The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-12-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

tlves In submitting my elgntn ana laet dn-
nual message to Congress. it seems proper
that should refer to and in some degree re-
capitulate the events and official acts OF tho
past eight years. It was my fortune. or my
misfortune, to be called to tho Office of Chief
Executive without any previous political train
ing. From the age of seventeen l had never
even Witnessed the excitement attending
Presidential campaign but twice antecedent to
my own candidacy, and at bnt one Of them was
l eligible as voter. Under such circnm-
stances it is but reasonable to suppose that
errors OF Judgment must have occurred. Even
had thoy rot differences Of opinion between
the Executive, bound by sn oath to the strict
performance OF his duties, and writer's ana de-
baters must have arisen. it is not nece- -sarllg
evidenc OF blunder on the part OF the Execu-
tive because there are these differences OF
views.
NIsTAKEs HAVE BEEN MADE,
as all can see and / admit, but it seems to me
oiteper in the selections msde OF the assistants
appointed to aid in carrying out the various
duties of administering tho government In
nearly every care selected without personal
acquaintance with the appointee, but upon re-
commen istions Of the representatives chosen
directly by the people, IL is impossible where
60 many trusts are to be allotted thst the
right parties should be choeen in every in
stance. History shows that no administration
from the time Of Washington to the present
has been free from these mistakes, but leave
comparisons TO histors, claiming only that
have acted in every instance from conscien-
tious desire to do what was right, consti-
tutional within the law, and for the very best
interests OF the whole people. Failures have
been errors Of judgment, not intent.
My CIVIL CAREER
commenced, too. at most critical and diff
cult time. LEES than four years before tho
country had emerged from conflict such as
no other nation had ever survived. Nearly
on half of the States had revolted against the
government, and OF those remaining faithful
to the Union large percentage OF the popula-
tion sympathized with the rebellion, and made
an "enemy in the rear" almost as dangerous
as the more honorable enemy in the front.
The latter committed errors of judgment, but
they maintained them openly and courage
ously. The former received the protection OF
the government they would see destroyed,
and reaped all the pecunlary advantage to be
gained out Of the then existing state OF affairs,
many Of them by obtaining contracts and by
swINDL1Nd THE GOVERNMENT
in the delivery Of their goods Immediately
on the cessation OF hostllties the then noble
President, who had carried the country so far
through its perils, fell martyr to his patriot
ism at the hands of an assassin. The inter-
venipg time to my fret Inauguration was filled
up with wranglings between Congress and the
new Executive as to tho best mode Of recon -
struction," or to speak plainly, as to whether
the control Of the government should be
thrown lmmeQlately INTO tne nauuS VI theto
who had 30 recently and persistenty 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 upon, means this and only
| this, except that the late slsve was enfran-
| chised, giving an increase, as was supposed,
| to the Union loving and Union-supportine
votes. II free in tho full sense OF the word
they would not disappoint this expectation
hence at the beginning Of my first adminiS-
| tration, the work Of construction, much en-
barrrssed by the long delay virtually COM
menced. It was the work Of the legislative
branch of the government. My province was
wholly in approving their acts, which did
most heartily, urging the legislatures OF States
| that had not yet done 80 to ratify the fifteenth
amendment to the Constitution.
| The country was laboring under an enor-
nous debt contracted in the suppression OF
rebellion, aud taxation was so oppressive as to
| discourage production.
| ANOTHER DANGER
also threatened us-a foreign war. The last
difficulty had to be adjusted, and was adj justed
without war, and in manner highly honor
able TO all parties concerned. Taxation has
been reduced, within the last seven years,
nearly S300,O00 900.
THE NATIONAL DEBT
has been reduced in the same time over four
hundredand thirty-tive millions of dollars by
refunding the Fix per cent. bonded debt for
bonds bearing five and four and one-half per
cent. interest respectively. The annual in
| terest has been reduced from over one hum
dred snd thirty millions of dollars in 1869 to
but little over one hundred millions Of dollars
in,167G. 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 dol
lars in our favor in 1876 1t is confidently be-
lieved that the balance OF trade in favor of
the United States viii increase, not diminish,
and that the pledge Of Congress, to resume
specie payments in 1879, will be easily accom-
plished, ev, II in the absence of much desired
further legislation on the subject. policy
has been adapted toward
TIE IspIAE TRIBES
inhabiting large portion Of the territory of
the United .ates which has been humane and
has substantially ended Indian hostlities in
the whole land except in portion OF Nebraska,
and Dakcts, Wyoming and Montana Terri
tories the Black Hills region and approaches
thereto. Hostilities there have grown out Of
the aysrice of the white man. who has VIC.
lated our treaty stpulations in bis seal ch for
gold. The question might be asked, why the
| government has not enforced obedience to the
terms Of the tresty prohibiting tho occupation
of the Black Hills region by the whltes9 lhe
answer is simple. Ihe first immigrants to
The Black Hills were removed by the troops,
but rumors of rich discoveries of gold took
intu that region increased numbers. Gold mss
actually been found in paying quantity, and an
effort to remove the miners would only res III.
in the desertion Of tho bulk of the troops that
might be sent there to remove them. All diff
Guilty in this matter has, however, been re-
moved, subject to the approval Of Congress-
by a treaty ceding the Il ack Hills and ap
, prosches to settlement by citizens. The sub
! iect OF 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 l refer
to their reports and recommendations as my
own. The relations OF tho
UNITED STATES WITH FoREIGN POWERS
continue on q friendly footing. Questions have
arisen from time TO time in the foreign relations Of
, the government, but the United States have beeI
happily free during the past year from the comPl
cations anu embarrassments which nave surrouhdet
G some of the foreign powers. The diplomatic cor
respondence submitted herewith contains inforina
tion to certain Of the matters which nave oceu
} pied the government. The cordially which az
lends relations with the powers OF the earth na
been plainly shown, by the participation OF foregl
!, | nations in the Exhibition which has Just closed
n and by the exertions made by distant powers 7
show their interest in, and friendly feelngs TOWARD
s the United States in the commemoration OF tn
a | centennial of the nation. The government an
| people of the United States have not only appre
ciated this exhibition of kindly feeling but Il ma
be justly and fairly expected that no small De ienl
will result both to ourselves aud other nations froI
: | a better acquaintance and a better appreciation
l.our mutual advantages and mutual wants. Coz
# gress, at it's last session, saw mt to reduce IL
amount usually appropriated Tor foreign lhteicour'
y by Withholding appropriations for representatives,
the United States in certain foreign countries al
a for certain consular officers, and by reducing Il
a | amounts usually appropriated Tor certain OIL,
ID Diplomatic posts, and thus necessltatlng change
the grade Of the representatives. For these reason
: | Immediately upon the passage OF the bill makiI
" appropriations for the