The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13


V branch, while in some we scarcely hav,
! a rival. 1t has served, too. not only I,
bring people and products of skilled
labor from all parts of the world togsth
er, but la bringing together people from
all sections of our own country, which
must prove great benefit in the infor-
nation impaired and pride of country
engendered 1t has been suggested bl
scientists interested in and connected
with the Smithsonian Institute, in 4
communication herewith, that the Gov
eminent exhibit be removed TO the Cap
ltal, and a suitable building be erected
or purchased for its accommodation as a
permanent exhibit. / earnestly recon.
mend this, and believing that Congress
would second this view, directed that
all Government exhibits at the Centen-
NAL Exhibition should remain where
they are, except such as might be injured
by remaining in a building not intended
as protection in inclement weather. or
as may be wanted by the Department
furnishing them until the question of
permanent exhibition is acted on. Al
though the money appropriated by Con
gress TO enable the participation of the
several Executive Departments in the
International Exhibition of 1876, was
not sufficient to carry out the undertak-
ing to the extent at first contemplated, il
gives me pleasure to refer to the very
efficient and creditable manner in which
the Board appointed from the several
Departments to provide an exhibition on
the part Of the Government, have dis
discharged their duties which the fund
] nIaPpH at nd IL
precedent to guide in the preparation of
such a display. The success of their
labor was amply attested by the sustain
ed attention which the contents of the
Government building attracted during
the period of the Exhibition from both
foreign and native visitors. | am strong
" impressed with the value of the colIec-
ton made by the Government for the
purposes of the exhibition. illustrating,
rs far as it does, the mineral resources of
the country, the statistical and practical
evidences of our growth as a nation, and
the uses of the mechanical arts and the
applications of applied science in the add
minlstratlon Of the affairs of Govern
| ment Many nations have Voluntarily
contributed their exhibitions 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 | especially suggest that a resoIu.
ton of Congress TO that effect be adopted.
THE ELECTORAL sYsTEM-A GOOD REC.
OMMENDATIoN.
The attention of Congress cannot be
too earnestly called to the necessity Of
throwing some greater safe guard over
the method of choosing and declaring the
election Of a President. Under the pres
ent system there seems so be no provid-
ed remedy for contesting the election in
any one State The remedy is partially
no doubt in the enlightment of electors
The compulsory support of the free
schools and the Acknowledgement of all
who cannot read and write the English
Language, after a fixed probation, would
meet my hearty approval. | would not
make this apply, however,io those already
voters, but | would to all becoming so
after the expiration of the probation
fixed. Foreigners coming to this coun-
try to become citizens, who are educated
in their own language, would acquire the
necessary residence TO obtain nat
uralization. If they did not take /
interest enough in our language
to acquire sufficient knowledge .
of it to enable them to study the institu-
tions Of the country, | would not confer
upon them the right to make suchla .
nor select those who do.
Ero DOMINGo-WHAT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN
append to this message for convenient
reference a synopsis Of administrative
events and of all recommendations to
Congress 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 do no discredit to the Admins
tration. One of these recommendations
met with the united opposition of one
political party in the Senate, and with
strong opposition from the other-namely:
the treaty for the ANNEXATION of Santo
Domingo to the United States, to which
| will specially refer, maintaining, as l
do, that if my views had been concurred
in, the country would be in a more
condition to-day, both po-
litically and financially. Santo Domin-
go is fertile, and upon its soil may he
grown just those tropical products of
which the United States use so much,
and which are produced or prepared for
market now by slave labor almost ex-
clusively-namely: sugar, coffee, dye
woods, mahogany, tropical fruits, tobacco,
etc. About 70 per cent. of the exports Of
Cuba are consumed in the United States
a large per centage Of the exports of Brazil
also find the sane market. These are
paid for exclusively in coin legislation,
in Cuba, being unfavorable
to a mutual exchange of the products Of
each country. Flour shipped from the
river to Havana can pass the
very entrance to the City on ITS way to
port IN Spain, then pays a duty fixed
upon articles to be re-transpOrted, trans
ferred to a Spanish vessel and brought
back almost to the point of starting, pay
ing a second duty, and still leave profit
over what would be received by direct
shipment 4 Il that il produced in Cuba
could be produced in Santo Domingo.
Being part of the United States, com
merce between the island and mainland
would be free there would be no export
duties on shipments, nor import dqties on
those coming here, and there would be no
import duties upon the supplies, machin-
cry, ETC., going from the States. The eff
feet that would have been produced upon
Cuban commerce with these advan-
tages TO a rival, is observable at a
glance. The Cuban question would
have been settled long ago in favor of free
Cuba. Hundreds Of American vessels
would now be advantageously used in
the valuable woods and
other Droducfs of the soil of tho leland