The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-14

collected and Lrepaf ed for publication i'm regard to
the census taken curing the year 1906 the opera.
tons of the Bureau Of Education for the year. the
Patent ONCE the Pension Uffice, the Land ONCE
and the Indian Bureau.
The report Of the Commissioner OF Agriculture
gives the operations OF his department for the
Year. As agriculture Is the groundwork OF our
prosperity, too much importance cannot DE at
iached to the abois of thus department. 1t Is IN
the hafris Of an able head with able assistants all
zeauusly devoted to Introducing into the agricul
tural productions OF the nation all useful products
adapted to apy oft the various climates aud soils OF
our vast territory and to giving ali useful infor
marion as TO the method uf cultivation of the
plants cereals and other products adapted TO par
ticuar localities Quietly but surely, the Agricul.
and il liberally supported, the more widely Its in.
huence will be extended, and the less dependent
shall be upon the products OF foreign countries.
The subject Of compensation to the heads Of bu-
r aus anu oficials holding positions OF responsl.
bility, and requiring ability and character to nll
them properly. il one TO which your attention Is
invited But few OF the officials receive compensa-
tion equal to the respectable. support Of family,
while their duties are such as to involve millions
Of interest. In private LIE services demand com.
pensation equal to the services rendered. A wise
economy would dictate the same rule in the gov
ernment service.
l have not gwen the estimates for the support of
the government for the ensuing year. nor the COM
parative statement between the expenditures for
the year just passed and the one Just preceding,
sbecause all these 1gui es are contained In the ac-
companying reports or IN those presented directly
to Congress. These estimates have my approval
THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.
More than six years have elapsed since the last
hostile gun was fired between the armies then ar
rayed against each other the for the perpetua.
tion the other for the destruction OF the union 1t
may well be considered whether 1t is not now
time that the disabilities imposed by the Four
teenth Amendment should be removed. That
amendment does not exclude the ballot, but only
imposes the disability 10 hold office upon certain
classes. When the purity OF the ballot is secure,
ms inFit N
views OF the majority. do not see the advantage
or propriety Of excluding men from office merely
because they were, before the rebellion, OF sland
ing and characte sufficient to be elected to posi-
tiOns requiring them 10 take oatns to support the
Constituaon and admitting TO eligibility those en-.
tertaining precisely the same views but Of less
standing in their communities. 1t may be said
that the former violated an oath while the latter
did not The latter did not have 1t In their power
to do so. If they had taken This oath 1t cannot be
doubted they would have broken It, MS did the for.
mer class. II there are any great criminals, dis
tinguishedlabove all Others for the part they TOOK
in opposition to the government, they might In
the judgment OF Congress, be excluded from such
all amnesty.
This subject is submitted ior your careful con.
sideration. The condition OF the Southern States
Is unhappily not such AS all true patriotic citizens
would like to see, social ostraCism for opinions
sake, personal violence or threats tOwardspersuns
entertaining political views tpposed 10 those en-
tertained by the majority OF tile OH citizens, pre-
vents immigration aud the flood Of much needed
capital into the states lately In rebellion. 1t Will
be Il happy condition Of the country when the old
ci izens OF these States will take an interest in
pubic affairs, promugate ideas honestly enter.
tained, vote for men representing their Views,
and tolerate the sane fr, edom vi expression and
ballot in those entertaining different political con-
viction.
Under the provisions of the act OF Congress, ap.
proved February 81, 1871. territorial government
was orgaLzed In the district OF Columbia. lis re-
suits have thus far fully realized the expectations
Of It's advocates Under the direction OF the terri
torial officers n system u improvements has been
iDauSurated by means Of which Washington Is
rapidly becoming u city worthy OF the nations
capital. The citizens OF the District having vOlun-
tariiy taxed themselv 10 a large amount for the
purpose Of contributing TO the adornment OF the
seat Of government, ] recommend liberal appro
priaiions ON the part Of Congress, IN order that
the government may bear Its Just share OF The ex
pense Of carrying out u judcious system OF I'M.
provemenls.
THE CHICAGO FIRE.
BY the great fire in Chicago. the most important
Of the government buildings In that city were con-
sumed Those burned mad already become In.
adequate tO the wants OF the government IN that
growing city, and looking to the near future, wers
totally inadequate. l recommend. therefore, that
an appropriation be mace Immediately to purchase
the remainder Of the square on which the burned
buildings stood. provided it can be purchased at
fair valuation or provided that the legislature OF
Illinois Will pass law authorizing Its condemna.
ton for government put poses, and also an appro-
priation OF as much money caB properly be eX
pended towards the erection OF new buildings
during this fiscal year.
PROTECTION OF IMMIGRANTS.
The number OF immigrants Ignorant OF our laws
and habits, and coming into our country annually
has become SO great and the impostions practised
upon them so numerous and nagrant, that sug
gest Congressional action Tor their protection. 1t
seems to me lair subject OF legislation by Con-
gress. cannot now state as fully as l desire the
nature Of the complaints made by emigrants Of the
treatment they receive. but will endeavor To do 80
during the session OF Congress, particularly If the
subject should receive your attention.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
II has been the aim OF the Administration to en-
force honesty and efficiency In all public orices
Every public servant who has violated the trust
placed In him has been proceeded against with oil
the vigor OF tne law. II bad men have secured
places 1t has been the fault Of the system estab.
lished by law and custom for making appoint
ments, or the fault Of those who recommended for
government position persons not sufficiently well.
known To them personally, or who give letters en-
dorsing the character Of office-seekers without
proper sense OF the grave responsibility which
reform which con correct this abuse Is much de-
sired. In mercantile pursuits the business man
who gives a letter OF recommendation to friend
TO enable him to obtain credit from a stranger. is
regarded as morally responsible for the integrity
OF his friend and his ability to meet his obligations
A relormatory law which would enforce this prin
ciple against all endorsers OF persons for public
place, would insure great caution in making recon-
mendations. salutaty lesson has been taught
the careless and the dishonest public servant Ia
the great number OF prosecutions aud convictions
the favorable change which is taxing place
throughout the country, In bringing TO punish
ment those who have proved recreant to the trusts
cunded 10 them, and In eleyating TO public once
none but those who possess the confidence OF the
honest and ylrtuous, who, IL will always be found
comprise The majority OF the community in which
thoy live.
In my message to Congress, one year ago, ur
gently recommended a reform In the civil service
OF the country. In conformity with the recon.
mendation, Congress In the ninih section OF an act
making appropriation for sundry civil expenses OF
the government and for other purposes, approved
March g. 1871, gave the necessary authority TO the
Executive TO inaugura:e civil service reform
and placed upon him the responsibility OF doing
so Under authority OF said act l convened q
board OF gentlemen emnenly qualified for
the work TO devise rules aud regulations to ef.
feet the needed reform. Their Iabors are not
yet complete, but II Ia believed that they will sue
ceed In deyising Plan which can be adopted TO
The great relief oi the Executive, the heads of de-
parments and members OF Congress, and which
will rebound 10 the true interest OF the public
vice. At all events the experiment SHAH have q
fair trial. i have thus hastily summed up the op
eratiOns OF the government during the last year,
and made such suggestions as occur TO me 10 be
proper for your consideration. 1 submit them
with confidence that your combined action will
be wise. statemanllke and In the best Interests Of
the whole country.
US. GRANT.
Executive Mansion. December 4, 1871.