Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-12-14

u "A
without war, and in manner highly hon.
orable to all parties concerned. Taxes have
been reduced within the last seven years near
ly three hundred millions of dollars, and the
national debt has been reduced in the same
time over four hundred and thirty-five mill
ions of dollars. BY refunding the six per cent.
bonded debt for bonds bearing FIVE and four
and one.half per cent. interest respectively,
the annual interest has been reduced from
over one hundred and thirty millions of dol
lars in 1869, to but little over one hundred
millions of dollars in 1875. The balance of
trade has been changed from over one hum
dred and thirty millions of dollars against the
United States in 1869, to more than one hun
dred and twenty millions of dollars in our fa'
vor in 1876. It confidently believed that
the balance of trade in favor of the United
States will increase, not diminish, and that
the pledge of Congress to resume specie pay
ments in 1879 will be easily accomplished,
even in the absence Of much desired further
legislation on the subject.
=. ... THE; INDIANA.
"A policy has been adopted towards the In
dian tribes inbabitina q large portion of the
territory of the United States which has been
humane, and has substantially ended Indian
hostilities in the whole land except in portion
of Nebraska and Dakota, Wyoming and Mon
tana Territories, and the Black Hills region
and approaches thereto. Hostilities there have
grown out of the avarice of the white man, who
has violated our treaty stipulation in his greed
for gold. The question might be asked why
the government has not enforced obedience to
the terms of the treaty prohibiting the occupa-
ton of the Black Hills region by the whites.
The answer is simple. The first immigrants
to the Black Hills we're removed by troops,
but rumors of rich discoveries of gold took in
to that region increased numbers. Gold has
been found in paying quantity, and an effort
to remove the miners would only result in the
desertion of the bulk of the troops that might
be sent there to remove them. All the diff.
Guilty in this matter has, however, been remov-
ed, subject to the approval Of Congress, BY
treaty ceding the Black Hills and approaches
to settlement by citizens. The subject of the
Indian policy and treatment is so fully Get
forth by the secretary of the interior and the
commissioner of Indian affairs, and my views
80 fully expressed therein, that refer to their
reports and recommendations as my own.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The relations of the United States with
foreign powers continue on friendly footing.
Questions have arisen, from time to time, in
the foreign relations Of the government, but
the United States have been happily free,
during the past year, from the complications
and enbarrassments which have surrounded
some of the foreign powers. The diplomatic
correspondence submitted herewith contains
information as to certain of the matters which
have occupied the government.
The cordality which attends our relations
with the powers of the earth has been plainly
shown by the general participation of foreign
natious in the exhibition which has just closed,
and by the exertions made by distant powers
to show their interest in, and friendly feelings
towards, the United States, in the commem-
Grafton of the Centennial of the Nation. The
government and people of the United States
have not only fully appreciated this exhibit
ton of kindly feeling, but it may be justly
and fairly pectsd that no ennnff benefits witt
reeuIs bUtil TO ourselves and other nations
from better acquaintance and better ap-
probation of our mutual advantages and
mutual wants.
Congress, at its last session, saw fit to re-
duce the amount usually appropriated for
foreign intercourse, by withholding appropri-
ations from representatives Of the United
States in certain foreign countries, and for
certain consular officers, and by reducing the
amounts usually appropriated for certain 9th.
er diplomatic posts, and thus necessitating
change in the grade of the representatives.
For these reasons, Immediately upon the pas.
sage of the bill making appropriations for
the diplomatic and consular service for the
present fiscal year, instructions were issued to
the representatives of the United States at
Bolivar, Ecuador and Columbia, and for the
consular officers, for whom no appropriation
had been made, to close their respective lega.
tions and consuates and cease from the per-
formance of their duties, and, in like manner,
steps were Immediately taken to substitute
charges dofaires for ministers resident in
Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland and
Paraguay. While thoroughly impressed with
the wisdom of sound economy in the foreign
service, as in other branches of the govern.
ment, cannot escape the conclusion that, in
some instances, the Withholding of the appro-
priations will prove an expensive economy,
and that the small retrenchment secured by
a change of grade of certain diplomatic posts
is not an adequate consideration for the loss
of influence and importance which will attend
our foreign representatives under this reduc-
ton. I am of the opinion that re.examin-
alton of the subject will cause change in
some instances in the conclusions reached on
these subjects at the last session of Congress.
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The Court of Commissioners of Alabama
claims, whose functions we're continued by an
act of the last session of Congress, until the
1st day of January, 1877, has carried on its
labors with diligence and general satisfaction.
By report from the clerk Of the court trans
mitted herewith, bearing date November 18th,
1875, it appears that, within the time now al
lowed by law, the court will have disposed of
all the claims presented for adjudication.
This report also contains q statement of the
general results of the labors of the court to
the date thereof Itis cause of satisfaction
that the methods adopted for the satisfaction
of the classes of claims submitted to the
court, which are of long standing and justly
entitled to early consideration, should have
proven successful and acceptable. s..
MEXICO. ...s-...
The commotions which have been prevalent
in Mexico for some time past, and which, un.
happily, seem to be not yet wholly quiet. have
led to complaints of citizens of the United
States of INJURIES by persons in authority. 1t