Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-12-10


topics upon which it treats, and, in general,
for the remarkably plain good sense which
marks their discussion
There is nothing particularly new in his
statement Of the VirgiHhn affair, and he |
submits without remark the overture Of the /
government Of Santo Domingo inviting the
United States to exercise a protecioratc
over that so.called republic. The invita-
ton, we trust, will be carefully considered
before it is accepted.
The most important topic Of the message
is the finances, but it il just here that the
President appears to feel least sure Of his
ground, making no distinct recommends.
ten, but throwing out several sugges-
tons, with the hope that the best method
may be adopted to keep alive the industries
of the country and at the same time secure a
return to specie payments. The President
declares distinctly that the resumption
of specie payments is the object to be kept
primarily in mind, but appears to harbor
dangerous notion that a little Initiation may
relieve the present pressure without Sc
riously impeding our progress toward ma
tional solvency. The truth is, that any
yielding now is fraught with the gravcst
perils, aud the Presidents talk about un-
due Initiation is as if one should speak of
az imp, lucent plunge over Niagara. LII
is time for the national Treasury to stop
issuing bills which add to the volume but
cannot increase the value of the currency.
The recommendation Of the President
in relation to the course to be pursued by
Congress 10 view Of the probable falling of
the revenue below the point Of the public
expenses, will, we are sure, commend it.
self to every thinking man in the country.
lie couuses a reduction Of the appropria-
lions for public buildings and Notifications,
and for river and harbor improvements in
places where the general commerce Of the
country is not materially benefited In
place of costly defensive works, he recon.
mends a more thorough armament of those
already built, and the maintenance Of q
more effective navy. This advice is ex-
cellent, and given at time when prudence
and economy in these directions is pariic.
ularly desirable and especially needed
The average appropriation Of Congress for
these purposes is simply enormous, and may
well be reduced, at least in the present
emergency.
His recommendation that Congress pro.
E vide for water communication between the
West aud the seaboard, by completing the
links between the Erie aud Illinois canal,
to the Mississippi, on the assurance Of the
= States of New York and Illinois that these
artificial water. courses shall be opened for
the passage of large vessels, will bear
thorough Investigation, and, very probably
rejection And in the same category we
may undoubtedly place that advising a
grant Of land on the Plains to be made to a
company which will open canal from the
Rocky Mountains to the Missouri, bringing
water into the desert, and retaining so
much sterile soil for agriculture,
His suggestions in regard to revision and
! codifration Of the tariff laws, the exten.
sion of general amnesty to surviving par
Elephants in the rebellion, and in relation tC
i civil service we regard as statesmanlikc
and proper subjects for Congressional actor
in the line indicated. There is also mucl
g practical wisdom in his idea that the Pres
d idcnt should have the power to veto por
ton of any act while approving the re
mainder This will prove especially vaua
bic in looping off from any appropriation
bill, provisions improperly eugrafted upor
it, wasting public money upon useless pub
= lie buildings, and which are only suffered
to pass unchallenged from the fear that the
investigation might imperil the whole bill
! Another valuable Recommendation is tina
I Congress should Gully have power to ac
. upon vetoes during the last twenty fou
$ hours of its session. Much crude legisla
t ton aud corrupt bargaining would be de
+ featcd if this rule was adopted
e The theory Of new census of the coun
T. try in the year 1873, one year before tn
d centennial anniversary Of our independence
l. is undoubtedly good one, while that for
o National University at Washington is, t
= our mind, an unwise and impracticable one
l. But the Message, as whole, tend
y steadily in the direction of specie pay
It ments, revenue reform, civil service reform
is and general amnesty solyency, equity, in
i tegrity and charity 1t is the work of al
n honest magistrate, dealing faithfully and OIL
6 the whole successfully with difficult task
II for which lifetime Of preparation woul'
= be hardly too much, but to which he wa
Il summoned FIVE years ago with absolutely NJ
J. political experience or training. His ad
9 ministration hitherto has been SINGULAR.
IT fortunate for himself and the country, an,
= if the same good fortune attends him Il
d the end, will long be remembered as
happy era in our history.
q The "Cunard steamship company
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