New-York tribune., 1874-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
SUMMARY OF THE LEADING POINTS OF THE
DOCUMENT.

SUMMARY OF THE LEADING POINTS of lhh
DOCUMENT.
THE MOST POINTED AND FoRcIBIE MESSAGE THAI
PRESIDENT GRANT HAS YET wRirIkN-i"h us
oRnrRs AND oUTRAGEs IN THE SOUTH ri'hAihD
or IN UssPARiSG TERMs-THE LOUISIANA AM
ARKANSAS QUESTIONS DIscUssEp-sPEoih fN'-
xry1s URGEp-EMPHaTIc LANGUAGE REGARD
ING THE CUBAN QUESTION
fay TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIpuSEl
y,xorov Dec e-The Presidents Message is
ready 70 transmit to Congress tomorrow. IL Is oy
no means an ordinary message, but IS more poi"'eu
49,, torc;h,o than any one Gen. Grant has yet writ
ten. II deals largely with the conditioh vi an'''
~ the South. and while expressing great kindness
of feeling and good will for the South, it treats OF
the disorders and Outrages which nave pre'aiieu
there in unsparing terms, and declares that the re-
suits of the war; embodiedin the Constitution anu
laws passed to give effect to the Constitutional pro-
visions must be observed, and that, so far as the
Government can properly interfere obedience Iwih
be enforced. The utterances upon this subject are
of the most decided character
In regard to Louisiana the President says that
the question of interfering by military power IN the
affairs of the South has always been one OF extreme
delicacy and great perplexity, and he would gladly
have been relieved from the necessity of any action
in that direction. Bat whenever question has
arisen it has been his aim to gather as much light
rs possible on the subject. and then act from
the convictions received from the most careful
stuay he could give. As TO the facts OF the
election in Louisiana, he does not believe they
can be asccrtained He believes there was fraud on
both sides and has doubts whether either side was
fairly elected but all things considered he has con-
cluded that Kellogg had the best claim to govern
mental recognition and having so declared he couio
only stand by the position TO which the Government
had been committed
I'm regard TO Arkansas. the President simply says
he has been urged to send troops into that State on
account of existing troubles but be has seen no rea
son why he should do when the time for the as
scmbhng Of Congress was so near at hand and
while Congress was investigating the whole subject
through one of its Committees. The President ad-
mits that in a number of Southern States, the peo-
ole have had much to complain Of, on account OF
corrupt government and inefficient and dishonest
officials, and, so far is within his power, he Will
not fail to aid in correcting such matters, but he
sees in these evils no for the disregard OF law
and of the rights of person and property, which un
fortunately has been disgracefully frequent.
Specie payment is urged much stronger terms than
in previous messages and by additional arguments,
though no time is designated. The repeal of the
Legal Tender act is recommended for future con-
tracts. and authorty is asked for the Secretary of
the Treasury to raise gold by selling bonds. Upon
the subject of tariff the President recommends i'm
posing duties on articles brought here to compete
with those produced by ourselves In effect he
stands upon the platform of a protective tariff
The President announces that the settlement of
lie Virginius matter is advancing in a satisfactory
banner, and is likely % be settled, in the case of
England, by per capita payment of indemnity for all
arms captured and shot. No Trouble with
Spain is anticipated in regard to this matter, but in
considering the Cuban question the President uses
very plain and most emphatic language. He refers
to the cructies pacticed and to the horrible condi-
ton of affairs in the island, of such character
as viii not longer permit civilized nations to
look on in silence or naction. The insurrecton
has been unsurpassed so long as to give rise to
grave doubts Of the ability of Spain to put it
down. The President goes further than in his
last message and lis treatment of the subject will
sarey be regarded as threat anng by Spain. The
continued existence Of Slavery in Cuba. the only
spot in Christendom where it now exists, is COM
Inented on in terms OF severe cOndemnation
The Pro-Slavery element in the Island is
described as constantly aIraying its If against and
defyIng the Home Government committing acts Of
oppression and maintaining lagrant abuses in spite
,f that Government and only aiming to strengthen
1he cham of slavery. Under profession of loyalty to
Spain, the island is being exhausted, and all acts
done are in violation of every principle of justice
and right which give nobility of character to ma
tion. The President declares that the interests of
humanity and civilization demand that these abuses
end wrongs shall be speedily rectifed.
REpOPT