The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-12-10
President,s Message.


The second session of the Forty
third Congress, commenced at noon
on Monday, and the Message Of Presi-
dent Grant was delivered on the same
day. The extreme length of the docu-
ment and the lateness of the hour at
which it was received precludes the
possibility of our publishing it this
week. 1t is the want of funds and
not of enterprise that prevents us
from getting it printed abroad and
laying it before our readers at this
time in supplemented form.
The Message is quite lengthy and
no mere hastily prepared synopsis
will do the document justice. The
most important subjects discussed in
it are those relating 10 finance, the
tariff, civil service reform aud Arkan-
sas affairs. Upon the subject of the
currency he declares most emphatical-
ly in favor of a speedy resumption of
specie payment, aud argues the Gues-
ton at considerable length, but names
no day therefor, leaving Congress to
devise the means to secure this desired
end, it being the duty of Congress to
do so. The iegal-tender clause of the
Currency Act should be repealed, to
take effect as to contracts made after a
day to be fxed by law for its repeal,
Power should be given to the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to obtain gold
from and after the date fixed for the
resumption of specie payments by the
issuance of bonds. In addition to
should be in excess oil the expenditures.
70 support resumption, greater econ
omy should be practiced in salissde-
parIments of the Government, and, if
necessary, the customs and internal
revenue laws changed, i'll order to se-
cure a large amount of revenue. With
the return of specie payments bank
ing should be tree. The bill-hOIdeFs
shonld continue to beprotected as at
present, under the banking law. There
should be no Limitation to the volume
of currency, as the community itself
should determine what amountiis re-
quired for business transactions, in
stead of leaving the Executive, the
Secretary of the Treasury and Con-
gress to fix the limit. 1t would be the
dniy of Congress, however, to make
regulations regarding free banks OF
issue, and to state the conditions on
which they can be organized and
transact business, the legislation to be
in accordance with the new order OF
things, or in otherwOrds, theresamp-
tioH OF specie payment. i1firhere sbGnld
be no monopoly by fixing the amount
| of issue. The President recommends
that Congress do not. Interfere with
the present curremcyia act passed 5dsF5
| ing the IastisessioD, unless to amend ut
so as to conform with plan Tor the
resumption of specie payments .5sHs
OF the tariff he speaks briefly, sus-
tanning the facts and suggestions COR
tanned in the report of the Secretary
of the Treasury. He advises the Iimi-
tat'On of the tariff to q few articles,
and suggests that the tariff on those
few lie made sufficiently high toafford
the required revenue.
/ He alludes to civil service reform,
1 saying it has been as closely adhered
10 as the opposition manifested against
/ ii permitted. Its results have been
beneficial, having elevated the capaci-
/ ty and tone of appointments in the
| several Departments of the Govern
/ meut, but it would be impossible 10
continue tile reform without the di-
i rect support of Congress, sanctioned
/ by the people. {
The President devotes much space
| to affairs in Arkansas, giving the fea-
| sons why he declined To interfere in
The recent difficulties IN that State, and
| he adverts 10 the facts narrated in his
special message=to Congress in Febrn
/ ary, 1873, relative TO Louisiana, in
which he said he had no specific rec
ommendation to make on the subject
/ but if there were airy practical way oi
removing these difficulties by legisla-
ton, then he earnestly requested that
the question might be taken up at that
session OF Congress. He was extreme
| ~ anxious 10 avoid a pretense of uu-
due interference IN State affairs, and
if Congress differed with him as 10
what ought 10 be done, he requested
its immediate decision TO that effect
! otherwise lie should feel Obliged, as
/ far as he could by the exercise Of leg
itimate authority, and put an end to
the unhappy controversy which dis
turbed the peace and prostrated The
business of Louisiana by recognition
and support OF that Government which
was recognized and upheld by the
| Courts OF tile State. 1t seemed adVis-
able that he should state which course
he should feel bound to pursue in ref
erence til the matter in the event of no
action being taken by Congress at that
time, but subject to any satisfactory
arrar genents that might be made by
the parties to the controversy, and
which. of all things, was most desira-
bic. IL would be his duty, so far as it
might be necessary for him to act, 10
adhere to the Government heretofore
recognized by him. The President
again submits this question to Cou-
gress. and will continue to act as he
has heretofore acted relative to the az
.nlfl