Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-12

day that the assertions maze 10 the elect tnat the
bill reported by the conference commItee "ouid De
aimed by him, and had been accepted in the nature
of compromise, were utterly without foundation.
He added that although number Of members OF
both houses had called upon him with special
view to converse upon the financial measures pend
ing in Congress, he had said nothing which could
be so construed that in reply to interogatorles he
had merely expressed his opinions as they were
solicited by members, and not with any view of i'm
posing them upon Congress, as the tune for him 10
act was when the bill was formally before him.
Il can, therefore, be authoritativcy stated that
the President will not sign the pending bill nor any
other financial bill this session To make this
statement more comprehensive it is necessary to
mention some facts, and especially to correct a
large amount of speculative information which has
been sent out on the financial question generally as
it stands between the President and Congress, and
as regards the Presidents views. When the first
bill was under consideration in the Senate finance
committee various propositions were stated to him,
and upon them he had no objection to give his opln-
| IONS When the Senate bill was brought before the
| Senate the financial question was fairly launched
Within the next few days not less than forty Sena'
| tors and members will be asking his opinions.
| Thus far the President hsd expressed himself
merely upon casual reading of the bill, but as he
had been so repeatedly asked for opinions he decided
| To mt them in more definite shape. With that
design. after disposng of the official labors Of the
day. he turned his thoughts entirely to the bill.
In this labor he consumed nearly the entire night,
and By office hours the next day had his memorandum
prepared That day the usual number OF Senators
and Representatives called, and the memorandum
was laid before them when they desired 10 consult
the President on the finances. It may be stated
here that this sets at rest the story that the mem
orandum was written out several days before the
date of Senator Joness letter, that it was writ
ten specially for that gentleman.
| The memorandum, as shown above, was open 10
| any member of Congress who called, and was writ
ten two weeks before the first Senate bill was passed
II expresses the views of the President from the
beginning of The agitation of the finances. 1t may
be further stated that its sent TO Senator Jones
| at his request, but was a private paper and not
originally intended for newspaper publication. In
fact the paper had never even been read to the
cabinet, and therefore was doubly private. After
the preparation of the memorandum the growing
| interest of Congress in the question had led the
! President to contemplate the preparation OF spe-
cial message to Congress, but meanwhile the bill
passed, which prevented such action, so that his
views, as far that particular bill was concerned,
was embodied in veto message.
| Pending the labors of the late conference COM
mittee the President was again repeatedly called
| upon and followed the same course as before 1t
| was now proposed that the President should draft
what might be taken as the basis of financial
| measure. This he declined TO accedc to for two
reasons first, that it would have too much the ap
| pearance Of dctation, and second, that the views
would only be individual, and it might be that upon
discussion in Congress he would see them in new
light and feel disposed to modify them.
| The President remarked that this was one advan-
tage that he had. That addition to his own opiu
ions on any principle or subject matter involved in
| q bill he had also the full discussion in Congress.
| On thi. ground he declined 10 commit himself TO
any measure. AS already mentioned, the president
has now decided not TO sign any bill. DE THINKS
that the subject should be maturely consdered
and that he considers cannot be doue now. He
| remarked that the present Congress came toSether
when the people were under the depressing luiu-
ences of the panic. The people wanted relief with.
out exactly knowing in what shape, and looked 10
Congress. Members took different views. The
majority in Congress, it seems, think initiation the
high way TO prosperity. The President considers 1t
the sure road untold disasters and ultimately IRE
parable ruin.
Reports reaching the President from all sections
of the country indicate that the panic has passed
over, and that the stagnation in business is owing
entirely to the ndecision of Congress and the dan
gers of imitation, thereby disturbing values The
President thinks that the wiser course would be Tor
no action to be taken until next session, as Inc same
| members will return then, and in the meantime can
advise themselves of opinions of their constituents
from a more favorable and encouraging standpoint,
and would have their latest views.
| The President concluded by saying that, taking
all this into consideration, he considered 1t better 10
| postuone action until next session. He felt mea-
sure in every respect more beneficial to the financial
and mercantile interests of the country could then
be passed, and the fresh information might lead to
| modification of views of both sides.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE Mr. james
Watts, tailor on Main street. disappeared last
Friday, and has not since been seen or heard
| Of He had been on spree tor several days,
and some Of bis Deighbors thought, from bis
conversation, his mind was effected by drink
ing. On Thursday night before he disappear
ed, he imagined everybody was against HIN
and meant to do him some bodily harm, and
his mind was not disabused of this when he
was last couversed with Friday. When he was
last seen he was going down town and 10 the
direction of the river, and it is feared he drown
ed himself while in this state OF mind he
was quiet man, and even while drinking IN
terfered with no one. He came here some five
or six months ago, either from Georgetown or
Alexandria. He has brother and other rela-
tiyes in Massachusetts, and his brother has
been written to 10 regard to the matter
Fredericksburg Ledger.
Fredericksburg has a three legged duck, the
third appendage being used as rudder 10 the
water.
WESTERN AND SOUTHERN MANU-
FEATURING NEWS.
From the Commercial Bulletin, Boston,
MARYLAND.-W notice with pleasure
another addition to the list Of Baltimore $
manufacturing industries. Ramsay Il Carter
have bonght the Vulcan Steam Engine Works
corner of William Il Hughes streets, are h.