The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-12-12

voted differently from the way the Board
would have preferred.
Presidents Message.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ) SsThe Pfesi.
dents message was read insGongress to
day. The {, llowing is d synopsis Of il !:
The President say s., in submitting his
last annual message, it seems proper
that shouli refer to, and in como de,
gree recapitulate, the events and official
acts OF the past eight years Ii was my
fortune or misfortune TO be called to the
Chief Executive without any previous
political training. From the age of IL,
/ had never witnessed the sxci;ement OF
Presidential campaign but twice ante.
redent to my own candidacy, and in but
one Of them was eligible to vote. I'm
der such circumslanceslit is but reasona
Bile tha, errors Of judgment must have
occurred. Mistakes have been male. as
all can see. | admit; but itseems to be
oitener in the selection OF assistants to
aid In carrying out various duties Of al
mil.istering the government; in nearly
every case selected without personal &C
quaintance with tho applicant, but upon
the recommendation Of Representatives
chosen by the people. He says no ad.
minis,ration has been free from these
mistakes, hut he leaves comparison to
history, claiming to have acted in every
instance from conscientious desire to
do what was right and within the law
and for the best interests Of the people
Failures have been errors Of judgment
and not Of intent. He refers briefly TO
every part OF his administration follow
ing the late civil corfict, to the assassi.
nation OF Lincoln, and to wranglings
prior to his Inauguration between Con-
grese and the executive, as to the bes:
mode OF reconstruction. He fecapitu.
lates the woik Of feconstructing the late
slave States, the reduction Of the public
debt, the increase in trade, the pledges
Of Congress to resume speuie payments,
and the Indian question. In all these
questions the President treats only ON
what is already known to the public.
The relations OF the United States
with foreign powers continues on q
friendly footing. Questinn. have arisen
from time TO time with foreignsrelalions
Of the government, but happily We have
been free during the past year from COM
plications and embarrassments which
have surrounded some of the foreign
powers. The President then reviews
the Centennial Exhibition, and the in
terest taken therein by foreign nations,
which have shown their friendly reia-
tions to the United States. In speaking
of the foreign service, the President
says that while approving Of economy
in general, be thinks the Withholding Of
appropriations will prove an expensive
economy, and expresses satisfaction
with the labors of the Court of Com
missioners Of Alabama Claims; express
es satisfaction that the Joint Commis.
sion, fixing the boundary between the
United States and British Possessions
from the northwest angle OF the Lake OF
she Woods to the Rocky Mountains,
commenced in 1871, has been completed /;
the fixing Of the boundary upon the Pa
cifc Coast by the protocol .of March
10, 1873, pursuant to award OF the BIN
peror of Germany, and fixes the central
boundary between the United States and
the British Possessions, except that por-
.ion of territory ceded by Russia TO the
United States under the treaty Of 1867
The President says be will send q sep.
arate message to Congress on the qaes
tion of extradition, which lately arose
between Great Britain and the United
States. He expresses satisfaction in
the announcement OF the adjudication oi
the claims between the United States
and Mexico, which has been under ad-
visement since 1860.
The monthly pay ment Of the amour,
due by the Government OF Venezuela
continues to be made with reasonable
punctuality. On the subject Of fraudu
lent naturalization, the President invites
the earnest attention of Congress to the
necessity and wisdom Of some provision
regarding some uniformity in keeping
records and certificates to provide
against frauds, He also calls attention
to the marriage Of American citizens
abroad, only to Ak the status Of children
of American women after their marriage
with foreigners. He also repeats his re-
/ commendation for providing. rfoF tbs
claims of aliens upon this Government
The President further recommends
the consideration of certain claims by
Congress, or the executive department,
of the Government instead of by claim
1 commissioners. He believes the pres
ent method OF settling claims unsatis
factory. The President next refers tG
the admission Of the State Of Colorad.
and tue formation of the State govern
ment. The adoption OF the constitu
ton was duly certified to him, and there
upon he issued the necessary proclama
tton. Se aia
The estimates Of ,he War Department
be says. are about six millions in excess
OF the two last years the increase being
asked to provide for an increased fore
TO prosecute work on public buildings
Notifications and the manufacture o
small arms. The appropriations for th'
last named have been entirely inadequate
during the last four years. He calls at
tention 10 O number OF recommends
tions OF the Secretary OF War, amoni
them to transfer claims for supplies to
ken by the army for Commissary Gen
eral to the Southern Claims CoInmis
sion; also for sanction by Congress o
an annuity fund for families OF deceased
! officers. m g-
The President recommended th'
course OF the Secretary OF the Navy
and says. to his practical attention il
due the fact that we have ut this time 81
efiectual naval force at command
The report of the Postmaster Genera
shnvs an exceaa of exnpndifuraa of a.