The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-12-15
President MESSAGE
D me Senate and House Of Representatives.

In submitting my eighth and last annual mes
sage tO COnge- ., II seems proper that should
refer 10, ANA iu some degree recapltulate. the
events and official acts of the past eight years.
TWAS my fortune. or misfortune, % be called 10
the Office of Chief Executive ,thout any prcgi-
sus political training. From the age Of seven.
teen had never even Witnessed the excitement
attending q Pre- idential campaign but twice an
teceieut % my own candidacy, and al bat one of
them was eligible A. a voter. Under sucn CIR
cumstances 10 ih but reasonable 20 suppose that
errors of Judgment must have occurred. Even
had there not been "a difference OF opinion be-
tween the EXecutlye-bound by an oath - the
strict performance of his duties-and writer's
and uebAters they mnst have arisen. AZ
Il not necessarily AN evidence OF blunder
on the part OF the executive because there are
these differences OF views. Mistakes have been
made rs all can see, and admit; but It seems
10 me Oitener in the selections made Of assist
ants appointed - ald in carrying out the various
duties of adm lniAlerlng the GOvernment-in
nearly every case selected without "A personal
Acquaintance with the appOntee but np0n the
recommendauons OF the representatives chosen
by the people. 10 is impossible, where
- many trusts are o. be allotted that the
right parties should be chosen IN every instance.
History shows tnat the Admin stratl0n. from tine
time of Washington 10 the preHent, has not been
free from MISTAKES but leave comparisons 70
history, claiming tbat ! have acted IN every in
stance from conscientious desire 10 10 what
was right and constitutional, within the law
and for tire very best interests ot the whole pcO-
pie. Failures have been errors of judgment,
not Of intent.
ny CIVIL CAREER
commenced at "a most critical and difficult time
les, than four years before the country bad
emerged from conf CT such ~ no other nation
had ever survived. Nearly one half Of the states
had reyotcd against the Government, and of
those remaining faithful 30 the Union large
percentage of the population hYmpaihized with
The rebellion ami made an enemy IN the rear, al
most az dangerous as the more honorable eremy
In the front. The latter committed errors of
Judgment, but they maIntained them openly and
courageously. Tse former received tue pfOtec-
f.f ia n
and rcdpcd all the pCCunary advantage 10 be
gained out of the then existing state OF afairs
many OF them 10y obtaining contracts and by
sWndlinE the G0yemmtnt in the delivery OF
their goods. inmcd atcly on the cessation OF
nosuhUcs the then noble President, who mad car
ried me country 20 lar through its perIis, fell
martyr 10 ms PATRIOTISM, at the handr OF az
sassn. The intervening time % my FIRST inAug-
uratlOn was filed up with wranglings between
Congress aud the new ExecutveAs 10 the beet
node OF rccOnstructOn-tO speak plainly, a. 20
whether the control Of the Government should be
thrown Immediately int. the hands Of those who
bad recently aud pcrsistently tried 10 destroy a.,
or whether the victor should continue % have an
equal voice with them IN this control.
EECoNsI RUcrOs,
az finally agreed upon means this, and only
This, except That the late slave was emf an
chlsed, giving an increase, as was supposed, 10
the Union loving ami Union supporting votes
of thc free. I'm the iu Scnse Of the word, they
would not di-appoint THE expectation, hence, AT
the beginning oi nay nrst admin -tration the work
% reconstruction was much embarrassed by the
long delay. Virtually commenced, 10 was the
WORK of the legislative branch Of Government.
Ny province was wholly M approving their acts.
which aid most heartily, urging the Lcgisla-
lures ~ the states that mad not uone 20. Ia rati-
q the Fifteenth Amendment O. the constitution.
Tie country vas lahOrIng Tn Ter an enormous
debt, contracted in The suppression 81 the rebel
lion, ami taxation was 80 oppressive as % die
courage protection. Another danger also threat
u be adjusted. ana was adjusted without war
10 manner highly honorable 10 all parties con
cerned.
TAXES
have been reduced within the last seven years
nearly go ,oOJ, OpO, the national debt has bccn
reduced IN the same time over Ass, Op,cD.
~ refundlug the slN per cent. bonded debt for
bonds bearing 1--we and four and half per cent.
Interest, respectively, the annual interest has
been reduces from one hundred and thirty mil
lions ~ dslars. in 1852, 10 bat little over one
hundred millions of dollars in 1873. tn bal
ance Of trade has been changed from over one
hundred and thirty millions against the lnited
states, tn l-'9, 10 more than one hundred and
twenty million dollars In our favor IN ls.C. Il is
confidently hoped That the balance IN trade in
favor ui The United states will increase not
diminish, ana tnat the pledge OF Congress % re-
sumo specie payment Ia ls5s viii ~ easily ac-
compiished, even an the absence - the much de
sired further legi -latOn on the subject.
INDIAN Foley.
a policy has been adopted towards the Indian
tribes inhabiting "a large portion OF the Territory
of the nited states winch has been humane
asd has substantially ended Indian hostilitlcs 10
The whole land, except IN portion 81 Nebraska
ana Dakota, wyoming and Montana Territories.
We blacA Nus region and approaches thereto.
nohuiiHcs there have grown out Of the avarlce %
Tie white man, VINO has violated our treaty Sup
ulauons IN ms search Tor gold. rhe question
might be asked, why he Government mas not
eniOroed obedience 10 the terms " the treaty
prohibiting the occupation ~ the Black
liills region by the whltesf The answer
J; simple. The first emisrants 10 the nack
liiils we're removed by troops, but rumOre aud
iresh discoveries Of gold tOOt into that region
Increased numbers. Gold sctuslly had been
Iouhd IN paying quantity. and an effort 20 re
move miners would only result in The destruction
% the buk OF our troops that might he sent there
70 remove them. All difficulties in THE matter
nave, however, been removed subject % the
approval of Congress, 10y a treaty ccding the
biack Hills and approaches to settlement by ciu-
1the The subject u Indian policy and treat
hent Is 80 fully ret form by the Secretary OF The
in1,ior ana The Commissioners - Indian Affairs,
anu thtlr views 50 fully expressed therein, that
my own.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The relations of the United States with foreign
bowers continue on q friendly footing. CUES.
IONS have arisen from time 70 tiae in the for.
eltn feauOns Uf the GOyernu emit, but the United
ota'cs nave been happily free during the past
year from the comp iications and cmbsrrassments
which have surrou nded some Of the foreign pow
siH. The diplomatic correspondence submitted
herewith contains information a. 10 certain OF
he matters which have occupied the Govern
nent. The coruiality witch attends our rea-
uons with the powers Uf the earth has been
panty shown by ahe general participation 81
Foreign nations In the Exhibition when has Just
ceased, and 10y the exerttOns made by distant /
powers 20 show this interest IN friendly feeling
DWaru the United states, an comnemorstiOn ~ /
We centennial Of the Nation The Government
And people of the Unitei States have not only 4
iuly appreciated tins exhibition OF kindly feel. 4
ing, but II may I've Justly and fairly expected /
ulat no small benefits will result both 81 our .
selves and other nations from better acquaint.
ance and better apprecis ton of our mutual ad- I
Vantagcs
DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATIONS.
Congress At its last session saw Nc 10 reduce \
we amount usually appropriated for foreign /
intercourse, by Withholding appropriations for \
rtlTpsrufaffW.a of IA Al in