Smyrna times., 1869-12-08

The PRESIDENTS MEssAGE.-The second
% ''on Of the Forty first Congress convened on
Monday at noon when President Grants first
Annual Message was read. 1t is much shorter
than such documents generally are, but too
long Tor our Columns. We can give but an
synopsis; as follows: .
lie opens by referring to the prosperity and
the great resources and capabilities of the
country which he thinks are calculated to in
spire universal confidence 10 the future of the
" great republic" ...,
Reconstruction is first treated upon He
proceeds to say that while the reconstruction
policy of Congress has not been altogether sue.
cessful, it has worked. more satisfactory than
could have been anticipated. Seven States
that passed ordinances of secession have been
fully restored. With regard to Georgia, Gen
eral Grant advises Congress to pass a law an
thorizing the Governor to reconvene the mem.
bers originally elected to the Legislature, re.
curing each to take the oath prescribed by the
reconstruction acts, aud none to be admitted
% are ineligible unler the third clause of the
fourteenth amendment. lie recommends the
admission OF Virginia under the organization
as 1t stands, as the State has fully comp;ied
with all the requirements of Congress. As
regards finance, the President thinks. that an
Immediate resumption of specie payments. if
practicable, would not be desirable, but that
preparations for resumption should be com-
meneed now, and completed Dis early as possible
ne sees but one way, and that is to Authorize
the Treasury to redeem its own paper at fix.
ed price whenever presented, and to WITHHOLD
from circulation all currency so redeemed until
sold again for gold On the subject of tbe
debt he says that, with less burdensotne tax
alton than has been endured for the past six
years, we could pay off our entire debt in ten
years but that it is not desirable that the neo-
pie should be taxed to pay it in that time. Yet
the load OF interest ought to be reduced, and
he Things it quite feasible to fund the debt at
f'u' aud q half per cent, which he suggests to
the attention Of Congress. together with the
plan OF redeeming the currency above alluded
More revenue being received into the Treas
ury than the government requires, he advises
Congress to reduce the public taxation from
sixty TO eighty millions, with progressive re-
duction from year to year, as the resources of
the country are developed. For this fiscal
year ending june 30, 1869, the revenues were
e370,9 747, ana the expenditures 1921, 400
.697. For the ensuing year the estimates are
much more favorable, and will show a much
larger decrease Of the public debt.
On the subject Of the Cuban insurrectioh,
the President says that the contest has never
assumed a condition which amounts to war
In the sense of international law, or which
would shov the existence Of a dsftcto politi.
cal Organization OF beIIigerency. We reserve
the right to judge when we viii recognize the
beligereney of the rebels if it should be JUST
fed by events. -"a e5
Our minister to Colombia is authorized "a ne
gotiate for treaty to survey route for the
proposed ,Dariep ship canal, and . charter for
the right of way to build it. In consequence
of the complaints of Peru about the Spanish 4,
gunboats built at New York, orders were issu-
ed 10 prevent their departure; but as Peru
presented no evidence and took no further steps :
the matter was referred to the courts to decide.
The President iqdorses the action of Congress I
IN rejecting the johnson treaty with England 1