respect ano
gratitude of his people. Our own history proves
that most ifpot all Of our domestic troubles are
traceabIe to violations OF the organic law ano
excessive legislation. This is strikingy shown by
the Reconstruction enactments of the past three
wears. "After fair trial they have suostanh-
ally failed, and proved peraicio1s II taeir re-
suits, and there seoms to be no Good reaS
why they should longer remain upon the statute
book. States to which the constitution guar
entecd republican form OF government have
been reduced to military dependencies, in each
of which the people have beon made subject to
the arbitrary will of tho commanding general.
Although the constitution requires that each
State shall be represented in Congress, Nr-
ginia, Mississippi and Texas arc yet excluded
from the two houses, ard, contrary
to the express provisions or that ln-
s.rument. were denied participation In the
recent election for President end V:cc-Presi-
dent of the United States. The attempt to
place the white people under the domination
of persons of color in the South has impaired,
if not destroyed, the friendly relations that had
previously existed between them, and mutual
distrust has engendcred feeling of an'mosl;y
which, leading in some instances 20 collision
and bloodshcd, has prevented that cooperation
between the two races which is 80 essential to
the success of industrial enterprises in The
Southern States." The President ,says, fur
ther, that the entire Union has been a6i-
tated by the apprehension OF troubles, invoIv-
ing the peace of the nation, which has been
injuriously affected by the arrangement Of
business and labor, and the want of prosperity
in the South. The Federal Constitution must
assuredly he adequate to the settlement OF
questions growing out Of the war waged forlts
vindication. When Congress met in December,
1865. the Executive had, under the constitu-
ton, nearly completed the work OF restoration.
But Congress interfered and adopted measures
which arrested the progress of restoration, and
which after three years Of strife have left the
country further from union and fraternal feel
ing than at their beginning. This legislation
should be abrogated, or else made to conform
to the principles Of republican govern
ment. The President goes on to say that
tue Tenurc-of-Ofice bill" should be re-
pealed. because while j! is in forco the Presi-
Gent cannot epjoin that rigid accountability
ofpublc officers so essential to an honored ae'
ministration Of the laws. The President says
that the army appropriation act OF March 2,
1867, interferss with the Presidents constitu-
tional functions rs commander-in-chlef, and
denies States of the Union the right OF pre-
tic.ing themselves by their own militia. Bo.h
of these provisions should be at once aunuIled.
1T is beloved that tho repeal OF ell such
laws would be ;eepted by the American people
as at least partial return to the fundamental
principles Of tho Government, and al in
dication that hereafter the constitution is to be
made the nations sole and unerring guile" :"
FINANCE.
The President says that the public cxpendl-
tdres have reached an unprecedented amount
in comparison with tho growth of the popu-
lation. That has Increased from 17ol to 1850
700 per cent, and by 1869 Will have increased
to 86s per cent In tho same time the annual
expenditure OF the government has Increased
no less than 861S per cent. In 1860 the ex-
psndtures wero only s63, 900. In 1869 they
will be 1912 0OO, 900, an increase of 4S9 per
cent, while the population has only increased
81 per cent. The national expenses in l79l
were 81 per capita, in 1860 50, AID in 1869 they
will be So 70.
The President further says that the receipts
from internal revenue and customs have grad
ually diminished during the last three years,
and o continuance of extravaganza expendi-
lures will involve rs in national bankruptcy, or
make inevitable an increase OF the present
onerous and obnoxious taxes. Judicious legls-
lation and economy can alone remedy the de-
feet and avert the threatened danger. With
cut proper care there will be no balance
n the Treasury at the close OF the present
year, which would once more increase the
debt. By the report Of the Secretary OF
the lrcaSury it appears that Tor the year
ending juno 80, 1853, tho receipts were
s4O5, ,6Ss. .0S3, and tho payments S377 7,3tO,2 ,2sl.
leaving q surplus OF s2S,297,79S. During the
year ending Juuo 80. 1869, the receipts will be
sS41 892 SGS, leaving o balance of S3.2lO 3'3 IN
favor of the year ending June 80, 1870, in
which year the receipts should be s327, ,OOO. 600
and the payments s3O3, 900, leaving sur
plus OF s24 0OO,OOO The President gives addi-
tional details concerning the growth and dimi'
mutton of the debt before the war, and its IN.
crease during the war to s2,S73. .992 $685. the debt
being, on November /, 1868, 81. 527, 129, ,552
During the thirteen months just past, the debt
will have increased SIG, 900. The President
urges Congress to make provision, without
further delay, for the payment OF our ebhga-
tions at Us early period as may be practicable.
ss5O, ,OOO, 900 of our debt are held abroad, and
our citizens are taxed to support the foreigners
who possess them. The debt must not be re-
garded as permanent, for the result would be
that the borrowers would become the servants
of the lenders, and tho lenders the masters OF
the people. We pride ourselves on freeing
4,O0O, 900 OF celored men. It will be our shame
if 40, 100000 of people make themselves tho
slaves of the bendhelder. Huge debts are in
compatible with 4 republican system. They
would sap its foundations ard Greet
upon its ruins Monled aIistocracy.
The President is. in favor CT reducing
tho rate of interest. Tho Secretary OF the
Treasury advises per cent. as he rate; Con-