Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-08
Presidents Message.
neIIvered neo. 8. 1870.

Delivered Dec. 3, 1915
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
In submitting my eighth and last annual MESSAGE
to Congress Il seems proper that should refer TO
and in some degree recapitulate the events and Of
hcial acts Of the past eight years.
PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS.
1t was my fortune or misfortune to be called to
the oihce OF Chief Executive without any previous
political training, From the age OF seventeen /
had never even witnessed the excitement attend
ing Presidential campaign but twice antecedent
70 my own candidacy, and in but enc OF them was
! eligible as voter. Under such circumstances
IL IL but reasonable suppose that Of judg
ment must have occurred. Even had they not,
differences Of opinion between the Executive,
bound by an oath to the strict performance OF his
duties, and writers and debaters must have
It IL not necessarily evidence OF blunder on the
part of the Executive because there are these DIFF
ferences Of views. Mistakes have been made, as
all can see, and admit, butt seems TO me oftener
In selections made Of assistants appointed to aid
In carrying out the various duties Of administering
the Government, in nearly every case selected
without personal acquaintance with the ap-
pOtntee, but upon recommendation OF the Repre-
sentatives chosen directly BY the people. Il is inn
possible where so many trusts are TO be allotted,
instance History shows that the administra-
ton from the time Of washington to the pres
ent has not been free from these mistakes,
but I leave comparisons to history claiming
only that hava acted in every instance from
conscientious desire to do what was right, cOnsti-
tutional, within the law and for the very best in
terests Of the whole people. Failures have been
errors Of judgment, not OF intent. My civil career
commenced, too, at most critical and difficult
time Less than four years before the country had
emerged from a conflict such as no other nation
had ever survived. Nearly onehalf Of the States
had revOlted against the Government, and Of those
remaining faithful to the Union large percent
age Of the population sympathized with the rebel-
ion and made an enemy in the rear almost
dangerous as the more honorable enemy in the
front The latter committed errors Of judgment,
but they maintained them openly and courageous
ly The former received the protection OF the
Government they would see destroyed, and reaped
bn ady to ha frptna nad nj pf
the then existing state OF affairs, many Of them,
by obtaining contracts and by swindling the Gov
eminent in the delivery of their goods: lmmedi-
President, who had carried the country so
far through its peris, fell a martyr to his
patriotism at the hands of an assassin. The
filled up with wranglngs between
Congress and the new Executive to the best
mode Of reconstruction, or. to speak plainly to
whether the control Of the Government should be
thrown Immediately into the hands Of those who
had so recently and persistently tried to destroy
Ii whether the vcoTs should continue to have an
equal voice with them in this control Reconstruc-
tona finally agreed upon means this and only this,
except that the late slave was enfranchsed, giving
an increase rs was supposed to the Union-loving
and Union-supporting votes. If free, in the full
sense OF the word, they would not disappoint this
expectation: Hence, at the beginning OF my fret
administration the work OF reconstruction was
much embarrassed by the long delay virtually COM
menced 1t was the work Of the legislative branch
of the Government. My province was wholly in
urging the Legislatures Of the States that had not
yet done so to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment to
the Constitution.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
The country was laboring under an enormous
debt, contracted in the suppression of the rebellion
and taxation was so oppressive as to discourage
production. Another danger also threatened US
foreign war. The last difficulty had to be ad-
justed, and was adjusted without war, and in a
manner highly honorable to all parties concerned.
years nearly $500 10000, and the national debt
has been reduced in the same time over $435, ,0O0-
600. by refunding the per cent. bonded debt for
bonds bearing and AZ per cent. interest respect
lively. The annual interest has been reduced from
over 30,O000O0 in 50 to but little over $780,
100000 in 1876. The balance of trade has been
changed from over $130,00,0OO against the Unit
ed States in 1863 to more than $40 600 900 in
favor in 1870. 1t is confidently believed that the
balance of trade in favor OF the United States will
increase, not diminish and that the pledge Of Con
gress to resume specie payments in 1873 will be
easily accomplished, even in the absence of the
much-desired further legislation on the subject.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
! policy has been adopted toward the Indian
tribes inhabttng large portion of territory of
the United States which has been humane and
has substantially ended Indian hostilities in the
whole land. except in portion of Nebraska and
Dakota, Wyoming and Montana Territories, the
Black Hills region and approaches thereto. Hos
tities there have grown out of the avarice Of the
white man. who has violated our treaty stipula-
tions IN his search for gold. The question might
be asked why the Government has not enforced
to the terms of the treaty prohibiting the
Of the Black Hills region by whites
The answer is simple: The first emigrants TO the
Black Hills were removed by troops, but rumors
of fresh discoveries of gold took that region in
creased numbers. Gold has actually been found
in paying quantity, and the effort to remove the
miners would only result in the destruction OF the
bulk Of the troops that might be sent there to re-
move them. All difficulty in this matter has
however, been removed, subject to the approval Of
Congress, by treaty ceding the Black Hills and
approaches TO settlement by citizens The sub
ject Of the Indian policy and treatment is so fully
set forth by the Secretary Of the Interior and the
commissioner OF Indian Affairs, and my views so
fully expressed therein, that refer to their re-
ports and recommendations as my own.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The relations of the United States with foreign
powers continue on friendly footing. Questions
have arisen from time to time in the foreign rela-
tions of the Government, but the United States
have been happily free during the past year from
surrounded some of the foreign powers The
diplomatic correspondence submitted herewith
tiers which have occupied the Government
The cordiality which attends our relations with
the powers OF the earth has been plainly shown by
the general participation of foreign nations in the
Exhibition which has Just closed ard by the exer-
tions made by distant powers to show their inter
est in and friendly feelings toward the United
states in commemoration OF the centennial of the
nation. The Government and people Of the Unit
ed States have not only fully appreciated this ex-
hibition of kindly feeling, but Il may be justly
and fairly expected that no small benefits will re-
suit, both to ourselves and other nations from a
better acquaintance and a better appreciation of
our mutual advantages and mutual wants
THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE.
Congress, at its last session, saw Mt TO reduce
the amount usually appropriated for foreign in
tercourse by Withholding appropriations for
foreign countries and for certain consular officers
and by reducing the amount usually appropriated
for certain other diplomatic posts, and thus neces-
stating change in the grade OF representatives.
For these reasons, Immediately upon the passage
OF the bill making appropriations for diplomatic
and consular service for the present force, in
HtrucuOns were issued to the representatives OF
the United States at Bolivia, Ecuador and Co
lombia, and TO the consular Officers for whom no
had been made, TO close their re-
the performance OF their duties and in like man
ner steps were Immediately taken 10 substitute
Charges d'Afaires for Ministers Resident In Portu-
gal Denmark, Greece, switzerland, and Paraguay.
While thoroughly impressed with the wisdom Of
sound economy iu the foreign service, as In other
branches Of the Government, l cannot escape the
conclusion that in some instances the Withholding
Of appropriations will prove au expensive econo-
my. and that the small retrenchment secured by
change Of grade in certain diplomatic posts is not
an adequate consideration for the loss of influence
and importance which will attend our foreign rep
resentatives Under this reduction am of opinion
that re-examination OF the subject will cause
change in some instances in the conclusion reached
on these subjects at the last session Of Congress.
ALABAMA CLAIMS COMMISSION.
The Court OF Commissioners Of Alabama Claims.
whose functions were continued by an act Of the
last session Of Congress until the first day OF Jan
uary, 1871, has carried on It's abors with diligence
and general satisfaction. By a report from the
Clerk OF the Court, transmitted herewith, bearing
date Nov a. 1876, 1t appears that during the time
now allowed by law the court will have disposed
OF all the claims presented for adjudication. This
report also contains statement OF the general
results OF the labOrs OF the court to date thereof
II Is cause Of satisfaction that the method adopt
ed for the satisfaction Of the classes OF claims ad
mitted to the court, which are OF long standing
and Justly entitled to early consideration should
have proved successful and acceptable.
THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY LINE.
Ii is with satisfaction that am enabled to state
that the work Of the Joint commission for deter
mining the boundary line between the United States
and the British Possessions, from the northwest
angle Of the Lake Of the Woods to the Rocky Mount
aims, commenced in 1872, hos been completed.
The hnal agreement of the commissioners, with the
maps, has been duly signed and the work Of the
Is completed by the liking Of the
boundary upon the Pacific coast by the protocol Of
March 10, 1873, pursuant to the award OF the Em-
perorof Germany, by Art "a of the treaty OF Wash
ingtOn. The termination OF the work Of this
adjusts and fixes the entire boundary
between the United States and the British Possess
sOns, except as to the portion Of territory ceded
by Russia to the United States under the treaty
OF 1857. The work intrusted to the commits
sioners aud the officers Of the army attached TO the
has been well and satisfactorily per
formed The original Of the hnal agreement OF
the commissioners, signed upon the 18th Of May,
1876 with the original list OF astronomical stations
ObeerVed the Orpinal Onfcfal list of rnonnmanta