Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-12-14


the Senate, in rejecting the treaty, to have
been wisely taken in the interests Of peace,
and as a necessary s.ep in the direction of a
perfect and cordial friendship between the two
countries.
a sensitive people. conscious of their power,
are more at ease under great wrong wholly
unatoucd for. than under the restraint of a
settlement which satisfies neither their ideas of
Justice nor their grave sense of the grievance
they have sustained. The rejection of the
treaty was followed By n state of public feeling,
on both sides, which 1 thought not favorable
! to an immediate attempt Of renewal of nego-
tiations. [ accordingly so instructed the Min
lister of the United States to Great Britain,
and found that my views in this regard were
shared by Her Majesty's Ministers. | hope
that the time may soon arrive when the two
Governments can approach ths solution OF this
momentous question with an appreciation of
what is due to the rights, dignity and honor
of each, and with the determination, not only
to remove the cause of complaint in the past,
but to lay the foundation of broad principle
of public law, which will prevent future diff
ferences, and tend to firm aud continued peace
and friendship.
This is now the only grave question which
nation.
TIE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
On my assuming the responsible duties of
Gmcf Magistrate OF tue United States, it was
with til" conviction that three things were es.
sential to its peace, prosperity and fullest de-
velopment. First among these is strict in>
tegrity in fulfilling all our obligations SEQ
ond-To secure protection to the person and
property of the citizen Of the United States
in each and every portion of our common
country, wherever be may choose to move,
without reference to original nationality, re-
ligion, color or politics, demanding of him
only obedience to the laws and proper respect
for the rights of others. Third-Union of
all the States, with equal rights, indcstruoti>
bic by any constitutional means. To secure
the first of these, Congress has taken two es>
sential steps; first in declaring by joint res
oution that the'public debt should be paid,
principal and interest, in coin and second,
by providing the means for paying. Pro-
viding the means, however, could not secure
the object desired without proper adminis>
traton of the laws for the collection of the
revenues. and an economical disbursement of
them. To this sulject the Administration
has most earnestly addressed itself with re-
suits hope satisfactory to the country.
SWAPplSG CABINET OFElCENS-
There has been no hesitation in changing
officials in order to secure an efficient execu-
ton of the laws, sometimes, too, where in a
mere party view undesirable political results
were likely to follow, nor any j., hesitation in
sustaining efficient officials against remon>
strances wholyspoliticaI.
TIE TENURE OF OFFICE ACT.
1t may be well to mention here the embar-
rassment possible to arise from leaving on the
statute books the so, called tenure of-of6ce
acts, and to earnestly recommend their total
repeal. 1t could notshave been the intention
of the trainers Of the Constitution, when
providing that appointments made by the
President should receive the consent OF the
Senate, that the latter should have the power
to retain in Office persons placed there by
Federal appointment against the will of the
President. The law is inconsistent with a
faithful aud efficient administration of the
Government. What faith can the Executive
put in officials forced upon him, aud those,
too, whom he has suspended for reason ?
How will such officials be likely to serve an
Administration which they know does not
trust them? For the second requisite to cur
growth aud prosperity, time aud firm but hu-
nIane administration Of existing laws, amended
from time to time, as they may prove inefec
tive or prove harsh and unnecessary, are prob
ably all that are required. The third cannot
be attained by special legislation, but must be
regarded as fixed by the Constitution itself,
aud gradually acquicsced in by force ofpublic
opinion, from the foundation Of the Govern
mcnt to the present management of the orig
inal inhabitants of this continent
SALARIES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS.
desire respectfully to call the attention of
Congress TO the inadequate salaries Of num-
Der of the most important officers of the Gov
ernment In this message | will not enumerate
them, but will specify only the justices Of the
Supreme Court No change has been made
in their salaries for fifteen years. Within that
time the lnbors Of the Court have largely in
creased, and the expenses Of living have at
least doubled. During the same time Con-
gress has twice found it necessary to increase
largely the compensation Of its own members,
and the duty which it owes to another De-
pnrtment of the Government deserves, aud
will, undoubtedly, receive its due considera-
tion.
CONCLUSION.
There arc many subjects not alluded to in
this mcssag, which might be with prOpriety
introduced, but abstain, believing your pa
triotism and craftsmanship will suggest the
topics and the lcgi-lation most conducive to
the interests of the whole people.
On my part promise rigid adherence 20
the laws aud their strict enforcement.
L. S. GRANT, President.
.NEwsPApERs.-TLe following we extract
from long article on newspapers -
They credit wider aud longer, get oftcncr
cheated. suffer more pccuuiary loss, are often
or the victims of misp!aced confidence than
any other calling in the community. People
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