The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-12-10
The Presidents Message.

WASHINGTON, Dec. THE following rs
a synopsis of tie Presidents message
The message opens with a reference to
the centennial year and the progress made
by the country, during the past century,
in population, agriculture, commerce, and
general prosperity. he opening part OF
the message is devoted chiefly to the res
view of the great progress of the nation,
and touehes;.o a considerable extent upon
the gradual extension of territory, the ad-
vaucement of agriculture and mechanics,
with the DEVELOPMENT of mining resour-
ces, &c.
POLITICAL EQUALITY.
Referring to political equality, ft says
We are republic whereof one man is as
good as another before the law. 1t is of
the greatest importance that all should be
possessed of education and intelligence
enough to cast a vote with the right of un-
derstauding of it's meaning. Men cannot
for any considerable period oppose s,Ic~
cessful resist ance to tyranny and oppres-
sion from the educated few, but will IN
evitably sink into acQuiescence to the will
of Intelligence, whether directed by deiha-
goguery or by priestcraft. Hence the ed
ucation of the masses becomes of the first
necessity for the preservation OF our instr
tutions, as these are worth preserving be-
cause they have secured the greatest good
to the greatest proportion of the population
of any form of government devised. lie
suggests that congress consider the SUBJ
ject and earnestly recommends.
4 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT,
the full text OF which is published in the
next column.
He suggests taxation of all property
equally, excepting only the last resting
place of the dead.
THE FOREIGN RELATIONS
with most of the powers remain satisfacto-
ry. Along with the message is transmit
ted certain diplomatic correspondence
showing the exact condition of 70. eign rela-
tions.
THE MEXICAN TROUBLES
are next referred to at some length. The
marauding excursions, the frauds of the
United States revenue and the number of
murders and outrages on the Mexican bOr>
der have been made the subject of renew
ed remonstrance by the United States to
the Mexican government, but without ap-
parent effect. A larger force of troops is
necessary to guard the American frontier.
The result of the joint commission on
Mexican claims will soon be communica-
ted to congress. He is happy to announce
that Venezuela has abandoned her objec-
tion to paying to the United States that
portion of its revenue allowed towards the
extinguishment of the claims of foreigners
generally, anu ANNOUNCES bDe TdtlIlCdI1On
of treaty of commerce and navigation
with Belgium, and of conventions with
the Mexican republic for the further ex-
tension OF the joint commission respecting
claims with the Hawaiian islands for COM
mercial reciprocity, and with the Ottoman
empire for extraditon, all of which have
been duly proclaimed.
The President then discusses the Ala
bama claims. One thousand three hun
dred and eighty claims have been presen-
ted, of which six hundred and eighty-two
had been disposed of at the date of my re-
, port on .he subject. One hundred and
seventy were decided dnring November
| and decisions are being made in the re-
| manning cases rapidly.
| OCEAN CABLES.
The President then reviews the history
: of ocean cables and comments freely upon
7 the action of the government and cables
in relation to the landing of the cable on
! the shores of France, and the action of the
Anglo-American company in endeavoring
! to advance the rates upon the competition
| by the direct cable.
| FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION.
I Among the important subjects to which
the attention of congress should be directed
are those Of fraudulent naturalization and
! exporta:ion. He invites the attention OF
| congress to the necessity of regulating by
law the status of American marrying in for
eigners, and defining the status of children
born of American parents in foreign coun.
tries. The message then reviews the re-
port of the Secretary of the Treasury.
IN FAVOR OF RESUMPTION.
It will be a source of great qualification
to the President to be able to approve any
measure of congress looking effectually
toward securing resumption. Unlimited
imitation would accomplish it, but at the
sacrifice of honor.
Referring to the Secretary of Wars re-
port, he recon- mends al appropriation o
$500, 600, 900 for the subsistence of the de-
partment before the beginning of the mex
fiscal year, and recommends the repeal O
the law abolishing mileage and the return
to the old system.
He recommends reduction of govern
ment expenses wherever it can be don,
without crippling the functions of th,
government a restoration of the duty OIL
tea and coffee would incre ase the reveuu,
by eight million dollars.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
! The subiec. OF the tariff occupies consid
cradle space.
REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
The President, on the navy, then says
Policy requires that we should have a larg
ernumber of torpedo ships while the warlik
situation continues. The condition of tn,
navy, however, is, upon the whole, salts
factory. lie RECOMMENDS tne imme0IaU
completion of five double-turretted moni
tors now on the stock.
The report of the Postmaster General i
next discussed, and various recOmmenda
tiuns made in connection.
The thirteenth report of the interior de
partment is next reviewed. The report o
, the general land Office shows that ther
were PAS, 901 acres less disposed of durin,
this year than last.
He recommends that .he government
contribution to the Centennial exhibition
be of a character and quality and extent il
| keeping with the dignity aud credit of tn
, country.
The reports Of the several department
are briefly referred to. He recommend
, that joint congressional committee be ar
pointed to visit the mining states and terri
tories next summer and report such laws a
may be best suited for the development o