Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-12-15
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Radicals on a Rampage |!

i 44aH.se &DREWJ oHNSoN, sent lnIo OV"S'9'S
Us zaaeStay, the last annual Message of
is sesidstiiial term 1t is quite lengthy,
inas5sg several columns in the small type-oi
our city exchanges. Upon its presentation
( there was a violent, party demonstration Ia
both Houses, aud the; language OF tue oocu-
ment was denounced in severe terms. Al
the Senate, the reading was suspended, sew
eral Radical Senators remarkins that they
had had enough of it for one day, and would
sooner take it in broken doses. A point OF
order was raised in the House by Democrats,
VIM claimed that the Republicans were using
unnarliamcntary language in pronouncing the
message an '.infamOus paper" but the Speak
er ruled that it was froc country, and the
Representatives of the people had a right to
criticise the action of their public officers in
any language they thought proper. The
House refused to refer it to committees, as has
been the custom.
This is the best endorsement could be made
of the important document, and will secure
for it at the hands of the just and good
throughout the nation, a consideration it
might not otherwise obtain. We append
full and satisfactory condensation Of the chief
topics of interest treated OF, as cur space is
not adequate to its publication in full in the
present issue. 1t is frank and simple IL style,
full of interesting and important information,
aud eminently dignifed in tone. At the
very threshold, the President, through his
MESSAGE
Invites the attention of Congress to the dis
organized condition of the country under tie
various laws which have been passed upon
the subject of reconstruction, which, he de-
clares, after fair trial, have failed, and there
seems to be no good reason why they should
longer 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 earneStuess. The
consistency and steadfastness with which
President johnson, from the beginning to
the end of his administration, has adhered to
his views upon the constitutional question in
volved in reconstruction, challenge adm!ra.
ton from all whose judgment is not cloudcd
by party prejudice and passion, and will be
remembered hereafter as distinguishing and
honorable characteristics of the man and his
administration Although he can have no
hope of influencing Congress to a change,
yet the utter failure so far to realize the happy
results which were to>fow from its legislation,
naturally confirms the President in his origi-
nal convictions on the subject.
In regard to the tenure>ofOfice bill, the
President urges that its repeal is demanded
by the best interests of the country. lie
also regards the army appropriation act of
March 2, 1867, as containing provisions which
interfere with his constitutional functions az
commander in chief.
The condition of the finances is next con-
sidered, and it is stated that, compared with
the growth of our population, the public ex-
penditures have reached an amount unpTece-
denied in our history. The facts which go
to show this are of great interest, aud worthy
the special attention of the reader. These
considerations are employed to illustrate the
necessity of retrenchment in all branches Of
the public service The receipts Of internal
revenue and customs are said. during the
past three years, to have gradually diminish
ed, and the continuance of extravagGnt ex-
penditures will involve US in national bank
ruptcy, or else make an increase of taxation
inevitable. Reference is made to the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury, which shows
that the receipts for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1868, were s405, 63S, 083, AMI that
the expenditures for the same period were
1871, $40, 2S4, leaving in the treasury a sur
plus of S2S, 297, 798. 1t is estimated that
the receipts during the present fiscal year
ending June so, 1860, will be S341 1892, 1868,
and the expenditures 1896, 152 ,470, showing
a small balance of S. 40 1898 in favor of the
government For the fiscal year ending June
80, 1870, it is estimated that the receipts
will amount to 1927 100000, and the expcn-
ditures to s3O3. O0OO 900. leaving an estimated
surplus of s24,000,000
In this connection the President refers to
our public Indebtedness, which has accumu-
lated with such alarming rapidity, and which,
from debt of sixty-four millions just prior
to the outbreak of the late war, had risen at
It's conclusion to 50, $40, 1892 900.
The Secretary of the Treasury shows that
on the first of November 1867, this amount
had been reduced to s., 491 ,504, $50; but at
the same time his report exhibits an increase
during the, past year of $50, 62J, l02, for the
debt on the 1st day of November last IS stated
to have been 50, 527,129, 552. 1t is estimated
by the Secretary that the returns for the past
month will add to our liabilities the further
sum of eleven mllions-making total in
crease during thirteen months of forty-six
and half millions
The President rcnews his recommendation
in his message of December 4, 1865, to de-
wise policy to begin to effect a reduction of
the public debt and make provision for the
payment of our obligations at as early a pe>
Rod as may be practicable. He states that
various plans have been proposed for the paw
ment of the public debt, and that however
they may have varied as to the time and mode
in which it should be reduced, there is a gen,
eral concurrence as to the propriety of re.
duction in the present rate of interest. The
exorbitancy of the existing rate has led to an
inquiry respecting the consideration which
the government actually received for its bonds
and the conclusion is becoming prevalent