The Ouachita telegraph., 1872-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


ei and read. It commences with rec
ognition of the blessings which the
American people have enjoyed within
tho past year. The only exception be-
ing the great fire in Boston. It refers
to the Geneva arbitration and it's satis-
factory results, which left tho Govern
ments, American and English, without
q shadow ON their friendly relations,
which it sincerely hoped may forever
remain equally unclouded. 1t recon-
nends the Immediate creation of a
Board of Commissioners to decide on
the amounts to be paid to individuals.
1t compliments Mr.. Adams and Mr..
Bancroft for their eminent services in
the matter of the Geneva and San Juan
arbitrations. Tho decision in the latter
leaving the United States for the first
time without any question as to dis
puted boundaries. In regard to the
fisheries and to our relations with the
British North American provinces,
the President says that he has received
notice that the Imperial Parliament
and the Dominican Government have
passed laws to carry the provisions of
the treaty OF Washington into opera
tfon, and he therefore recommends the
legislation of Congress in the same di-
rection. He speaks of the friendly re-
lations of the United States with all
the governme ents Of Europe. He refers
to the Vienna International Exposi-
,tion, and recommends the fitting up OF
two national vessels to convey the
goods of exhibitors to Trieste, and sug-
gests that a proposition be made to
have the next great exposition in this
country in 1876, at tho time of the Con-
tennial Celebration in Philadelphia.
He refers to the disturbed condition of
Cuba, and says that no advance to-
wards pacificatiOn in that Island has
been made, while the insurrection had
gained no advantages ant! exhibited no
more of the elements of power or pros
pectlve success than year ago. Ncith-
or had Spain succeeded in repressinG
the insurrection. The parties to the
strife were standing the same as for Il
long time past. The continuation of
slavery in that Island Ae regards as
among the strongest causes Of the con-
tinuance OF strife, and he thinks that
the abolition OF slavery ana the insti-
tuition Of other reforms could not fail TO
advance the restoration of peace and
order. 1t was greatly to be hoped that
the present liberal government ofSpain
will voluntarily adopt that Wow.
Referring to our relations with Chi
na and Japan, the President recon-
mends provisions for maintaining four
American youths in such of those coun-
tries as part of the diplomatic family of
Minister'S.
He gives details of the revenue re-
ceived in the past year, and of the re-
duction to the amount ofover ono hum
dred million dollars of the public debt.
He expresses Il doubt whether any
other reduction in taxation is practical
bic for the present, and he recommends
that no more legislation be had on that
subject except to correct such errors OF
omission and commission in the pres
ent laws, until sufficient time shal!
have elapsed to prove that ii ca. DO
done and still leave sufficient revenuo
to meet current expenses, pay the III
terest on the public debt, and provide
for the sinking fund, and suggests also
that the currency shall be, rs soon IT'S
possible, brought to Il par with gold.
He says that various enterprises will be
brought to the attention ofCongress for
the cheapening of transportations Of
produce from the west to the Atlantic
coast, and suggests that steps should be
taken to gain all available information
to insure equitable and juaicious lcgis-
latiOn in this connection. He refers
favorably to the proposed route 70 con-
meet the Mississippi Valley with the
Atlantic at Charleston and Savannah,
by way of the Ohio and Tennessee
rivers; also to the proposed extension
of tho Ixannwha and james River Ca
nal and the Chesapeake and Ohio CA
nal, and to the proposed canal around
Niagara Falls. Hc says that there
should be an almost continuous system
Of 1and-1ocked navigation from Maine
to the Gulf of Mexico, nature having
provided q greater part of the route,
and tho obstacles to be overcome being
within the skill of cngir GERS. lie calls
attention to the weakness of the Amer
lean navy and endorses the recommcu-
dations of the Secretary of tho Navy in
that respect. iI@ '"H'nn.onds subsidies
for steamship lines to Brazil, and be-
tween San Francisco, New Zealand
and Australia; also on the increase OF
the salaries of tho heads of bureaus. |
He favors the abolition OF the franlling
and recommends Il moditica- /.
ton of its existing evils. lie also re- /
the adoption by Congress
OF the best method Of acquiring the IT,
tie of all telegraph!c limos now in opcr-