Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-11

Eastern sovereignties have taken steps
to be represented in the centennial ex-
hibition.
The President recommends the for
nation of a special tribunal for hearing
and determining all claims of aliens
against the government of the United
States which now exist or may hereaf-
ter arise outside of treaty stipulations.
The question as to monopoly and
exorbitant charges on the Atlantic
telegraphic cable lines is given to the
earnest consideration of Congress, and
in absence of action by that body the
President will not approve the landing
of cables proposed to be laid by COM
peting companies.
The frauds in naturalization and ex-
patriation are severely commented on,
and preventive Legislation asked. 1t
is also suggested that there is necessity
of enactment in relation to the status of
American women who may marry for
eigners, and of defining the condition
of children of American parents born in
foreign countries, so as to give legal
effect to marriages of American citizens
effected in foreign countries.
As to resumption of specie payments
the President will heartily approve any
practicable measures to that end that
may be adopted by Congress. He
thinks unlimited initiation would bring
about specie payments more quickly
than law looking to redemption OF
legal-.enders in coin, but this would be
at the expense of national honor. He
recommends repeal of so much Of the
legal tender act as makes such notes
receivable for debts contracted after
January, 1877.
The Mexican robberies and cattle
fittings in the Free Zone, adjoining
Texas, are alluded to, with the admis-
sion that the military force of our
government available forservice at that
point is inadequate to guard the line
even at the places where raiding in
cursions are most frequent.
The bureau of agriculture has dis
seminated much useful knowledge to
agriculturists, and has introduced new
and probably useful productions to our
soil, and the President thinks the
bureau worth of continued encourage
menc by the government.
The Mormous are visited with short
hut positiye rod. The President thinks
Morrlonism should be banisheG from
the land of Utah by furnishing it as
crime. He thinks similarly in regard
to the importation of Chinese women
for infamous purposes.
1t is recommended in view Of the
Presidents own observations in visits
to the Territories, that existing laws in
relation to the disposition Of public
lands and the mining interests be care
fully amended, so as to protect and
assist the enterprising pioneers who are
to do so much for the development OF
the Western wilds. He suggests that
Joint committees of Congress lie sentto
examine into these subjects.
The condition of the navy is stated as
being satisfactory. 1t does not contain
much iron. cruising power, but it has
considerable number of iron-clads of the
monitor class, which, though not cruis-
ors, are of excellent effect tor operations
on our coast and for safe defense of our
harbors. The navy includes more than
fifty war ships, fifteen Of them being
iron clads.
In referring to Postoffice Depar tment
affairs, the President recommends the
exclusion from the mails of merchandise
of all kinds, and the limitation of trans
portable matter therein only to those
articles which should be properly classed
as mailables.
The President says that although
government efforts to protect the rights
of Indians in the Black Hills have been
successful, the next year will! exhibit a
large Increase of imnigr alton thither.
The condition of. the Indian Territory
is practically unchanged, but the Presi-
dent may hereafter make some sugges-
tons as to legislation for the govern
ment of that Territory.
The grasshopper plague is supposed
to have diminished the sale of public
lands during the year, there being a de-
crease in the sales of 2,459.6Ol acres
as compared with those of the pre-
vious year. The surveyed area OF
public domain is $50, 253.O94 acres, leav-
isg l,154,47l,762 acres yet to be sur
veyed. The management and DISPOSE
ton of this vast farm of "Uncle San"
are recommended to the careful consid
Grafton Of Congress.
In conclusion the President refers to
this as the last annual message he will
transmit to Congress before his success
or is chosen, and sums up into five
propositions his views on requiring
States to give common school education,
making it compulsory and without
sectarianism; for keeping Church and
State separate; for driving out licensed
immortality, and enacting laws for a
speedy return to sound surrency.--
Baltimore Sun OF Wednesday.