The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-12-10
THE PREsIDENT,s MEssAGR.

4
to give it careful perusal. There was
time when General Grant, although
universally acknowledged to possess
the highest capacity as military lead
er, was nevertheless deemed, by thous-
ands of good people, rather poorly
qualified for the highest civil Office in
the gift of the people. But this can
justly be said of him no longer. His
whole administration, thus far, proves
that his qualifications for this high of
fee are of the highest order. His
message, free from the bonbast, ego
tism and dictatorial tone which inva-
riably stood forth as prominent fea-
lures in all State papers emanating
from his predecessor, is a wise, able
and statesmanlike document. It's Ian
guage is simple, its matter suggestive,
and its views clear and comprehensive.
With regard to Reconstruction he
congratulates Congress upon what it
has thus far accomplished. Seven of
the eleven seeding States have been
restored to their proper places in the
Union, while the eighth Georgia. had
once taken the proper preliminary
steps for admission, having held an
election ratifying her constitution, re-
publican in form, and electing a gov
ernor, members of congress, a state
legislature, etc. The governor was
installed, the Legislature met, the re-
construction laws were complied with,
when, in defiance of the constitution
she had just ratified, she elected GER
tain of her members because their
color was darker than that of the 9th
ers, and in their places admitted those
who were disqualified by the third
clause of the fourteenth amendment
to the constitution. AS a remedy for
this disordered state of affairs, he re-
commends to Congress the speedy en-
actment of law authorizing the Gov
ernor of Georgia to convene the men,
bers of the legislature as originally
chosen, requiring each to take the oath
prescribed by the reconstruction act,
admitting none who are Ineligible by
reason of the third clause of the I4th
amendment. Three states are yet to
be admitted. These are Virginia, Tex
as and Mississippi. Virginia, however,
has taken the proper steps for admis-
sion, and will probably be received
without delay, and it will not be long
until the other two shall be also restor-
ed. This will complete the work of
reconstruction.
The matter of the finances deserv-
eddy receives much attention at the
hands of the President. His views are
important and well worthy of consider
ration. He recommends an early but
gradual return to specie payments.
Immediate resumption he pronounces
undesirable even if practicable. 1t
would operate to the great detriment
of debtors, and throw thousands upon
the verge Of bankruptcy. Fluctua-
tons in the value of paper currency
he deems very detrimental to the in
terests of trade, and as a remedy pro-
poses that Congress authorize the
treasury to redeem it's own paper at a
fixed price whenever presented, and to
withhold from circulation the currency
thus redeemed until sold again for
gold.
The President recommends a reduc-
tiou of taxation, especially that upon
incomes. This counsel is wise and OPP
perfume. There is no longer a neces-
sity for such burdensome taxation. By
reducing it at least one-third, the ma
tional debt can still be Cancelled in fif-
teen years. We think that the income
tax might we'll be abolished altogether.
The object for which it was created no
longer exists. It has always been
considered more annoying than any
other. 1t creates the necessity of pry-
ing into the private affairs of each in
dividual once every year. AS the laws
which brought it into being are soon
to expire by virtue of their own limit
alton, it seems to us that it would be
unwise to renew it even under modi-
fed and less Objectionable form.
AS to foreign matters, the only ques-
ton of any considerable Importance is
that of the Alabama Claims. On this
subject the Presidents language is far
from being equivocal. He decidedly
approves of the rejection by the United
States Senate of the treaty in which
Reverdy Johnson so eminently distin-
guished himself and Inundated his
country. He deems it more desirable
for the American people to allow this
great wrong on the part of England to
go wholly unsettled and unattoned,
than to submit to a settlement which
in nowise satisfies our ideas of justice,
nor offers any adequate compensation
for the grievous wrong we have sus-
tanned. He hopes that the time may
soon come when the two governments
may approach the solution of this
great question in the right spirit and
with o sense of what is due to the dig
nifty, honor and right of each.
There are other features of the mes.
sage, such as China" "Indian AT
fairs, ;. &C., which are equally interest
ing, but we have not the time for 8
further review. We hope all of oul
readers will read the message in its en-
tirety. No previous administration