The Van Buren press., 1869-12-14
FROM WASHINGTON.
From st. Louie Rpu5licaa Reports
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

gratitude To the OlNer OF All gOOu lOf lne
many benefits we enjoy. We are blessed
with peace at home, and are without en-
tsngling alliances abroad to forbode
trouble. With a territory unsurpassed
in fertility, OF an area, equal to tho abun-
dant support Of five hundred millions of
people, and abounding in every variety
of useful minerals, in quantity sufficient
to supply the world for generations with
abundant crops; with variety ofclimate
adapted to the production Of every spe
cies of earth's riches, and suited to the
habits and requirements Of every living
thing; with population Of fifty millions
of free people, all speaking one language !;
with facilities OF every kind to acquire an
education; with Institutions closed to
none, to the avenues of favor, or any
blessing Of fortune that may be coveted /;
with freedom Of the people, the press
and schools with revenue flowing into
the National Treasury beyond the re-
quirements Of the Government supply !;
harmony being rapidly restored within
our own borders; manufactures hereto
fore unknown in our country springing
up in all directions, producing a degree
of national independence uneqnalled by
that Of any other power. These bless
ings and countless others are entrusted to
your care, and more tor the safe keeping
for the brief period of our term Of office !;
and in short time we must each Of us re-
turn to the ranks ofthc people, who have
conferred upon us our honOrs, and ac-
count to them for our stewardship.
earnestly desire that neither you nor
may be condemned by a free and enlight-
ened constituency, nor by our consciences
Emerging from rebellion Of gigantic
magnitude, aided as it was by the sympa-
thy and assistance ofnations, with which
we were at peace, eleven States Of the
Union were four years ago left without
legal State Governments and a debt had
been contracted American commerce
was almost driven from the seas the in
dustry of one-h half of the country had
been taken from the control Of the capi-
talists and placed where all labor right
fully belongs, in the keeping Of the labor
s.,
The work Of restoring State Govern
ments loyal to the Union; of protecting
and fostering labor, and providing means
for paying the interest on the public debt,
has received ample attention from Con-
gress; although your members have no,
met with the success, in all particulars,
that might have been deserved, yet on the
whole they have been more successful
than you could have reasonably anticipa.
ted.
In reference to the Southern States, he
says seven are fully restored, but the
eighth (Georgia) is evidently not con.
sidered so. He refers to the action of the
Legislature Of that State in unseating the
negroes, and asks Congress to pass law
calling on the Governor to convene the
old Legislature, and require all members
to take the oath presented in the nth a
mendment and expel those who canno
take it,
which they have received, are making
rapid progress in learning, and no com
plants are heard of lack of industry ol
their part when they receive fair re
| ihutNiNbioil III tutii luDoI'
The means proposed for paying the in
terest on the public debt, with all actua
expenses of the Government, are NOR
than ample. The loss of our commerc
is the only result of the late rebellion
which has not received sufficient attention
from you. To this subject | call you
earnest attention. | will not now sug
gest plans by which this object may be ci
fected, but will, if necessary, make it tn
subject Off special message during tn
session of Congress.
or Virginia, he says he recommend
admission of her Senators and Represent
atives, and full restoration rs one O
the States of the Union. He says the re
suit leaves much not known, but he hope
the action of the Legislature of that Stat
will be such as to close the work of re
construction.
On the subject of currency, he say
among the many evils growing out of tn
rebellion is that of redeemabe currency
1t is an evil which | hope will receiv
your most earnest attention. 1t is tn
highest duty Of Government to revive
medium of exchange Of fixed, unvaryin,
value. This implies return to speci
basis There is no substitute for il whicl
can be devised. 1t should be commence,
now and reached at the earliest practicabl
moment, consistent with fair regard 70
the interests of the debtor class Imme
diatc resumption, if practicable, woult
not be desirable. 1t would compel tn,
debtor class to pay beyond their con
tracts premiums on gold at the date o
their purchase, and would bring bank
ruptcy and ruin to thousands by the nuc
tuations in paper value. To measure al
values in gold is detrimental to the inter
ests of trade. 1t makes man of business
an involuntary gambler, for in all sales
where future payment is to be made, botl
parties speculate, as to what will be tn,
value in currency to be paid and received
earnestly recommend such Legislation
as will insure a gradual return to spcci,
payment and put an immediate stop tc
fluctuations in the value of currency
Methods TO secure these results are as nu
merous as are spectators in pohtca
economy. ] see but one way, and that il
to authorize the Treasurer to withhold
from circulation all such currency re
deemed until sold again for gold. The
resources of the nation, both developed
and undevcloped, ought to make oui
credit the best on earth. With less bur
den Of taxation than citizens have endur
ed for six years past, the entire public
debt could be paid in ten years; but it is