The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-12-05
The Presidents Message.

The annual message of President Grant
was read in the U. s. Senate on Tuesday. 1t
is document of dreful length, and as dull
as all old Patent Office Report. We had in
tended giving a synopsis of its contents, but
scarcely think it worth the space it would
occupy. The following, from the Baltimore
Gazette will, however, give our readers some
idea as to its contents:
In point of length the message Of President
Grant will satisfy the most eXacting of read
ers. If, however, the summaries of the re-
ports of the several Departments were elimi-
mated, the original matter contributed by the
President would be found to occupy a COM
paratiyely small space. OF the condensed
statement of the workings ofthe Departments
we hayenothng ut present to say 1t Is with
that part of the message which may he as
sumed to be the product of the Presidents
own pen, the result of his most profound re-
Elections, and the choicest expression of his
matured thoughts, that we propose to deal.
We cannot, we confess, speak of it admiring-
w. 1t is q dead level Of mcdocrity. 1t de-
tes analysis because it contains so little to
analyze 1t treats, indeed, ola variety of
matters, but in mild, hesitating, insipid way,
as if the President had loosely graspcd them
and was doubtful whether he understood any
thing about them--as if, in short, their sub.
lection to the Executive menstruum had
made them all-great and little, important
and unimportant-equally yapid and color
less On the currency question he is sadly
bewildered. He is of opinion that five could
keep at home the gold extracted from our
mines we could return to specie payments.
lie is equally OF opinion that we can never
return to specie payments until our exports
sre not only in excess of our imports, but also
of the interest we pay on all classes OF our
securities abroad Ii this be true, we need
not expect to resume specie payments during
this generation at least. He is clear that
more currency is required to move the crops,
and also to meet the labor payments at the
South but he is equally convinced that no
further imitation of the currency is desirable.
Nevertheless, he would initiate the currency
by allowing National banks to issue more
notes on depositng with the Treasury Uni
ted States bonds OF an equal face value. He
doe not like to see New York, or as he says,
"a few commercial centres" drain the interior
States of their currency, and he is opposed
to the payment of interest on deposits; but
the only remedy lie can suggest for restoring
the circulation to its natural channel is by
establishing system of clearing houses
Finally, he leaves it to the wisdom of Con
ercss to devise n remedy, On the Cuban
question, the message is equally weak and
inconscquenlal. Spain, he tells us, is doing
all she can "to establish the principles of uni
yersal liberty in the form of Republic" and,
therefore, we must deal tenderly with her,
and accept such poor reparation as she is
capable of making, Notwithstanding her citi-
zens in Cuba insult our flag and butcher our
people. But if Spain cannot make all the
atonement we have right to demand, we
must remember that she has released several
thousand slaves in Porto Rico" and that she
will, some day or other, liberate the slaves in
Cuba also, if the clement in Cuba which "has
seized many of the emblems of power there,
will graciOusly accord her permission. Now,
with the matter of slavery in Cuba, we have
nothing TO do. Oar duty is to vindicate our
own honor and put II stop to the murder OF
American citizens Strange to say, moreover,
if slavery in Cuba be, rs the President asserts
the cause of these excuses, by the protocol
drawn between the United States and Spain
we are actually assisting to perpetuate The
slavery we condemn for the Spanish loyal
lists Of Cuba are the saye-Owners, for whose
atrocities we have called upon Spain for repa-
ration. In letting her off easily, we thus
strengthen the power and influence of the
very men who are fighting for slavery, who
are guilty of the bloody deeds we dcnounce
who deserve to be punished, and who as the
President confesses, "are aiming to rivet still
stronger the chains Of slavery and opprcs
sion" But then, if we are recreant to om
own honor, and unjust to our own people
we have the consolation of knowing that
Castelar, is our friend" and that Ibis co
quence has charmed the world"