South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-12-17
Synopsis. OF the Message.

INDUCES In some pleasant mention OF
the advancement OF our country from its
infancy to its centennial, and OF the Ma
tons great success in progress and civ
iiizationi of its wonderful achieve.
ments, in arts, science and all the con.
comitants of advanced betterment Of all
the people. And in this connection he
urges that all citizens should bc educat.
Ell sufficiently to cast n vote with right
Intelligence Of the value of the elective
franchise, which is n proposition no rca-
sonable person will question, though il
was not acted upon in the reconstruction
policy ofthe Presidents own party. The
absence of such educated intelligence il,
the President thinks. the primal danger
to our country's prosperity and the per-
manencc or its free institutions, and in
such belief he recommends an amend
ment to the constitution requiring the
several States to establish and forever
maintain free public schools adequate
to, at least. the rudmentary education
of all the children, irrespective OF color,
sex, nationality or religion forbiddinr,
however, the teaching in such schools the
incubation ofpagan or atheistic tenets. or
the bestowal OF school funds TO any re-
ligious denomination for educational
purposes. lie also objects to the accu-
mutation Of vast amounts OF untaxcd
church property, and says that that class
OF property in the United States in 1878
amounts to Sl,000,0O0 900. He recon-.
mends the taxation of all such property
exempting only GENE cries and limited
ediiices for churches.
These subjects have always i'm this
country heretofore been regarded rs be-.
longing peculiarly to the State and local
governments, and ut no time have they
received more general and willing atten.
ton in the States than at present.
Stating that our relations with foreign
powers are satisfactory and friendly. the
President takes occasion TO remark that
Congress should SO legislate as 10 pro-
hibit citizens OF the United States from
owning slaves in any other country, and
he hopes sucli contamination may ulti.
mateiy embrace citizens of all nations.
Chill has made repatriation in some long
standing cases OF outrage on our com
merciai marine. Mention is made ofthe
Hawaiian reciprocity treaty, and Of the
Virginus indemnity, which has been set.
tied by Spain.
In rcqar,! to Cuba. the President
thinks there is no evidence of q near
termination of the conflict there, and
that there still exists that continuous
disregard of laws Of civilized warfare
and humanity which has characterized
the internecine strife during the past
seven years. He adyerts to the com.
mercial Importance of Cuba to the world
ut large, and asserts his belief that the
nations have n right 70 interfere sui.
ciently to establish its government on n
secure basis, but he considers the recog-
milton OF Cuban independence imp.acti.
cable ut present, and he believes the u
nited States and nil other nations must
soon consider the necessity OF mediation
and Intervention III the premises. A
considerable portion OF ihe message is
devoted to this subject.
He irdorses the recommendations
made in the annual report of the Score.
tary OF War. including system of an
nuities for families Of deceased officers
by funding a monthly deduction from
the pay ofthosc officers while in service ::
u return 70 the oil system OF mileage /;
an approval OF torpedo experiments. and
n permanent organization Of the signal
service corps.
The condition Of the navy j. stated &c
being satisfactory. 1t does not contain
much iron.cruising power, but it has II
considerable number OF iron-clads Of the
! monitor class, which. though not crui.
sers, arc OF excellent effect for operations
OF our coast and for safe defense of our
harbors. The navy includes more than
30 war ships, ID Of them being iron-clad
In referring TO Postoiice Department
affairs. the President recommends tie
exclusion from the mails OF merchandise
Of all kinds, and the limitation ortrans.
portable matter therein only TO those mr..
ticlcs which should be properly classed
rs mailabc.
The President says that although GOV.
eminent efforts 10 protect the rights Of
Indians in the Black ilills have been
i successful. the next year will exhibit q
large increase OF immigration thitbcY.-
The condition OF the Indian Territory il
practically TN hanged, but the President
may hereafter make some suggestions
as 10 legislation for the government OF
that Territory,
The grasshopper plague is supposed
20 have diminished the sale Of public
lands during the year. there being de-.
crease in the sales OF 2.4j9, sol acres as
compared with those Of the previous wear.
The surveyed area of public domain il
I 6sO,2j5,094 acres, leaving l.1514Tt.7G2
acres yet 10 tie surveyed. The manage.
ment and disposition Of this vast farm
OF Uncle sam are recommended u the
CAREFUL consideration of Congress.
As TO Pensioners, tie message states
tha. during the past year I BIZ names
have been added 10 the payrolis aud ~.
977 dropped, showing o decrease OF /. =.
APO. But notwithstanding this decrease
ofpensioners. there has been IN increas q
IN pay 10 the amount Of S4f.55313. which
was induced by tho greatly increased
average rate Of pensions allowed by the
last Congress. Daring the last fiscal
yenr thero was paid for accnnnt OF non.