The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-12-14
vantage to the country. 1t has shown the

great progress In the arts, sciences, and
mechanical skill made in single century,
and demonstrated that we are but little be-
hind older nations In any one branch, while
in some we scarcely have rival 1t has
served, too, not only to bring peoples and
products of skill and labor from all parts of
the world together, but in bringing toge-
ther people from all sections of our own
country, which must prove great benefit
in the information impaired and the pride
of country engendered. 1t has been sug-
gested by scientists interested in and con-
nected with the Smithsonian Institution,
in communication herewith inclosed, that
the Government exhibit he removed to the
capital, and suitable building be erected
or purchased for its accommodation as a
permanent exhibit. 1 earnestly recon-
mend this, and, believing that Congress
would second this view, directed that all
Government exhibits at the Centennial Ex-
hibition should remain where they are, ex-
cept such as might be injured by remaining
in buildidg not intended as protection
wanted by the department furnishing them,
until the question of permanent exhibition
is acted on Although the moneys appro-
priated by Congress to enable the partici-
patton of the several executive departments
in the International Exhibition Of 1876
were not sufficient to carry out the under
taking to the full extent as first contem-
plated, it gives me pleasure to refer to the
very efficient and creditiabe manner in
which the board appointed from these sew
eral departments to provide an exhibition,
on the part of the Government, have dis
charged their duties, with the funds placed
at their command, without precedent to
guide them in the preparation of such a
display. The success of their labors was
amply attested by the sustained attention
which the contents of the Government
Building attracted during the period of
the Exhibition, from both foreign and
native visitors. l am strongly impressed
with the value of the collection made by
the Government for the purpose of the
Exhibition, illustrating, as it does, the
mineral resources of the country, the
statistical and practical evidences of our
growth as nation, and the uses of the
mechanical arts and the applications Of ap-
piled science in the administration of the
affairs of Government Many nations have
voluntarily contributed their exhibits to
the United States, to increase the interest
In any permanent exhibition Congress may
provide for. For this act of generosity
they should receive the thanks of the peo-
pie, and | respectfully suggest that a resolu-
nf n. L.
THE MODE OF ELECTING THE PRESIDENT.
The attention of Congress cannot be too
earnestly called to the necessity of throw
ing some greater safeguard over the method
of choosing and declaring the election of a
President. Under the present system there
seems to be no provided remedy for contes-
ing the election in any State The remedy is
partially, no doubt, in the enlightenment
of electors. The compulsory support of
the free schools, and the dsfranchisement
of all who cannot read and write the English
language after fixed probation, would
meet my hearty approval. l would not
make this apply, however, to those already
voters, but L would to all becoming so af-
ter the expiration of the probation fixed
upon. Foreigners coming to the country
to become citizens who are educated in
their own language would acquire the re-
quisite knowledge Of ours during the ne
cessary residence to obtain naturalization.
Ii they did not take interest enough-in-
terest In our language-tO acquire auficent
knowledge of it to enable them to study
the institutions and laws of the country
intelligently, l would not confer upon them
the right to make such laws nor to select
those who do.
sANTo DOMINGO ANNEXATION.
[ append to this Message, for convenient
reference, a 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
recommendations not to have been wisely
conceived, but believe the larger part will
be no discredit to the Administration. One
of the these recommendations met with the
united opposition of one political party in
the Senate, and with strong oppoition
from the other, namely, the treaty for the
annexation of Santo Domingo to the United
States, to which [ shall specially refer,
maintaining, as | do, that if my views had
been concurred in, the country would be in
a more prosperous condition to-day, both
politically and financially. Santo Domingo
is fertile, and upon its soil may be grown just
those tropical products of which the United
States use SO much, and which are produced
and prepared for market now by slave labor
almost exclusively, namely, sugar, coffee,
dyewoods, mahogany, tropical fruits, tobac-
co, &c. About seventy-fve per cent. of
the exports of Cuba are consumed in the
United States. A large percentage of the