The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-12-08
Presidents Message.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:
In submitting my eighth and last an
nual message to Congress, it seems
proper that should refer to, and in
some degree recapitulate, the events
and official acts of the past eight years.
1t was my fortune, or misfortune, to
be called to the
OFFICE OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE,
without any previous political train
ing. From the age of IL l had never
even witnessed the excitement attend
ing Presidential campaign but twice,
anteceedent TO my own candidacy, and
at but one of them was eligible as a
voter. Under such circumstances,
it is but reasonable to suppose that
errors of judgment must have occur
ed. Even had there not, differ
eDces of opinion between the Execu-
tive, bound by an oath to the strict
performance of his duty, and writers
and debater must of have arisen. 1t
is not necessarily a blunder on the part
of the Executive, because there are
these differences of views. Mistakes
have been made, as all can see, and as
| admit; but it seems 20 me oftener in
selections of assistants appointed to
aid in carrying out the various duties
of administering the Government, Sc
lections in nearly every case made
without personal acquaintance with
the appointee, but upon recomenda-
tions of the Republicans chosen
DIRECTLY BY THE PEOPLE.
1t is impossible where so many trusts
are to be allotted that the right par
ties should be chosen in every instance.
History shows that no Administration
from the time of Washington to the
present has been free from these mis-
takes, but leave comparisons to his
tory, claiming only that have acted
in every instance from a conscientious
desire to do what was right, constitu-
tional, within the laws and for the best
interests of the whole people Failures
have been errors of judgment, not of
intent.
My civil career commenced at n most
critical time. Less than four years be-
fore the country had emerged from
a conflict such as no other nation had
ever survived; nearly one half of the
States had revolted against the Gov
ernment, and of those remaining
faithful to the Union, large precent
age of the population
sYMPATHIzED WITH THE REBELLION,
and made an enemy in the rear al
most as dangerous as the more honor
BILE enemy in the front. The latter
committed errors of judgement, but
they maintained them openly and cour-
ageously; the former, received the pro-
lection of the Government they would
see destroyed, and reaped all the Pc
cuniary advantage to be gained out of
the then existing state of affairs; many
of them by obtaining contracts end by
swindling the government in tie deliv-
cry of their goods Immediately on the
cessation of hostilities. The then
NOBLE PRESIDENT
who had carried the country so tar
through its perils, fell a martyr to his
patriotism at the hands of an assassin.
The intervening time to my first inaug-
uration was filed up with wranglings
between Congress and the new execu-
tive as to the best mode of reconstruc-
ton, or, to speak plainly, as to wheth-
er the
CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT
should be thrown Immediately into the
hands of those who had SO recently
and persistently tried to destroy it, OF
whether the victors should continue to
have an equal voice with them in this
control. Reconstruction, as finally
agreed upon, means this and only this,
except that the late slave was enfran
chised, giving an increase, as was sup
posed, to the Union loving and Union
supporting votes. If free in the full
sense of the word they would not dis
appoint this expectation; hence at the
beginning of my first administration,
the work of
RECONSTRUCTION MUCH EMBARRASSED
by the long delay, and virtually com
meneei. 1t was the work of the legisla-
tive branch of the government. My
province was wholly in approving their
acts, which did most heartily, urging
the Legislatures of the States that
had not yet done so to ratify the fit
teenth amendment to the constitution.
The country was laboring under an
enormous debt, contracted in the sup
preston of the rebellion, and taxation
was to oppressive as to discourage pro-
duction. Another danger also threat
tened us
THE FOREIGN WAR.
The last difficulty had to be adjusted,
and was adjusted without war, and in
a manner highly honorable TO all par
ties concerned. Taxation has been re-
duced within the last seven years near
ly three hundred millions of dollars,
and the National debt has been reduc-
ed in the same time over tour hundred
and thirty-five millions of dollars, By
refundiDg the six per cent. bonded
debt for bonds bearing five and four
aud one-half per cent. interest respec-
lively. The annual interest has been
reduced from over one hundred and
thirty millions of dollars, in 1869, to
but little over one hundred millions of
dollars in 1876.
THE BALANCE OF TRADE
Has been changed from over one hun
dred and thirty millions against the
United States in 1869 to more than one
hundred and twenty millions of dol
lars in our favor in 1876. 1t is conf
IDENTIFY 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
payment in 1879 will be easily accom-
plished.
INDIAN POLICY.
Even in the absence of much desir
ed further legislation on the subject, a
policy has been adopted towards In
dian tribes inhabiting large portion
of the territory of the United States,
which has been humane, has substan-
TALLY ended Indian hostilities in the
whole land, except in portion of Ne
braska and Dakota, Wyoming and
Montana Territories, the Black Hills
region and approaches thereto. Hos
tilities there have grown out of the
avarice of the white man. who has
violated our treaty stipulations 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 occupation of
the Black Hills region by whites. The