Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1874-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


con- pleted, that portion relating TO
the District of Columbia being I'M
written, in consequence of delay on
the part of the District Commission
ers-Messrs. Blow, Dennison and
Retchum-in transmitting their re-
port to the President. 1t was ex-
pected, however, that the report
would be ready in time to enable the
President to complete his message at
an early hour tonight. The mes
sage, as has already been stated, is
much longer than the previous mes
sages of President Grant. 1t con-
tains few recommendations, but
these are of an important character
and of great interest to the whole
country From conversations with
intimate friends of the President, the
writer of this dispatch is enabled to
assert positively some of the main
features of the message, for instance,
in reference to specie payments, the
President does not believe specie
payments can be reached by Janu-
airy, 1876. He strongly favors a re-
turn to specie payments, but leaves
to Congress the duty of fixing the
time and manner of accomplishing
that result. He suggests in this con;
nection the repeal of the legal tender
clause IN the Currency Act, to take
effect as to contracts, after the day
fixed in the law for its repeal; that
the Secretary of the reasury should
be given power to obtain gold, from
and after the date fixed by the Act
providing for a return to specie pay
ments. This may be partially, if
not wholly accomplished by bonds.
The revenue OF the country he thinks
should be in excess of the eXpendi-
lures. To keep up this reduction it
should be attained by greater econ
omy in appropriations or by a reor
ganization OF the tax laws. Rela-
tive to free banking, the President is
of the opinion that whenever return
to specie payments is accomplished,
banking should not be limited. 1t
should not he made monopoly by
the amount of issue, and the
bill holders should be protected as
at present. The people Of the coun-
try should be allowed TO be the Judge
of their own wants. In this respect
it is not question properly to be
To the decision of Congress,
of the Secretary of the Treasury, or
of the Executive, but one which the
different committees should be al
lowed to determine for themselves.
He recommends free banking when
we are properly on the road to Spe-
Gle payments. 1t is the duty of Con-
greSS to make regulations under
which banks of issue may be organ
lied TO do business, and the Presi-
dent only suggests that no change be
made in the present currency law
except to conform to the new order
of things growing out OF return to
specie payments.
Relative TO internal improvements
the President makes no recommen-
dations whatever, but leaves the
whole question to Congress and the
Congressional committee intended to
the whole subject and
report. 1t seems very proper that the
President should not make any rec
concentrations on this subject pend
ing an investigation by Congress,
and the action of convention spe-
ciallY assembled in the interest of
cheap transportation. The question
may possibly form the subject of a
special message to Congress before
the close of the present session.
Relative 10 Arkansas, he has very
little to say, more than to give his
reasons for not interfering in the
affairs of that State, and transmitting
for the Information of Congress the
full history of the controversy, as
furnished 10y both parties, and other
wise obtained by officers of the Gov
eminent. Contrary to the published
on this subject, he makes
no recommendations whatever, but
leaves the whole question to the de-
cislOn of Congress.
With regard to Louisiana the
President does not specify any rec
concentrations, but hopes that if
there is any practical way of remov-
ing by legislation the difficulties
which environ that State, that it may
be done at once. On Louisiana af-
fairs the President stands just where
he did in a special message to Con-
gress. He says: 1t seems advisa-
bic that l should now state what
course | shall feel bound to pursue
in reference to the matter in the
event no action is taken by Congress
at this time, subject to any satisfae-
tory arrangement that may be made
by parties to the controversy, which
OF all things is the most desirable.
1t will be my duty, as far as it may
be necessary for me to act, to adhere
to that government heretofore recog-
nized by me. l am extremely anx-
ious to avoid any appearance of I'M
due interference in State affairs, and
it Congress differs from me as to
what ought to be done, respectfully
urge its immediate decision to that
effect, otherwise | shall feel obliged,
as far as l can by the exercise OF le-
climate authority, to put an end to
the unhappy controversy which dis
turbs the peace and prostrates the
business of Louisiana, by the recog-
milton and support of that Govern