The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-12-16

would now be eXpedient, suggest that the post
ponement Of this question until the next meeting
OF Congress may be advisable.
Of q general revision Of the laws regulating
this subject, l recommend the postponment
for the present also suggest the renewal of
the tax on incomes, but at reduced rate Ray
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 saving the
taxes and revenue from imports may be reduced
safely from sixty to eighty millions per annum
at once. and still further reduced from year to
year as the resources Of the country are devel-
oped. The report Of the Secretary of Treasury
shows the receipts of Government for the fiscal
year, ending June 80, 1869. to be 1870, ,943. 747,
and the expenditures including interest, boun-
ties, &c, to be 1921 49q, ,597.
The estimates for the ensuing year are more
favorable TO the Government, and will no doubt,
show large decrease Of the public debt. The
receipts in the treasury. beyond the expendl-
lures, have exceeded the amount necessary to
place to the credit of the sinking fund, rs pro-
vided by law. To lock up the surplus in the
Treasury, and withhold 1t from circulation
would lead to such contraction Of the currency
as to cripple trade and seriously affect the pros
perity ofthe country. Under these circumstan-
ces the Secretary of the Treasury and myself
heartily concurred in the prOpriety of using all
the surplus currency in the Treasury in the pur-
chase of Government bonds, thus reducing the
interest bearing debt of the country, and sub
mltting 10 Congress the question of the disposi-
ti0n to be made Of the bonds so purchased. The
bonds now held by the Treasury amount to
about s75, ,000,000 including those belonging to
the Sinking Fund. recommend that the
whole be placed to the credit of the Sinking
Fund. Your atten ion is respectfully invited to
the Recommendation of the Secretary of the
Treasury for the creation of the officer of Com
m issOnor of customs Revenue, for the increase
of salary to certain classes of officials. and the
substitution of increased National Bank circula-
ton 10 replac the outstanding three per cent.
cert ificates, and most especially to his recon-
mendation for the repeal of laws allowing shares
Of fines, penalties, forfetures &C. to officers of
the Government. 1t falls but little. If any, short
Of Cabinet position in its importance and re-
spOnsihililes. / would ask for IT, therefore,
such legislation as in your judgment will place
the Office on footing of dignity commensurate
with its importance, and with the character and
qualifications Of The class Of men required to fill
II properly. .
AS the United States is the freest of all ma
tions so too It's people sympathize with II peo-
pie struggling for liberty aud selEgovernment,
but while 50 sympahizing 1t Is due to our
honor that we should abstain from enforcing
our views upon unwilling nations, aud from
taking an interested part without Invita-
tion iD the quarrels between different nations or
between Governments and their subjects Our
course should always lie In conformity with
strict justice and law, international and local.
Such has been the policy of the administration
in dealing with these questions for more than
wear A valuable province of Spain and near
neighbOr of ours, in which all our people can
not burfeel deep interest. has been struggling
for independence and freedom. The people and
Government OF the United States entertain the
same warm feelings aud sympathie les for the peo-
pie OF Cuba in their pending struggles that they
manifested throughout the previous strugg les
between spain and her former colonies in behalf
OF the latter. But the contest at no time as
sumcd the conditions which AMOUNT to a.war in
the sense OF Internal ional law, or which would
show the existence of de fdc,O pol itical orgau-
izaLion OF the insurgents sufficient to Justify
recognition OF bellgerency. The principle is
maintained, however, that this nation is its own
Judge When to accord the rights of beligereney
either TO people struggling to free themselves
from Government they believe to be oppress-
I've, VI tO independent nations at war with each
other. The United States have no disposition
To interfere with the existing relation of Spain
To her colonial possess ions on this Continent.
They believe that in due time Spain and other
European powers will find their interest In ter
mnaJ ing th sc relaL ions and establish ing their
present dependencies US independent powers,
members of The tnmily of nations The depend
eneles are no longer regarded as subjects of
transfer from one European power TO another.
When the present relations of colonies cease,
they are to become independent powers, exer-
clslDg the right Of choice and of self-contrOl In
the determination Of their future cOndtion and
relations with other powers.
The United States, in order to put stop O
bloodshed In Cuba and In the interest Of
A fhatp
tu bring tile existing contest to termination.
The offer not being accepted by Spain on basis
which we believed could be received by Cuba,
was withdrawn. 1t is hoped that the good Of
fees of the United States may yet prove advan-
ageous for the settlement of this unhappy strife.
Meanwhile, o number of Illegal expeditions
against Cuba have been broken up. II has been
the endeavor of the Administration to execute
the neutra lity laws In good faith, no matter how
unpleasant the task Is made by the suffering we
have endured from lack of like good faith to-
war;. us by other nations. The United States
schooner Lizzie Major was arrested on the high
seas, by q Spanish lriga,e. and two passengers
taken from it and carried as prisoners to Cuba,
Representations Of these facts were made To the
Spanish GOvernmt as soon as official intOrma-
tun of them reached Washington. The two
passengers were set at liberty, and the Spanish
Government assured the United States that the
Captain Of the frgate, in making the capture,
had acted without law; that h e had been reprl-
mauded for the irregularity of his conduct and
that tie Spanish authorities In Cuba would not
sanction anv act that could vic late the right Or
treat with disrespeet the Overeignty Of the ma
tiOn.
The question of the seizure of the brig Mary
Lowell at one OF the Bahama Islands, by the
Spanish authorities. Is now the subject Of cor
respohdeIlce between this Government and those
Dat NJ
eral of Cuba, about May last issued a prOclama-
ton authorizing search to be made Of vessels on
the high seas. Immediate remOnst rance was
nIude aguinst this, whereupon the Cap tain Gen
era issued a new proclamation limiting right
of search of vessels of the United States, 90 far
rs authorized under the treaty Of 1895. This
Proclamation, however, was immediately with
drawn. have ALWAYS i,lt that The most intimate
relations should be cultivated between the Re-
pub ic Of The United stLtes aud all independent
nulons ON this con lnent Itmay be well worth
considering Whether new treaties between tue
United StaIts and them may not be probably
entered iutO To secure more intimate relations,
friendly, commercial aud otherwise.
Tie subject OF an interocuanie canal to con-
d ect the Atlantic aud Pacific Oceans through the
stLmus Ot Larieu Is one in which cUnImelce Is
greatly inteI ested, and tlucllUns lave been
given TO cur Minister to the Republic of the
U nn(u 6thlth Ol SOlNllOla W eDoeaFOf 70 Oplaln
au .hOrity for survey by this Government III
order 70 determine lhe pIGcllcuGility Of such an
undertaking, aDd charter for the right of way
" buld BY private enterprise such work il the
survey pIOyes il 10 be practicable.
In orderto comply with the agreement OF the
| United Stutus us ~ mixed commission at Luna
lor the adjustment OF claims, it became neces-
| saiy " send Commissioner and Secretary 10
Lima in August last. No appropriation having
been nude uy Congress for this purpose, II Is
now asked LnaL QUO De made covering the past
ana luLure expense Vi the>COmn lsslon Ine
good Ulnce oi Tie United states TO bring about u
peace usbween bpaln and The South Americas
| ItupuUllCs WlLh Mnlch she is az war, having Deen
accepted by Spain, Peru and Chill, u Congress
aus Ueen lnvIGed W bU held III Washington dur
In \ lLe prese Nv winter. A giant nus Deen made