New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-05

enforce with yigor such acts so long as th
Conspiracies and combiuat TONS therein name
disturb the peace Of The country. 1t is muc
TO be regretted, and is regretted by no on
more than myself, that a necessity has eve
existed to execute the enforcement act.
NO one can desire more than / that the ne
cessity of applying it may never again
demanded.
Affairs in the Territories are general
satisfactory. The energy and business ca
paeily of the pioneers who are settling up tn
vast domains not yet incorporated into State
are keeping pace in internal Improvement
and civil government with the other conlmu
mites. In but one of them Utah) is th'
condition of affairs unsatisfactory, except 81
Tar as the quiet Of the citizen may be dis
| turbed by real or imaginary danger Of Indiar
hostilities.
1t has seemed to be the policy of the Legis
azure OF Utah to evade all responsibility tC
/ the Government Of the United States. and
even to hold a position in hostility to it.
L recommend q careful revision of the pres
ent laws OF the Territory by Congress, and
| the enactment of-such q law (the one pro.
posed IN Congress at its last session, for in
stance, or something similar to it, as will
secure peace, the equality of all citizens be-
fore the law, and the ultimate extincuish-
ment of pOlygamy.
Since the establishment of a Territorial
government for the District of Columbia, the
improvement Of the condition of the city OF
Washington and surroundings, and the in
| creased prosperity of the citizens is obsery-
| able to the most casual observer. The ma
ion being large owner Of property in this
city, should bear with the citizens of the Dis
i,or Of ha 80
improvements. l recommend, therefore, an
appropriation to reimburse the citizens for
the work done by them along and in front of
public grounds during the past year, and lib
eral appropriations in order that the imrrove-
ment and establishment Of the public build
lngs and grounds may keep pace with the
improvements made by the territorial au-
thorities.
AGRICULTURE
The report Of the Commissioner Of A ri.
culture gives a very full and interesting ac-
count OF the several divisions of that depart
ment-thc horticultural, agricultural, Stats
teal, chronological, and chemical, and the
benefits conferred by each upon the agricul-
tural interests of the country. The whole
report is complete history, in detail, of the
workings OF that department in all its
branches, showing the manner in which the
u,
and the extent TO which he is aided in his
pursuits.
The Commissioner makes one recommended
tlon-that measures be taken by Congress TO
protect and induce the planting of forests,
and suggests that no part Of the public lands
should be disposed of without the condition
that One-tenth of it be reserved in timber
where it exists, and where is does not exist.
Inducements should be offered for planting it.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
=. In accordance with the terms of the act of
Congress, approved March 3, 1871, providing
tor the celebration Of the Tooth anniversary
OF American Independence, a commission
has been organized, consisting of two mem.
bers from each Of the States and the Terri
tories. This commission has held two ses-
sions, and has made satisfactory progress in
the organization and in the initiatory steps
necessary for carrying out the provisions OF
the act, and for executing also the provisions
OF the act OF June / 1872, creating a Centen-
NAL Board OF Finance. A preliminary report
OF progress has been received from the presi-
dent OF the commission and is herewith trans
mittcd. 1t will be the duty of the commits
SION, at your coming session, to transmit q
iull report OF the progress made, and to lay
before you the details relating to the exhibit
ton OF American and foreign arts, products,
and manufactures, which, by the terms of
the act, is to be held under the auspices of
the Government of the United States in the
city of Philadelphia, in the year 1876.
This celebration will be looked forward to
by American citizens with great interest as
marking century of greater progress and
prosperity than is recorded in the history of
any other nation, and in serving good pur-
pose in bringing together, on our soil, peo-
a ~ on1, oexl IL
manner calculated to secure international
good feeling.
CIVIL SERVICE.
An earnest desire has been felt to correct
abuses which have grown up in the civil SER
vice of the country, through the defective
method of making appointments TO Office.
Heretofore federal offices have been regarded
too much as the reward Of political services.
Under authority of Congress rules have been
established TO regulate the tenure of Office
and the mode Of appointments. 1t cannot be
expected that any system Of rules can be en-
tirely effective, and prove q perfect remedy
for the existing evils until they have been
thoroughly tested, by actual practice and
amen led according to the requirements of tho
Seryit,.
During my term Of Office it shall be my
earnest endeavor to so apply the rules as to
cure the greatest possible reform in the
civil service OF the Government, but it will
require the direct action of Congress to rem
der the enforcement of the system binding
upon my successors, and hope that the ex
perience of the past year, together with APP
propriate legislation by Congress, may reach
satisfactory solution Of this question, and
secure to the public service for all time q
practical method of obtaining faithful and eff
| ticient officers and employees
L. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Decembe, =, 1872
THE HISTORIANS BELOW STAIRs.-Mr
| Froude, says the Ereniag Post, is beginning
to learn what il is to open an historical dis.
cussion in q country where one man is as
good as another. In New Haven the other
evening he was "hlstled" by some rude per.
sons, and the servants of the family in Boston
at whose house he has been staying are in
revolt, refusing longer to be the ministers tc
him whom defames Ireland. This is dis.