Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-12-15

u'l,o epomalous condition OF our curEeucy 10
Hold m be in striking contrast with that Which
,,s originally designed. Equal and exact
! w. reouires that all tho creditors of the
goyernment should be paid in currency
assessing q, uniform value, which can only
be accomplished BY the restoration of the
currency to the standard established by the
constitution: Fnots derived frop, our CONNER,
cial statistics are next de9uced to show the
feasibility of making cur currency correspond
with the constitutional standard. 1t is urged
that the time has come when the government
aud natinual banks should be required to take
the ,aost efficient steps and make all necessary
arrangements for resumption of specie pay
ments. The President adds:
"Specie payments having been resumed by
the government and banks, all notes or bills
of paper issued by either of less denomina>
ton than twenty dollars should by lawbe
excluded from circulation, so that the people
may have the benefit and convenience of
gold and silver currency which, in all their
business transactions, will be uniform in value
at home and abroad"
The President next makes reference to the
report of the Secretary of the Interior, includ-
Ing the operations of the land Office, pension
office, patent Office and the Indian hureau.-
In regard to the Indian tribes, the President
says that treaties with various of them have
been concluded, and that he cordially sanctions
the stipuations which provide for necessary
lands for them, where they may be encouraged
to settled habits and Industrial pursuits.
The President next makes reference to the
reports of the Secretaries of War, Navy and
the Postmaster General.
Our foreign relations are said to be friend
ly, except that in regard to Paraguay, the con-
Al. IL, 6 81 ,ka
try and Mr. Washburn has led to instructions
to our newly appointed minister to Paraguay,
Mr. McNIahon, to proceed to Asuncion and
investigate the whole matter, and the rear
admiral of our squadron on that station has
been directed to attend the new minister with
a proper naval force to sustain such just
demands as the occasion may require.
Our relations with Mexico during the past
wear are said to have been marked by an in
crcasiug growth of mutual confidence. Nego-
tiations are said to be pending with view to
the survey and construction of a ship canal
across the isthmus of Darien under the
auspices of the United States. The Pres
ident has been reluctantly obliged to ask
explanation and satisfaction for national in
jures committed by the President of Hayti.
Reference is made to the acquisition of
Alaska, which it is said was made with the
view Of extending national jurisdiction and
republican principles in the American hemis-
phere, and US step in the same direction a
treaty was made for the purchase of st. Thomas,
which remains under consideration in the
Senate.
The President holds that comprehensive
national policy would seem to sanction the
acquisition and incorporation into our federal
Union Of the adjacent continental and insular
n he
peacefully and lawfully, an idea which will
take hold upon the popular mind. In this
connection the President says:
SIT cannot be long before it will become
necessary for this government to lend some
effective aid to the solution Of the political
and social problems which are continually
kept before the world by the two republics of
the Island of St. Domingo, and which are now
disclosing themselves more distinctly than
heretofore in the Island of Cuba The sub
ject is commended to your consi Iteration with
all the more earnestness because [ am satisfied
that the time has arrived when even SO direct
proceeding as proposition for an annexa-
ton of the two republics Of the Island of St.
Domingo would not only receive the consent
of the people interested, but would also give
satisfaction to all other foreign nations"
With the increased facilities for intercommu-
nlcatlon, the President thinks that our poltl-
cial system can be successfully applied to an
area more extended than our continent.
Reference is next made to treaties with the
Hawaiian kingdom, with Germany and Bava-
ria regarding the rights of naturalzed citizens,
and to the important questions remaining open
between the United States and England for
adjustment. In reference to these last, the
President expresses the hope that he shall
be able to lay before the Senate during the
present session protocols calculated to bring
controversies to an end.
The President renews the recommendation
Of his last message in relation to amending the
constitution for the election of President aud
Vice President for single term, and by d.
rect vote of the people, &c, and closes with
the expression of a hope that the counsels of
Congress will be so guided as to preserve the
Union and. restore prosperity and happiness
to the people.