The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-12-10
RECONSTRUCTION.

WITIE- Z DttIi CUNIIaGIttI.
American cOmnIeTcs was almost driven from
tii;; seas, tIo industry Of one-half OF the cOuH-
Try had been taken from the control OF the
lcHlitaiist and placed where all labor fightful-
~ belongs, in the Keeping OF the laborer. The
WORK ui restoring Stale goNe- nmentS loyal To
taa Union, Of protecting and fostering free
labor ana proNidng means for paying the in
ttit-t oii Tie pubic debt, has received ample
attention from Congress. Although your ei-
forts have not met with the success in all par
teal tfs that might have been desired, YET, on
The whole, they have been more successful
tlau could have. been reasonably expected
seven states wIicl. passed ordinances OF sece.s-
sion have been fGiiy restored TO their places
| in The Mon. The eighth, Georgia, held an
election Al which she ratified her constitution
Republican ia form, elected Il Governor IneIn-
hers of Congress, 1t State Legislature and all
other oIticeIs required. The Governor was
iIIy Inst i!ied and the legislature met and per-
iDIlsi'd all then Required of them by the re-
con~t truciion acts OF Congress. subsequently,
nov ever, il violation Of the constitution
which they had just ratified, as since decided
ny tlie supreme court Of the state they unscat-
oil the coinrcd iieinbers of the legislature and
ddIult:ei to seats some members who are dis
qualified bV the third clause OF the fourteenth
amendment To the constitution, AN arIici,
which they themselves had contributed IL
raiiiy- Under these circumstances, | wouid
submit To ysIu whether IL would NOT he wise
without delay 10 enact a law authorizing
the governor oi Georgia 10 convene the mem
De;S originally elected To the legislature, re-
Iguiring each member To take the oath Ere-
scrlbe;i in the Reconstruction Aci, and none Ia
| be admitted who are ineligible under the third
clause of the fourteenth amendment. The
| freedmen, under the protection they nave re-
cciVed, are making rapid progress in learning
and II" complaints are heard of amy lack oI
industry on their part when they receive faiI
remuneration for their labor.
LOSS TO AMERICAN COMMERCE.
| The means provided for paying the interest
oa the public debt, with all the other expenses
of the government, are more than ample
't!Ic loss of our commerce Is the only result oi
' lion Hi.
ticlent attention from you. To this subject
call your earnest attention. l will not now
suggest plans by which this object may be
effected, but Will, If necessary, make il the
subject of special message during the session
of Congress.
| VIRGINIA, MISSISSIPPI AND TEXAS.
At the March term, Congress, by Joint reso-
ia ion, authorized the Executive to order elec-
lions in the states of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas. To submit 10 them the constitutions
which each had previously, in convention,
famed, and submit the constitution, either
entire or in separate parts. TO he voted upon
at the discretion of the Executive. Under this
authority elections Were called. In Virginia
the election to'k place on the 9th oI July 1863
/ The governor and lieutenpnt governor elected
have been installed, the legislature met and
did all required by this resolution and by all
the reconstruction acts OF Congress, and alb
/ stained I ON all doubtful authority. Irecom-
mend tnat her Senators and Representatives
he admitted, and that the state he fully restor-
cti to its place i'll the family of states. Elec-
] tons were called Ia MISSISSIPPI ana Texas Ia
commence On the ;0ih OF November, 1869 and
To last two days iu Mississippi, and four days
in Texas. The elections have taken place bat
their result il not known. II is To he hoDe,i
that the acts of the legislatures of these states
when they meet, viii be such as Will meet
your approval, and thus close the work OF re-
cOn>t ruCtion.
IHE BETi-RS To SPECIE PAYMENT.
Among the evils growing out of The rebellion.
and not yet referred io,is that of an iTre,lccm-
able currency. Ii is an evil which hope viii
receive your most earnest attention. II is a
duty, and one Oi The highest duties of the gov
erninent, 10 secure 10 the citizens a medium OF
d. 81 81 4, H.. "a 4 ing yaus This I'M
tut@ for ii can be devised. Ii should be COM
menced now and reached AT the earliest prac-
ticable moment, consistent with fair regard
Ia the interest Of the debtor class Immediate
resumption OF specie payments, ii practicable
would not he desirable, as IL would compel the
debtor class to pay beyond their contracts the
premium on gold at the date OF their purchase,
and would bring bankruptcy and ruin to
thousands. Fluctuations, however, in the
paper value OF the measure "f ali values, gold,
Is detrimental 10 the interests OF trade. Ii
makes tie man of business an involuntary
gambler; for in ali sale, when future payment
i 10 be made, bo h parties speculate as tn
what will lie the value OF the currency Ia he
paid and received. | earnestly recommend tn
you, then. such legislation as will insure "a
gradual return 10 specie payments, ana put an
Immediate stop 10 the fiuctuation in the value
of currency. The methods to secure these re-
suits are as numerous as are the specuiators
see but one way, and that Is To authorize the
treasury TO redeem its own paper at a fixed
price whenever presented Ia Withhold from
circulation all S.Icl currency redeemed until
sold again for gold. The vast resources of the
nation, both developed and undeVeloped,
Ough! In make our credit the best on earth
WIN a less burden of taxation than the citi-
2 N has endured for six years past, the entire
pgblic debt c0ud he paid in ten years; but il
Is NOS desirable that the People should be tax
cd 10 pay /; in that time. Year 10y year the
ability 10 pay increases in rapid ratio, but the
burden OF Interest ought to be reduced as rap
lilly as can he done without violation OF the
contract. The public debt is represented in
great part by bonds having from live to TWEEN
fy and from ten to forty years to run, bearing
interest ~ lie rate of six per cent and five
per cent respectively. Ii Is optional with the
government To pay these bonds at any period
after tine expiration of the last time mention
ed upon their face. The time has already eX-
pired when Il great part of them may he taken
up. Tie time is rapidly approaching when
ali, il II believed, that are now due, may he re-
placed by bonds bearing a rate of interest not
exceeding four and a half per cent, and as
rapidly the remainder become due, that
they may be replaced in she same way. To
accomplish this, il may be necessary to au-
tho.ize the interest To he paid at either OF
three or four OF the money centers Of Europe,
or by any assistant treasurer of the United
STATES, IA the option of the holder OF the bonds
suggest ih;s subject for The consideration Of
Congress Also, simultaneous with this the
pTOpric.y OF redecmin3 our currency as before
-;igyeste ed it its market value at the time the
law goes into effect, increasing the rate at
which lie currency VIII be bought and sold
from day 10 day. or week 10 week, at the same
rate oi interest as the government pays upon
lis bonds.
THE TARIFF AND INTERNAL REVENUE.
The subject OF the tariff ana internal taxa
fi9n VIII necessarily receive your attention.
Iho Te91GgeS of the country are greater than
the requirements and may with safety no re-
iuccd,bat as ile funding of the GGht in tour or
a fOu. ami a lIaif per cent. loan would reduce
the InnuHi current eAi Ai,cnSe largely, thus after
funding, jus!ifying "A greater reduction of tax
alton tliaa would ue now eSpedient. | suggest |
the poStpOHcaleHt Of this question until the |
next meeting of Congress. u may he sdyisa- |
bic tn modify tagstion and the tarifin instan
res where unjust ar burtiensome dIscrimina- |
Iions are made by the present laws, but a
general revision OF the laws regulating this |
subject / recommend the pqstponemelt OF for /
he present. | also suggest the renewal of the |
AK on incomes, but at "A reduced rate. say of
hTee per cent, and this tax To expire in three
-ears. With the funding of the national debt |
IS here suggested, feel safe in saying that the
AK from revenues and imports may be reduc-
II safely from sixty to eighty millions per
lnnum at once, and still further reduced from
iear TO year, as the resources of the country
are developed.
THE TREASURY.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
howS the receipts of the government for the
lscal year ending June 30, 1869, 10 be 3d.
Il. and the expenditures, including interest,
,ouaties, Sc, TO be si1 iS1, ,SJT. The estimates
or the ensuing year are more favorable Ia the
government, and will no doubt show large
decrease in the public debt The receipts in
he treasury, beyond expenditures, have eX-
cedei the amount necessary 10 place TO the
Tedit ofthe Sinking Fund, as provided by law.
% lock up the surplus in the treasury and
withhold ii from circulation would lead to
uch contraction of the currency as to cripple {
rade and seriously affect the prosperity ofthe
ountgy. Under these circumstances the Sec ,
etaIa- Of the Treasury and myself heartily I
oncurTed III the propriety of using all tie
nrplus currency in tile treasury in the pur- c
mt moi fi.al
interest bearing debt of the country and Of
to Congress the question of diSpo-
tion 10 he made OF the bonds so purchased.-
he bonds now held by tbs treasury amount :,
, about S?5, coo 900, including those belonging =
, the Sinking Fund. Your attention is respect I
lIiy invited to the recommendations of the =
scTetary of the Treasury for the creation of y
le Office of commissioner ofcustoms revenue =
II the increase of salary to certain classes of -
IiciaIs and the substitution of increased -
aiioual bond circulation to replace the out ,
anding three Pei cent, certificates; and most -
pecialiy to his recommendation for the re- =.
al of laws allowing shares of fines ngnaltieS "
rfpitureS etc to officers of the gOverumanf lie
to informers. The office of Commits 81
oner of Internal Revenue is one of the most u
duous and responsible under the govern r.
ent It falls but little. If any, short OF q cab r
ct position in its Importance and RESPONSE a.
litieS- I would ask for il. therefore, such az
gislation as in your judgment will place the & &ae
lice on a footing of dignity commensurate m
th its Importance and with the character ~
ID qualifications OF the class Of men required VI
I'LL Il properly ~
THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA co
As the United States is the freest of all ma st
lrs so too its people sympathize with all pa
npie struggling for liberty and self govern 81
sHt. But while so sympathiz ng, it is due to M
7 honor that We should abstain from forcing tic
r views upon unwilling nations and in tat lal
an interested part without invitation" un
the quarrels between different nations or TN
: