The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
A Synopsis Of the Document Sent to
Congress To-day.

The President says: In submitting my last
Annual Message it seems proper that should
refer to, and, in some degree, recapitulate the
events Of the past eight years.
1t was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called
to the Office of Chief Executive without any
previous political training. From the age of
seventeen had never witnessed the excite
ment attending q Presidential campaign but
twice antecedent to my own candidacy, and at
one Of them was ineligible to q vote.
Under such circumstances, 1t is but reason
able that errors of judgment must have oc-
CURED. Mistakes have been made, as all can
see.
admit that 1t seems to be often in the selec =
tlon OF assistants appointed to aid in car rrying
out the various duties OF administering the
Government, in nearly every case selected
without personal acquaintance with the ap-
plcant, but upon the Recommendation Of Rep
resentatlves chosen by the people.
He says no administration has been free from
| these mistakes, but he leaves comparison to
history, claiming that he has acted IN every
| instance from conscientious desire to do what
was right and within the law, and Tor the best
interests OF the whole people. These failures
| have been errors Of judgment, and not of
| intent.
| lie refers briefly to the early part Of his ad-
mnistration, following the late civil conflict
| to the ASSASSINATION OF Lincoln, and the wran-
| glings prior to his inauguration between Con-
| gress and the Executive as to the best mode
| OF reconstruction.
He recapitulates the work of reconstructng
the late slave States. the reduction of the pub
| lie debt the increase In trade, the pledges Of
| Congress to resume specie payments, and the
| Indian question. In all these questions the
| President treats only upon what is already
known to the public. The relations Of the
United States with foreign powers continue on
q fIia Ilu how oriu fsAr
time to time with regard to the foreign rela-
| tions Of the Government, but happily we have
\ been free during the past year from the COM
plicatlons and embarrassments which have
surrounded some Of the foreign powers.
The President then reviews the Centennial
! Exhibition and the interest taken therein by
| foreign nations which has shown their friend
ly relations to the United states.
In speaking of the foreign service the Presi-
| dent says, while approving OF economy in gen.
! eral, he thinks that the Withholding of appro-
priations will prove an expensive economy,
and expresses satisfaction with the labors OF
the Court OF Commissioners of the Alabama
| Claims.
| lie expresses satisfaction that the Joint Com
! mission liking the boundary line between the
| United States and British Possessions from the
northwest angle Of the Lake Of the Woods to
| the Rocky Mountains, commenced in 1872, has
| been completed. Also the fixing of the
| boundary upon the Pacific Coast by the proto-
| col Of March 10, 1873, pursuant TO the award
Of the Emperor Of Germany, and fixes the en-
| tire boundary between the United States and
| the British Possessions, except that portion oil
| territory ceded by Russia TO the United States
| under the treaty Of 1857.
| The Presidentsays he will send separate mes
| sages to Congress on the question OF extradi-
| tion, which lately arose between Great Britain
and the United States.
He expresses satisfaction in announcing the
adjudgment Of claims between the United
States and Mexico, which has been under ad-
viSement since 1861.
Monthly payments of the amount due by the
Government Of Venezuela continue to De made
with reasonably punCtuality.
On the subject OF fraudulent naturalization,
the President invites the earnest attention of
Congress to the necessity and wisdom of some
provision regarding some uniformity in rec
ordS and certificates to provide against fraud.
He also calls attention to the necessity of
legislation concerning the marriage of Ameri-
can oitizens aoroad to fix status of children
OF American women marrying f0reIgnors.
He also repeats his recommendation of pro-
viding for claims OF aliens upon this Govern
ment. He recommends the consideration Of
certain claims by Congress or the Executive
Department OF the Government, instead OF by
Claim Commissioners. He believes the present
method Of settling claims unsatisfactory.
The President next refers 10 the admission
Of the State of Colorado. The formation of a
State Government and the adoption of Con-
stltution was duly certified to hlnl, ana there
upon he issued the necessary proclamation,
lhe estimates OF the War Department he
says are about six millions in excess of the
two last years, the increase being asked to pro-
vide for The increased force to prosecute work
on public buildings, f0rCitcations and manu-
facturies Of small arms. Appropriations for the
last named have been entirely inadequate dur
ing the past four years.
He calls attention to number of recommen-
dations Of the secretary Of War. among them
to transfer claims for supplies taken by the
army from the Commissary General to the
southern Claim Commission; also for the sane
tion by Congress OF an Annuity Fund for the
families Of deceased officers
The President recommends the course Of the
Secretary OF the Navy, and says TO his Dracti-
Gat attention fs due the fact that we have at
thts time an effective naval force at command.
The report OF the Postmaster General shows
an excess OF expenditures OF "A, l61, $685. and the
estimated expenditures for next year are $780,
72' ,432; estimated revenue for same time is
s30,645 ll5, leaving deficiency Of over $6, ,OaO,-
900. The Postmaster Generals report ne con-
sIdered gratifying exhibit.
Ihe President thinks that the bringing to-
gether OF the people from all parts of the world
to attend our exhibition must prove great
benefit in the information impaired and the
pride Of the country engendered.
lie recommends That tho Government exhibit
be removed to the capital, and a suitable build
ing be purchased or erected for its reception,
and thinks that the many nations VINO have so
generously and voluntarily contributed their
exhibit should receive the thanks OF the peo-
pie, and suggests that Congress pass such
resolution.
The President says the attention of Congress
can not be too earnestly called to tho necessity
of having some greater safeguard for tile
method OF closing and declaring the election of
a President. Upder the present system there
seems TO be no provided remedy for conducting
the election OF any one state.
The compulsory support Of the free school.
and the disfranchisement of altwhO can NOT
read aud write the English language after
full probation would meet my hearty approy
al / could not make this apyly.
however, to those already voters
but would to all becoming SO alter the expira-
tion of a probation fixed Foreigners com
ing to the country to become citizens, who are |
in their own land, would acquire the
requisite knowledge OF ours dur
ing the necessary residence to OBJ
tain naturalization. If they did |
not take interest enough in their own language |
to acquire sufficient knowledge OF it to enable
them Co study the institutions and laws OF the |
country intelligontly, he would not confer |
upon them the right to make such laws nor |
select these who do. Il
The President says he appends for con-
venience all recommendations to Congress-
made by him during the last seven
years. Time may show some OF these
not to have been wisely |
but he believes the larger
part will do no discredit to the administra-
non. lettering to his recommendation for
he annexation OF San Domingo, the President
nninI th.t if his yiaua h haa,, l