Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1875-12-09

correcting the evil OF vast amount
of untold church property and es.
Inmates that by 1890, if not un.
checked, this property will reach 9
sum exceeding 5000 million dol.
lars He would suggest the taxa,
ton of all property equally except,
ing only the last resting place OF
the dead.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Relations with most foreign pow.
ers continue oil a satisfactory and
friendly footing. The President is
happy to announce the passage OF
an act by the general Cortes of
Portugal abolishIng slavery in the
Colonies. The past year has fur
nished no evidence of an approach
ing termination of the ruinous con-
fict which has been raging for
seven years in Cuba. The same
disregard of the laws of civilized
warfare and the just demands of
humanity which have heretofore
called forth expressions of con-
demnation from the nations of
Christendom, have continued to
blacken the sad scene. Desola-
ton, ruin and pillage are pervad-
ing the rich fields of one of the
most fertile and productive regions
of the earth, and the incendiary's
torch firing plantations and valua-
BILE factories and buildings, is the
agent marking the alternate adj
vance and retreat of the contending
parties. The President narrates
the damage to the interests Of all
the commercial nations, especially
these United States and the inse-
curity of property owned by citi-
zens of the United States in Cuba.
He had hoped Spain would be en-
abled to establish peace in her col
Ony. Because Of this hope and
from an extreme reluctance to in
terfere in the affairs of another
and a friendly nation, he has pa.
tiently and anxiously awaited the
peogress of events. The armed
band of either side now occupy
the grounds as in the past.
The President makes a long
and concludes:
CUBAN INDEPENDENCE.
A recognition of the independ-
ence of Cuba being in my opinion
impracticable and indefensible, the
question which next presents it
self is that of the recognition of
belligerent rights in the parties to
the contest. After further argu-
nent. the PRESIDENT concludes:
The recognition of independence
or of beligerency being thus in my
judgment equally inadmissable, it
remains to consider what course
shall be adopted should the con-
iict not soon be brought to an end
by acts of the parties themselves,
and should the evils which result
therefrom affecting all nations and
particularly the United States, con
tinue. in snch event, l am of the
opinion that other nations will be
compelled to assume the response
which devolves upon them
and TO seriouslg consider the only
remaining measures possible, me
and intervention. After
statement, he says: At the
same lime while thus impressed, /
do nos at this time recommend the
adoption of any measure at inter
tervention. He adds: Persuaded
however that q proper regard for
the interests of the United States
and of its citizens entitle it to re-
lief from the strain TO which it has
been subjected by the difficulties of
the questions and the wrongs and
losses which arise from the contest
in Cuba, and that the interests of
humanity itself demand the cessa-
ton of the strife before the whole
island shall be laid waste and
larger sacrifices of life be made.
l shall feel it my duty, should my
hopes of a satisfactory adjustments
and of the early restoration of
peace, and the removal of future
causes of complaint be unhappily
disappointed, to make a future
communication to Congress at some
period not far remote and during
the present session, recommending
what they then seem TO me to be
necessary.
SMUGGLING.
Abiding to smuggling through
the free zone, and raids on the
Rio Grande, the President saws:
"An experiment of an armed vessel
on the Rio Grande for that purpose
is on trial, and it is hoped that if
not thwarted by the shallowess of
the river and other natural obsta-
cles, it may materially contribute
TO the protection of the herdsmen
of Texas"
Ocean telegraphs are discussed
at great length, but no allusion is
made to the postal telegraph.
Discussing