Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-12-09
WASHINGTON.
Synopsis of the Presidents Mes
sage.

/ WAsHtSGroS, Dec The President
says that although he did not commence
the preparation Of his message until a week
ago yesterday some Of the newspapers
previously prognosticstod its contents, al
though he has consulted nobody as to what
it should contain. There is no doubt the
! message will state that our relations with
all foreign powers are friendly and with
out disturbance, though there is an unset
tied question with Venezuela, which has
not yet paid the awards of the Court
Commission under the Convention
| of 1864 Congress, il will be recollected,
| strongly expressed its sense on this subject
in February, 1873. The President in his
message of last December, said there was
reason to believe the hesitancy OF that Re
public in recognizing the CLAIMS sprung
| in part at least from a real difficulty in dis
charging them in connection with ITS oo-
| legations to other Governments and there
fore the expediency of further forbcarance
| on the part Of our Government was believ-
ed to be worthy of the consideration of
Congress. In addition to Venezuela, we
have unsettled questions with Spain, grow
! ing out of the affair of the Nirginius and
other previous transactions on the part of
the Spanish authorities in connection with
events in Cuba. The magnitude OF the Of
fenses have not been reduced since the
Presidents previous message year ago.
As this unsettled condition of affairs in Gu
ba can not long continue, it may become
necessary for other nations with our own to
interfere to terminate the insurrection,
which has so long prevailed, the Spanish
Government having unsuccessfully at
tempted to suppress It. In the meantime
the commerce of all countries and especi-
ally that of the United States suffers. The
flags of the United States and England
having been insulted The President in
conversation, although he does not state
the fact in his message, says the United
States purchase about 80 per cent. of the
Cuban exports, and therefore the duties
paid by the American citizens contribute
to this extent in helping Spain to continue
the war against the insurgents. The Pres
dent had hoped that by the meeting of
Congress tomorrow the present negotla-
tions with Spain would have been ended,
but in this he has been disappointed. He,
therefore says in his message little or moth
ing about the indemnity pending the nego-
tiations but at future time would present
the subject to the special consideration OF
Congress.
The Financial Question.
The position of the President, on the
financial question is positively rs fol-
lows, Notwithstanding former spccu-
, latons of those who spoke without author
ity; He desires, and will recommend the
resumption OF specie payments at the car
liest practicable time but he does not be.
lieve this can be reached - soon as the
lst Of January, 1876. II does not name
any day, leaving Congress to devise mean.
to secure this desired end, it being the du-
ty of Congress TO do so, The legal tender
clause of the currency act should be re-
pealed 10 take effect as to contracts made
after the day to be fixed by law for its re.
peal. Power should be given to the Secre-
} tary of the Treasury to obtain gold from
, and after the date fixed for resumption oi
specie payments by the issuance of bonds
In addition TO this the revenues of the
, Government should be in excess of the ex.
, penditures to support resumption; greater
economy practiced in all departments O
} the Government, and if necessary the Gus
} toms and internal revenue laws changed
} in order to secure larger amount of rev
enue
: Free Ranking
With the return of specie payment
} banking should be free. The bill holder
should continue to be protected as at pres
ent under the banking laws. There SHOULD
be no Limitation to the value of currency
as the community itself should dctermin,
; what amount is required for business
I transactions instead of leaving the EXecu
! tive, Secretary, Treasury and Congress L
, fix the limit II would be the duty of Con
gress however TO make regulations regard
ing free banks of issue, and TO state til,
conditions on which they can be organized
and transact business, the legslasion 4
be in accordance with the new order o
things or in other words the resumption 0
specie payments. There should be n,
monopoly by fixing the amount of specie
The President will recommend that Con
n gress do not interfere with the presen
. currency act, passed during the last session
unless to amend, so as to conform with
: plan for the resumption ofspecio payments
Cheap Transportation.
r The President will make no recomhen
: dation on the subject of national improve
+, ments by the General Government II
: will merely refer 10 the fact that Congress
; has already appointed committee o.
y transportation routes TO the seaboard, whic
8 has already made its report, and will Civ
/: further information from more recent in
yestigstions.
Louisiana aud Arkansas.
I, The President devotes much space to Ia
n affairs in Arkansas, giving reasons why b
a declined TO interfere in the recent didicul
n ties in that State and he RdYerts TO IN
3 Congress in February, 1873, relative I
q Louisiana, in which he said he had no sp,
q cifc recommendation to make on the sub
g ject, but If there were any practical way {
Il removing these difficulties by legislation
h then he earnestly requested that the ques
= ton might be taken up ct that session G
o Congress. He was extremely anxious
avoid any pretense Of undue interference
in State affairs, and If Congr'ss difiere
}. with him as to what ought to be done h
Il requested its immediate decision to that e
% feet, otherwise he should feel obliged, q
% far as he could, by the exercise Of legitimst
3 authority, TO put an end 10 the unhappy coz
% troversy, which disturbed the peace an
II prostrated the business of Louisiana by th
u recognition and support Of that Cover
. ment, which was recognized and upheld b
iS the courts of tho State 1t seemed adyisi
y BILE he should state what course he shoul
% feel bound 10 pursue in reference to th
- matter in the event of no action boin
l. L. Nka ~ .FHaa