The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-12-09
The Presidents Message.

noPsis of the message, as prepared by the Bal
more Sun,
The third annual message Of President Grant,
opens with reiteraton Of the policy announc-
cd In his Inaugural message. 1.-THE policy has
been not TO ing uire into the wisdom OF the laws
| already enacted, but TO learn their spirit and
intent, and.to enforce them aceordingly"--a
sentiment which, II literally adhered to, would
preclude the Executive from making many
useful recommendations for the repeal or mod
| iieation OF laws found to be bad.
| The exceptional calamities by FIRE and food
| which have marked the past year, aud which
have led to the display Of so much active be-
nevolence and generous sympathy at home aud
abroad, receive appropriate mention, while
the year Is recognized TO have been, "under q
wise Providence, one ofgeneral prosperity TO
/ the nation"
Under the head of foreign relations, the
/ country Is properly congratulated upon the
beneficial effects likely to result from the treaty
| OF Washington, both as q settlement Of our diff
ferences with Great Britain, and as an example
to the world how wars may be avoided without
a sacrifice of national honor. Credit Is given
to our diplomatic and consular agents at Paris
for the manner In which they have performed
their delicate duties without waunding the
susceptibilities Of French or Germans during
the trying scenes in France Of the past twelve
months.
Some surprise will doubtless be felt 10 find
NJ. Cataeazy elevated to the dignity Of a ma
| tional grievance, and the purely personal diff
| hculties between that obnoxious envoy and the
administration at Washingto deemed worthy
Of place in the Presidents message. In for
iner cases, such as those Of citizen Genet dur.
ing the administration Of Washington, and OF
Mr. Crempton, during the Crimean war, 1t was
| the violation OF law rather Of personal or dplo-
matte proprieties, which inearred the censure
of the Executive, and which was brought TO
the attention OF the nation. Reference Is made
TO the diplomatic failure in Corea and 10 the
! snecsss achieved by Admiral Rodgers over
mi-barbarous people, and the whole subject
Is len "for such action as Congress may see fl
TO take"
The abolition OF slavery By Brazil Is made
the subject OF presidential congratulation, and
the enactment by Congress OF q stringent law
Is recommended to reach the case Of American
| citizens who in their business dealings with
| planters and Others in countries where
slavery Is still tolerated by law may become
! interested ms mortgages or otherwise In this
| species Of property.
| The rumors which have been rife Of pending
difficulties with Spain, and possible interview
| ton in the affairs Of Cuba, end no countenance
In what Is said in the message upon these
| heads.
| Turning from foreign to domestic affairs, the
| first and most important recommendation of
the message is that both the tariff and internal
laws be modified, with a view TO ligbteping the
burdens al present impo1ed upon tie country.
Il Is recommended that .'all taxes from inter
| nal revenue sources be abolished, except those
collected from spirituous, vinous and malt
| liquors, tobacco In Its various forms, and from
| stamps" which amounts to q tAcit recommen-
dation TO abolish the income tax. In any re.
| adjustment OF the tariff Il Is recommended that
those articles not produced at home, but which
enter largely into general consumption through
IN L.
| little revenue is derived, should be placed on
the free list, and that should further reduc-
tion be deemed advisable, 1t should be made
upon those articles which can best bear IL with
out disturbing home production or reducing
the wages OF American labor" This latter re-
commentator has the merit of being so ex.
| ceedingly general that 1t probably will give no
efeDse even to the most ardent proteetionists.
| For particulars upon this head Congress Is re-
ferred 10 the report Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury. The fluctuations in the currency are
ccplorcd, and the wisdom Of Congress /. in
voked to find remedy, which Is the nearest,
the President comes 10 showing any concern
upon the subject Of specie payments. The
message Teiterates the condemnation heretofore
pronounced by the Secretary OF the Treasury
upon the present Infamous system Of noietics
to iniormers in the revenue ser rice Of the conn.
try-a system which, while condemn ed In
theory, is said 10 practice, however, to flourish
exceedingly.
In the navy the employment Of supcrnume-
rary officers In the merchant service, las in
England aud other countries,) and that pro-
motion above the rank of captain be made BY
selection instead Of seniority ias at presently
seems TO be Recommendations worthy the at
tenti0n Of Congress.
Inc plan OF uniting the telegraph service
win the ordinary postal service Of tn. cou,tr
is urged upon the favorable consideration II
Congress, as recommended by the Postm aster
General. The revenues Of The departmen nj con-
tinue TO improve.
The measures taken for the enforcement of
The hu-klux law are next reviewed. The nro
eiamation of October IL is justified upon the
ground that the requirements Of the proclama-
ton Of October IL requiring the members of
unlawful combinations within Ave DAYS to sur.
render "all their arms, ammunition, Uniforms.
DISCUSSES, and other means and Implement,
used by them for carrying out their anlaU mi
purposes" bad not been complied With. The
existence Of the "uniawfui combinations -
purposes" "arms," uniforms" and "imnis.
ments" Is taken Cor granted. IA regular
trial In the judicial tribunals Of the United
States" is promised the parties who have been
arrested, in numbers SOM hundreds. and we
may add also their conviction, inasmucb as n
is addedi cit is believed that no innocent per.
son !: now IN custody" IL Irregular" trial
Is to take place, the question of guilt or limo.
cenee, one would have supposed, might have
been left TO tho Judicial tribunals" reign
o. terror having been inaugurated, the fact
that numbers OF persons have nabsconded. ]" IL
assumed to be good ground for surprising
that all such persons have violated the Iaw.h
Inc suppression 81 polygamy In Utah, with
provision for the iegitimization Of innocent
children" up to a certain date, 10 suggested
mendation."
The "Peace policy" heretofore adopted BY
the administration with reference to The In.
dians, Though somewhat varied In practice by
Is recommended to be adhered to, mot only
because l. is humane, Christian-iike and eco
nomical, but because II Is right"
Political amnesty Is recommended. upon tbs
ground, apparently, that no good comes from
excluding particular class Of men from oIiiee
because they had violated their oath to support
the constitution, while thousands who wonid
have done SO had they been In the same po.i.
ton are admitted to be eligible. IL is added.
II there are any great criminals distinguished
above all others for the part they took in on-
position to the government, they might, in the
judgment OF Congress, be excl ded from such
amnesty" IL Is needless to remark that such
amnesty would not be general" and that the
very exceptions" would go far to defeat its
elect. Regret Is expressed that the old citi-
zens OF the Southern States should not take a
more prominent part in public affairs, but The
causes which hinder them from so doing seem
to be imperfectly comprehcnded. The wretched
misrule OF the carpetbag governments Of those
States, now upheld by Ru-Klux legislation, has
far more TO do with their present "unhappv
condition" than any feeling Of personal hostil-
ity or Social ostracism" on the part of ,be
older inhabitants toward those who differ with
them In political sentiments. Natural oau.es.
such as climate, soil, and the state Of the labor
question, with present mal-administration
have quite 40 much to do with retarding dim.
migration and the flow OF much needed cant.
tai" into the South as any Of the causes which
the President enumerates.
In conclusion, the President declares himself
In favor OF such civil service reform =. iii