Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-07

tractcd struggle IN such close proximity L
our own territary, without apparent pros
pect of an early termination. can not b.
other than an Object Of concern to people
who, while abstaining from interference il
the affairs of Other powers, naturally desir
Ia see every country in the uniisturbcd Ell
joyncnt Of peace, liberty and the blessing
of free institutions. Our naval commander
i'll Cuban waters have been instructed, il
case it should become necessary. to rpar,
no effort 10 protect the lives and properi,
of bona fide American citizens, and to main
tain the dignity Of the flag.
II is hoped that all pending questions Will
Spain, growing out ri the affairs in Cuba
nay be adjusted 10 the spirit of peace ans
Cancellation which has hitherto guided III,
two p wcrs in iheir treatment of such ques
tions.
To give importance and to add to the
efficiency ot onr diplomatic relations will
Japan and China. and 10 further aid in re
tainirg tine good opinion OF those peoples
sni L. secure to the United States its shar,
"i the commerce dcstiGrd to flow bct~eer
those natiunS aud the bs,ance "f the com
mr:cial world. earnestly recommend thai
-n appropriated be made 20 support at leas,
fo.;r American youths in each of those
countries 10 serve ss part of ths ofiicia
-cnts'ives would not even then be placed
upon An equality with the representative
of Great Britain, and of some other powers
A. now situated, our representatives in
Japan and China have TO depend for inter
prefers and trsnslators upon natives of those
countries, who know our language imper
fectIy, or procure for the occarion the ser.
vices of employees in foreign business houses
or the interpreters to other foreign minis
ters.
would also recommend liberal measures
for the purpose Of supporting the American
lines of steamers now plying between San
Frsnci-cu and Japan and China and the
Australian line, almost oar only remaining
line of ocean steamers, and of increasing :
their services.
The national debt has been reduced
10 the extent Of eighty-six millions
fftv-Aeven thousand one hundred and
twenty y-six dollars and eighty cents during
the year, and by the negotiation Of national
bonds ut q lower rate of interest. The in
terest on the public debt has been SO far
diminished that nov the sum to be raised
for the interest account ia nearly seventeen
million dollars less than on the frst If
March. 1869. 1t WAS highly desirable that
,l,ia rapid diIninu:ion should take place,
both to strengthen the credit of the country
and 10 convince its citizens of their entire
ability to meet every dollar of liability
without bankrupting them, but in view Of
the accomplishment Of these desirable ends
OF the rapid development Of the resources.
# the coantry, its increasing ability to
meet large demands, and the amount
already paid, it 10 not dseira BILE that the
present resources OF the country akould
continue 20 I've taxed in order to continue
this rapid ia Sm,bt. therefore recommend
= modification of both the tariff and inter
nal tax laws / recommend that all taxes
from internal sources be abolished excep
tho~e collected from spurious, viBous and
malt liquors, tobacco 10 ita various for ms,
q nd from stamps In recdjusting the tariff
suggest that Q careful estimate be made of
the amount OF surplus revenue collected
under the present laws AFTER providing for
tho current expenses Of the government.
,he interest account and . sinking fund,
and that this surplus he reduced in srch a
manner ~ to afford the GREATEST r.lief Il.
the greatest number. There x;e many ar
ticles nut produced at home, but which
enter largely into general consumption
articles which are manufactured at
homo, such ~ medicines compounded, etc,
from which very little revenue 10 derived.
but whi"h enter into general use. All such
articles recommend 10 be placed on the
free list
Should further reduction prove sdvisa
BILE, | would then recommend that it he
nshe upon those articles which can best
hear it without disturbing home production
ar reducing the wsges Of American labor.
| have not entered into figures, becsuse to
do So would ne tp repeat what will be laid
before YOU in the report Of the Secretary of
the Treasury.
The. present laws for collecting the reve-
nue. pay collectors of customs small sdla-
ries, but provide for muirtlrs. Shares in
sll seizures which xt principal ports Of
entry particularly raise the compeL-
ssti' n If those officials to a large sun
1t has always seemed to me as If this sys-
ten must At times work perniciously IL
holds ont an induce ement to dishonest men.
should such get possession of those o4res
to be lax IN their scrutiny Of goods entered,
10 enable them finally to make large seiE-
ures. Your attention is respectfully invited
to this subject.
Continued fluctuations in the value of gold
~ compared with the national currency,
hes Q n,ost damaging eject upon the in
creSee and development of the country, in
keeping up prices Of al articles pecessxry in
every day Ifr. 1t fosters spirit Of gam
bling. prcjudicisl alike to national morals
and rhe ns'ion.l finances. If tho question
can bs me; "a to how To give a fixed value
10 our currency, that value constantly and
uniformly approaching par with epecie, y
very ds-iiable object will be gained.
ror the operations of she army in the pact
wear, the expense Of maintaining it, the ~
Inmates for the ensuing year. and for CONT
uu,sg eeacosst snd other Improvements
condacted uuder the supervision of the W ar
refer you to the accompany
ng report of the Secretary of War. l call
your attention to the provisions of the act
of ConSrcss, approved March ;, 1859, which
IjscortiHurs pre- motions in the rtAf corps of
the army ustil provided for by lac. ! REQ
Dnmena that the number of ofiicers in each
grade in the staf corps DO ixed, and that
y heRever the number in any one grade
falls below tie lumber 10 fxed that the
vacancy may be flled by promotion from
the grade below. l alse recommend that
when the Office Of chief Of . corps becomes
vacant, the place may be flled by selection
from the corps in bich the vacancy exists
The rrpor: of the Secretary of the Navy
Ihows su improvement in the Aumber aAd
sS6ciency Of the naval force. without MA
terial increase in the expense Of support T
Is. This 10 due to the policy which has been
adopted and is being extended "a fast ss our
will admit. Of using smaller ves-
sels ~ cruisers on the several stations. ky
this mesns We have been enabled V occupy
VI once larger extent Of cruising ground.
10 visit more frequently the ports where the
presence of our lag is desirable, and gener-
ally to discharge more efficiently the appro-
pirate duties Of the navy in time Of HeHce,
without exceeding the number of men or
the expenditure authorized by Law.
During the past year the navy has, in sd-
aition to ire regular services, supplied the
men and officers for the vessels Of the coast
survey, ssd has completed the surveys au,
by Congress Of the isthmus of Dansn
and Tehauntepec, and under like authority
bAs sent out IN expedition completely fur
nished and equipped to explore the un-
known ocean Of the north. The suzxes-
tions of the report % to the necessity for
and improving the material OF
the navy, and the plan recommended for
the personnel Of the service to .
peace standard BY the gradual abolition Of
certain grades Of officers. the reduction of