The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-12-10
week to week At the same rate Of interest a
government pays upon in bonds.
rim REyxsuE. r

The subject Of tariff and huternsl taxation
will nocessArily receive Jour attenuon. ihe
revenues ofthe country are greaterthat ats ne
qurements and may with safety be reduced.
But as the funding Of the debt in four or a
four and half per cent. loan would reduce an
nuai current expenses hrycty, by thus. aftrr
funding, justifyng greater reduction OF taxa
ton than would be now expelient, | suggest n
postponcment Of this question until next meet
lug Of Congress. IL may be advisable 10 modify
the taxation and tariff in instances where unjust
or burlensOn'e Determinations are male by the
present laws, but general revision Of the laws
regarding this subject would recommend the
postponement Of for the present.
also suggest the renewal Of the tax on in
comes, but at a reduced rate, say Of per cent.
and this tax to be paid in three years. With
the funding Of the national debt ~ here sug-
gestel, l feel safe In saying that the taxes OF
and the revenue from imports may be reduced
safely from 90 to % millions per annum, Mt
once, and may be still further reduced from
year to year as the resources Of the country arc
developed.
...|n# FINANCIAL.
The rrport Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
shows the receipts Of the government for the
fiscal wear ending June 30th, 1869, to be SS7O,-
gi3, 7i7, and the expenditures, including inter
est, bountics. &C., to be s32l ,isO.597., .p
The estimates for the ensuing year are more
favorable To the government, and will no doubt
show much larger decrease OF the public debt.
The receipts Of the Treasury beyond expen-
diturcs have exceeded the amount necessary to-
place the credit OF the sinking fund as provided
by law. To lock up the surplus in the Treas
ury aud withhold il from circulation would
lead 10 such a contraction Of the currency as to-
cripple trade and seriously Affect the prosperity
Of the country. Under these circumstances the
Secretary Of the Treasury and myself heartily
coueurrci in the propriety Of using all the sur
plus currency in the Treasury in the purchase
VI government bonds, thus reducing the inter-
est-bcaring debt Of the country, anu submitting
10 Congress the question Of the disposition 10 lie
male 81 the bonds 50 PURCHASED. The bonds
now held by the Treasury amount to about S15,-
OOO, 900, including those belonging to the sink
ing fund. recommend that the whole be
placed TO the credit Of the sinking fund.
Your attention is respectfully invited TO the
Recommendations Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury for the creation Of the office OF Commissioner
Of Customs, the increase Of salary TO certain
classes Of officials, and the substitution Of the
increased National Bank circulation TO replace
the outstanding three per cent. certificates; and
most especially 10 his recOmendaton for the re
peal of the laws allowing shares Of lines. penal
tics, iorfeitures, TO officers OF the government or
to inIOrIRers. ..rr .,.... ...... -..r
COMMISSIONER or INTERNAL REVENUE.
The Office Of Commissioner Of Internal Rsve-
nue. is one of the most arlOus and responsible
10 the government I, falls but little " any,
short ola Cabinet position in its Importance
and responsibility. ] would ask therefore such
legislation rs in your judgement win place the
office on footing Of dignity commensurate with
its Importance and with character and quail
feation Of the class Of men required to hll 1t
properly.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
As the United States is the frcest Of all ma
tons, 80, too, do our people sympathiIe with all
people struggling for liberty and self govern
ment. But while so sympathiIing, it is due to
our honor that We should abstain from enforcing
our views upon unwilling nations, and from
taking an interested part without invitation in
the ouarrels between different nations or be-
tween Governments and their subjects. Our
course should always be in conformity with
strict Justice and international and local. |
Such has been the policy OF the administration
in dealing with those questions. .r
.' SPAIN AND cupA. L...
For more than year valuable province Of
Spain, and a near neighbor Of ours, in whom, |
all our people cannot but feel deep interest,
lIas been struggling for Independence and FRYE
dom. The people and Government Of the States
entertain the same warm feelings and sympa-
thies for the people Of Cuba in their pending |
struggle that they manifested throughout the
previous struggle between Spain and her former
colonies ina behalf of the latter. But the contest
has at no time assumed the condition which
amount TO war in the sense of International
law, or which would show the existence Of a de
facto political Organization VI the Insurgents
sufficient 20 justify recognition OF belligercncy.
The principle Is maintained, however, that this
nation is It's own judge when to ACCORD the
rights Of belligerency, either to apeople strug- |
Cling 20 free themselves from a Government
they believe TO be oppressive or TO independent
nations AZ war with each other. The United
States has not disposition 10 interfere with the
existing relations Of Spain to her colonial pos
sessions ON this continent. They believe that In |
due time Spain and other European powers will |
find their interest in terminating these relations
AMI in establishing their present dependence as
independent powers and msmbers Of the family |
Of nations. These dependencies are no longer
reslricl as subject TO transfer from ono Europe
an power To another. When the present rela-
tons Of colonies cease they are TO become inle-
pendent powers, exercise the right Of choice Of
selr-eurtrul in the determination Of their future
condition AMI relations with other powers.
The Unitci States. in order TO put n stop to
blOvd-shel in Cuba and in the interest Of neigh
boring people. proposed their good offices TO
bring the existing contest 10 q termination. The
Office not being accepted by Spain on basis
which We believed could be received by Cuba
was withdrawn. IL is hOpel that the good OH
ces OF the United States may yet prove siyanta-
gcous for the settlement octhis unhappy strug-
sic.
Meanwhile, number Of illegal expeditions
against Cuba have been broken up. Ii has been
the endesvor % the administration TO execute
the neutrality laws in rool f,ith, no matter how
unpleasant the task made NJ by the suffering
we have endured for lack OF ike COOL faith to-
warts US by their violation. On the 10Th Of
March last the schooner Lizzie Major was ar
re.tel on the high seas by Spanish frigaie and
two passengers taken from II and carried pris-
oncrs to Cuba. Representations Of these facts
were male 20 the Spanish government as soon
rs official information Of them reached Washing
ton The two passengers were set at liberty and
the Spanish Minister assured the United States
that the captain OF the frigite in making the
capture had acted without the law, that he had
been rsprimanded for the irregularity Of his con-
duct ani that the Spanish authorities in Cuba
would not sanction any act that could violate
the rights or treat with disrespcct the sovereign
~ Of this nation.
The question Of tue seizure Of the brig Mary
Lowell At one Of the Bahama Islands by the
Spanish authorities is now the subject Of the
correspondence between this government and
those Of Spain and Great Britain, The Captain
General Of Cuba, about May last. issued proc
lamation and authorized search to be made Of
all vessels on the high seas. Immediate remon-
strstion was male against this, whereupon the
Captain General issuei new proclamation linn
ting the right Of search TO vessels Of the Unitei
States 30 far As authorized by the treaty Of 1872
This proclamation, however, was Immediately
withdawp. .r ..r..
Our RELATIONS Win AMERICAN REruBLics.