Middletown transcript., 1871-12-16
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wear In the opening paragraph General
Gran, csprrssgs his qualification Mt the
rucsess which has attended his efforts to
sn'crcc the laws. without inquiriug in,o
The wisdom Of their enactment.
The past year. wc are told. b,s been
.uc u unsxamplcd prosperity 10 ",he
nssicn.' and. slthough attended with
mnrs than nsual rhas,iscNents by storm
aud lire, these disasters have developed
the beet clcncais Of human nature In our
midst. and the friendship Of foreign ma
,iusss. Our relssiuss with foreign pcv.
crs are said to be friendly. aud the year
has been distinguished BY the fine cs-
ample which has been act. of consrnting
10 rcaeefally arbitra,e tho Alabama claims.
A ropy Of tue treaty is submitted. with
hessils in regard 10 the appointment Of ar
hiirs,ors. and lseislslionsby Congress is
requested at = early : day ss possible on
those articles Of the treaty that relate To
the fisheries. The hope is also expressed
that the Western States bordering on the
lakes will nc, on that article Of the treaty
which contc,n plates the use. in common.
nf their canal, aud rivers aud those OF
Canada.
Mr. Wa.hlurne and the Consular Rep
rcsen,ative Of tho United States are mex,
complimcnied on the delicacy, prudence
aui good taste. with which they extended
protection to the Gcrmaus in France.
The ratification Of new treaty with Italy
/. announced, one article Of which pro-
vide, tha, in case of war between the two
contracting Powers. private property at
sea shall be respected. The mixed Com
mission, authorized for sdjudicating clai'Es
against Spain. growing out Of the Cuban
insurres,iou. is said to have been appoint
cd. The friendly relations With Russia.
tho vi.i, of tho Grand Duke Alexis. and
the Catacasy quarrel. are adver,cd to
Also, the di.iutcrested relations OF the
United States with Japan aud China.
The difficulty with Corea is touched upon
slightly. anl ihs subject leftto Congress
fur further action. There 10 some trouble
with Mexico 10 regard to the - Free
Xonc." which. Il 10 hoped, may be settled
amicably; but our relations with the
Central and South American States are
reported to be " cordial aud friendly
with one exception. Brazil is cougratu-
lated for taking the first step towards a
polishing slavery. and the hope is express
cd that the latter may yet consent to
cmancipstc the blacks mere rapidly than
the present net warrants. After some
moral reflections. tho Message calls special
attention to the fact tbst some citizens Of
tho United States in foreign countries are
Shareholders, and Congress is recommend
ed to provide by stringent legislation. a
suitable remedy against the holding, own
ing or dealing in slaves. or being inter-
cs,ed in slave property in foreign lands,
either ss owners. heirs or mortgages
The condition. OF Cuba is represented to
bc n source Of annoyance and anxiety.
and naval force has been sont into Gu
ban waters TO protect the lives and proper
ty of American citizens. and maintain
The digni', o: the aag."
The reduction Of the National debt dur
ing the pas, year is alluded to; but as It
Is no. thought, to be any longer desirable
that the present resources Of the country
should Be taxed to continue this rapid
payment, i, is recommended that all taxes
from internal revenue sources be abolish
ed, except those collected from spirit
uons, vinous and malt liquors, tobacco in
lis various forms. and from stamps; and
that ether articles. not produced at home,
but which either enter lnrgcly into gcner.
nj consumption. through articles which
are manufactured at home. such as medi.
eines, compounds. &c. from which very
little revenue is received. be placed on
the free list Il il further suggesied that
in future there shall bc no allowance mad,
10 revenue os6cisls for seizures made n
the por, of entry. but that instead. thei
salueics be increased.
The n.scn,ion Of Congress Is called te
the gold gambling mania, and the propo
si,ion Is sole,nnly lnid down that il !
very desirable to give fixed value to on
currency.
e Goacerniug the operations Of the army
Congress is referred to the Report Of ,h
Secretary Of War; but some suggestion
arc made in regard to promotions. tn
efficiency, Of the navy is said to have bee
increased during tho past year, and Con
grcss Is recommended to consider the sug
icstions Of the Secretary. and to authoris
promotions by selection in future, instea
fby seniority.
The Pos,oiiicc Report is said to sho'
enlarged receipts from mail service. an
although the expenditures were muc
rsesicr than the receipts, the hope . CT
PRESSED that. some day OF other, che Post
o.Ecc Dcpa rlmrat will prove much gseai
~ blslAsk u the people than il Is nov
Tile proposition to unite the tclcgrap
s5s,e,n with the postal sys.cm Is especial
recommended.
j defence II she Ku.Klux act. and i
cu uiutsenntnt follows ssHs. Ths procl'
nation Of martial Law 10 nine counties ,
sau;h Carolina u declared 70 hsss be-
nj iapcrstivs necessity. asd The Old ~
sics II ostssGss psspstsated, and oe " cou
l,ftN0 ~ ded0Qr' ~ the Dtsts y
rhsdsistso 80. ~ rssAdssd ssd a.
"a uroN.
Tho l'clygsmis,s II Gssh ere ssid
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