The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-09
The Message-rts Disfgurements.

IA refer 10 its repntSlSe leatufcs 'iu 'a'
manner. We look upon 1t as one OF the
crudest and least dignified Of all the mes
saces that ever emanated from Pres'dent
Of the United States. II Is less Ike paper
that should come from the chtet ru'er OF
great nation than any other we ever Ieao.
It's discussions of finance and OF southern
as,irs are beneath the dignity OF such pa
nor. The finapcial discussion is unworthy
NJ the editorial columns OF third-rate hard
money paper; while Its comments On the
condition of the southern States and tue
rights OF the negro, so far from being wor-
Inv of the President Of the United States,
would be unworthy Of mere leader in the
Republican party. They sound more as If
they came from man who supposed him
self to be a mere guardian of the negroes,
and that In the performance Of bis guardian.
ship there were no local rights of the States
or Of the white people which be is bound to
respect.
Besides these defects in the Presidents
views of his obligations Of domestic ma
ture, bis reference to Cuban affairs seems 10
be an invitation to other Powers to join in
interference for the establishment of peace
in Cuba. In spirit this is a complete sur
render of the principle of the MONROE doc
trine, and an admission Of our willingness
to ecoaerate with European Powers in regu-
latipg the politics of this hemisphere. This
is great change from other days, when the
bare in:imation of an Intention on the part
of a European Government to take hand
in the regulation OF Cuban affairs would
have lighted the land with one fame of In.
dignation.
With regard TO the currency, we consider
most Of Inc Presidents recommendations n.
fortunate. 1t is very idle to suppose that
Congress can fix day of resumption. We
should regard the deliberate act of the Co.
vernment in buying gold by the issue of
United States bonds, as step to assist re-
sumption, as one of the worst Of measures.
1t would be the best movement for the gold
gamblers. The importers, who have to pay
duties in gold, would be blcd to ruineus
degree, and the gamblers alone would be
benefited. The collections of gold through
duties would be quite sufficient, without
making the Government dealer in gold to
the serious injury of the classes who are en-.
ricbing the Treasury by their heavy pay-
neuts in the form of duties. The Govern
ment would become the prosecutor of its
best friends.
Their, there is no good reason for repeal.
ipg the legaitender act now. No serious
charge of the financial laws can be very
beneficial now.
The recommendation Of the President that
the people be allowed to establish banks
without limit, under the present laws, for
the securing Of the no,e-holder, is good. We
see no objection to it. That permission,
connected with the interconyertibility |
scheme, would do we'll for the present. !
Leaving the time for resumption without
day, this plan will permit things to recover
in an easy and natural way, and resumption |
will come along with the restoration of that
confidence without which it will be impos. |
sible to maintain il.
This financial question, and the views of
the message on the affairs Of the South, con-
stitute It's main points Of interest. We sim
cerely regret the wayward and indefinite |
nature of the Presidents immature opinions |
OF the "Situation" at the South.
With regard to Louisiana he maintains bis |
old position with persistence in the face of
all facts. he expresses emphatically his be-
lief that KELLOGG was iairiy elected Governor |
of that State, Notwithstanding that leading |
Republicans and all those opposed to them
in politics have declared that it was mock. !
cry to assert that he was so elected.
The President disposes of Arkansas in
singular manner. He does not interfere
himself in her last trouble, out he describes
TO Congress the circumstances OF that trou-
BILE in a way that might suggest the pro.
priety of interference. He tells Congress
that the late constitution provided that before
s. amendments proposed" to that Constitu-
ton "shall become part thereof they shall
'be passed By two successive assemblies ana
"then submitted to and ratified by ma
SHORTY of the electors of the State voting
"thersoR."
President GRANT, evidently assuming that
the Constitution can be In ne other way
changed, goes on to state that on the 18th OF
May, 1474, the Governor BA1rER) convened
an extra session of the Legislature, which
in the same month passed an act calling q
convention of the people to frame nco
consultation. which act was approved by
the people on the SOth June, IA, who at the
same time elected delegates to the conyen.
ton which met on the 14th July and framed
new constitution, which was adopted by
the people by an immense majority on the
18Th of October, 1874, at which time, accord
ing to the Constitution, State officers were
elected who were to fill Offices vacated by
tie instrument. BAXTER turned over the
Government accordingly to GARLAND, the
Governor who was elected on the 18th. But
SMITH, Lieutenant Governor, elected with
AxrER, claimed the Government as success.
SIR to BANTER, assuming that there had
b,en no lawful movement to dispossess BAx.
TER.
This statement, sclemnly madein the mes
s,se, is sent to Congress along with the re-
ference Of the whole matter to that body.
The whole constitutional provision quoted
by General GRANT relates to amendments to
the Constitution; but the people of Arkau.
sas called convention and framed constr.