The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-12-07

and tariff In instances where unjust or bur.
densomc Determinations are made by the
present law, but a general revision Of the
laws regulating this subject recommend
the postponement Of for the present also
suggest the renewal Of the tax on Incomes,
but at a reduced rate, say Of three per cent,
And this tax to expire In three years.
With the funding Of the national debt, as
here suggested, feel safe In saying that
taxes and the revenue from imports may be
reduced safely from sixty to eighty millions
per annum at once, and may be still further
reduced from year to year, as the resources
OF the country are developed.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Treas
ury shows the receipts Of the Government
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1869, to
be 1870, Q43, 1i7 and the expenditures, lnclud.
ing interest, bouuties, &C., to be sS2l $780,
597. The estimates for the ENSUING 'car arc
more favorable to the Government, and will
no doubt show much larger decrease OF
the public debt.
The receipts In the Treasury beyond cX.
pcnditures have exceeded the amount nc
cessary to place to the credit OF the sinking
fund, as provided by law. To lock up the
surplus In the Treasury and withhold 1t
from circulation would lead to such con-
traction Of the currency as to cripple trade
aud seriously affect the prosperity of the coun-
try. Under these circumstances the Secrc-
tary OF the Treasury and myself heartily con.
Cured In the propriety Of using all the sur
plus currency In the Treasury in the pur-
chase Of Government bonds, thus reducing
the Interest. bearing Indebtedness Of the
country, and OF submitting to Congress the
question OF the disposition to be made Of the
bonds so purchased. The bonds now held
by the Treasury amount TO about seventy
five millions, including those belonging TO
the sinking fund. | recommend that the
whole DO placed to the credit of the sinking
fund.
Your attention IL respectfully invited to
the recommendations OF the Secretary Of the
Treasury for the creation OF the Office of
commissioner of customs revenues aud for the
increase OF salaries to certain classes of
officials; the substitution of increased ma
| tioual bank circulation to replace the out.
| standing three per cent. certificates; aud
most especially to his recommendation for
the repeal OF laws allowing shares of fines,
penalties, forfeitures, &C., to officers Of the
Government or to informers.
The office Of Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue Is Que of the most arduous and re-
sponsiblo under the Government. 1t falls
but little, II any, short Of cabinet position
In Its Importance and responsibilities. !
would ask for 1t, therefore, such legislation
as in your Judgment will place the office
upon footing Of dignity commensurate with
Its importance, and with character and
qualifications OF the class OF men required
TO nll IL properly.
As tho United States is the freest Of all
nations, so too Its people sympathizc with
all peoples struggling for liberty aud self
! government. But while so sympathizing,
II is duo to our honor that we should abstain
from enforcing our views upon unwilling
nations, aud from taking an interested part,
without imitation, In the quarrels between
different nations, or between governments
and their subjects. Our course should
always be In conformity with strict justice
and law, International and local. Such
has been the policy Of the Administra.
ton In dealing with these questions. For
more than n year valuable province
Of Spain, and near neighbor of ours, In
/ whom all our people cannot but feel deep
interest, has been struggling for independ.
euce and freedom. The people and gov
eminent Of the United States entertain the
same warm feelings and sympathies for the
people of Cuba In their pending struggle
that they manifested throughout the pre-
vious struggles between Spain and her for.
mer colonies in behalf of the latter. But
/ the contest has at no time assumed the
conditions which amount TO a war In the
sense OF International law, or which would
gauizatlon of the insurgents sufficient ia
justify n recognition Of belligcrency.
The principle Is maintained, however, that
this nation is Its own judge when to accord
the rights OF bclllgcrcncy either to people
struggling TO free themselves from govern.
ment they believe to be oppressive, or IA
| Independent nations at war with each other
The United States have no disposition Ia
interfere with the existing relations of Spain
to her colonial possessions on this continent.
They believe that In due time Spain and
other European Powers will find their in,
terest In terminating those relations, and
establishing their present dependencies as
Independent Powers-mcmbers of the fami
OF nations.
These dependencies are no longer regarded
as subject to transfer from one European
Power TO another. When the present rcla
ton OF colonies ceases, they are TO become
independent powers, exercising the right o.
choice and OF sclf.control in the determine
ton Of their future condition and relations
with other powers.
The United States, in order to put a stoI
to bloodshed In Cuba, aud In the interest o
q neighboring people, proposed their good
offices to bring the existing contest to ter
minntlon. The offer not being accepted by
Spain, on n basis which we believed could
be received by Cuba, was withdrawn.
II Is hoped that the good offices OF the
United States may yet prove advantageous
for the settlement of this unhappy strife.
Meanwhile number of illegal oxpedl
tons against Cuta have been broken up.
II has been the endcavor of the Admins
tration to execute the neutrality laws ii
good faith, no matter how unpleasant the
task, made SO by the sufIeriugs We have en-
dured from lack of like good faith towards
US by other nations.
On the Goth OF Marchlast the United States
schooner Lizzie Major was arrested on tn,
high seas by Spanish frigate, and two pas
sengers taken from II and carried rs prison
ers to Cuba. Representations Of these iact'
were made TO the Spanish Government as soOl
us official information of them reached Wash
ington. The 1.-TWO passengers were set at llbert,
and the Spanish government assured TIL
United States that the captain ofthe frigatc, il
making the capture, had acted without law
that he had been reprimanded for the irrcg
ularity Of his conduct, and that the Spanist
authorities In Cuba would not sanction any
act that could violate the rights, or treat
with dsrcspcct the sovereignty Of this nation
The question Of the seizure of the brig
Mary Lowell, at one of the Bahami
Islands, by Spanish authorities, Is now thu
subject Of correspondence between this Gov
eminent and those Of Spain and Grea
| Britain.
The Captain General OF Cuba, abOu
May last, issued u proclamation au,hor
izlng search TO be made Of yessc,, ~
the high seas. Immediate remonstrauc,
was made against this-whereupon the Cap
tain General issued new proclamation lin
itlng the right of search to vessels Of III,
United States, so far as authorized under
the treaty Of 1875. This proclamation, how
ever, was Immediately Withdrawn.
have always felt that the most lntlmat,
relations should be cultivated between til,
republic Of the United States and all nde
pendent nations on this continent. 1t ma,
be well worth considering whether new
treaties between us and them may not b'
probably entered into to secure more init
mate relations, friendly, commercial, an,
otherwise.
Ehe subject Of on lnter-oceanc canal to
connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
through the Isthmus of Darien, Is one IL
which commerce Is greatly interested. In
structions have been given TO our Minister
TO the republic Of the United States Of Co
lOmbla 10 endeavor to obtain authority for 1
survey by this Government, iu order to de
tcrmine the practlcability of such an under
taking, and charter for the right of way
10 build, by private enterprise, such work
If the survey proves 1t to be practicable.
L.. i IN. -.