Litchfield enquirer., 1870-12-15

non for the same works for the present ifs tcal year was i$1l .984, ,5I8 D8. sr sai yaa { i The ayefsge value of gold as compared With national currency.-for the whole, o1 the year 1869 was about 134, and for seven months of 1870 the same relative vaiue has been about 115. 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 oul prosperity, and tends to keep up prices to the detriment of trade The evils of a Appreciated and fuctuating currency are so great that now, when the premium on gold has fallen so much, it would seem thai the time has arrived when by wise and pru. dent legislation. Congress should look to a policy which would place our currency on a par with gold at no distant day. The tax collected from the people has been re, duced more than eighty million dollars per annum. By steadiness in our present course there is no reason why. in a few short years, the national tax gatherer may not disappear from the door of the citizen almost entirely. st tai .-.eE4 ; *a.. With the revenue stamps dispensed by postmasters in every community, tax up on liquors of all sorts, and tobacco in all It's forms. and by a wise adjustment of the tariff, which will put Q duty upon. those ar- ticles which we could dispense with, known as luxuries. and on those which we use more or shan we produce, revenue enough may be raised after few years of peace and consequent reelection of indebtedness, to fulfil ali our obligations. A further re duction of expenses, in addition to re ductlon of interest account, may be relied upon to make this practicable. Revenue reform, If 1t means this, has my hearty support. If it implies 8 collection of all the revenues for the support of the gov ernment, for the payment of the principal and interest of the public debt, pensions, &c., by directly taxing the people, then I am against reform, and confidently believe the people are with me.
 If it means failure to provide the neces- sary means to defray all the expenses of the government and thereby repudiation of the public debt and pensions, then I am still more opposed to such kind of revenue re- form. Revenue reform has not been de fined by any of it's advocates, to my knowl, e.dge. but seems to be accepted as some nm WnfoA is to supply every mans wants without any cost or efEort on his part. 's.
 A true revenue reform cannot be made in day, but must be the work of national legislation and of time. As soon as the revenue can be dispensed with, rs.l antv should be removed from coffee, tea, ind other articles of universal use not produ, ced by ourselves. The necessities of the country compel us to collect revenue from our imports. An army of collectors and assessors is not 8 pleasant sight to the citi. zen, but that or tariff for revenue is ne. cessary Such a tariff, SO far as tt acts as an encouragement to home products, af r. L. l,l, in contrast to the pauper labor of the ole Worlu, anu aisu Ine-tiIc devriopueuL O home resources. g ~
 Tue appropriation made for tue last and current years were evidently intended by Congress-, and arc sufficient only to keer the navy on it's present footing, by the re pairing and refitting of our old ships. This policy must, of course, gradually but sure ly destroy the navy, and it is in itself fal from economical,a as each year that it is pur sued the necessity for more repairs in ships and navy yards becomes more imperative and more costly. and our current expenses are annually increased for the mere repair of ships, many of which must soon become unsafe and useless. r5lFf ut
 I hope, during the present session oi Congress, to be able to submit to it plan by which naval vessels can be built and re pairs made with great saving upon the present cost. It can hardly be wise states manship in q government which represents a country with over five thousand miles o1 coast line on both oceans, exclusive o Alaska, and containing forty millions o progressive people, with relations of every foreign country, to rest with such made quate means of enforcing any foreign pol icy either of protection or redress. Sepa rated by the ocean from the nations of the eastern continent, our navy is our only means of direct protection to our citizens abroad or for the enforcement of any for eign policy. .s.I Its4 sss.
 THE PosToFFIeEa ..ssF zl
 The accompanying report of the Post master-G General shows a most satisfactory working of that department With the adoption of the commentators contained therein, particularly those relating to Q re form in the franking privilege and the a. doption of correspondence cards, a self sustaining postal system may speedily be looked for, and at no distant day further reduction of the rate of postage be attained
 I recommend authorization by Congres; to the Postmaster-G General and Attorney General to issue all commissions to officials appointed through their respective depart mentS. At present these commissions where appointmen are Presidential, art issued by the State Department. The law in all the departments of government ex cept those of the postoffce and of justice authorizes each to issue it's, own commis sions.
 CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
 Always favouring practical reforms re spectfully call your attention to one abus, | of long standing whichsI would like to se' remedied by this Congress 1t is reform il 1 the Civil Service of the country. wpult have it go beyond them fixing of tn tenure of office of clerks and employees I who do not require "the advice and con sent of the Senate to make their appoint ments complete. would have it goverl 1 not the tenure, but the manner of making | all appointments. There is no duty whicl as much embarrasses the Executive an' heads of departments as that of appoint ments. nor is there any such arduons an' thankless labor imposed on Senators an I Representatives. as that of finding place for constituents The present system doe not secure the best men. and often no
 even fit men, for public places. The ele l vation and purifcation of the civil serylc ! of the government will be hailed with aI
 proyal by, the whole population ofthe Uni ed States sGa9sft 1FgG1 d3iE asdt89