Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-12-08
The Presidents Message.


the outset the President says: ''lt was my for
tune, or mtSfortune 10 be called TO the Office OF
chief executive without any previous political
iraning.p These words are sad echo Of v hat
Gen. Grant wrote to personal friend in 1864,
before Mr.. Lincoln's second nomination. TN
your letter." he says 10 his friend Hon. j. N.
Morris, ''you say that | have it in my power
10 be next President. This is the last thing
in the world ! desire. ecoutd regard such a
contamination as being highly unfortunate fur
| myself, If not for The country. Through Provi-
dence ] have attained to more than ] ever
hoped, and with the position now hold in
the regular army, if allowed 10 retain it, will
be more than satisfied. ] scarcely know the
inducement that could be held out TO ME TO
accep; Office and unhesiiatingly declare that !
infnitvely prefer my present position to that
of any civil Office within the gift OF the
people,"
| Had Gen. Grant never changed his mind as
expressed in this letter il would not have been
/ his misfortune" AS well as the country 8,
that he has held the highest civil office" in
| the government, not only without being
qualified for il by any "previous political
training" but with his instincts, habits aud
IDEAS as a soldier operating as positive dis
qualification. In this single fact we have the
| key TO most of the errors and blunders oil
Gen. Grants administration and the explana-
ton Of the prese n troub hich il h brought
upon the country. That he has made plumbers,
| particularly in the matter of appointments 10
office, Gen. Grant does not deny, but he says,
| apooge ''hisory shows that no admin
istradon, from the time of Washington TO the
| present, has been free from these mistakes
| His own "failures," he clnims, have been
errors of Judgment, not Of intent" Errors
| ia policy, it is TO be noted, Gen. Grant no.
where admits lie appends TO his message
"a synopsis of all recommendations 10 Con-
gress made by me during the last seven years, "
and says thine may show some OF these re-
concentrations not to have been wisely con-
Gel we'd, but believe the larger part will do no
discredit to the administration" Upon one
of his recommendations OF former years which
failed TO command either popular or legsla-'
tive approval-his project for the acquisition
of San Domngo-he dwells lovingly and at
length, and attributes to the failure TO acquire
that island the fact that the country is not
Sin a more prosperous condition both poIiti-
cally and financially" Here, again, the
President refers to the subject, he says, not TO
renew his recommendation in favor OF annexa-
ton but to frindicdte'' bis own former action in
regard TO il. In this, as in the portion OF the
message already quoted, il is impossible rot TO
the see hand of Gen. Grant himself. IL is the
tone OF a man who feels personally injured and
aggrievcd, and who is disposed 10 regard his
own failures not as faults but ''misforiunes"
and to ascribe them 10 circumstances beyond
his own control, including the opposition"
of others. Even the fact Of his holding The |
chief magistracy for two consecutive terms |
without any previous political training" he
seems 10 regard as something which happened |
to him or WAS forced upon bin, and which he
could not help, rather than position Of his
own voluntary acceptance, it not his own
seeking. 1t is this touch of Gen. Grants |
xyhi th iyaa In tbp m n
somew hat peculiar favor. 1t is defensive and
sometimes querulous in tone, as if Gen. Grant
thought that he and not the country had
the best right TO complain.
AS is usual in simulnr documents, the Pres-
dent refers to "a large number of topics which
are more fully treated in the reports Of the
several heads OF departments, rarely, however,
making anything approaching recommends
lion in regard 10 them. From the Secretary
Of the Treasury he derives the figures which
show reduction of taxes during the last
seven years OF nearly 5000, 900, COO, and of the
national debt over S435, 900 900. BY refund
ing the bonded debt Mt n lower rae the annual
interest has been reduced from $l30, 0O0, 900 |
in 1869 to little over Sl00, 600, 900 in 1876
The balance of trade is quoted as having |
changed from $3.50, 600, 900 against us in 1869 |
10 $l20, 600, 600 in our favor in 1876, and the |
belief expressed that the pledge Of Congress TO
accomplished.
The great source OF Indian hostilities is
averred TO have beer removed by the cession
by treaty of the Black Hills
Refe renee is made more than once in the |
message to the Centennial exhibition, and 10
the interest and friendly feeling manifested by
foreign nations therein. The suggestion is
made that the government exhibit, enriched
by the gifts of foreign powers, for which suit
III
be kept together and removed 10 Washington.
Allusion is made to the cutting down al the
last session of the diplomatic appropriation
bill, and doubt is expressed whether such re-
trenchment is wise economy.
The necessity of legislation with regard to
fraudulent naturalization and the right of ex-
patria,ion and election of nationality is again
pressed upon the attention of Congress.
The condition of the questions in II new ex-
tradition treaty with Great Britain, the Presi
dent says, will form the subject of special
commun ication TO Congress.
The establishment of tribunals in the Otto
man empire for securing justice to citizens of
the United States, and the continuance of COM
motions on the Mexican border, are mentioned,
the latter as giving rise to new complaints by
our citizens. The final close of the commits
sion in adjustment of former claims is referred
10 satisfactorily.
of Colorado are explained. The State was ad
mitted by the President by proclamation Au-
gust l, 1876, upon compliance, as it appeared
10 him, with the requirements of the act o!
Congress of March 3, 1876, authorizing the
people of Colorado to form State government
Reference is made to the services of the army
during the Indian war in ''subdung certain
wild bands of the Sioux Indian nation" but
nothing is sai0 of the use of the troops" in
connection with the returning boards, organ
izaton of State Legislatures, &c, except that |
they were employed Sin preserving the peace
at the South during the election"
The condition OF the navy is described as |
being the best practicable with the means at |
command, and good word said for the Secre-
tary in answer to the criticisms upon his man
agement of the department.
The expenditures for rivers and harbors, il |
is admitted, were limited by himself 10 about
81 ,237, 600 though Congress had appropri- |
ated $50, 600, 600. The channels at the mouth |
of the Mississippi are not yet of the required |
depth before payments can be made by the |
United States.
In connection with the affairs of the Post |
office Department, showing an excess of ex-
penditures over revenues 10 the amount Of six |
millions of dollars the President says that |
there was one mail messenger in Spartansburg |
district, South Carolina, who was ''iuiimi- |
dated" ''on account of his political afilia-
lions" On account Of this solitary case the
President says the POstmasier-General wants /
some more severe legislation, another kuklux
act, we infer, for the punishment of those who
'intimidate'' mail messengers. The Presi-
dent says that while the receipts of the Post
office Department have increased for the past
seven years at an average of per cent per
ba Of px has |