The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-12-15

Of Brazil may hereafter find 1t for it
interest, as we'll a. intrinscally right
to advance toward entire emancipation
more rapidly than the present act con
templates.
The true prosperity and greatness o
a nation Is to be found in the elevation
and education of its laborers. IL il a sub
ject for regret that the reforms in thi.
direction which were voluntarily pr )m'
lsed by the statesmen of Spain have
not been carried out in Its West India
colonies. The laws and regulations for
the apparent abolition OF slavery in
Cuba and Porto Rico leave most of the
laborers in bondage, with no hope OF
release until their lives become q bur
den to their employers.
| desire to direct your attention tn
the fact that citizens of the United
States, or per7ons claiming to be citi-
zens of the United States, are large
holders in foreign lands of this species
of property, forbidden by the funda-
mental law of their alleged country. /
recommend to Congress to provide,
by stringent legislntion, n suitable rem
edy against the holding, owning, or
dealing in slaves, or being interested
in slave property in foreign lands,
either as owners, hirers, or mortgagers,
by citizens of United States.
1t is to be regretted that the disturb.
ed condition of the Island of Cuba con-
tinues to be source of annoyance and
of anxiety. The existence of protract-
ed struggle in such close proximity to
our own territory, without apparent
of an early termination, can
not be other than an object of concern
to a people who, while abstaining from
in the affairs of other pow
ers, naturally desire to see every coun-
try in the undisturbed enjoyment of
peace, liberty and the blessings of free
Our naval commanders
in Cuban waters have been instructed,
in case it should become necessary, to
spare no effort to protect the lives and
Of bona .fle American citizens
and to maintain the dignity of the flag.
1t is hoped that all pending questions
with Spain, growing out of the affairs
in Cuba, may be adjusted in the spirit
Of peace and conciliation which has
hitherto guided thetwo powers in their
treatment of such questions.
To give Importance and to add to the
efficiency of our diplomatic relations
with Japan and China, and to further
aid in retaining the good opinion of
those peoples, and to secure to the Unit.
ed States its share of the commerce
destined to flow between those nations
and the balance of the commercial
world, / earnestly recommend that an
be made to support at
least four American youths in each of
these countries to serve aS a part of the
official family of our Ministers there.
Our representatives would not even
then be placed upon an equality with
the representatives of Great Britain and
of some other Powers. AS now situat-
ed, our representatives in Japan and
China have to depend for Interpreters
and translat0r5 upon natives of those
who know our language i'm
perfectly, or procure, for the occasion
the services of employees in foreign bus
mess houses or the Interpreters to Other
foreign ministers.
l woul / also recommend liberal meas
ures for the purpose of supporting thu
American lines Of steamers now plying
between San Francisco and Japan ant
China, and the Australian lines-almos
our only remaining lines of ocean
of increasing their SER
vices.
The national debt has been reduced
to the extent of eighty six millions
fifty thousand one hundred and
twenty six dollars and eighty cents dur.
ing the year, and by the negotiation oI
national bonds, at a lower rate of inter.
est, the interest on the pubic debt has
been so far diminished that now tho
sum to be raised for the interest account
is nearly seventeen millions of dollar,
less than on the lst of March, 1869.
II was highly desirable that this rapid
should take place, both to
strengthen the credit of the country
and to convince its citizens of their en-
tire ability to meet every dollar Of liza
biiity without banIrupting them. But,
in view of the accomplishment of thesC
desirable ends, Of the rapid develop
ment of the resources Of the country
its increasing ability to meet large dc
mands, and the amount already paid, Il
ii not desirable that the present resOur
ccs Of the country should continue tC
be taxed in order to continue this rapit
payment. /, therefore, recommend Il
modification of both the tariff and in.
ternal tax laws. | recommend that AL
taxes from internal sources be abolish
ed, except those collected from spiritu
GUS, vinous, and malt liquors tobacco
in its various forms, and from stamps.
In readiusting the tariff, l suggts S
that careful estimate he made OF tht
amount ofsurpiu5 revenue collected un
der the present laws, after providing
for the current expenses of the Govern
ment, the interest account, and sink
ing fund, and that this surplus be re
duced in such manner as to a ford th(
greatest relief TO The greatest number.
There are many articles not produced
at home, but which enter largely int
general consumption through article
which are manufactured at home, suc'
as medicines cOmpOunirl, &c, &c.
from which very little revvuue is de
rived, but which enter into general use
All such articles 1 recommend to b
placed on the free list
Should ii further re luctiOn prove ad
visable l would then recommend tina
it be made upon those articles whic
can best bear it without disturbing hom
production or reducing the wages G
American labor.
| have not entered into figures, be
cause to do so would be to repeat wha
will be laid before you in the report {
the Secretary Of the Trea sury.
The present laws for collecting revenu
pay collectors of customs small salarie.
but provide for m0ieties, (shares in a
seizure,) which, at principal ports {
entry, particularly, raise the compensS
ton of those officials to large SUN,
has always seemed to me as if this sy,
TEN must at times work perniciOusly
1t holds out an inducement to dishones
men, should such get POSSESSION of thos
office, to be lax In their scrutiny ,
goods entered, to enable them final
to make large seizures. Your attentiO
is respectfully invited to this subject,
Continued fluctuations in the value ,
gold, as compared with the nation,
currency, has most damaging cfle,
upon the increase and development ,
the country in keeping up prices of a
articles necessary in every day life.
fosters spirit of gambling prejudici
alike to national mOralsan the nations
finances. If the question can he met ,
10 how to give fixed value to OF
currency, that value constantly an
uniformly approaching par with speci
a very desirable object will be gained.
For the operations of the army In III
past year; the expense of maintainin
1t, the estimates for the ensuing yea
and for continuing sea coast and 9th,
improvements conducted under the 81
pervision of the War Department,
refer you to the accompanying report