Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-12-12

ttUeS:
IN suomitIlng my eighth aud last anuu.
a. message 10 Congress. II seems proper
'oat should refer 20, aud in some de-
I gree recapltulate. the events and official
sets OF the past eight years. Il WAS nv
'r'une VI. or misfortune 10 DO called to the
once ot Cbiet Executive without any
previous political training. From the
age OF seventeen had never even Wit
messed the excitement attached 10 Pres
Identil! campaign, but twice previous to
my candidacy, aud at but one of them
was eligible as voter.
RETROSPECT.
+ Under such circumstances il is reason
ao!e 10 suppose that errors Of Judgment
must have occurred. Even had they not
duIeTeoceS OF opinion between the exec
uuve. bound by an oath to the strict per
iormabce Of his duties. writer's aud de-
baters must have arisen. I, is not uoceE-
Sary evidence OF blunder on the part OF
the executive because there are these dii-
ierences Ot views. Mistakes have been
made. aS al caa see, and admit, but il
seems % me OUCueT ~ ,te selections
made ut tCe assistants appointed To- aid
IN carrilss Uut the various duties n the
administration OF the government. in
Nearly every case selected without per
soma acquaintance with the appoinlee.
bat upon tie r,comu-c. LsiioG Of the rep
res UtH'tveS CHOSEN directly by the people.
IL Is impossible whore 50 many trusts are
20 Je allotted tbs, The light par;ies should
be cr. sen ~ every iaS;auce History
shows TIA, administrations. from the time
OF Na~1.ug;ou, 90 The present. have not
been .s,e iyom these mistakes. Bat !
leave comparison 10 history. claiming
Only tlA. l have acted 10 every Instance
from a conscious desire TO 90 what was
right, constitutional. within The law, and
tor tie very 6es, interests ,t the whole
pe1p.e FAturts have been errors OF
ludgu o.. not Oi intent.
NV ciVil career commenced. too, at s
mos; critical and difficult; time. Less than
tour Years before the country had cmerg-
ed from a conflict such AS 10 other nation
had ever survived Nearly Que halt OF
the States rev0lted against he govern
ueut, and those remSluing faithful 10 the
Union. large percentage OF the pOpula-
ton Syupa,hlZed with the rebellion. and
made an enemy in the rear almost aS
dangerous - the more honorable enemy
10 Tie front. The latter committed er-
rOr, Ci Judgment. but they maintained
them openly and coGrageOuSly tie tor
mtg received the protection OF the gov
erumeni they would see destroyed, and
reaprd all he ptcuDiary advantage 20 be
a rr b.. If
all airs. many OF them by obtaining cen
tracts aud by syiuding the government
IN ,le delivery % their goods. lmmCdi-
atrly on the cessation Cf h s,i.il:es, the
noble President who had carried the
country so Tar through il perils. fell
martyr % his patriotism. 81 the handS'oi
an assassin. The Intervening time 10 nv
Gt~t inauguration was led up with
wraugiiues between Congress and the
new executive - 20 the best mode OF re-
cons rucIon, or - speak plainly, aS 10
whtth,r the control O. the government
shOuI, Doe thrown Immediately into the
hands Of those who had so recently ani
peIsiS,eutiy iiied To destroy u, or y hether
/ the yicto,s should continue to have sn
tQual voice wiki them 10 this control.
Eeco- sructjon as tinaliy agreed upon
means that. and only that, eNcep, that
the late slave was euiranchlsed. giving
an increased support TO the Jui0n by
Union loving and [ mon supporting votes
II free. 10 the fullne,s of the, word, they
would not diSsppoint this expectation.
INV TEIUNPHS Oh TIE ADMINISTRATION.
Heuce. at the beginning OF my admin
istration, The work OF reconstruction,
much embarrassed by the long delay,
virtually commenced. /, was the work
OF the legislative branch OF the govern
mCnt. Nv province was wholly 10 ap-
proving their acts. which l did mCS:
heartily, urging The legislatures OF States
I that had vet done so 10 rstity tho fifteenth
amendment 10 the constitution. The
/ country wsS ia5OIiUg uUder III enormous
debt contracted in tue suppression Of the
rebellion, and taxation was so oppressive
as 10 discourage yr0duclien. Another
I danger als1 thre4ientd-a foreign war
I The ia,t dili ,uiIy had 10 be adjusted and
wss adjusted without war, and IN a
/ msnu,; higblY honorable 70 all parties
| coUc-ratd Taxes have been reduced
I wI.hiI TIE last seven years nearly tLrTe
/ hundred millions of dollars, aud The n4-
tiouAl debt has ceen reduced IN the same
\ tine over tour hundred and ihirly-live
mi.Iiors OF dollars. b .eluuding the six
/ per cent. bonded debt tor bonds bearing
/ i've and four and q halt per cent. interest
I respectively, the annual interest has been
reduced from over one hundred and tblT-
i IN ut..ilus OF dollars IN 1869. 10 but Il
\ ilt.e over one hundred millions OF CO.
/ lars ia 1876. The balance OF trade has
\ been ,h- nged from over one hundred anu
thirty millions against the United States
in 1869. 10 more than one hundred and
/ twenty millions OF dollars 10 our favor
\ in 1876. Il il confidently believed that
l the baiance OF trade in favor OF the Uni
\ ted Safes will increase, not diminish
aud that the pledge OF Congress TO re-
/ turn TO specie pay ments 10 1879 vii! be
easily accomplished, even 10 The absence
/ Of much desired further legislation on
this -; iect.
/ TIE INDIAN POLICY.
A policy has been adopted towards the
I Indian tribes inhatiling large portion
\ of the territory OF the United States
\ which has been humane, has substantial
\ ly ended Indian hostililies In the whole
land. except in a portion of Nebraska.
I Dakota, Wyoming and Montana terrific
ries. the Black Hills region and approach
es thereto. Hosli.i;ies there have grown
out of the avarice Of the white man who
hss violated our treaty stipulations in his
search for gold. The question might be
asked why the government has net er-
forced obedience to the terms OF the
l l.. nnA inrn IL