National Republican., 1876-12-06

to enable the participation of the several Execu.
tive Departmentsin the International Exhibition
Of 1876 were not sufficient to carry ont the under
taking to the full extent At first contemplated, It
gives me pleasure to refer to the very efhcient
pointed from these several Department. to pro-
vide an exhibition on the part OF the Government
have discharged their duties with the funds
TO guide them In the preparation Of such dis
play, the success Of their labors was amply at
tested by the sustained attention which the con.
tents OF the Government building attracted dur
visitors.
collection made by the Government for the pur-
poses Of the Exhibition, Illustrating as It does
The mineral resources Of the country the stsiis.
nation, and the uses Of the mechanical arts and
the applications Of applied science in the admin
Many nations have voluntarily contributed
their exhibits to the United States 20 increase
gpess msT ardpd ~ any mt m Uon
ity they should receive the thanks Of the people,
and I respectfully suggest that resolution OF
Congress to that effect be adopted.
sATIsUARDs OVER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
The attention Of Congress cannot he too ear
nestly called to the necessity Of throwing some
greater safeguard over the method Of choosing
the present system there seems to be no provided
remedy for contesting the election in any one
The remedy 10 partially no doub. in the en-
hghtment of electors. The compulsory support
Of the free school and the disfranchsement OF all
alter ised probstionMwould meet nv M hearsy
approval. would not make this apply, how
ever, to those already voters, but would to all
fixed.
Foreigners coming to this country to become
citiIens, who are educated in their own language,
would acquire the requisite knowledge Of ours
during the necessary residence TO obtain natural
ration. If they did not take interest enough In
our language to acquire sufacient knowledge Of
It &c enable them to study the institutions and
laws OF the country intelligently, would not
confer upon them the right TO make such laws
nor TO select those who do.
REVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
append TO this message for convenient refer
ence n synopsis Of administrative events, and Of
all Recommendations to Congress made BY me
f these ea not to Safs bssn
wisely conceived, but believe the larger part
will do no discredit to the Administration.
ANNEXATION OF sASro DOMINGO.
One Of these recommendations met with the
united opposition of one political party in the
Senate, and with q strong opposition from the
other, namely, the treaty for the annexation of
will specially refer, maintaining, as do, that If
my views had been concurred in the country
SH5 SS9id Ss IN more ore condition today
is fertile, and upon Its soil may be grown just
those tropical products Of which the United
prepared for market now by slave labor almost
exclusively, viz Sugar, coffee, dye woods. ma
hogany, tropical fruits, tobacco, &C. About
consumed in the United States. A large percent
age Of the exports Of Brazil also fnd the same
.iSeiy in coD legislation @ % particaiariy sS sa't IN
Cuba being unfsvorable TO q mutual exchange
.f,nIas q the prod products Of each country Flour
yana can pass by the very entrance to
the city on its way to a port In Spain, then pays
10 IL and breunhs
almost to the point Of starting, paying q second
duty and still leaves profit over what would be
duced in Cuba could be produced in Santo DO
mingo. Being part of the United States, CON-
merce between the island and maitland would
be free. There would be no export duties on her
lhipments nor import duties on those coming
here. There would be no import duties upon the
tSss SCnd Sssn T9 sns nDon
Cuban commerce with these advantages to a
rival is observable at glance The Cuban ques-
Free Cuba" Hundreds of American vessels
would now be advantageously used in transport
ing the valuable woods and other products Of the
soil Of the Island to . market and in carrying
supplies and emigrants TO 1t. The Island Is but
spaIsely settled, while It has an area sufficient
Of people. The soil would have soon fallen into
the hands Of United States capitalists.
The products are go valuable in commerce that
emigration there would have been encouraged;
the emancipsted race of the South would have
found there q cOngenial home, where their civil
rights would not be disputed, and where their Ia
bor would be 30 much sought after that the
poorest among them could have found the means
TO go. Thus, In cases Of great oppression and
cruelty. such as has been practiced ppon them In
many places within the last eleven years, whole
communities would have sought refuge in Santo
Domingo.
do not suppose the whole race would have
gone, nor is It desirable that they should 90.
Their labor is sdeslrable-indispensaole almost
where they now are. But the possession Of this
territory would have left the negro mas ter Of
the situation" by enabling him TO demand his
rights at home on pain Of finding them elsewhere.
do not present these views now as o recon-
mendation for o renewal Of the SUBJECT Of annexa-
tion but do refer to 1t to ylndcate my previous
action in regard to 1t.
FINALE.
With the present Congress my oficial life ter
inmates. 1t lie not probable that public affairs
will ever again receive attention from me further
than as n citizen Of the Republic, always taking
deep interest in the honor, integrity and prosper
lily OF the whole land. u. s. GRANT.
ENKCUTlYE MANSIoN Dec q lsId