The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-12-10
Presidents S Message.

To 6e .SeRdte and HDasc Of RcjJTc8en-
tdtiues:
In submitting my seventh annual
message to Congress IN this, the Cen
tennial year Of our National existence
as -ree and independent people, it
affords me great pleasure to recur to
The advancement that has been made
from the time OF the Colonies, one
hundred years ago. We were then
people numbering only 800, 600. Now
we number more than 1900, 900.
Then industries were conf ned almost
exclusively to the tillage of the soil.
Now manufactures absorb much oftlle
labor OF the country. Our liberties re-
main unimpaired. The bondsmen have
been freed from slavery. We have
become possessed Of the respect, if not
the friendship, OF all civilized nations.
Our progress has been great i'm all the
arts, in science, agriculture commerce,
navigation, mining, mecl anics, law,
medicine, etc, and in general educa-
ton the progress is likewise encourage
ing. Our thirteen States have become
thirty eight, including Colorado, which
has taken the initiatory STEPS to become
State, and eight Territories, includ-
ing Indian Territory and Alaska,
and excluding Colorado, making ter
ritory extending from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. On the south we have ex-
tended to tie Gulf Of Mexico, and on
the west from Mississippi to the Pacif-
ic. One hundred years ago the cotton
gin, the steamship, the railroad, the
telegraph, the reaping, sewin5 and
modern printing machines, and nuiner-
Gus other inventions of scarcely less
value to our business and happiness,
were entirely unknown.
THEN AND NOW.
In 1775, manufactures scarcely eX-
listed, even in name. in all this vast ter
ritory. In 1870, more than two mil
lions of persons were employed in man.
ufactories producing more than 3, 100,-
100000 of produce in amount annually
nearly equal TO our national debt. From
nearly the whole of the population of
l776 being engaged in the one occupa-
ton of agriculture; in 1870 so numer-
Gus and diversified had become the oc-
cupations of our people, that less than
six millions out of more than forty
millions We're so engaged. The extra
ordinary effect produced in our coun-
try by resort to such occupations,
has built market for the products of
the fertile lands distant from the
sea-board, and the markets of the
world.
The American system of working
various and extensive manufactures,
next to the plain and the pasture, and
adding connecting railroads and steam
boats, has produced in our distant
country a result not equaled by the
intelligent parts of other nations. The
ingenuity of some of our American
mechanics has been demonstrated at
home and abroad in manner most
fattering to their pride. But for the
extraordinary genius and ability of our
mechanics, the achievements of our
agriculturists, manufacturers, trans
portation throughout the country
would have been impossible of attain
ment. The progress of the miner has
>also been great. OF coal, our produc-
ton was small. Now many millions of
tons are mined annually. SO with iron,
which formed scarcely an appreciable
part of eur products half century ago.
We now produce more than the world
consumed at the beginning of our ma
tional existence. Lead, zinc and cop
per, from being articles of import, we
may expect to be large exporters of, in
the near future. The development of
gold and silver mines throughout the
States and Territories has not only
been remarkable, but has had n large
influence upon the business of all COM
mercial nations
Our merchants in the last hundred
years have had a success and have es-
tablished a reputation for enterprise,
sagacity, progress and integrity unsur-
passed by people of Older nationalities.
This good name is not confined 10 their
homes, but goes out upon every sea
and into every port where commerce
enters. With equal pride we can point
80 our progress in all of the learned
professions. As weare now about TO ell
ter upon our second centennial, COM
mencing our manhood as a nation, it is
well to look back upon the past and
study what viii be best to preserve and
advance our future greatness From
Che fall of Adam for his transgression
10 the present day, no nation has ever
been free from threatened danger ia
ats prosperity and happiness. We
should look to the dangers threatening
us and remedy them so far as lies
i'm our power. We are republic
whereof one man is as good az another
before the law. Under such form of
government ii is of the greatest im-
portance that all should be possessed
of education and intelligence enough
60 cast a vote with right understand
ing of its meaning. y large associa-
ton of ignorant men cannot, for any
considerable period, oppose q successful
resistance to tyranny and oppression
from the educated few, but will ineyit-
ably sink into quiescence TO the will of
intelligence, whether directed by DEM
agogues or 10y priesteraft. Hence, the
education offhe masses becomes of the
first necessity FOX the preservation of
our institutions. They are worth pre-
serving, because they have secured the
greatest good 10 the greatest proper
aion of the population of any form of
Sfovernsnent yet devised.
FREE SCHOOLS FOR ALL.
All other forms of Government ap-
prsach il just in proportion TO the gen
eral diffusion of education and inde-
pendence of thought and action. As
the primary step, therefore, to our adj
vsncement in ali that has marked our
progress in the past century, ] suggest
for your earnest consideration, and
snost earnestly recommend it that a
constitutional Amendment be submit
ted 20 the Legislatures of these several
States for ratification, making il the
duty af each of the several States To es-