Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Iiuuai eAlSteuCe aS u Tree ana DQepenQenC DeO-
pie, 1t affords me great pleasure to recur to
the advancement that has been made from the
time of the Colonies, one hundred years ago.
We we're then people numbering only three
millions. Now we number more than forty
millions. Then industries we're confined al
most exclusively to the tilage of the soil. Now
manufactures absorb much of the labor of the
country.
PROGRESS OF A CENTURY.
Our Liberties remain unimpaired; the bonds
men have been freed from slavery: we have
become possessed of the respect, if not the
friendship, of all civilized nations. Our pro.
gress has been great 10 all the arts, 10 science,
agriculture, commerce, navigation, mining, me-
chanlcs, law, medicine, &c, and 10 general
education the progress is likewise encouraging.
Our thirteen States have become thirty-eight,
Including Colorado, which has taken the inf
tlatory steps to become State,) and eight
Territories, including the Indian Territory and
Alaska. and excluding Colorado-makiug q
territory extending from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. % the South we have extended to
the Gulf of Mexico, and 10 the West from the
Mississippi to the Pacific.
Que hundred years ago the cotton-gin, the
steamship, the railroad, the telegraph, the
reapiDg, sewing snd modern printing machines,
and numerous other inventions OF scarcely less
value to our business and happiness were en-
tirely unknown.
In 1776 manufactures scarcely existed even
10 name in all this vast territory Iu 1870
more than 100000 of persons were employed
10 manufactures, producing more than 81
100000, 900 OF products in amount annually
| nearly equal to our national debt. From near
Iy the whole of the population of ITO being
engaged 10 the one occupation of agriculture,
in 1870, so numerous aud diversified had be-
come the occupation of our people, that less
than six millions out of more than forty mil
| lions we're so engaged. The extraordinary ci-
| feet produced in our country By resort to d.
verslhed occupations has built market for
| the products of fertile lauds distant from the
seaboard aud the markets Of the world.
The American system Of locating various
| and extensive manufactures next to the pillow
and the pasture, and adding connecting rail
roads and steamboats, has produced 10 our dis
| tant interior country result noticeable by the
| intelligent portions OF all commercial nstioDs.
The ingenuity and skill of American mechanics
have been demonstrated at home and abroad
| 10 manner most hattering to their pride.
But for the extraordinary genius aud ability
| OF our mechanics, the achievements of our az
| riculturlsts, manufacturers and transporters
! throughout the country would have been i'm
| possible Of attainment
The progress of the miner has also been
great. Of coal our production was small; now
| many millions OF tons are mined annually. So
with iron, which formed scarcely an apprec-
able part OF our produce half century ago;
| we now produce more than the world consum-
| ed at the beginning of our national existence
Lead, zinc and copper from being articles of
| import, We may expect to be large exporters
| of 10 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 influence upon the business of
all commercial natoos. Our merchants in the
last hundred years have had success, and
have established reputation for enterprise
sagaclty, progress and integrity unsurpassed
by peoples Of older natonalties. This good
name' is not confined to their homes but
goes out fupon every sea and into every port
where commerce enters With equal pride we
can point to our progress 10 all of the learned
professions.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
Entering, as We are now about to do, upon
our second centennial, commencing our man
hood as nation, it is we'll to look back upon
the past and study what will be best to pre-
serve and advance our future greatness From
the fall of Adam for his transgression to the
present day no nation has ever been free from
threatened danger to its prosperity and happi.
ness. We should look to the dangers threat
enlDg US and remedy them ST. far as lies in our
power. We are Republic whereof one man
Is as good as another before the law Under
such form OF government it is of the greatest
Importance that all should be possessed of edu-
cation and Intelligence enough to cast vote
with right understanding of its meaning. A
large association OF ignorant men capnot for
any considerable period oppose successful re-
slstauce to tyranny and oppression from the
educated few; but will inevitably sink into ac-
qulesceDce to the will of intelligence, whether
directed by the demagogue or by priestcraft.
Hencc the education Of the masses becomes of
the first necessity for tho preservation of our
institutions. They are worth preserving, be-
cause they have secured the greatest good to
the greatest proportion OF the population Of
any form OF government yet devised. All other
torms OF government approach it just 10 pro-
portion to the general diffusion of education
and independence Of thought and action.
AS the primary step, therefore, to our ad-
vancemcnt ID all that has marked our progress
IN the past century | suggest for your earnest
consideration, ADD most earnestly recommend
1t, that constitutional amendment be submit
ted to the Legislatures of the several States for
ratification, making it the duty of each of the
several States to establish aud forever main
tain free public schools adequate to the educa-
tlou of all the children 10 the rudimentary
branches within their respective limits, ire
spective Of sex, color, birth place or religions;
forbiddlng the teaching in said schools of re'i-
gous, aheistic or pagan tenets and prohibit.
ing the granting of any school funds, or school
taxes, or any part thereof, either by legislative,
municipal or other authority, for the benefit
or in aid, directly or indirectly, of auy religi-
Gus sect or denomination. or in aid or for the
benefit of any other object of any nature or
kind whatever.
TAXATION OF CHURCH PROPERTY.
10 connection with this important question |
would also call your attention to the importance
of correcting an evil that if permitted to con-
tiuue, will probably lead to great trouble 10 our
land before the close Of the nineteenth cenlurv