Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

sage, sent,to Congress yesterday, INDUCES in
some pleasant mention of the advancement of
our country from its infancy to its centennial,
and of the nations great success in progress
and civilizations; its wonderful achievements
in arts, science and all the concomitants OF
advanced betterment of all the people. And
in this connection he urges that all citizens
should be educated sufficiently to cast vote
with. right intelligence of the value of the
elective franchise, which is proposition no
reasonable person will question, though it was
not acted upon in the reconstruction policy of
the Presidents own party. The absence of
such educated intelligence is, the President
thinks, the primal danger to our country's
prosperity and the permancnoe of its free in
situations, and in such belief he recommends
an amendment to the constitution requiring
the several States to establish and forever
maintain free public schools adequate to, at
least, the rudimentary education of all the
children, irrespective of color, sex, nationality
or religion !; torbiddlng, however, the teach>
ing in such schools the incubation of pagan
or atheistic tenets, or the bestowal of school
funds to any religious demon ination for edu>
catonal purposes. He also objects to the ac>
emulation of vast amounts of untaxed church
property, and says that that class of property
in the United States in 1875 amounts to Sl,-
100000, 600. He recommends the taxation
of all such property, exemptiug only GENE
teries and limited edifces for churches.
Stating that our relations with foreign
powers are satisfactory and friendly, the Presi-
dent takes occasion to remark chat Congress
should so legislae as to prohibit citizens of the
United States from owning slaves in any other
country, and he hopes such consumm alton
may ultimately embrace citizens of all nations
Chilli has made reparatiOn in some long
standing cases of outrage on our commercial
marine. Mention is made of the Hawaiian
reciprocity treaty, and of the Viryinius in
demnity, which has been settled by Spain
In regard to Cuba, the President thinks
there is no evidence of near termination of
the conflict there, and there still exists that
continuous disregard Of laws of civilized war
fare and humanity which has characterized
the internecine strife during the past seven
years. He adverts to the commercial i'm
portance of Cuba to the world at large, and
asserts his belief that the nations have right
TO interfere sufficiently to establish its gov
eminent on a secure basis, but he considers
tho recognition of Cuban independence im<
practicable at present and he believes the
United States and all other nations must soon
consider the necessity of mediation and in
tervention in the premises. A considerable
portion of the message is devoted to this SUBJ
ject. NJ
He indorses the recommendations made In
the annual report of the Secretary of War.
The condition Of the navy is stated as being
satisfactory .--
In referring to Postofice Department af-
fairs, the President recommends the exclusion
from the mails Of merchandise of all kinds,
and the Limitation of transportable matter
therein only to those articles which should
BIO properly classed as mailable.
The President says that although governs
ment efforts to protect the rights of Indians
in tho Black Hills have been successful, the
next year will exhibit large increase of inn
migration thither. The grasshopper plague
is supposed to have diminished the sale of
publis lands during tho year.
The President thinks his Indian policy has
been prosecuted with encouraging and salts
factory results as to the improvement of the
race, and he says the came policy will be con-
tinued with such notifications as NAV be
deemed proper.
AS to the centennial exhibition the Prcsi-
dent thinks that as it is to be an International
affair, to which the United States government
is only a voluntary contributor, its contribu-
ton should be large enough to sustain the
dignity of the United States in such con.
tingency. He says that almost without ez>
ception the powers of Europe, the South
American States, and even the far off Eastern
sovereignties have taken steps to be repre-
scented in the centennial exhibition.
The President recommends the formation
oe special tribunal for hearing and de.
termining all claims of aliens against the gov
ernment of the United States. which now exist
or may hereafter arise outside of treaty stip>
ulations.
The question as to monopoly and cxorbitant
charges on the Atlantic telegraphic sable lines
is given to the earnest consideration of Con-
gress, and in absence of action by that BODY
the President will not approve the landing OF
cables! proposed to be laid By competing com
panies. 49,. ..... ...,-r.r. 81 49,.
The frauds in naturalization and expatria>
ton arc severely commented on, and preven>
tive legislation asked.
AS to resumption Of specie payments the
President will heartily approve any practical
BILE measures to that end that may be adopted
by Congress. He thinks Unlimited imitation
would bring about specie payments more
quickly than law looking to redemption Of
legal>tenders in coin, but this won!d be at the
expense OF national honor. He recommends
a repeal of so much of the legal>tender act as
makes such notes receivable for debts con-
tracted after January, 1877.
The Mexican robberies and cattle fittings
in the Free Zone, adjoining Texas, are al
luded to. with tho admission that the military
force of our government available for service
at that point is inadequate to guard tfe line
at the place where raiding incursions are most
frequent.
The bureau of agriculture has dissent
mated much useful knowledge to agricutur-
lists, and has introduced new and probably
useful productions to our soil, and the PRESS
dent thinks the bureau worthy of continued
encouragement by the government.