Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-12-07

OF taxation, the president PLAINLY says
81 would recommend that no more
legislation be had on this subject, unless
it be to correct errors of omission or
commission in the present laws, until
sufficient time has elapsed to prove that
it can be done and still leave sufficient
revenue to meet the current expenses of
the government, pay interest on the
public debt, and provide for its sinking
fund established by law.
1.-The preservation of our national
credit is of the highest importance.
Next in Importance to this comes sol
emn duty to provide national curren-
rency, of fixed, unvarying value, as com
pared with gold, and as soon as practi
cable, having due regard for the inter
ests Of the debtor class and the vicissi-
tudes Of trade and commerce, converti-
BILE into gold at par"
In these two sentences the whole
financial policy of the administration for
the present appears to be summed up.
1t is one of mastery inactivity"
a long list OF special recommends
tons made by the Secretary of War, is
recited, and 1.-The favorable attention of
Congress invited" the report of the
Secretary of the Navy is more briefly
referred TO, as showing, however, the
important fact that "unless early steps
are taken to preserve our navy, the Uni
ted States will be the weakest nation
upon the ocean of all the great powers.
Suggestions are made for the cncour
ment both of Interstate and foreign
commerce. In reference to the former,
attention is suG gested to the extension
of the James River and kanawha and
Chesapeake and Ohio canals, and the
connection Of the Mississippi Valley
with the seaboard at Charleston and
Savannah, by the way Of the Ohio and
Tennessee rivers and canals, and slack
water navigation, to the Savannah and
Ogeechee rivers. The project of a ship
canal around Niagara falls,on the United
States side, is also referred to, and graf
ifcation expressed at the results which
have already attended various works OF
river and harbor improvement.
In reference to our foreign commerce
and shipping interests generally, the
the confession is made ''that the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury will
show an falling off in our carrying trade
for the last ten or twelve years, aud even
for the past year. He does not believe
that public treasure can be better eN-
pended in the interest of the whole PEG
pie than in trying to recover this trade
in the expenditure of S5,0O0,OOO per
annum for the next five years. But III
our Judgment the evil is one which re
quires more radical remedy.
The modification, if not abolition OF
the tranking privilege, with view to
the correction Of some of its more giar-
ing abuses, is again urged upon Con
, gress. The scheme of government
postal telegraph monopoly, which occu-
pies so large space Ill the report OF the
Postmaster General, and which is des-
tined to excite a good deal of attention
and discussion on the part of the press,
is presented as i suitable matter for con
sideration and investigation by a com
mittre or commission to be appointed
by Congress.
The President iustifies his action I'M
der the recent acts of Congress to en-
force the rights of citizens to vote, and
10 enforce the provisions OF the four
teenth amendment, Ghe bayonet-elec-
ton and Ku-Klux laws,) and the necess-
ity and salutary effect of those enact
ments. Referring to the numerous APP
plications for pardon addressed to HIM
in behalf of persons convicted under
those acts, he state that his action there
on is not to be construed as indicating
any change in his determination to en-
force with rigor such acts, so long as the
consp;racies and combinations therein
named disturb the peace of the country,
Satisfaction is expressed with the re-
suits of the Indian policy inaugurated
BY the present administration, and a de
termination to adhere to it without any
change, except such as experience may
show to be necessary to make 1t more
efficient. The ultimate removal OF all
the luuldlS lliO lIle tSIlllOi. S'"''' W
Kansas, and the erection of territorial
government there for their protection,
is suggested as the proper complement
of the existing Indian policy.
The practical workings OF the land
office, the pension bureau and the pat
ent office are illustrated by statistics
collected from the reports Of the heads
of those departments. The near ap-
proach of the ninth census completion
is to be taken in 1875.
The condition of affairs in Utah Is
spoken of as unsatisfactory, and the atti-
tude ofthe Legislature of that Territory
as hostile to the government. a care,
full revision by Congress OF the laws OF
the Territory, with viewto the ultimate
extinguishment of polygamy, is recon-
mended Satisfaction is expressed with
the workings of the territorial govern
ment recently established in the District
of Columbia, which may not be alto
gelher shared by taxpayers and property
holders in that District, although the
further suggestion that the country at
large should bear part of the burden OF
expenses incurred by the present board
of public works will doubtless command
their heartiest approval.
The message finally concludes with
reference to the popular desire tor civil
service reform, and the need OF further
legislation on the part of Congress to