The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-12-15
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

The seventh annual message of President
Grant was communicated to Congress on
the 7th. Its opening paragraphs are occu-
pied with a brief review of our country's pro-
gress during its century's existence, and a
glance at the dangers threatening US. Re-
cognizing the fact that the education OF the
masses Is the first necessity for the preserva-
tion of our institutions he most earnestly rec
ommends that constitutional amendment be
submitted to the legislatures of the several
States for ratification, making it the duty oil
the several States to establish and forever
maintain free public schools adequate to the
education of all the children in the rudimen-
tary branches within their respective limits,
irrespective of sex, color, birthplace or re-
ligion, and forbidding the teaching in said
schools of religious, atheistic or pagan tenets,
and prohibiting the granting of any school
funds or school taxes or any part thereof,
either by legislative, municipal or other au-
thority, for the benefit or in aid, directly or
indirectly, of any religious sect or denomina-
tion, or in aid or for the benefit Of any other
sectarian object, of any nature or kind what
ever Make education compulsory, he says
30 far rs to deprive all persons who cannot
read and write from becoming voters after the
year 1890, DISTINGUISHING none, however, on
grounds of illiteracy, who may DO voters at
the time this amendment takes effect. He al
80 calls attention to a growing evil, the accu-
mutation of u vast amount of untaxed church
property amounting at the present time to
81, 600 000,00 and rapidly increasing, and
wisely suggests that it should bear its pro-
portionate amount of taxation.
Oar relation with most foreign powers con-
tinue on satisfactory and friendly footing.
The only exception to this grows out of the
continued instruction in Cuba. The condi-
tion of the unhappy island and our relation
thereto are thoroughly discussed and the
President assures Congress that it is inexpe-
dent and entirely inadmissble to recognize
either the Independence or the beligerency of
TIE insurgents. If, however, this long strug-
gle in Cuba still goes on, she intert SITS of the
United States may demand either mediation
or Intervention, though he recommends
neither at present, but hints at special mes-
sage on this subject hereafter.
The condition of telegraphic communica-
ton with Europe by cables is stated at length,
and Congress is urged to- consider the subiest
carefully and adopt such measures as will
prevent extortionate charges by combination
of companies, protect American interests,
and facilitate interoceanic communication. -
The attention of Congress is also directed to
fraudulent naturalization and expatriation,
the deficient legislation especially in regard
to the kstter, giving rise to innumerable COM
plicati0ns and abuses abroad.
To insure the contamination OF the act of
Congress 10 bring about specie resumption on
and after Jan. LIST, 1870 the President rec
ommends. first, a repeal Of SO much of the
legal tender act as makes these notes recoiya-
BILE for debts contracted after a date to be
fixed in the act itself, say, not later than Jan.
1st 1877. Second, that the Secretary Of the
Treasury be authorized to redeemr say not to-
exceed two million of dollars monthly of legal
tender notes by issuing in their stead long
bond bearing interest at the rate Of 8. 65 per
cent per annnm of denominations ranging
from fifty to a thousand dollars. Third, that
additional power be given to the Secretary Of
the Treasury to accumulate gold for final ro-
demption, either by increasing revenue cur-
failing expenses or both. The only measure
Ut increasing revenue, he thinks OF, is the re-
storation Of the duty on tea and coffee which
wilt add $48, 900, 600 to the present amount
without increasing the price of those articles
to consumers
He speaks In high to ms OF. the present con-
dition of the navy. The other departments al
SO seem to be working satisfactorily. The
Indian policy pursued throughout his ad-
mnistrltion has produced satisfactory and en-
eouraging results. Additional legislation is
needed in reference to- the government timber
lands in the west, also in regard to the settling
Of lands where irrigation is necessary to cult
walton. The President urges Congress to
abolish Polygamy by positive law, and to pro-
hfbit another no less evil, the importation of
Chinese women for illegitmate purposes as
now carried on. That greater national i'm
poftance may be given to the Centennial Ex-