The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-12-09
The Presidents Message
Delivered to Congress hecem-
bsF 7th, 1875.

70 tie .Sra4,c I'D IL a. Eeg2e5sHtG;iJ,s:
In submitting MY sje=cE:h Annual Mes
saye 20 congress, II the centennial year oi
our national existence a. free and indie
pendent people, it affords me great pleas
IRE to recar 10 the advancement that has
been made from tie tine O! the Colonies
one hundred wears ago. We were then
people numbering Only three million; now
We number more than forty millions then
industries were confined almost exclusive
IL 10 tiilace Of the soil; now manufactures
absorb much OF the labor Ci the country.
Our liberties remain uuimpaired. The
bondsmen have been freed from slavery;
We have become possessed of the respect, ii
not OF the i-icndshir,oi al civilized nations.
Our progress has been great in The arts,
in science, commerce, navigation, mining
mechanics, Law, medicine, Sc, and in gem
erai education the progress is likewise en-
cOGraging. Oar thirteen States have be-
come thiriy-eight, including Colorado,
which has taken the steps to become q
State, ard eight Territories, including the
Indian Territory and Alaska, and exclud-
ing Colorado, making territory extending
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. On the
south, We have extended TO the Gulf Of
Mexico, and in the IVES; from the Missis-
sippi 10 the Pacific. One hundred years
ago the cotton gin. the steamship, the rail-
road, the telegraph, the Ieaping, sewing,
aud modern printing machines and numer-
ous other inventions Of scarcely less value
TO our business and happiness, were entirely
unknown.
orr GREAT PRcGEESS.
Ia I77G, manufactures scarcely existed.
even in name in all this vast country. In
$50, more than 2,G00, 0GO persons were en-
ployed in manufacturing, producing more
than two thousand one hundred millions OF
dollars o! produce, an amount, annually,
nearly equal 10 our National debt. From
nearly the whole OF the population OF 17776
being engaged ia one occupation, that of
agriculture in 1870, 50 numerous and di-
ygr-ified had brcome the occupations
81 our people, that less than 100000 out
81 more than 40,GG10G0 we're 30 engaged
The extraordinary effect
PRODUCED N orR COUNTRY
by i resort TO such occupations, has built a
market Tor the products of the fertile lands
GistaG; from the sea board and the market
ii the world. The American system of
working the various ard extensive manufac-
TUES, next TO the piow and pasture, and
adding connecting railroads and Steam
boSt-, has produced Ia chr distant country
= resul: moi equalled by the intelligent
parts ut any other nation. The ingenuity
aud status al American mechanics have
teen demonstrated al home and abroad, in
a manner most hattering 10 their pride
But for the extraordinary genius and
ABILITY cE CTR MECHANICS,
the achievements o! orr agriculturalists,
mechanics, aud trausFOrlers throughout the
country would hare becm impossible OF at
l-.uueGt
The pIUEress I'll the miner Las also been
great. Ia coal, oar production was small
is"w many millions 81 tons are mined annu-
ally. - wiIu iron. which FORMED scarcely
IA a?grCcia5.r part Of cur product, a cen
rIry ago; We now produce more than the
world Consumed Al the beginning Of our
national existence Lead. zinc and copper.
irom being articles of imports, We may ex-
pect TO lie large exporters Of in the near
future.
TIE r.YEI.0PILNT OF GOLD AND SILVER
MINES
throughout the States and Territories, has
not only been remarkable, but has had
large influence upon the business OF all the
commercial nations. Our merchants, in the
last hundred YEAR, haze been successful,
and have established a reputation for en-
ieTrrIse, sacaci:y, progress and integrity,
unsurpassed ~ the people OF older Nations.
This good name i not coEfiued at home,
iIi, SJIS out Oh every SEA and every port
which commerce enters. With equal pride
- can lr.at to Cur progress in tie
learned professions. - we are row about TO
enter on
THE SECOND CENTENNIAL
commencing orr marhoud as Nation. il
i well 10 lock back upon the past. and
study what Will Be bes. 10 preserve and adj
vance CIR future s,roatne7- From the fall
81 Adam, tnr his trans2Tessi0n, 10 the pres
cut day. no Nation has ever been free from
threatened DANGER 10 lis prosperity and
happine-s. We should look TO the dangers
threatened, and remedy them 50 far Is lies
IN our power. We are a republic whereof
one man i IS good as another heiore the law, |
and, under such form Of government, it Is |
-! the greatest Importance that all should be |
possessed OF education and intelligence |
enough 10 cast vote with right under |
standing 81 Its meaning. \ large assccia- |
ton OF ignorant Den cannot Tor any cJnsid- |
cradle pcrlod oppose 4 successful resistance |
10 tyranny as oppressive from the educated |
lew. They inevitably sink in acquicscence |
10 the wall OF intelligence, whether directed |
10y demasogue or by rriestcrait Hence,
Of the masses becomes OF the
FIRST NECESSITY
Tor the preservation Of our institutions.
They are worth preserving, because they
have selected the greatest good to the
greatest proportion Of the population
ni any form OF government Yet devised.
All other forms of government approach
il; first, in proportion to the general diff
fusion Of education and independence #
thought and action as the primary step.
therefore, To our advancement in all thu
has marked our progress Ina the past ccnttfe
~, i suggest Tor your earnest consideration,
and most earnestly recommend il, as
amendment, To be submitted
10 the Legislatures OF the several States for
making il the duty Of each OF
he several States, 10 establish and forever
FREE ruBIIC SCHOOLS,
adequate to the education al all children
n the rudimentary branches within their
limits, Irrespective of sey, color,
iirih- place or religion, and forbidding the
eaching in said schools oil religious, A,he-
site or Pagan text, and prohibiting the
,ranting OF any school funds or school tax
:, or any part thereof, either bv the Legis-
allure, municipal or Others, for the benefit
"a any Other object, of any nature or kind
shateyer. In connection with this impor-
ant question, would call your attention
o the importance OF correcting an evil,
'hich, II permitted 10 continue, will lead !;
. great trouble in our land before the
lose Of the Nineteenth century.
II Is the accumulation Of vast amounts of
UNrANED CHURCH PROPERTY.
n 1850, | believe the church property Of
he United States which paid no tax. mu-
licipal or State, amounted 10 about Ss3-
'0O,oco. In lSto, the amount had doubled
a 1879 a; : about o,.e thousand million.
~ 1890, without a check, il is safe 10 saw .
AIS prCgPriy vail rp,rh fls en-, - H. 1