, 1876-12-09

of . President. Under the present system,
there seems to be no provided remedy
for contesting the election in any one
State. The remedy is partly, no doubt,
in the enlightenment of electors.
The compulsory support of the free
school and the disfranchisement of all
who cannot read or write the English
language, after fixed probation, would
meet my hearty approval. I would not
make this apply, however, to those al
ready voters, but would to all becoming
so after the expiration of the probation
fixed upon. Foreigners coming to the
country to become citizens, who are edu-
Gated in their own language, would ac-
quire the requisite knowledge of ours
during the necessary residence to obtain
naturalization. If they did not take
enough interest in our language to &C
quire sufficient knowledge of it to enable
them to study the institutions and laws
of the country intelligently, I would not
confer upon them the right to make our
laws nor to select those who do.
SAN DOMINGO.
I append to this message, for convenient
reference, q synopsis OF administrative
events, and of all recommendations to Con-
gress made by me during the last seven
years. Time may show some of these re-
Communications not to have been wisely
conceived, but believe the larger part
will be no discredit to the administration.
One of these recommendations met with
the united opposition of one political par
ty in the Senate, and with a strong oppo-
sition from the other, namely: The treaty
of the annexation of Santo Domingo to
the United States, to which shall espe-
cially refer, maintaining as do that if my
views had been concurred in, the country
would be in more prosperous condition
to-day, both politically and financially.
Santo Domingo is fertile, and upon its
soil may be grown just those tropical pro-
ducts of which the United States use SO
much, and which are produced or prepar-
ed for the market now by slave labor al
most exclusively, namely: Sugar, coffee,
dyewood, mahogany, tropical fruits, to-
bacco, etc. About seventy-five per cent.
of the exports of Cuba are consumed in the
exports of Brazil also find the same mar
ket. These are paid almost exclusively in
coin, legislation, particularly in Cuba, be-
ing unfavorable to mutual exchange of
products of each country. Flour shipped
from the Mississippi river to Havana can
pass by the very entrance to the city on
its way to port in Spain; it then pays
duty, is fixed up into articles to be re-ex-
ported, transferred to Spanish vessel and
brought back almost to the point OF start
ing, paying second duty, and still leav-
ing a profit over what would be received
by direct shipment. All that is produced
in Cuba could be produced in Santo Dom
lingo. Being part of the United States,
the commerce between theisland and main
land would be free. There would be no
export duties on her shipments nor import
duties on those coming here. There would
be no import duties upon the supplies,
machinery, etc., going from the States;
the effect that would have been produced
upon Cuban commerce, with these advan-
tages to rival, is observable at glance.
The Cuban question would have been set
tied long ago in favor Of free Cuba; hum
dreds of American vessels would now be
advantageously used in transporting the
valuable woods and other products of the
soil of the Island to market. and In car
rying supplies and emigrants to it. The
island is but sparsely settled, while it has
an area sufficient for the profitable en-
ployment of several millions of people.
The soil would have soon fallen into the
hands of U. s. capitalists. The products
are so valuable to commerce that emigra-
ton there would have been encouraged,
the emancipated race of the South would
have found there congenial home where
their civil rights would not be disputed,
and where their labor would be much
sought after, and the poorest among them
could have found the means to go. Thus
in cases of great oppression and cruelty
such as has been practiced upon them in
many places within the last eleven years,
whole communities could have sought re-
fuge in Santo Domingo. I do not sup
pose the whole race would have gone, nor
is it desirable that they should go. Their
labor is desirable and Indispensable, al
most, where they now are; but the posses
sion of the territory would have left the
negro master of the situation, by enabling
him to demand his rights at home on pain
of securing them elsewhere. do not pre-
sent these views now as O recommends
ton of the renewal of the subject of an
nexation, but refer to it to vindicate my
previous action in regard to it.
FAREWELL.
With the present Congress my official
life terminates It is not probable that
public affairs will ever again receive atten-
tio,1 from me, further than as citizen of
the republic, always taking deep interest
in the honor, and integrity, and prosperity
of the whole land. (Signed,
u. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. 5, 1876.
r TuOM Pc0N