The New York herald., 1876-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE |
Review and Vindication Of His
Administration.
POSITION on OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Injurious Effects Of a Reduction In the
Consular Service.
CONDITION OF THE ARMY AND THE NAVY
A Defence to the Charges Made
Against Secretary Robson.
EXHIBIT OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
Naturalization and Expatri-
alton Considered.
An Educational Qualification for Voters
Recommended.
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
Benefits That Would Have Resulted from The
Annexation Of st. Domingo
Naturalization and Expatri-
alton Considered.
An Educational Qualification for Voters
Recommended.
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
Benefits That Would Have Resulted from the
Annexation Of st. Domingo.


To THE SENATE HOUSE, or RRPRKsgSrArIvrs:--
In submitting my eighth and last annual Message to
Congress proper that should refer to, aud In
degree recapituaie the und Official Of
the past eight II my fortune misfortune
10 DO called to the office OF Chief Executive without any
previous political training. From the age OF
teen had never witnessed tho excite
ment attending Presidential campaign but
twice antecodent TO my own candidacy. and
ut but ono OF them eligible as a voter.
Under such circumstances II Is but reasonable
TO suppose that OF judgment have occurred
Evon had they not, difference oil opinion between the
Executive bound by oath to the strictcst perform
OF his duties and writer's and dcbaters have
arisen 1t is not necessarily evidence Of bunder
The part of the Executive because thcre these d
fercnccs Of views. Mistakes have been made all
see, and l ndmit-but 1t
oftencr In tho selections made OF the as
sistants appointed TO aid In carrying out the
various duties OF administering the government
In nearly every selected without personal
icquain ntance with the appontec but upon rccommcn
taions Of the Representatives chosen directly by the
people, lti impossible where so many trusts arc to
DC allotted that tho right parties should be chosen in
very instance History shows that no adminlstra-
lion, from tho tmc OF Washington 10 the present. has
isons history claiming only that have acted in
every Instance from conscientious desire to do what
right constitutional, within the law and for the
very best interests or the whole people Failures
have been made resulting from errors OF judgment
but not of intent
THE SITUATION IN 1868.
Ny civil career commenced too at At mo 81 critical
and difncult tmo. Less than tour years before tho
country had emerged from conflict such as no other
nation had ever survived. Nearly half OF the
States had rcvoltcd against Tie government and Of
those remaining faithful to the Union large per-
centaee of tho population sympalhzed with tho rcbc
lion aud nude "cncmy in the rear" almost
dangerous us the. moro honorable cucmy
in front Tho latter committed errors of judg-
ment but they maintained them openly md
courageously; the former received the protection
OF the government they would SEQ DESTROYED,
md rcapci all the pccunary advantage 10 be gained
oat tho existing of affairs, many OF them
by obtaining contracts and by swndling the govern
mcnt in the delivery of their gooos.
JoHSsox's ADxIMsTRArioS.
Immediately on the cessation OF hostitics the then
noble President who mad carried the country SO far
through its pers fell martyr to his patriotism at
the hands OF an assassin. The intervening time my
first inauguration was filled up with wranglings be
tween Congress and tho Executive as to the best
mode OF rcconstruction, or to speak plainly, 10
whether the control OF the government should bc
thrown immediately into the hands OF those who had
recently and pcrsstcntly tried 10 destroy It,
whether tho vctors should continue 10 have equal
voice with them In this control
RgcoSsTRrcrox
Reconstruction, as finally agreed upon, means this,
and only this, except that the late slave
franchiscd, giving increase supposed TO tho
Union loving and Union supporting votes II FREQ in
the full OF the word, they would not disappoint
this expectation, since the beginning my first
administration tho work Of reconstruction, much
barrnssed by the long delay virtually commenced. 1t
the work Of the legislative branch Of the
ment My province wholly in approving their
acts which l did most heartily. urging tho Lcg,sa-
lures oi States that had not yet
ratify the fifteenth amendment 10 the constitu-
tion The country was laboring under All enormous
debt contracted in the suppression of the rebellion,
and taxation oppressive as TO discourage pro-
duction Another danger also threatened US; n for
elgn war. Tho last difficulty had to bc adjusted and
was adjusted without u war, and IN q manner highly
honorable 10 all parties concerned.
REDUCTION DIET.
Tho taxes have been reduced within the last seven
years nearly $500 co., Ooo and tho national debt
been reduced In the same time sl35, o00 00O by
refunding tho SIX per cent bonded debt for
bonds bearing vo and four and ono.haf per In
tcrcst respectively The annual interest has been
duced from Sl0 600 600 In 1869 but little
$780, 000 900 In 1s76 The balance OF has been
changed from sl3o, 900. 600 against United
States 1869 TO than $l20 900 In its favor
1870 tm confidently believed that tho balance trade
In favor OF tho United states will increasc not diminish
and that tho pledge OF Congress specie pay
in 1879 will be easily accomplished In the
absence OF much desired further legislation the
subject
IxDiAx roLIcY.
inhabiting largo portion OF the territory OF tho
United States, which has been humane, has substan
TALLY ended Indian hostitcs In the whole lar except
In portion Of Nebraska anu Dakota, Wyoming and
Montana Territories. the Black Hills region and ap.
proacnes thereto Hostlites there have grown out Of
the avar,co OF the white man. who has violated our
treaty stpulatons In his search Tor gold. The ques
enforced obedience the OF the treaty prohibit
ing tho occupation of The Black Hills region by
whites. Tho answer Is simple. Tho dfsr emf
grants to the Black Hills were removed by
troops, but rumors or rich discoveries OF gold
look into that region Increased numbers Gold has
actually been iound In paying quantity and an effort
70 remove the miners would only result In the descr-
10 remove them. All difficulty in this matter has
however, pccn removed subject to the approval OF
Congress- BY treaty csdng the Black Hills and ap-
proachcs to settlement BY cxenA The subject OF tho
Indian policy ani treatment IL so fully set forth by