The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-12-13
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

u nus uceu lookcu l0r WIN more intense
interest than that ofany ofhis predecessor,
Of late years! And now, when the process
ofincabation has been thoroughly COM
ple.ed :. and the fsdglingi is cast forth to
the charities of tho people. We mus, con-
fess shat we are disappointed. Instead Of
high slatesmanship, We find only the or.
binary pIatilude Of the Lemagogue in
atead Of declaring pulley which would
bring back our country to its primitive
prosperity aud greatness, ne fad only. a
vague promise TO enforce the laws"
The message commences with a school.
boy like essay, in which its supposed au-
thor st'empts. to, lcoapiulato the many
blessings With which We are endowed
not the lesst Of which he seems TO consider
national debt Of $500, 900, 900 90.
IRON this he passes to the subject Of
reconstruction, and congratulated the poo.
pie at large, that in the exceedingly short
period of;four and-a-half years, which have
TRANSFERRED since the close Of tue war, seven
Of tho seeding States have been success.
fully reconstructed. In this connection.
he lamcnts the fact that Georgia is still
"outside the pale of civilization, "-she
having refused to allow negroes to sit as
members in her legislative halls; and rec.
ommouds that sho is still kept ''out Of the
Uni cn'-hcr representatives TO Congress
sent home deprived Of the seats they now
occupy-and that the State be submitted
anew to the tender mercies Of military
reconstruction.
lie then pays glowing tribute "to The
rapid advance ,nl progress in learning
which the freedmen have made since their
emancipation" passes over our loss Of
commerce with half q score Of lines Of in
sipid pucrilities, and again jumps over
the GLOW gap" to his faYori.c subject of
rcconstruction-furthcr recommending
that the representatives in Congress from
Virginia be admitted 10 their seats-tlat
State having done and performed all things
required for the supremacy Of the radical
party.
In relation to Mississippi and Texas. he
had not received sufficient alyicss as to tic
result Of tho elections to know whether lie
should recommend their admission or not !;
but he hopes, however, that tho action Of
those State, will be such "as will meet
the approval Of Congress"
Next in importance seems 10 be the
currency question )" and upon this sub.
ject-singular to relate he seems to hayo
some idea, which arc of utility. For in-
stance, IN speaking OF the resumption Of
specie payments, he says "immoliate re.
sumption, if practicable, would not be
desirable. 1t would compel the debtor
class tOpay, beyond their contracts, tic
premium on gold at the date Of their pur-
chase, and would bring bankruptcy and
ruin to thousands" But while he says
this, the influence Of The bondhollcr: is
apparent in the material recommendations
which he makes upon this subject. In
proof Of this, we have only to say that he
recommends the funding of the debt at
A. per cent. principle and interest paya-
bio in eoin-which would add abou.
SG00,OOO,00O 90 to our already huge
public blessing" lie admits that tile
present revenue Of The Government! is
greater than its requirements; but instead
Of rscomnlcudiug reduction Of The tariff
or taxes, he advises the removal Of the tsx
on incomes. This is no. done for the
purpose Of paying of tho debt, for be ex-
pressly says that at is not desirable that
the people should pay off tho debt within
ten years. but for what purpose i. is, he
leaves to our own Imagination.
In keeping with bis pledges of "econo.
my, rolrcnclmcnt and REFORM" is his rec
omlncndation 10 increase the salaries Of
the various Departmental officers, and
those Of tho Judges Of the Supreme Court.
lie talks |earnsdly Of our foreign io.a-
tions--levotes large amount Of space to
Cuban affairs but after wading through
a labyrinth Of constructed sentences,
We are as much at . loss rs when We began
10 know what the policy OF our Govern.
lnent will 10 in relation TO illat island.
With all other countries, the message
gives us to understand. We are upon terms
Of profound pcace-not ercn the little
triao Of The Alabama claims, or tho Fcnian
raids, seem 10 have ruiiltl our kind rcla.
lions "oycr tic border aud "aeross the
water" '..4.Ha -.
The rest OF tue message Is chiefly i'm.