Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-12-10
Synopsis of the Presidents Message
From Me Baltimore Sun Of Tuesday.

begins his message Oy saying tn2t IL IS 10 Oe
regretted, however that free exercise of the
elective franchise has by violence aud intimida-
ton been denied to citizens, in exceptional Ca
ses, in several of the States lately in rebellion,
and the verdict of the people has been thereby
reversed" 1t is to be regretted that the Presl-
dent should have felt it incumbent to make
statement which is obviously Intended AS an
/ apology for the odiuus congressional election
! law, aud of the precautionary measures a.
/ dopted by the government at some Of the re-
/ cent State elections We believe that the ca
ses in which the free exercise Of the elective
! franchise in any part of the country was by
/ violence or intimidation denied " were indeed
exceptional" and for that reason we doubt
whether in any case the verdict Of the peo-
| ple was reversed thereby" Nor ii we recall
the magnitude Of the military preparations in
| New York city, and the use made of the ma
rines in Philadelphia, does it appear that the
| Presidents apprehensnns at the time of the
obstruction Of the elective franchise by violence
or intimidation were confined to "the States
| lately in rebellion" We are glad to learn, by
! the way, that Georgia, although not yet IN the
/ Union as we supposed yesterday, speaking
| from the best information we could obtain, Is
/ expected back shortly after new year.
| Casting his eyes abroad, the President brief
| " states the steps taken in consequence of the
/ European war, both to insure the neutrality If
our own people, rs we'll rs to maintain our
| cordial relations with both of the belligereStS
| between whom the President observes that
| this government stands ready to employ its
| good offices whenever there is reason to be-
| lieve that by their means the war can be
| shortened oue hour. 1t is highly probable
| that the war will be closed without our medi-
alton.
The first topic upon which the message en-
arges to any extent is the importance of the
| acquisition of San Domingo, which is urged
with great earnestncSs and from variety of
points of view. The same considerations and
arguments formed the staple last session of a
special message upon the subject What the
President asks for now is authority to appoint
a commission to negotiate for the acquisition
of the whole Island.
In connection with foreign affairs, some
! Mexican customs arrangements, extradlton
| treaties with the Central American States, the
| Venezuelan claims, the Tien-Tsin maSsacres
/ the reetifcation Of our boundary line on the
| 44th parallel, the abolition of the mixed courts
| for the suppression of the slave trade, and the
| naturalization treaty recently negotiated with
| Great Britain come in each for a word of men
ton. The fishery troubles are next discussed
more at length, and in manner which will
make this portion of the message highly ac-
ceptablc to Cape Cod The President lays the
blame upon "the semi-independent but ire
| sponsible agent" known as the Dominion Of
| Canada, and asks for authority to suspend, by
proclamation, the transit of goods, wares and
merchandise in bond across the territory of the
| United States to Canada, and if necessary, to
exclude from the waters of the United States
all Canadian vessels Besides the unneighbor-
| " acts towards our fishermen complained of,
allusson is made to the unfrendy disposition
manifested on the part of Canada in the main
tenance Of claim 10 exclude the citizens Of
the United States from the free navigation of
the St Lawrence. This, as our readers are
aware, is an old story, having been the subject
of negotiation between the governments of
Great Britain and the United States as far
back as 1918, and earlier number of dip
lomatic precedentS are cited, together with the
immense increase of population and tonnage
in the States which border on the great lakes,
to show the reasonabeneSS of the American
claim to equal participation in the navigation
of the st. Lawrence, subject only to the Brit
ISL or Canadian right to regulate the police of
the river where it flows exclusively through
British territory.
The unaiiusted state of the Alabama claims
against Great Britain IS referred to only to say
that the cabinet of that country appear uuwil-
| ling TO concede any negligence or act during
our war by which the United States has justl
fable complaint, aud to suggest that authority
be given for the settlement of the claims Of our
citizens by our own government, in order that
the latter may have their ownership as well a
the responsible control of all the demands
against Great Britain.
The depressed state Of the American ship
ping interests is alluded TO- with the pro Mise
that several propositions shall he laid before
Congress looking to a remedy for the evil
The message assumes that iron vessels cannot
be built in this country without government
assistance, aud hints at the Did exploded policy
Of encouraging ShiV-Uulldlug 10y means Of
! bountlcS.
The evils of tluctua'ing and depressed cur
rency are deplured, as in tie message year
/ ago, and it is suggested that with the fall 10
/ the premium on gold, the time has probably
/ come for wise legislation with the view Of pIac-
| ing our currency once more on "a specie basis
| On the subject Of revenue reform, what the
| President says is entirely in accordance with
| the views heretofore contended for in this pa
| per and then he adds:
! A true revenue reform cannot he made in
/ day. but must hc work Of national legislation
| and Of time. As soon as the revenue can lie
/ dispensed with, all duty should he rerovcd
| from coffee, tea and other articles Of universal
Use not produced by ourselves The ueceSSi-
ties Of the country compel us II collect reve-
nue. from our imports. An army of assessors
and collectors Ia not pleasant sight to the
! citizens, but that or a tariff for revenue is ne
ceSsary.
The reform Of the ranking privilege and
the adoption Of the correspondence card in
| cur postal system is recommended.
I The policy inaugurated by the present adj
ministration Of employing Friends and other
missionary agencies forthe purpose of civilizing
aud managing the Indian is declared to have
worked well, and promises the best possible
result
The civil service reform also gets the benefit
| Of the Executive approval. The following
passage in the message will be haied by all
the advocates of that reform with especial plea
sure, and if occasion should require hereafter,
the President can remind the adverse fac
ton - Of his words, and the propriety also of
their embracing this wholesome policy of the
people, in which the politicians have been so
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