The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-12-08


law, but is is equally difficult to deny: first, that in
so DONG she exercises harshly, an extreme ant
hard law; secondly, that her conduct with re-
spcct to the navigation of the st. Lawrence is il
glaring and discreditable Inconsistency with hel
conduct with respect to the navigation of the Mis-
sissipp, on the ground that she possessed small
domain III which the Mississippi takes its rise :.
She insisted Oh the right TO navigate the entire vol
me OF its waters on the ground that she possesses
both banks of the st. Lawrence where it disem.
bouches into the sea- while she denies to the Uni.
ted States the right of navigation, though about
one-Ealf OF the waters of the Lakes Ontario, Erie
Huron and Superior. and the whole of Lake Mchi-
gan through which the river flows, are the proper
ty OF the United States The whole nation is in
terested in securing cheap transportation from the
agricultural States of the West to the Atlantic sea-
board. To the citizens of those States it secures a
greater return for their labor; to the inhabitants of
the seaboard it affords cheaper food; for the na
ton an increase in the annual surplus Of wealth Ii
Is hoped that the government of Great Britain will
see the justice of abandoning the narrow and in
consistent claims to which her Canadian Provinces
have urged her adherence.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
Our depressed commerce is subject to which I
called your special attention at the last session, and
suggested that we will in the future have to look
more to the countries south of us, and to China
and Japan, for its revival Our representatives to
all those governments have exerted their influence
to encourage trade between the United States and
the countries to which they are accredited; but the
fact exists that the carrying is done almost entirely
IN foreign bottoms, and while this state of affairs
exist, we cannot control our due share of the COM
merce OF the world, and that between the Pacific
States and China and Japan, is about all the carry.
| ing trade now conducted in American vessels
would recommend liberal policy toward that line
OF American steamers; one that will insure its
success ana even increased usefulness. The cost
OF building iron vessels, the only ones that can
compete with foreign ships in the carrying trade
is so much greater III the United States than in for
elgn countries, that without some assistance from
the government they cannot be successfully built
here. There will be several propositions laid be-
fore Congress in the course of the present session.
looking to remedy for this evil even if it should
be at some cost to the national treasury. hope
such announcements will be given as will revive
i American shipping on the high seas, and American
shiphuildng at home
THE DEPARTMENTS.
The condition of the archives of the Department
OF State calls for the early action of Congress The
building now rented by that Department is a frail
structure, at an announcement distance from the
! Executive Mansion and from the other Depart
ments. 1t is i'll adapted to the purpose for which
! 1t IS used, has not capacity TO accommodate the
archives and is not tire-proof Its remote Sua-
ton, Its slender construction and the absence of Il
supply of water in the neighborhood offer but little
hope of safety for either the building or its contents
in case Of the accident Of fire. Its destruction
would involve the loss of the rolls containing the
original Acts and Resolutions Of Congress, of the
Historic Records OF the Revolution and of the con-
federation, of the whole series of Diplomatic and
Consular archives since the adoption of the Con-
Sututlon, and of the many other valuable records
and papers left with that Department when it was
| the principal depository Of the governmental az
chlvcs. | recommend an appropriation for the
construction of building for the Department of
/ State.
| l recommend to your consideration the propricty
of transferring to the Department of the Interior,
to which they seem more appropriately to belong,
all powers and duties in relation to the Territories
with which the Department of State is now charg-
ed by Usage, and from the Interior Dement,
mcnt to the War Department, Of the Pension Bu-
reau. so far as it regulates the payment Of soldiers
pensions. | would further recommend that the
Naval pensions be transferred to one Of the bu-
reaus Of the Navy Department.
THE ANNUAL ESTIMATES.
| The estimates for the expenses of the Govern
ment for the next fiscal year SIS 346.01 less
than for the current one; but exceed the appropria-
tons for the present year for the time IS 912
II 36. In this estimate, however, is included sd
3oS 1887 for public works heretofore begun under
Congressional provision, and of which only so
much 1tn Is asked as Congress may choose to give
cnt fiscal year was ST. ,9S4 ,51S.0S.
THE CURRENCY.
The average value of gold as compared with na-
tional currency for the whole Of the year 1869 was
about 13l and for seven months of 1870 the same
relative value has been about LID. The approach
to specie basis is very gratifying, but the fact can
not be denied that the instability of the value of
our currency is preudcial to our prosperity and
tends TO keep up prices to the tleriment of trade.
The evils of deprecated and lllctuating currency
are so great, that now, when the premium on gold
has fallen so much it would seem that the time has
arrived whom by wise and prudent legislation Con
gress should look to Il policy which would place
our currency at par with gold at no distant day.
TAXES AND REVENUE REFORM.
The tax collected from the people has been re,luc
ed more than eighty million dollars per annum
By Steadincss in our present course there is no
reason why III a few short years the national tax
citizen almost entirely. With the Revenue Stamp
dispensed by Postmasters in every community
tax upon liquors of all sorts, and tobacco in all
forms, and by wise adjustment of the tariff which
will put duty upon those articles which we could
dispense with. known rs Injuries, and on those
which we Use more of than we produce, Revenue
enough may be raised after few years Of Peace
and consequent reduction of indebtedness to fulfill
all our obligations further reduction Of expenses
in addition to the reduction Of the interest account
may be relied upon to make this practicable.
Revenue Reform, if it means this, has my hearty
support. If it implies collection of all the Revenue
for the support of Government for the payment of
the principal and interest of the public debt pen
sions, etc, by directly taxing the people, then am
against Revenue Reform and confidently believe
the people are with me. If it means failure to pro-
vide the necessary means to dcray all expenses of
the Government and thereby reputation of the
public debt and pensions then ,m still more OPP
posed to such kind of Revenue Reform.
Revenue Reform has not been defined by anv of
its adherents, to my knowledge, but seems to be
accepted something which is to supply every
means wanted, without any cost or effort on his
part A true Revenue Reform cannot be made in
day, but must be the work Of national legislation
and time.
AS soon as the Revenue can be dispensed with
all duty should be removed from coffee tea and
other articles of universal use not produced by our
selves. The necessities of the country compel us
to collect Revenue from our imports. An army of
Assessors and Collectors is not Il pleasant sight to
the citizen, but that of tariff for revenue is neccs-
sary Such tariff, so far as 1t acts as m encour-
agemcnt to home products, affords employment to
labor at living wages in contrast to the pauper
labor Of the Old World and also to the develop
mcnt OF home resources.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Always favorng practical reforms, respectfully
call your attention to one abuse OF long standing
which | would like to see remeded by this Con-
gress 1t is a reform in the civil service of the
country. would have 1t go beyond the mere fix
ing of the terms of Office of clerks and employees
who do not require 1.-The advice and consent of the
Senate" to make their appointments complete. !
would have it govern, not the tenure, but the man
ner, of all appointments. There is no duty which
so much embrasses the Executive and heads of De-
partments as that of appointments nor IS there any
such arduous and thankess labor as that of finding
places for constituents. The present system does
not secure the best men and often not even those
who are fit for public place. The elevation and
publication Of the civil service of the government
will be hailed with approval by the whole people of
the United States.
THE PUBLIC LANDS,