The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-11
;Mhe Gettl M'1Ayht9
The Presidents Message.


previous annual message Of the President,
touching briefly but pointedly every point
of interest which claims the President at
tention within the bounds of this vast
country as well as our intercourse with
foreign nations Though brief, compare
lively as it is we have not space to give
the message entire, and present those parts
which are of most vital interest with sum-
mary of the less important details. The
message opens as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
In coming before you for the first time as
Chief Magistrate OF this great nation, it is
with gratitude to the Givcr of all good for
the many benefits we enjoy. We are bless
ed with peace at home, and we are without
entangling alliances abroad to forbode
trouble; with a territory unsurpassed In
fertility, of an area equal to the abundant
support of five hundred millions of people,
and Astounding in every variety of useful
mineral in quantity sufficient to supply the
world for generations with abundant crops.
After enumerating the vast resorces of
the nation and glancing at its future pros
pective power and resorces, and reminding
Congress of the weighty responsibilities
resting on them and him, the message con-
tinues:
Emerging from a rebellion of gigantic
magnitude, AIDED as 1t was by the sympa-
thies and assistance of nations with which
we were at peace, eleven states Oh the mon
were, lour years ago, ielt wlthout regal
state government. American commerce
was also almost driven from the seas, the
industry OF almost one-nait OF the country
taken from the hands OF the capitalists ana
placed III those OF the laborer The work
OF restoring state Governments loyal to
the Union has not met with the success III
all particulars that was desired, but has
yet been more satisfactory than could have
been reasonably anticipated.
Seven States which passed ordinances of
secession have been fully restored to their
places in the Union The eighth Georgia.
held an election, at which she ratified her
constitution, republican IN form, elected
Governor, members OF Congress, State
Legislature, and all other offcers required.
The Governor was duly installed, and the
Legislature met and performed all the acts
required of them by the reconstruction acts
of Congress. subsequently, however, in
violation of the constitution they had just
ratified, as since decided by the Supreme
Court of the state, they unseated the
co!ored members OF the Legislature, and
adnlttea 10 seats some members VINO are
dlsquailiied by the thlrd clause OF tho four
teenth amendment TO the constitution, one
articie which !ney themselves haa contfl-
puted 10 ratliy. lnder these clrcum-
stances, ! wouNa suomi 10 you whether II
would not De wise, "hhout aelay, TO enact
a law authorizing the Governor OF Georgia
10 convene tle members orlSlhally elected
10 inc legislature requiring eacn lnemDef
70 lahe cue o,''ii esclloeel ny inc recon,
S'luellon acrs' anu ione " ne adhiittea
mho are ihoii uil.iei VIC 'hifa ciaose oi
tiie er iouiteellii ''lhenoiii e. ;,
:. me means PROVIDED lor paying inc pup
TIC ueDt are deeiieo more IMAM ample.
Inc ADMISSION OF the senators and KEEP
leSeht'tiVes ol INC otate Oh Virginia ana
t,ie Ieseoi"!Ioii Vi tiie ot,.te " her place III
'''1 mn ~. 10 s ll.
1 1niiiohs 'no o'lio Sio"ins ou1 VI tiie re-
peiiioii, siiu no, sel ieierieu 10, Is that OF
an itiGo l ,:u euIiency. II Is an eVli
liopI WV soui ihos' earnest ',
1,t % uu'y, ''iu oiio ol tne
nlsiles! o.ties =! Eovelnhien,' 10 secure 10
tlle ci.iZens Le1luni VI ~ eAciiahSe Oh hNed
anu uli'ai my '"luc iniS ilnpileS IL re-
Turn W speeie p'sis' anu no SUBSTITUTE
loi IL can We ueviseu. IL shoulu he com
liieliceo now, anu ieaciico at the earnest
prac'icapie ihoi'iei1 consistent with 1air
regard TO the interests OF the debtor class.
Immediate resumption, II practicable,
Wcuid not DC desirable. 1t would compel
the ueDtor CLASS 10 pay beyond their con-
tracts 'he premium on Soio AT the date OF
purchase, anu "o"i't piihS bankruptcy and
run W enou .., SGG oul one way ana
that Is to authorize the treasury to redeem
It's own paper at nxed price whenever
presented, ana TO withhold from circulation
all currency so redeemed until sold again
Tor gold. Inc entiro puollc debt could he
paid IN ten years; but 1t Is not desirable
that the people should be forced to pay it
Ill that time. 1ear by year the ability to
pay increases III d RAPID rate, but the bur
deh OF interest ouSht TO DE reduced as rap
ldiy as can De done Without a violation OF
contract.
The message recommends that that part
OF the pubic debt represented by $50
Bonds be refunded, at a lower rate OF in
terest not exceeding q per cent.
The revenues OF the country are greater
than the requirements, and 1t is recon-
mended that Il reduction be made.
The report OF the Secretary of the Urea
sury shows the receipts OF the Government
be 1870, 943, i47, and the expenditures, in
Guiding interest, bounties, &c, to be 1921,
$780, The estimates for the ensuing
year are more favorable TO the Government,
and will. no doubt, show much larger de-
crease of the public debt. The receipts in
the Treasury beyond expenditures have ex-
ceeded the amount necessary to place to
the credit of the sinking fund, as provided
by law. To lock up the surplus in the
Treasury and withhold it from circulation
would lead to such contraction of the cur
rency as to cripple trade and seriously af-
feet the prosperity Of the country. Under
Observation-Disclosures the Secretary of the
Treasury and myself heartily concurrc,l in
the Dropriety of using all the surplus cur
rency in the Treasury in the purchase of
Government bonds, thus reducing the in
terest-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 S75, 600. 900,
including those belonging to the Sinking
Fund. | recommend that the whole be
placed to the credit of the Sinking Fund.