National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-12-12

for proceedings looking 10 tie punishment ,
those who may be PRAYED to have been quit
or Illegal acts OF violence towards ciiizens
te United states, rad also towards ind unity
ng those who may he shown to be entitled
Indemnity,
A copy Of poitocO OF difference bctwoe
the Secretary OF state aud the Spanish Mlnis
ter IN which the terms OF his arrangement
were agreed 10 is transmitted herewith tn
correspondence On' tins subject with legation
OF the United states In cphcr and by cabl,
and needs the veritoauon OF tue actual text OF
the correspondence, II has seemed TO ne IL
be duc TO the importance OF the case OF IL
submit this correspondence until u nCcu
rate text can be received by mail IL Is ex'
pected shortly ana viii he submitted when re-
celved.
In taking leave Of this subject for the pres.
emit wish to renew the expression on my con
victIon that the existence OF African slavery
III Cuba Is q principal cause OF the laincntable
condition of the island. do not doubt that
Congress shares with me the hope that II viii
soon be made To disappear, and that peace and
prosperity may follow lts abolition.
The ombarguing Of American estates In
Cuba, cruelty 10 American ciuzons detected
IN no act of hostility 10 the Spanish govern
ment. the numbering OF prisoners taken with
arms In their hands, ana finally the capture
upon the high seas of n vessel sailing under
the Cnited states nag ana bearing "a United
States registry has eliminated IN an Outbur-t
OF Indignation that has seemed FOR time TO
threaten war.
States ana the government OF spain on the
subject of this capture, have authorized the
Secretary Of the Navy TO put our navy on a
war footing. to the extent al least OF the en-
tire annual APPROPRIATION for that branch of
The service, trusting 10 Congress and tie
public opinion of the American people to
justify my action.
Assuming from the action Of tho last Con.
press IN appointing Committee on Privileges
and Elections to prepare and report TO tins
Congress "A constitutional amendment to pro
vide better method Of elcctng the President
ana NicePfesldent of the United States. aud
also from the necessity OF such AN amendment
I'm an mi fah IA fNa Iuta
Legislatures for ratification such an improve
ment IN our Constitution,
suggest two Others ior your consideration:
First To authorize the Executive 10 approve
OF so much Of any measure passing the two
Houses OF Congress as his judgment may dc |
tate, without approving the whole, the dis. |
approved portion or portions To he subjected |
10 he same rules rs now, 10 wit: 10 be refer |
red hack 10 tie House la which the measure
or measures originated, and IL passed by
two-thirGs vote OF the two Houses, then to be
come u law without the approval OF the Prosi-
dent. | would add TO tins that there should |
be no legislation by Congress curing the last
twenty four hours Ot lts sitting. except upon
ve,oes. IN order TO give the Executive an OBJ
porfunltp to examine and approve or dlsap-
prove bills Understandings,
second-TO provide nv amendment. that
when an extra session OF Congress ~ convened
by executive proclamation, legislation during
the continuance Of such extra session shall
be confined to such subjects as the Executive
may bring before it from time to time III writ
ing. The advantages to be gained by these
two amendments are obvious,
One session IN each wear Is provided for by
the Constitution III which there are no rcstric-
lions as to the subject OF Legislation by Con-
Rress; II more are required II Is always III the
power Of Congress during their term of office
TO provide for sessions at any tlme The first
OF these amendments wOnld protect the public |
against the many abuses and wastes OF public
moneys which creep INTO appropriation bills
and other important measures passing during
the expiring hou' : OF Congress, to when 9th
erwlse due consid, ration cannot be given.
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
The receipts of the government from all |
sources for the last fiscal year were $3.50 1885, |
2O4, ard expenditures on all accounts $3.50 3i5,-
24b, thus showing an excess OF receipts over
Expenditures of siJ,3g2 $685. hut IL IL not prob
able that this favorable exhibit VIII be shown
for The present fiscal year Indeed. 1t is very
doubtful whether except with great economy
on the part OF Congress III making nppropra-
t1ons. and the same economy III administering
the various departments OF government. the
revenues VIII not fail short OF meeting actual
expenses, including interest on public debt |
commend to Congress such economy, and point
out two sources where 1t seems to me 1t might
commence. to wit: IN tho appropriations for
public buildings In the many cities where work
has not been commenced, and IN the appr0 | ,
prations for river aud harbor Improvement In a
those localities where the improvements are
OF but little benefit to general commerce, and
for Notifications.
There Is sim more fruitful source of ex-
penditure which VIII point out later IN this
message. refer to the easy method OF manu- |
featuring claims for losses incurred IN sup ;
porting the late rebellion. | wOuld not be I'M | !
derstood here as opposing the erection OF good
substantial and even ornamental buildings by
the government wherever such buildings are g
needed; III fact, approve Of the government +
owning its own bulldings ~ all sections OF the a
country, and hope the day - not far distant Y
when 1t Will not only possess them. but Will 6
erect in the Capitol suitable residences for all a
persons who now receive Communication for I
quarters or rent at government expense and \
for the Cabinet, thus setting an example TO /
the States winch may induce them to erect i
buildings for their Senators; but would have )
I his work conducted at "A tune when the rev n
enues OF the country would abundantly justify t
1t.
TIE PANIC AND sPEcIE PAYMENTS. /
The revenues have materially fallen of for !
the first five months of the present fiscal year
from what they were expected to produce.
owing to the general pane now prevailing.
which commenced about the middle OF Sep
TENDER last. The ful effect of tins DISASTER
II 1t should not prove a blessing IN disguise
Is yet to he demonstrated. In either event IL ,
il your duty to heed the lesson, and provide II
by WIS" and WclI-cunsldtred legislation, as far y
as 1t lies In your power. against ITS recurrence, u
ana to take advantage Of all benefits that may g.
have accrued. /,
My own Judgment is that however much u
individuals may have suffered one long step 1t
has been taken towards specie payments; that
we eau never have permanent prosperity V
nniil spcc,e b0sls Is reached ana that u "
specie basis cannot be reached and maintained
nnill our exports exclusive of gold pay for our
imports, interest due abroad, ana other specie
oohgatlons and so nearly SO a, to leave an ap- al
preciable accumulation OF the precious metals al
IN the country from the products of our mines. H.
The development OF the mines of precious I,
metals during the past year. and the prospec- u
tive development of them for years to come, Il,
are gratifying IN their results. Could but one. o
half of the gold extracted from the mines be I,
retained at home. our advance towards specie y
payments wonld be rapid. To increase our b
eA ports sufficient currency Is required To keen
Al the Industries of the country employed. 81
Without this. national as well as Individual a
bankruptcy must ensue. Undue Initiation, on
me other ndnd, while 1t might give temporary O.
'ecf would only lead 10 initiation of prices m
'wiug TO the mposslbllIty of competition IN
our own markets for the products OF home. ~
SKIN ana labor and repeated renewals OF pres GO
M experiences. elasticity to our circulating OF
medium, therefore, aud Just enough of II to IT.
fansact the legitimate business OF the country
ind 10 keep all industries employed, Is what is
most 10 he desired.
The exact medium Is specie, the recognized re
Medium ofexchangc the world over That III
'Dtalned, we shall have a currency OF an cx- | II
yet degree of elasticity. II there be too much ar
u IL Tor the legitimate purpose of trade aud no
'ohmcrce i VIII How out OF the country It vi
90 llttlu the reverse Will result. To mold m
what we have, and to appreciate our currency tn
70 thht standard. Is "A problem deserving Of yo
me most serious consideration of Congress ~,
The experience OF the present manic has mr.
proven that the currency Of the country based A
Is IL Is upon the credit OF the country Is the tai
BEST that has ever been devised Usually in su
lmes OF such trials the currency has hecpme WI
worthless. or so muoh deprecated IN value as
@ lnnate the values of all the necess ares of rr
lie as compared with the currency. Every Pa
me holding II has been anxious TO dispose of ca
on any terms. Now we witness the reverse I'm
holders OF currency hoard II rs they dld gold gr
u FORMER experience of a like nature an
IL Is patent 10 the most casual observer thar | foI
nuch moIe currency or money IL required to to
raDsact the legitimate tIade of the country by
urIng the fall and winter months when the tIy
sst crops are beng removed, than during the an
aIahce OF the year. win our present system. by
ne amount IN the country remains the same |
hronghout the entlre year. resulting IN an ma
% Al of 1 na ] a.