Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-06
NO. 2SS.
Presidents Message.
REcAPITULATIoN OF PRESIDENT GRANTS AD-
| MINIsTRATIoN.

MINIsTRATIoN.
To tie Senate aud House Of. .Representatsuss.-
In submitting my eighth and last annual mes
sage TO Congress, it seems proper that should re-
Ter to and in some degree recapitulate the events
and Official acts Of the past eight years. 1t was my
fortune OF misfortune to be called to the office Of
chief executive without any previous political
training. From the age of seventeen had never
even witnessed the excitement attending a presi-
Dental campaign but twice antecedent to my own
candidacy, and IN but one of them was eligible as
voter Under such circumstances it is but rea-
sonable TO suppose that errors of judgment must
have occurred, even had there not been differences
oil opinion between the executive bound BY an
oath to the strict performance of his duties, and
writers and debaters which, have arisen. 1t is not
necessarily evidence of blunders on the part OF
the executive because there are these differences
oil views Mistakes have been made as all can see
and l admit, but 1t seems to me oftener in the
selections made of the assistants appointed to aid
III carrying out the various duties of administer
ing the government in nearly every case selected
without personal acquaintance with the ap-
poinee, but upon recommendation of the repre-
sentatives chosen directly by the people. It is
impossible where so many trusts to be allotted
that the right parties should be chosen in every
instance.
History shows that no administration from the
time OF Washington to the present, has been free
from these mistakes, but l leave comparisons to
history, claiming only that have acted in every
| instance from conscientious desire to do what
was right, constitutional, within the law and for
the very best interests of the whole people. Fail
nres have been errors of judgment, not of intent.
My civil career commenced too at most critical
and difficult time. Less than four years before
the country had emerged from conflict such as
no other nation had ever survived. Nearly one
half the States had revolted against the govern
ment, and OF those remaining faithful to the
| Union, large per centage Of the population
sympathiZed with the rebellion and made an enemy
| IN the rear almost as dangerous as the more hon
orable enemy in the front.
| The latter committed errors of judgment, but
they maintained them openly and courageousy;
| the former received the protection of the govern
ment they would see destroyed, and reaped all
| the pecuniary advantage to be gained out of the
then evsting state of affairs, many of them by OBJ
tainng contracts and by swindlng the govern
ment in the delivery of their goods. Immediately
on the cessation of hostiities the noble President
who had carried the country so far through its
perils fell martyr to his patriotism at the hands
of an assassin.
The intervening space before my first inaugura-
ton was filled up with wranglings between Con-
gress and the new Executive, as to the best mode
OF reconstruction; or, to speak plainly, as to
whether the control of the government should be
thrown Immediately into the hands of those who
had so recently ana persistenty tried to DESTROY
it, or whether the victors should con-
tinue to have an equal voice with them in this
| control. Reconslruction. as agreed upon, means
this, except that the late slave was enfranchised,
giving an increase as was supposed to the union
by union-lovng and union-supporting votes if
free, in the full sense of the word, tney would
not disappoint this expectation. Hence, at the
beginning of my first administration the work of
reconstruction was much embarrassed by the long
delay virtually commenced. 1t was the work OF
the legislative branch of the government. NV
province was wholly in approving their acts,
which did most heartily, urging the legislatures
of States that had not yet done so to ratify the
fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
ha ron ufrxx iah
debt contracted in the suppression of rebellion and
taxation was so oppressive as to discourage pro-
duction. Another danger also threatened us-a
TO egn war. The last difficulty had to be ad ust-
ed, and was adjusted without a war and in q man
ner highly honorable to all parties concerned.
Taxes have been reduced within the last seven
wears nearly $500, 900 900, and the national debt
has been reduced in the time over S435, ,00O,-
OO0. by refundng the six per cent. bonded debt
for bonds bearing D = and per cent. interest
respectively, the annual interest has been reduced
from over $4,000, 900 in 1869 to but little over
$1,000 900 in 1876. The balance of trade has
been changed from over $3.50, 100000 against the
United States in 1869 to more than $l20 OOO,000
in our favor in 1876
1t is confidently believed that the balance of
trade in favor of the United States will increase.
net diminish, and that the pledge of Congress to
resume specie payments in 1879 will be easily ac-
complished even in the absence of much desired
further legislation on the subject.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
A policy has bsen adopted toward the Indian
tribes inhabitng large portion of the territory
of the nited States, which has substantially end
ed Indian hostilities in the whole land except in a
portion of Nebraska and Dakota, Wyoming and
Montana Territories, the Black Hills region and
approaches thereto. Iiostilities there have grown
out of the avarice of the white man. who has vi
olated our treaty stipulstions in his search for
gold.
The question might be asked why the govern
ment has not enforced obedience to the terms of
the treaty, prohibiting the occupation of the Black
Hills regions by whites The answer is simple
The first emigfants to the Black Hills were re-
moved by troops, but rumors of rich discoveries of
gotd led into that region increased numbers Gold
had actually been found in paying quantities and
effort to remove the men would only result in
the desertion Of the bulk of the troops that might
be sent there to remove them. All difficulty in
this matter has, however, been removed, subject
to the approval OF Congress, by treaty ceding the
Black Hills and approaches to settlement by cit
izens. The subject of Indian policy and treat
men is so fully set forth by the Secretary of the
Interior and the Commissioners of Indian Affairs
and my views have been so fully expressed therein
that refer to their reports and recommendations
as my own.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The relations of the United States with fore;gn
powers continue on a friendly footing. Questions
have arisen from time to time in the foreign rela
tions of the government. but they have been han
ply free during the past year from the complica-
tions and embarrasments which have surrounded
some of the foreign powers. The diplomatic COR
respondence submitted herewith contains informa
ton as to certain of the matters which have ocru.
pied the government. The cordiality which
attends our relations with the powers of the East
has been plainly shown by the general particins-
ton OF foreign nations in the exhibition which has
Just closed, and by the exeitions made by distant
powers to show their interest and friendly feengs
towards the United States in the commemorative
OF the Centennial of the Nation.
The government and people of the United
States have not only fully appreciated this exhb-
ncn OF kindly feeling, but il may be Justly and
fairly expected that no small benefits will resnlt
both to ourselves and other nations, from better
appreciation of our mutual advantages and ms-
tual wants.
REDUCTION OF AUTHORIZATIONS FOR DpLo.
MATIc SERVICE.
Congress at its last session saw fit to reduce the
amount usually appropriated for foreign inter.
course, by withholding appropriations for repre-
sentatives of the United States in certain foreign
countries, and for certain consular officers. and
by reducing the amounts usually appropriated for
certain other diplomatic posts, and thus neces,i-
ha Aa - Al.