South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-12-11
The Presidents Message.

The annual message of President Grant, sent
TO Congress on Monday last, is very long, too
much SO for our columns The following is a
synopsis condensed by the Washington Repu5-
tiedH, containing the main points Of the docu-
ment:
THE FINANCES.
The President does not believe that spe-
Gle payments can DO reached by January
|, 1876. he strongly favors a return to
gold currency, but leaves to Congress the
duty of fixing the time and manner of &C.
comprising the result. He suggests, in
this connection, the repeal of the legal ten
der clause In the currency act, TO take eff
feet, as 10 contracts, after the date fixed BY
law for its repeal that the Secretary Of
the Treasury should be given power to OBJ.
tain gold from and after the date fixed by
the act providing for return to specie
payments. This may be partly, if no,
wholly accomplished by bonds. The rev.
enues of the country, he thinks, should be
III excess Of the expenditures to keep up
this redemption, which should be obtained
by greater economy in appropriations or
by reorganization Of the tax laws. Re-
lativo to
FREE BANKING,
the President is Of the opinion that when
ever a return TO specie payment is accom-
plishod, banking should not be limited 1t
should not be made a monopoly by limit
lug the amount of issue. Bill holders
should be protected, as at present. The
people OF the country should be allowed to
be the Judge of their own wants in this
respect. 1t is not q question properly to
be trusted to the decision of Congress, of
the Secretary of the Treasury, or of the
Executive, but one which the different
communities should be allowed to deter
mine for themselves He recommends
free banking, when We are properly on the
road To specie payments.
Ii is the duty of Congress to make reg
ulations under which banks Of issue NAV be
organized TO do business, and the President
only suggests no change be made in the
present currency law, except to conform to
the new order of things growing out of a
return to specie payments. Relative to
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
the President makes no recommendations
whatever, but leaves he whole question to
Congress aud the Congressional committee
appointed to investigate this entire subject
and report. L. seems very proper that the
President should not make recommenda
tons on this subject pending an investipa.
ton BY Congress and the action of con-
vention specially mbled in the interest
of cheap transportation. This question
may possibly form the subject of special
message to Congress ere the close of the
present session.
RELATIVE TO ARKANSAS
the President has very little to say more
than to give his reason for not interfering
in the affairs of that State, and transmit.
ting, for the information of Con gress, the
iuil history OF the controversy, as furnish
ed by both parties, and otherwise obtained
by officers Of the Government. Contrary
TO published statements on this subject he
makes no recommendations whatever, but
leaves the whole question Is the decision of
Congress. With regard to
| LOUISIANA
! the President makes no specific recommen-
dations, but hopes that if there is any prac-
iical way of removing by legislation the
difficulties which environ that State, it may
| be done at once. On Louisiana affairs the
President stands just where be did on the
10Th of February, 1878, when in a special
message to Congress he said
cit seems advisable that / should now
state what course | shall feel bound to pur-
sue in reference TO the matter iD the event
of DO action by Congress at this time, sub-
ject to any satisfactory arrangement that
may be made by the parties to the contro-
versy, which of ell things is the most des;.
rable. II will be my duty, so far as it may
be necessary for ne to act, TO adhere TO that
Government heretofore recognized by me.
| am extremely anxious TO avoid any sp-
pearance of undue interference in State
affairs, and if Congress differs from me as
to what ought to be done, respectfully
urge its immediate decision to that effect,
otherwise | shall feel obliged, so far al
can by the exercise of legitimate authority,
to put an end to the unhappy controversy
which disturbs the peace and prostrates the
business of Louisiana, by the recognition
aud support of that Government which is
recognized and upheld by the courts Of the
State"
Whatever in the above extract is sppli.
cable TO the present state of affairs 10 Loui-
siana will be applied by the President. In
short, he will continue to maintain the KEEL
| logg government TO the e0d Of It's term un-
less Congress shall deem it proper to take
the question out of his hands.
CIVIL sERYICE.j
The President is Of the opinion that the
/ principle OF civil service bas been adhered
to as far as possible, in the face of the
strenuous opposition il has met with ia va.
2 - L - l.