The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-15

the character of office seekers, without
proper sense of the grave response
bilities which such course deyolves
upon them. A Civil Service Reform
which can correct this abuse is much
desired. In mercantile pursuits the
business man who gives letter of re
commentator to friend to enable
him To obtain credit from stranger, is
regarded as morally responsible for the
integrity of his friend, and his ability
to meet his obligations. A reformation
which would enforce this principle.
against all indorsers of persons for pub
lie place, would insure great caution in
making recommendations. A salutary
lesson has been taught the careless and
the dishonest servants in the great num-
Der of prosecutions and convictions in
the last two years. 1t is gratifying to
notice the favorable change which is
taking place throughout the country in
bringing to punishment those who have
proved recreant to the trusts confidcd
TO them, and in the elevating to public
office none but those who possess the
confidence Of the. honest and virtuous,
who, it will alN avs be found, comprise
the majority of the community in which
they live. In my message to Congress
one year ago, ] urgently recommended
reform in the civil service of the
country. In conformity with that re-
commentator, Congress, in the ninth
section OF an act making appropriations
for sundry civil expenses Of the GOV
eminent and for other purposes, APP
proved March 3, 1871, gave the neces-
sary authority to the Executive to in
augurate civil service reform, and
placed upon him the responsibility of
doing so. Under the authority of said
act, | convened board of gentlemen
eminently qualified for the work, to
devise rules and regulations to effect
the needed reform. Their labors are
not yet completed, but it is believed
that they will succeed in devising a
plan which can be adopted TO the great
relief Of the Executive, the heads of
departments and members of Congress,
and which will rebound to the true in
terest of the public service. AT all
events the experiment shall have a
fair trial.
Under the provisions of the act of
Congress, approved February 81, 1871,
q Territorial Government was organ
lied in the District of Columbia. It's
results have thus far fully realized the
expectations of its advocates. Under
the direction of the territorial officers, a
system of improvements has been in
augurated, by which Washington is
rapidly becoming a city worthy of the
national capital, the citizens of the dis
trict having voluntarily taxed them
selves to large amount, for the pur-
pose of contributing to the advance of
the seat OF government. | recommend
liberal appropriations on the part of
Congress in order that the government
may bear its Just share of the expense
of carry ing out the various systems of
improvement.
By the great fire in Chicago, the most
important Of the government buildings
in that city were consumed. Those
burned had already become inadequate
to the wants Of the government in that
growing city, and, looking to the near
future, were totally inadequate. |
recommend, therefore, that an appro-
priation be made Immediately to pur-
chase the remainder Of the square on
which the burned building stood, pro-
vided it can be purchased at a fair val
uation, and provided the Legislature of
Illinois will pass law authorizing its
condemnation for Governmentpurposes,
and also an appropriation of as much
money as can properly be expended
towards the erection of new buildings
during the fiscal year.
| have thus hastily summed up the
operations of the Government during
the last year, and made such sugges-
tons as occur to me to be proper for
your consideration. | submit them,
with a confidence that your combined
action will be wise, statesmanlike and
in the best interest of the whole coun-
try. U. S. GRANT, President.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 4, 1871.