The Portland daily press., 1876-12-06
Presidents Message

To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
In submitting my eighth aud last annual
message to Congress, it seems proper that
snoud refer to, aud in some degree recapituate,
| 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 training. From The age
| OF seventeen had never even witnessed the ex-
cltement attaching to presidential campaign,
put twice previous to nay own candidacy, and
| at but one OF them was l eligible as a voter
Retrospect.
Under such circumstances it is reasonable to
suppose that errors of judgment must have oc-
CURED Even had they not differences of
opinion between the executive, bound by an
oath to the strict performance Of his duties,
writers and debaters must have arisen. 1t is
not necessary evidence of bunder on the part
OF the executive because there are these differ
ences of views. Mistakes have been made, as all
can see, and admit, but it seems TO me ottener
10 the selections made of the assistants ap-
pointed to aid in carrying out the various duties
OF the administration of the government in
nearly every case selected without personal
acquaintance with the appontee but upon the
recommendations of the representatives chosen
directly by the people. 1t is impossible where
SO many trusts are to BE- allotted that the right
parties should be chosen in every instance.
History shows that admi aistrations, from the
time OF Washington to the present have not
Sbeen tree from these mistakes But | leave
comparisons TO history, claiming only that [
have acted in every instance from a conscious
desire to do what, was right, constitutional,
within the law, and for the very best interests
of the whole people. Failures have been errors
or Judgment, not of intent.
My civil career commenced, too, at a most
critical and difficult time, Less than tour
years before the country had emerged from
Conflict a a N n Ot thar nati had
vVed. Nearly one half of the states revolted
against the government and those remaining
faithful to the Union large percentage of the
popniaton sympathzed with the rebellion
and made an enemy in the rear almost as dan
gerous as the more honorable enemy in the
front. The latter committed errors of iudg-
ment but they maintained them openly and
courageously; the former received the protec-
tion OF the govern ment they would see destroy
ed, and Teaped all the pecuBiary advantage to
be gained out of the then existing state of af-
fairs. many OF them by obtaining contracts and
by swlnGllng the government in the delivery
of their goods Immed ately on the cessation
OF hostlllties the noble President who had car
red the country so far through its perils
fell martyr to his patriotism,
at the hands of an assassin
The intervening time to my first Inauguration
was filled up with wrangling between Congress
and the new executive as to the best mode of
reconstruction, 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, or whether the victors should con-
tinue to have an equal voice with them in this
control. Reconstruction as finally agreed upou
means that and only that, except that the late
slave was enfraochised giving an increased
support to the Union by Union loving and I'm
ion supporting votes If free in the fullsense
OF the word they would not disappo;nt this
expectation.
The Triumphs of the Admi nisiratiOn.
Hence at the beginning of my first admins
tratlon the work of reconstruction, much en-
barrassed by the long delay, virtually COM
menced. 1t was the work of the legislative
branch of the government. My province was
wholly ID approving their acts, which did
most heartily, urging the legislature of states
that bad not yet done so to ratify the fifteenth
amendment to the constitution. The country
was laboring under an enormous debt con-
tracted Ia tue Suppression of the rebellion, and
taxation was so oppressive as TO discourage
production. Another danger also tbrestened-
foreign war. The last difficulty had TO be ad- |
Justed and was adjusted without war, and in
manner highly honorable to all parties con-
cerned. Taxes have been reduced within the |
last seven years nearly three hundred millions |
OF dollars, and the national debt has been re-
duced III the same time over four hundred and |
tblrty-five million OF dollars By refunding |
the SIX per cent. bonded debt for bonds bearing |
five and four and half per cent. interest re-
spectively. he annual interest has been reduced |
from over one hundred aud thirty millions of !
dollars in 1869 to but a little over one hundred
millions OF dollars In 1876 The balance of
trade has been changed from over one hundred
and thirty millions against the United States |
in 1869 to more than one hundred and twenty |
millions OF dollars 10 our favor in 1876 1t is
confidently believed that the balance of trade
in favor of the United States will increase not
diminish, and that the pledge OF Congress to
return TO specie pay ments In 1879 will be easily
accomplished, even in the absence of much de-
e<<i frrf or lati m anht
The Indian Policy.
policy has been adopted towards the Indi-
an tribes iDhabitng large portion of the terri
tory OF the United States, which has been hu-
name, has substantially ended. Indian hostlli-
ties II the whole land, except in portion of
Nebraska, Dakota, Wyoming and Montana
territories the Black Hills regionand approaches
thereto. HOstIlities there have grown out of
the avarice of the white man who has violated
our treaty stipulatons IN his search tor gold.
The question might be asked why the govern
ment las not enforced obedience to the terms
of ths treaty, and prohibited the occupation of
the Black Hills region by whites. The first
emigrants to the Black Hills were removed by
troops, but rumors of rich discoveries of gold
took into that region increased numbers. Gold
had actually been found in paying quantities,
and an effort to remove the miners would only
result 10 the deserton of the bulk of the troops
that might be sent there to remove them. All
difficulties IN this matter have, however, been
removed, subject to the approval of Congress by
a treaty granting the Black Hills aud approach
es to settlement by citizens. The subject of the
Indian policy and treatment is so fully set
forth by the Secretary of the Interior aud the
Commissioner of Indian aft airs, aud my views
so fairly expressed therein, that l refer to
their reports and recommendations as my own.
Our Fereign Relations.
The relations of the United States with for
eign powers continue on favorable footing.
Questions have arisen from tne to time in the
foreign relations of the government, but they
have been happily free during the past year
from the complications and embarrassments
which have surrounded some of the foreign
powers. The diplomatic correspondence sub
mitted herewith contains information as to GER
tain of the matters which have occupied the
government The cordislity which attends our
relations with the powers of the East has been
p piainlY shown by tue general participation of
foreign nations in the exhibition which has just
closed, and by the exertion made by distant
powers to show their interest and friendly feel.
ing toward the United States in the commemo-
ration of the Centennial of the nation. The
government and people of the United States
not only fully appreciate this exh bition of
kindly feeling but 1t may be justly and fairly
expected thai no small beueftS will result both
to ourselves and other nations fro W better ac-
luaIntance and "A better appreciation of our
mutual advantages and mutual wants.
The Reduction of the Diplomatic Ser
vice.
the amount usually appropriated for foreign
intercourse by with holding appropriations for
representation of the Uniied States in certain
foreign countries and for certain consular OF
ficers aud by reducing the amounts usually
appropriated for certain other diplomatic posts
and thus compelling necessary changes n the
representations. For these reasons immediate
ly upon the passage of the bill making appro-
priations for the diplomatic and consular service
for the present. fiscal year, instructions were
issued TO the Representatives of the United
States at Bolivia anu Columbia and to the
consular officers for whom appropriations
had been made 10 close their respective le-
cations aud consuates and cease from the
performance of their duties; and in like man.
ner step3 were Immediately taken 20 substitute
charge d'GfdireS for ministers resident in Por-
| tugal, Denmsrk, Greece, Switzerland and Par
aguay. While thoroughly impressed with the
custom of sound ecouomy III the foreign service
| as in other branches of the government, can
| not escape the conclusion that in some inst4n-
| ces the withholding of appropriations will
prove al expensive economy and that the
| small retreDchment secured by a change of
grade in certain d plomatic posts, is not an ad-
| eunate consideration for be loss of influence
| aud Importance which will attend our foreign
| representatives under this reduction III ana OF
| the Opiniou that a 5eexaniuation of he matter