The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

ldcial acts Of the past eight years Tt was my for
oce Of the CHEF Executive cal5s i4bo to J tine
previous political training, From the ace II /
excitement attending Presidential campaign. but
twice antecedent 70 my own candidacy and TO but
Dne OF them was eligible as a voter. Under such /
circumstances il is but reasonable to suppose tbat
errors OF Judgment must have occurred even had
there not been differences of opinion between /
the Executive, bound by oath TO the strict per
loIlace OF ms ouiles and writers and debaters.
part Of the Executive because there are these diner
ences Of views. Mistakes have been made as an
can see, and admit them, but, il seems TO me.
oftener in the selections made of assistants appoint
ed to aid in carrying out the various duties of admin
ist ring the Government in near every case seIect
ed with NJ personal end OF acquaintance with the
representatives chosen directly by the people 1t is
impossible where So many trusts to be allotted
int nee. History shows that the administrations
nom the time Of Washington to the pres, mt have Ia
history, claiming only that have acted in every in
stance from consciencousness and desire to do
what was right aud constitutional within the law
and for the very best interests of the whole people
Intent.
ny civil career commenced at the utmost critical
aud difficult tme less than four wears befor+ he /
country had emerged from conflict such as no 1
other nation had ever survived Nearly e-half of
tine States had revolted against lhe CovSrnnenr and
Of tbose Iemaing faithful the Union a large per
centage OF the population sympathized with the re-
bzlliOn, aud made an enemy ia the rear almost as
dangerous as the terrible enemy in the front
The latter committed errors of Judgment, but thew
maintained them penly and courageously. The
Government the would see DESTROYED
and reaped all The pecuuiaTy advantage TO be gained
out of the then existing of affairs, many OF
them by obtaining contracts and by sNindli the
government IN the delivery 4 their goods. Immcdl-
ately upon the cessation hOstiiti 8, the then no.
bic President, who had carried the country 90 far
through perils fell martyr 10 his patriotism az
the hands of assassin The Intervening time 10
my hrst -snRuraton was hlled up with wranglings
between Congress and the executive
10 the Lest mode Of reconstruction,
to speak plainly, 70 wheth the control If lie
hands Of those who had recently ana erssteut.y
tnue to have equal voice with them In this con
trO Reconstruction means this, aud only this eS-
assurance, was supposed TO the Jnion-loying and
Unton-supporung voter, in the full sense Of the
pecfatlon. Hence, at the beginning of my first
administration the work of reconstruction, much
embarrassed by the long delay, virtually commenced
1t was tho work OF the legislative branch Of the Gov
eFnmenl ny province was wholly IN approving
isatures of the States, that had done done 80.
TO ratify the Tenth Amendment TO the Constitution.
The country was laboring under enormous debt
contracted in the suppression OF the reb Hon. and
taxation was oppressive rs TO discourage produc-
ton. Another danger also threatened US, a foreign
war; the last difficulty had TO DO adjusted
and was adjusted without a war and in
manner highly honorable all parties concerned.
Taxes have been reduced within the ast years
nearly 5OO million dollars, The national debt has been
reduced in the same time over 435 million dollars
By refunding the per cent; bonded debt for bonds
annual interest has been reduced from 1870 mil
lions dollars in 1869 little over 100 million
dollars In 1910 Inc balance OF tade mas oeeh changed
from over one hundred and thirty millions against
and twenty millions Of dollars in our favor M 1876
IT is confidently believed that the balance of trade
diminish, and that the pledge of Congress to re
sumo specie payments in 1879, will be easily accom-
legislation on the subject
tribes inhabitng large portion Of the territory Of
the United States which has been humane.
II has substantially ended the Indian hosailitios in
the whole land, except in portion of ebraska and
Black Inns region and the approaches thereto.
the white man. who has violated our treaty stipula-
lions In his search for gold The question might be
asked why the Government has not enforced
obedience to the terms OF the treaty prohibiting the
oecupatPn OF the Black Hllls region by the whites
The answer is simple, the first emiErauts to the
Black Hills were removed by the troops, but
took into that region increas, numbers Gold has
actually been found in paving quantities, and the
destruction of the bulk of the troops that might be
has, however been removed. subject To the ap-
prOval of Congress, by treaty cedlug the Black
subject Of the Indian policy and treatment is so uly
forth by the Secretary Of the Interior and Com
expressed therein that I refer TO their reports
The relations of the United States with foreign
powers continue friendly footing. Questions
have arisen from time TO time in the foreign rea-
tions of the Government. but tire United States have
been happily free during the past year rom the
complications and eInbarrassmcnts which have
rounded some of the foreign powers The dipio-
matte CORES pondence submitted herewith contains
~1rred TO the Government. The cor
d alitv which attends 4 ions with the
p .wers Of the earth has been clearly shown
siy the general pertici patton OF forei-n latlu. ln
the eN hinou which has just closed, and 10y the
er ions male by distant powers TO show their inter
in and friendly ceilings toward tue United states
iu commenoration OF the cen teEflh- OF ile itIlnA
The Government aud people Of the United States
have not only fully appreciated this eNhibltioh OF
1indy feeling, but &c msy be justly and fairly eH-
Iscted that small dement's will result, both 90
selves I'D 9th nations, from better dcqu intance
aud better appreciation OF our mutual advantages
CONGRESS, IFS last session, fit 60 reduce the
amount usually appropriated for foreign intercourse
bv Withholding the appropriation for representative
LOT United states Ia certain foreign couu tues a.
sor csrtaiu consular officers. and by redHclnE the
matte posts and thus nece5 itatlag ol"hse ln me
grade OF representation For these reasons innsui
atct upon the passage Of the bill IA king tine app'-
pratol the diplomatic and consular service for
the present force, Instructions issued % the rep
mt tives Of the United Sttte7 at 3nllVl' lcl4
dor and tolumbla, and TO the cousuar ollceFs lot
shom pprO ration had oeeu made, TO close their
espectlVe legations ana Cousulaler ana cease from
he peroG of their duties n like manner steps
we're Immediately taken To substitute charges de al
fairs ministers dent in Portugal, Deuuler1r
err zee, Switz- tland and Para-uay. While thor
oughly impressed with wisdom ana SOUND economy IN
rhe foree in other branches Of the Gov
ernmelt, canrot escape the cons fusion that 10 some
instances the Withholding OF aPpro. rlsllons VIA
rove an extensive economy. and that tie small re-
frenchment srcurelty ris change OF grade ia certain
Si lonariC poers uCc adequate cousideratllu Au
tend foreign representative under this Ieoeo-
ton. 20 .,.-,,.
ject will cause Oh nee In some nslen'eS ~ 'n7
conclusion reached On THESE sutyects az e-i9 i's'
The Court OF Commissioner OF the Alabama claims,
whose functions were continued bt an act % the
last ssou OF Congress until toe hiat Gay v- "aA,
ary 1877. has carried it's lrho s WttA Oh me anu
yelcrai salts "a iel BY reper IL pa te q x @.
m Cor trarsulI tel herewith oe7ri7g hr aate %
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