The Portland daily press., 1875-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
In submitting my seventh annual message to Con-
gress in the Centennial year of national existence
as free an independent people, it affords me great
pleasure to recur to the advancement that has been
made from the time of the colonies, one hundred
years ago.
Progress Of One Hundred Years.
We were then people numbering only three mil
lions; now we number more than forty millions.
Then industries were confined almost exclusively to
the tillage of the soil; now manufactures absorb
much of the labor of the country Our liberties re-
main unimpaired the bondsmen have been freed
rom slavery, we have become possessed Of the re-
spect, if not of the friendship, of all civilized ma
tions Our progress has been great In all the arts.
In science agriculture, commerce, navigation, min
ing mechanics, law, medicine, etc., and in general
education the progress Is likewise encouraging. Our
thirteen states have become thirty Gncluding
Colorado which has taken the ntiatory step to be-
come state and eight territories including the In.
dian Territory and Alaska, and excluding Colorado,
making a territory extending from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. On the south we have extended to the
Gulf of Mexico, and in the west from the Mississippi
to the Pacific. One hundred years ago the cotton gn
the steamers the railroad the telegraph, tho reap
ing, the sewing and modern printing machines and
numerous other inventions of scarcely less value to
our business and happiness were entirely unknown.
In 1776 manufactures scarcely existed even in
name in all this vast territory. In 1870 more than
two millions of persons were employed in manufac-
lures, producing more than 80, 0,000 Of pro-
ducts in amount annually, nearly equal to our ma
tional debt. From nearly the whole of the popula-
ton of 1776 being engaged in the one occupation Of
agriculture, in 1870 so numerous and diversified had
become the occupations of our people that less than
six millions out of more than forty millions were SO
engaged. The ext. aordnary effect produced in our
country by q resort to diversified occupations has
built market for the products Of fertile lands dis
tant from the seaboard and the markets the world.
The American system Of locating various and extern
sve manufactures next to the plow and the pasture
and adding connecting railroads and steamboats, has
produced in our distant interior country result no
tceable by the intelligent parts OF all commercial
nations. The ingenuity and skill of American me-
chanics have been demonstrated at home and abroad
in manner most fattering to their pride. But for
the extraordinary genius and ability Of our mechan-
les the achievements of our agricuturists manufac-
turers and transporters Throughout the country
would have been impossible of attainment. The
progress of the miner has also been great. Of coal
our production was small; now many millions oi
tons are mined annually. So with iron, which FORM
ed scarcely an appreciable part Of products hall
q century ago. We now produce more than the
world consumed at the beginning Of our national
existence. Lead, zinc and copper, from being ar
tcles Of import may expect to be large exporters
of in the near future. The development of gold and
silver mines in the United States and Territories
has not only been remarkable but has had large
intieunce upon the business Of all commercial ma.
tions,
Our merchants in the last one hundred years have
had success and have established reputation for en-
terprise sagacty progress and integrity unsurpass
cd by the people Of cider nati0naities. This "good
name" is not confined to their homes, but goes oui
upon every sea and into every port where commerce
enters With equal pride we can point to our pro-
gress in all the learned professions.
Public Education.
AS we are about to enter upon our second ceDten.
nial, commencing our manhood as nation it is well
to look back upon the past and study what will bt
best to prove and advance our future greatness
From the fall of Adam for trausgresson to the pres
ent day. nation has ever been free from threaten
ed danger to its prosperity and happiness, and We
should look to the dangers threatening us and remedy
them so far as lies in our power We are republic
whereof one man is good another before the law
Under such form of government it is Of greatest
importance that all should be possessed of education
and intelligence enough to cast vote with right
understanding of its meaning. large Iassociatlor
of ignorant cannot for any considerable period
oppose successful resi- stance to tyrrany and oppres
siun from the educated few but will inevitably sinl
into acquiescence to the will of intelligence whether
directed by the demagogue or by priestcraf. Hence
the education of the becomes of the first ne
cessity for the preservation of institutions They
worth preserving because they have secured the
greatest good to the greatest proportion Of the popu
lation Of any form Of government yet devised. Al
other forms of government approach it just in pro
portion to general diffusion of education and indie
pendence of thought and action.
As the primary step, therefore, to our advance
ment in all that has marked progress in the
century, suggest for your earnest consideration
most earnestly recommend that a constitutions
amendment be submitted to the legislatures of th,
several states for ratification, making it the duty
of each of the several states to establish and forever
maintain free public schools, adequate to the educa
ton of all the children in the rudimeutary branches
within their respective limits, irrespective OF sex
COLOR birthplace or religion forbiddiDg the teaching
in said schools Of religious athestic pagan tenets
and prohibiting the granting Of any school funds o.
school taxes, any part thereof, either by legsla
tive, municipal other authority for the benefit Of
in aid, directly indirectly, of any religious sect Of
denomination, in aid, or for the benefit of, any
other object, of any nature or kind whatever.
Taxation of Church Property.
In connection with this important question,
would also call your attention to the Importance o
correcting evil that, if permitted to continue, viii
probably lead to great trouble in our land before th
close Of the 10th century. 1t is the accumulation
vast amounts of untaxed church property. In 1850
believe, the church property of the United State
which paid no tax, municipal or state, amounted t.
Ss3, 100000. In 1860 the amount had doubled. II
1875 it is about 81 600, ,oOo-by 1890, withou
check it is safe to say this property will reach sun
exceeding $1,000 900 900. So vast sum receiving all
the protection and benefits Of government without
bearing its proportion Of the burdens and expenses
the same. will not be looked upon acquiescenty b,
those who have to pay taxes. In growing country
where real estate enhances so rapidly with time as
the United States, there is scarcely limit to tn
wealth that may be acquired by corporations, relg
ious otherwise. If allowed to retain real estat
without taxation, the contemplation of 30 vast ,
property as here alluded to- without taxation, ma.
lead to sequestration without constitutional authori
ty and through blood.
would suggest the taxation Of all property equal
ly, whether church or corporal ion, exemptng only
the last resting place of the dead and possibly, will
proper restrictions, church edifces.
Foreign Relations I'm General.
Our relations with most of the foreign powers con
tnue on a satisfactory and friendly footing. In
creased intercourse in the extension of commerc'
and cultivation of mutual interests have steadily i'm
proved our relations with the large majority Of th
powers of the world rendering practicable the peace
full solution of questions which from time to TINT
necessarily arise, leaving few which demand extend
ed or particular notice. The correspondence Of tht
Department of State with our diplomatic represen.
tatives abroad is transmitted herewith.
slavery i'm the Portuguese Colonies.
I am happy to announce the passage of an act by
the general cortes Of Portugal proclaimed since thu
adjournment of Congress, for the abolition of serv
ude in the Portuguese colonies. 1t is to be hoped
that such legislation may be another step toward
the great consummation to be reached when no mar
shall be permitted, directly or indirectly, under any
guise excuse or form of law to Ihold his fellowmar
in bondage. am of the opinion also that it is the
duty of the United States as contributing toward
that end and required by the spirit Of the age in
which we live to provide by suitable legislation that
no citizen of the United States shall hold slaves
property in any other country be interested there
I,v rA;u: