Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-12-15

acquaintance with the appointee but up
on recommendations of the representa-
tives 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. His
tory shows that no administration, from
the time of Washington to the present,
has been free from these mistakes; but
leave comparison to history, claiming
only that | have acted in every instance
from conscientious desire to do what
was right and constitutional within the
law and for the very best interests of the
whole people. Failures have been err
rors Of judgment, not of intent
THE WORK OF RECONSTRUCTION.
My civil career commenced, too, at a
most critical and difficult time. Less
than four years before, the country had
emerged from conflict such as no other
nation had ever survived Nearly one
half Of the states had revolted against
the government, and Of those remaining
faithful to the union large percentage
of the population sympathized with the
rebellion, and made an enemy in the rear
almost as dangerous as the more honor
able enemy in front. The latter COM
mitted errors of judgment, but they
maintained them openly and courageous
ly; the former received the protection
Of the government they would see de-
stroyed and reaped all the pecuniary adj
vantage to be gained out Of the then ex
isting state Of affairs, many Of them by
obtaining contracts and by swindling the
government in the delivery of their
goods. Immediately on the cessation of
hostilities the then noble president, who
had carried the country 80 far through
its perils fell martyr to his patriotism
at the hands of an assassin. The inter
ysning time tony first inauguration was
filed up with wranglings between Con.
gress and the new executive as to the
best mode of reconstruction. Or, to
speak plainly, as to whether the control
of the government should be thrown inn
mediately into the hands Of those who
had so recently and persistently tried
to destroy it, or whether the victor;
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 enfranchised, giving al
increase, as was supposed, to the Unior
by union-loving and union supporting
voters. If free in the full sense of th,
word, they would not disappoint this ex
pectation. Hence at the beginning o
my first administration the work OF re
construction, much embarrassed by thu
long delay, virtually commenced, l
was the work of the legislative brancl
of the government. My province wa
wholly in approving their acts, which
did most heartily, urging the legislature
Of the states that had not yet done so t,
ratify the fifteenth amendment to thu
constitution.
] DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME.
i The country was laboring under al
enormous debt contracted in the sup
preston of the rebellion, and taxation
was go oppressive as to discourage pre-
duction. Another danger also threat
ened us, foreign war. The last diff
Guilty had to be adjusted, and was ad
ljusted without war, and in manner
highly honorable to all parties concern
ed taxes have been reduced within tn
last seven years nearly three hundre,
millions of dollars, and the national deb
has been reduced in the same time owe
four hundred and thirty-five millions q
dollars. BY refunding the six per cent
bonded debt for bonds bearing five an,
four and one-half per cent. interest re
: spectively, the annual interest has beer
! reduced from over one hundred an,
thirty millions Of dollars in 1869 to hu
little over one hundred millions of do
lars in 1876
THE BALANCE OF TRADE
: Has been changed from over one hur
/ bred and thirty millions against tn
, United States IN 1869 to more than on
hundred and twenty millions of dollar
in our favor in 1876. Ii is confdentl
believed that the balance of trade i
+ favor of the United States viii iucreas
} and not diminish, and that the pledge {
Congress to resume specie payments
.. 1879 will be easily accomplished, eve
in the absence of much desired fnrthe
Legislation on the subject.