Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-08
NO. 29O.
Presidents Message.
h senate end Hosss Of Representatirts ;

ibL haiEKltAN CENTENNIAL.
In submitting my seventh annual message to
congress, IN the Centennial year of our national
existence as free and independent people, it al
lords me great pleasure to recur to the advance
ment that has been made from the time of the
colonies, 100 years ago. We were then people
numbering only three millions. Now we number
more than forty millions. Then industries were
confined almost exclusively to the tillage Of
the SOIL Now manufactures absorb most
OF the labor OF tae country. Our liberties
remain unimpaiIed. The bondsmen have been
freed IRON slavery. We have become possessed of
the respect, il not of the friendship, of all civil
ized nations. Our progress has been great in all
the arts, In science, agriculture, commerce, navl
CATION, mining, mechanics, law, medicine, etc,
and IN general education the progress is likewise
encouraging. Our thirteen States have become
thrty-eight, Concluding Colorado, which has taken
the lnitatory steps TO become State,) and eight
Territories, including the Indian Territory and
Alaska, and excluding Colorado, making a terri
tory extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
On the south have extended to the Gulf of
Mexico, and in the West from the Mississippi to
the Pacific. One hundred years ago the cotton
gin, the steamship, the railroad the telegraph, the
reaper, the sewing machine, printing machines,
and numerous other inventions of scarcely less
value to our business and happiness were entirely
unknown.
In l116 manufacturers scarcely existed-even
in name, in all this vast territory. In 1870, more
than two millions of persons were employed in
manufactures producing than s., loo, ,00O, 900
of products in amount annually, nearly equal to
our national debt. From nearly the whole of the
population of l116 being engaged in the one occu-
patton of agriculture, in 1870 so numerous and d.
vershed had become the occupation Of our people,
that less than SIX millions out Of more than forty
millions were engaged. The extraordinary ef-
feet produced in our country by resort to diver
sitied occupations has built market for the pro-
ducts of fertile lands distant from the seaboard and
the markets of the world. The American System
of locating various and extensive manufactures
next to the plow and the pasture, and adding con-
Meeting railroads and steamboats, has produced in
our distant interior country result noticeable by
the intelligent parts of all commercial nations.
The ingenuity and skill of American mechanics
have been demonstrated at home and abroad in
manner most flatterng to their pride. But for the
extraordinary genius and ability of our mechanics,
the achievements OF our agriculturists, 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 mil
lions of tons are mined annually. So with iron,
which formed scarcely an apprecable part of our
products half century ago; we now produce
more than the world consumed at the beginning
of our national existence. Lead, zinc and copper,
from being articles OF imports, we may expect to
be large exporters of in the near future. The dc.
yelopment Of gold and silver mines in the United
States and territories, has not only been remarka
bic but has had large influence upon the business
OF all commercial nations.
Our merchants IN the last one nuDtlfeu years
have had success, and have established repu-
tations for enterprise, saSscity, progress and in
tegrity unsurpassed by peoples OF older nationali
ties. This good name is not confined to their
homes, but goes out upon every sea and into every
port where commerce enters. With equal pride
point to our progress in all Of the learned
professions.
GENERAL EDUCATION.
| As we are now about to enter upon our second
centennial, commencing our manhood as u nation,
it is well to look back upon the past and study
what will be best to prove and advance our fu-
ture greatness. From the fall of Adam for trans
gl esson, to the present day, no nation has ever
been free from threatened 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 mem
Der is as good another before the law. Under
such form Of government it is OF the greatest
Importance that all should be possessed of educa-
ton and intelligence enough to cast a vote with
right understanding Of its meaning. A large as
sociation OF ignorant men cannot for any consid
cradle period oppose q successful resistance to
tyranny and oppre ssion from the educated few
but will inevitably sink into acquiescencs to the
will of intelligence, whether directed by the dem
agogue or by priest craft. Hence the education of
the becomes of the first necessity for the
preservation of our Institutions. They are worth
preserving because they have secured the greatest
good to the greatest proportion OF the population
Of any form OF government yet devised. All
other forms of government approach 1t just in
proportion 10 the general diffusion of educa-
tion and independence of thought and action.
As the primary step, therefore, to our advance
| ment in all that has marked our progress in the
past century, suggest for your earnest consider
| ton. and most earnestly recommend that Con-
stitutional amendment be submitted to the legis-
laturcs Of the several States for ratification max
| ing it the duty of each of the several States to
establish and forever maintain free public schools
adequate TO the education of all the children in the
/ ,atog krnp will thn,r
limits, irrespective Of sex, color, birth place or
religion, forbidding the teaching in said schools OF
| religious, aheistc or pagan tenets, and prohibit
| ing the granting of any school funds school
taxes, or any part thereof either by legislative
municipal other authority, for the benefit or in
aid directly indirectly, of any religious sect or
| denomination or 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
of correcting an evil that if permitted to continue
i'll probably lead to great trouble in our land be-
fore the close of the nineteenth century 1t is the
| accumulation Of vast amounts of untaxed church
property In 1850 believe the church property
OF the nited States which paid no tax, Municipal
or State amounted to about SS3 COO 600 In 1860
the amount had doubled. In 1875 it is about 81 :
/ 600 900 by 1900, without check, it is safe TO
| say this property will reach sum exceeding S.,
| coo 900 600 So vast sum, reoeiving all the pro-
| lection and benefits of the Government without
bearing its proportion ofthe burdens and expenses
of the same, will not be looked upon acquiescenty
/ by those who have to pay taxes. In governing
country where real estate enhances so rapidly
with time in the nitcd States, there is scarcely
limit 10 the wealth that may be acquired by COR
porations, reg ous otherwise, if allowed to re-
tain zeal estate without taxation. The contemp-
lation of vast Il property as here alluded to
without taxation, may lead to sequestration with
out constitutional authority and through blood.
would suggest the taxation of all property equally
whether church corporation, eXempting only
the last resting place of the dead, and possibly
vi h proper restrictions, church edi6ees.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Cur relations with most OF the foreign powers
are satisfactory and friendly footing. In
creased intercourse, the extension Of commerce
and cultivation of mutual interests have steadily
| improved our relations with a large majority o.
the powers Of the world, rendering practicable
the peaceful solution of questions which from time
to time necessarily arise, leaving few which de-
mand extended or particular notice. The cores
pondence Of the Department of state with our
diplomatic representatives abroad, is transmitted
herewith.
am happy to announce the passage OF an act
by the General Cortes of Portugal, proclaimed
since the adjournment of Congress, 10: the aboh-