The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE !!

! To tie Senate and Uouse Of repre-
| ScnLatices:
| In submitting my eighth and last
annual message to Congress, ii seems
| proper that I should refer to AMI in
some degree recapitulate the events of
official acts of the past eight years.
| Review.
| I THINK HAVE DONE VERY WELL.
! 1t was my fortune or misfortune to
be called to the Office Of Chief Execu-
tive without any previous political
! training. From the age OF seventeen
| had never even Witnessed the eX-
citement attendant upon IL Presiden-
/ tial campaign but twice antecedent to
my own candidacy, aud but i'm one OF
them was eligible as voter. Under
such circumstances it is but reasona-
BILE to suppose that errors OF iudg-
ment must have occurred. Even had
they not, differences of opinion be-
tween the Executive, bound by an
oath to the strict performance of his
duties, and writers and debaters must
have arisen. 1t is not necessarily evil
dence of a blunder on the part of the
Executive because there are these diff
ferences of views. Mistakes have been
made, as all can see, and l admit, but
it seems to me Oftener in the selection
made of assistants appointed to aid in
carrying out the various duties of adj
ministering the Government, in nearly
| every case selected without personal
acquaintance with the appointee, but
upon the recommendations of repre-
sentatives chosen directly by the peo-
pie. 1t is impossible where SO many
! trusts are to be allott ed that right par
ties should be chosen in every instance
History shows that the Administra-
ton from the time of Washington to
the present has not been free from
these mistakes.
DID THE BEST KNEW HOW.
But leave comparisons to history,
| claiming only that have acted in ev-
cry instance from conscientious de
| sire to do what was right, constitu-
tiOnal, Within law, and tor the very
best interests of the whole people.
Failures have been errors OF judgment
! not of intent.
TOOK HOLD IN a BAD TINE.
My civil career commenced at a
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. Near
| Iy one-half OF the States had revolted
against the Government, and of those
| remaining faithful TO the Union O
large percentage OF the population
sympathized with the rebellion, and
made an enemy in the rear almost as
dangerous as the more horrible enemy
in front. The latter committed errors
of judgment, but they maintained
them openly and couIageousiy. The
former received the protection of the
Government they would see destroy.
ed, and reaped all the pecuniary ad-
vantagcs to be gained out of the then
existing state of affairs, many OF them
by obtaining contracts and by swim
ding the Government III the delivery
of their goods. immediately after the
cessation of hosiilities the then noble
President who had carried the country
SO far through it's perils, fell martyr
to his patriotism at the hands OF an
assassin. The intervening time to my
Rrst inauguration was filled up with
wranglisgs between Congress and the
new Executive, as 10 the best mode Of
reconstruction. or, to speak plainly,
whether the control OF the Govern
ment should be thrown Immediately
into the hands of those who had re-
Gently and persisteliiy tried to destroy
il, Or whether the victors should have
an equal voice with them i'm this con-
troll. Reconstruction, as finally agreed
upon, means this and only this, except
thai the late slave was enfranchised,
giving an increase, as was supposed.
to the Union. loving and Union-sup-
porting votes. Ii free, in the full
sense of the word, they would not dis
appoint this expectation.
WHAT I HAVE DONE.
Hence at the beginning of my first
Administration the work of recon-
struction, much embarrassed by the
long delay, virtually commenced. 1t
was the work of the Legislative
branch of the Government. My pro-
vince was wholly in approving their
rcts, which did most heartily, urging
the Legislatures of the States that had
not done so to ratify the Fifteenth
Amendment 10 the Constitution, The
country was laborlng under an enor-
nous debt contracted in the suppress
sion OF the rebellion. and taxation was
so oppressive as to discourage prOduc-
ton. Another danger also threatened
us--a foreign war. The last difficulty
had to be adjusted, and was adjusted
without war, and in a manner high
ly honorable to all parties concerned.
The taxes have been reduced within
the last seven years nearly S3OO,OO0,-
900, and the National debt has been
reduced in the same time over $435,.
100000, by reiundiug the six per cent.
bonded debt for bonds bearing five
and four and one-half per cent. inter-
est respectively.
The annual interest has been reduc-
ed from over one hundred and thirty
millions OF dollars in 1869 to but little
over one hundred millions of dollars
in 1876 1t is confidently believed
that the balance of trade in favor OF
the Uuiied States will increase, not
diminish, and that the pledge of Con-
gress TO resume specie payments in
in the absence of much desired fur
ther legislation on the subject,
MY BRoADBRIM POLICY.
a policy has been adopted toward
the Indian tribes inhabiting large
portion of territory of the United
States which has been humane, and
has substantially ended the Indian
hostilities iu the Whale land except in
! q portion OF Nebraska. Dakota, Wy
oming and Montana Territories, the
Black Hills region and the approaches
thereto. uostilities there have grown
out of the avarice Of the while man,
who has violated our treaty stipula-
tiens in his search for gold. The
question might be asked why the Gov
crpment has not enforced obedience
to the terms of treaty prohibiting the
occupation of the Black Hills region
| by whites? The answer is simple.
/ The first emigrants 20 the Black Hills
/ were removed by troops, but rumors
/ of fresh discoveries of gold took into
that region increased numbers. Gold
| has actually been found i'm paying
quantities, and the effort to remove
miners would only resnlt in the des-
! truction of the hliik of The trnnns that