The Van Buren press., 1869-12-14

essary to authorize the interest to be PAID
at either of the three or four Of the mon
ey centres of Europc, or by an Assistant
Treasurer of the United States, at the OPP
ton of the holder Of the bonds. l sug-
gest this subject for the consideration of
Congress, also, and simultaneously with
this the propriety Of redeelning our cur
rency, as before suggested, at its market
value A law goes into effect, increasing
the rate at which currency will be bought
and sold from day to day, at the same
rate of interest which the Government
pays upon its bonds.
The subject of tariff and internal taxa
ton will necessarily secure your atten
ton. The revenues Of the Government
are greater than the requirements, and
may, with safety, be reduced but as the
funding of the debt in four and half
per cent would reduce the annual current
expense largely, thu. after funding justi
flying greater reduction of Taxation than
would now be expedient. suggest the
postponement Of this question until the
next meeting ofCongress. 1t may be ad
visablc to modify taxation and tariff in
instances where unjust and burdensome
determinations are made by the present
laws, but a general revision of the laws
regulating this subject recommend the
postponement Of for the present. also
suggest the renewal of the tax on incomes,
but at reduced rate, say Of three per
cent. BY this tax, to expire in three
years, with the funding Of the national
debt, as here suggested, feel safe in say
ing the taxes and revenue from imports
may be reduced safely from sixty to eigh-
ty millions per annum, at once, and can
be still further reduced. Congress has
taken two essential steps, first in declar
ing by joint session that the public debt
should be paid, principal and interest, in
coiu second, by providing means for
paying the same. However, the object
desired could not be accomplished with.
out a proper administration OF the taxes,
collection of the revenues, and an eco
nomical disbursement. 1t has most earn
estly addressed itself to the country, with
results, | believe, satisfactory. There
has been no hesitation in changing oflic-
ials in order to secure an efficient cxecu-
ton Of the laws Sometimes, too, where
in a mere party wins undesirable politi-
cal results were likely to follow FOR any
hesitation in sustaining efficient officials
against remonstrances wholly political.
1t may be well to mention here the en-
barrassmcnt possible to arise from lcav-
ing on the statute books the o-callcd
Tenure of ONCE act, and to earnestly rec
ommend its total repeal 1t could not
have been the intention Of the trainers of
the Constitution, when providing that ap-
pointments made by the President should
receive the consent of the Senate, that
the latter should have the power to retain
in Office persons placed there by Federal
appointments against the will Of the Pres-
dent The law is inconsistent with a
| faithful and efficient administration of the
Government. What faith can the Ex.
ecutive put in officials forced upon him,
and those, too, whom he has suspended
for reasons how will such officials be
likely to serve an administration which
they know does not trust them?
On the Cuban question, he says: AS
the United States is the first of all nations,
its people sympathize with all people
struggling for liberty and self govern.
mcnt; but while 50 sympatlhi;ziIpg, i j, j;
from enforcing our views upon unwilling
nations, and from taking an intrusive
part without invitation i'll the quGrrcls
between different nations, or between
governments and their subjects. Oul
course should always be 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 year val
liable province Of Spain, q near neighbol
Of ours, in whom all our people cannot
but feel deep interest, has been strug
Cling for her independence and the free
dom of her people and government. The
United States entertains the same warn
feelings and sympathies for the people Of
Cuba, in the pending struggle, that they
manifested throughout the previous
struggle between Spain and her former
colonies, in behalf of the latter, but til,
contest at no time has assumed the con
ditions which amount to a war in the
sense OF international law, which woult
show the existence OF a de .facto politica
organization Of the insurgents sufficient
to justify recognition of belligcrency
The principle is maintained, however
that this nation is its own Judge when tc
accord the rights of belligerency, either
to people struggling to free themselvs.
from government they believe to be op
pressive, or to independent nations a
war with each other. The United State,
have no disposition to interfere with the
existing relations Of Spain to her coona
possessions on this continent. They be-
lieyc that in due time Spain and Other
European powers will find it to their in
terest to terminate these relations and
establish their independencies rs indie
! pendent powers, and members of the
family of nations. The dependencies arc
no longer regarded or subject to trans.
fer from one European power to another
When the present relations of the colo
nies cease, they are to become indcpend-
ent powers, exercising the right of choice,
of self control and determination OF
their future condition and relations with
other powers The United States, in or
der to put n stop to bloodshed in Cuba,
and in the interest OF a nvighboring peo-
pie, proposed their good offices to bring
the existing contest to termination.
The offer not being accepted by Spain on
n basis which we believed could be re-