Litchfield enquirer., 1874-12-10
The Presidsnts Message.

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 The President opens his message with
 a reference to the financial depression of
 the year past and the consequent check
 upon the full employment either of capi- ital or of labor. He urges an early return to specie payments and denounces the fal- lacy of imitation. "Gold and silver are now the recognized mediums of exchange,
 the world over, and to this we should re-
 turn with the least practicable delay. There should be no delay-certainly no unnecessary delay-in fixing by legisla- tion method by which we will return to specie. With a view to early resumption, the President proposes that the legal ten- der clause of the currency act should be repealed. the repeal to apply to all con- tracts entered into after day fixed, the Secretary providing the necessary gold for the emergency in the meantime. With resumption, the president considers that some system of free banking should be established, and that the limitation on the amount of bank notes issued should be removed
 After dealing with the subject of for eign relations, and expressing the opinion that Spain will prove unable to subdue Cuba, legislation is recommended improv- ing some check on fraudulent naturaliza- tion. As regards the tariff, the president joins with the Secretary of the Treasury in asking the restoration of the tax on tea and coffee and an increase of ten cents a gallon on the internal revenue tax on whiskey. He also suggests the readiust- ing of the tariff, so as to decrease the number of dutiable articles, while in- creasing the revenue; and calls special at tention to the increase of the cost of man. ufactures owing to the high duties upon foreign articles necessarily used Tn such manufactures. .t-....
 The navy is reported in good fighting trim, with important additions made to it's force during the year. The President devotes considerable space to the consid- eration of Southern affairs. Justifying his interference in favor of the Kellogg government in Louisiana, on the ground of the long acquiesence under its authori- ty and congressional inaction. he still ac- knowedges that it is scarcely possible to find out who were the officers legally elected in 1872. He refers the Arkansas matter to Congress. Speaking of the condition of things under some of the re- constructed state governments. he says:
 I sympathize with their prostrate con- dition and would do all in my power to relieve them, acknowledging that in some instances they have had most trying gov ernments to live under, and very oppres- sive ones in the way of taxation for nomi- nal improvements, not giving benefits equal to the hardships imposed, but can they proclaim themselves entirely irre- sponsible for this condition? They can not. Violence has been rampant in some localities, and has either been justified or denied by those who could have prevented it. The theory is even raised that there is to be no further interference on the part of the General Government, to pro- tect citizens within a State where the State authorities fail to give protection. This is great mistake.
 As regards civil service reform the President announces that eff Congress adjourns without positive legislation" on the subject, he shall consider it disap- proval of his course and abandon the sys- tenn of competitive examinations.
 We have not space for comment upon the message which seems to be on the whole we'll received by the press.
 The Springfield Republican has begun guessing about Connecticut politics for the ensuing year. It predicts that the Democratic opponent of Gen. Hawley in the first District is to be either Mir. A. B. Burr, Charles R. Chapman, or William Hammersley of Hartford, or G. M. Lan- ders of New Britain. It considers that Steve" Kellogg has the best chance in the second District. Of the fourth Dis trict it says:
 The''iron man" has so sure thing now that should not think he need spend much, if any, money, this bout. Who will be ambitious to be bowled down on the republican side is scarce thought of: possibly Col. Hoyt of Greenwich would like the notoriety He's bright fellow, and so is Sam Fessenden of Stamford, though the latter is not an over-stiff ad- ministration republican. I believe.
 But will the self-sacrifcing Democrats of Fairfield Go. quite like to see the prize go to Litchfield for the fifth term in suc- cession?