The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-12-10
The Preside nt's Message

We intended this week to lay
this document before our readers;
but find We have no room except
ing Tor q few of the leading and
most important points. The mes
sage, like every official communi7
cation from President GRANT. is
very brief and, on each subject
treated of, he quits when he is
through. We have have only
room for the following extracts:
RETURN TO srEcIE PAYMENTS. Va
The average value of gold, as
compared with national currency,
for the whole of the year 1869 was
about 81 "a, and for eleven months
of 1870 the same relative value has
been about 81 Is. The approach
to a specie basis is very gratifying.
but the fact can not be denied that
the instability of the value of our
currency is prejudicial to our pros
perity, and tends to keep up pri-
ces to the detriment of trade, and
the evils of . deprecated and fiuc-
tuatipg currency are SO great that
now, when the premium on gold
has fallen so much, it would seem
that the time has arrived when, by
wise and prudent legislation, Con-
gress should look to policy which
would place our. currency at par
with gold at no distant day.
REVENUE REFORM.
First-The tax collected from
the people has been reduced more
than fifty million dollars per an
num. BY progressing in our pres
ent course, there is no reason why,
in few short years, the national
tax gatherer may not disappear
from the door of the citizens. Almost
entirely, will the revenue stamp
be dispensed by the postmasters
in every community. A tax upon
liquors Of all sorts, and tobacco in
all its forms, and by wise adjust
ment Of the tariff, which will put q
duty only upon those articles
which one could dispense WITH.
known as Injuries, and in those
which we use more of than we pro-
duce, revenue enough may be rails
ed, after a few years Of peace and
consequent reduction of indebted
ness, to fulfill all our obligations.
A further reduction Of expense, in
addition to reduction of interest
or per cent. may be relied on to
make this practical revenue re-
form. If it means this it has my
hearty support; If it implies col
lection Of all the revenue for the
support of the Government, for the
payment Of principal and interest
of the public debt, pensions, ETC.,
by directly taxing the people, then
l am against revenue reform, and
confidently believe the people are
with me. If it means failure to
provide the necessary means to
defray all expenses of the Govern
ment, and thereby reputation of
the public debt and pensions, then
l am still more opposed to such
kind Of revenue reform. It has
not been defined by any of its ad.
vocates, to- my knowledge, and
seems to be accepted as something
which is to supply every mans
wants 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 of time. So soon as the reve-
nue. can be dispensed with, all du-
ty 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 asses
sors and collectors is not a pleas
ant sight to the citizen, but that or
a tariff for revenue is necessary
Such tariff, SO far as it acts in en-
couragement to home products,
affords employment to labor at
living wages in contrast to the
pauper labor of the old world and
also in the development of home
resources. fsls
REFORM IN CIVIL SERVICE.
Always favoring practical re-
forms, I respectfully call your at
tention to one abuse of long stand
ing. when / would like to see rem.
edied by this Congress. 1t is q
reform in the civil service of the
country. ] would advise that it
go beyond the mere fixing of the
tenure of office Of clerks and en-
ployes, who do not require the ad
vice and consent of the Senate to
make their appointments complete.
l would have it govern not the
tenure, but the manner of making
all appointments. There is no
duty which go embarrasses the Elk.
eeutive and the heads of depart-
ments as that of appointments; nor
is there any such arduous and
thankless labor imposed on
Senators and Representatives as
that Of finding places for constitu-
ents. The present system does
not secure the best men, and often
not even fit men for public places.
The elevation and publication of
the civil service of the Govern
ment will be hailed with approval
by the whole people of the United
States.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Reform in the management Of