davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
EAOs' JETrIEs,
Report Of tIic Presidential Conn
mission.

WAsmSGroN, Dec.,-Cols Barnard.
! Wright and Alexander, the commission
on Southwest Pass, have reported. Their
! instructions are signed by the secretary
| Of war. They are not tJ interfere with
! Maj. Comstock, but t. furnish profession
\ al advice upon certain subjects which the
| law requires the secretary Of war o. de-
! eide upon, viz: Whether the shJai nc
| south pass is part of that pass or the
main Mississippi, aud wnethcra channel
| Of twenty feet ~ depth, exclusive Of this
shoal, entities Eads ~ the first payment
Of half million what depth and width
ofchaunel il desirable through this shoaI,
and an Interpretation of tho words "aver-
age food tide n whether Tho work being
constructed is ia the spirit of the act ana
general suggestions.
The commission IS authorized to visit
the scene and spend two thousand dollars.
The report is dated New Orleans, No.
vember ~. Us puport is %. follows
The -hoal Is not exclusively 20 part of
! the South pass II extends from shore
to shore of the Mississippi river ami i-
common 10 other passes, but The channel
| through this -hoal !. part of South pass.
Eads is entitled To- Dis h1lf million, exc
elusive Of thi4 shoal, provided the depth
50 obtained has The bottom width reuuir-
ed by the fifth section of The act. The
desirable permanent depth through this
shOal j, twenty feet within thirty months,
and the ulImatos twenty--iv feet Com
merce would be satisfied with width
through the shoal sufficient 20 pass a sim
gle vessel. One hundred feet would
suffice. "The average food tide" means
the average of all daily observed high
waters throughout the full cyclic of q
year.
Regarding materials, pormanences.
&c, Of the jetties, the commissioner
say: HWhile we believe that the cngi-
neer officers applying moneys appr0pri-
ated TO meet their estimates by congress
would have executed the work different
~, especially in applying freely stone 90
each layer OF mattresses. we are, never
theless, Of the opinion that the work is
being conducted substantially according
70 the spirit Of the act, as mentioned in
the tenth and thirteenth sections there
OF. The report concludes "Ihe moro
important Of the duties imposed upon
the secretary OF war by tho act are cm-
braced in the thirteenth section, and Of
these the only one on which we have any
suggestions 10 offer is that which requires
him to see that the works shall be OF
such substantial and permanent chaac-
ter as shall maintain The channel for all
time after their completion We have
already remarked that we deem not only
an enlargement Of section, but a large
application OF stone to be essential TO
security Of the jetties-their sea ends as.
pecially-and we are Of the opinion that
this enlargement dissection Al the sea ends
and consolidation throughout by the ap-
plioation of stone should be undertaken
at once, and a reasonable progresr
therein be made ami the condition of tha
second and all future payments.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
Two Dollars a We

sirable that they should 60. Their labor
Is desirable, indispensable almost where
they now are. but the possession Of thi,
territory would have left the negro mas
ter Of the situation by enabling him a.
demand his rights at home on pain OF
finding them elsewhere. | DO not pre-.
sent these views now as rccommenda.
lion for renegal of the subject Of an
nexation. but | DO refer To il to yiudicate
my previous action in regard 10 il.
With the present Congress my official
term terminate. 1t Is not probable
that public affairs will ever again receive
attention from me further than rs cit.
zen of the Republic, always taking a
deep interest in the honor and integrity
and the prosperity of the whole land.
L. :. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dee B. 1876.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
The Struggle for Life.

The most casual observer can not fail
to discover in every department of life,
both animal and vegetable, a constant
and energetic struggle for existence.
The law Of life is embodied in
"The good Old rule, the simple plan.
That he shall take who has the power
And he shall keep who can "
The trees Of the forest are constantly
struggling with each other, and with the
elements as we'll. In a locality where
there are prevalent winds the tree puts
forth its roQty anchors and braces against
the attack which otherwise would over.
throw and destroy il. Insects are pro.
vided with methods of conceiling them.
selves from their enimies, and those same
foes have peculiar faculties for hunting
them out and destroying them. Some
species of animal life, as the toads and
chameleons, change the color of the skin
SO that it approNlmates to the surround
lngs, and are thus afforded some protec-
tiCn from natural enemies So in every
department Of life, from the least monad
to the highest organisms, all have their
methods Of attack and defense-all are
provided for by nature, and the races
are perpetrated generation after genera
ton. until an organism, having run its
allotted course, drops from the living list
and is entombed perhaps in the sand or
chalk strata, or more permanently in
some rock formation-mouum re-
mains ofeXtinct vitality.
Fishes are not exempt from the geuer.
al law which requires a constant struggle
for existence. 1t is not man alone who
is compelled to earn his daily food, and
fight his way by hard knocks in this busy
sy world. Every living thing has its
work to do, and its goal to attain, and
the "toilers Of the sea who glide 30
gracefully about their limpid homes have
all The troubles commensurate with their
mode Of life rs well rs we--(Fr Nov.
% Hn1nn and Snhnnl -
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
AGRICULTURE.

The report of the Commissioner of
Agriculture accompanying this message,
will be found one OF grea. interest, mark
ing as it does the great progress Of the
last century in the variety OF products of
the soil, increased knowledge and skill
in the labor of producing, saving and
manipulating the same to prepare them
for the use of man the improvement in
machinery to aid the agriculturist III his
labors, and in a knowledge of those sci
entitic subjects necessary to a thorough
system of economy in agricultural pro
duction-namely, chernistery, botany,
entomology, etc, and the study of this
report by those interested in agriculture
and deriving their support from it will
find it Of value in pointing out those ar
ticles which are raised in greater quaint
ty than the needs of the world require
and must sell, therefore, for less than the
cost of propuction, and those which COM
nand profit over the cost of production
because there is not an over production.
call special attention to the need of the
Department for a new gallery for the re-
ception of the exhibits returned from the
Centennial exhibition, including the ex-
hibits donated by very many foreign
nations, and to the recommendation of
the Commissioner of Agriculture gener-
ally.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13

National progress is the sum of indi-
vidual industry, energy and uprightness,
as national decay is of individual idle
ness, selfshness and vice. -Samuel
Smiles,
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13

views so fully expressed therein. that
their reports and recommendation
as my own.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The relations Of the United States witt
! foreign powers continue on friendI,
/ footing Questions have arisen from
time to time in the foreign relations 0
/ the Government, but the United State
have bsen happily freed the past yea
from the complications and embarrass
mentS which have surrounded some o
the foreign powers. The diplomatic
correspondence submitted herewith. con
talns information as 70 certain of the
matters which have occupied the Govern
ment
The cordiality which attends our rela-
tons with the Powers Of the earth ba,
been plainly shown by the general partic
lpation Of foreign nations in the Exhibi-
ton which has just closed, and by the
eXertions made by distant Powers to
show their interest and friendly feeling
toward the United States in the com
incarceration Of the Centennial of the
Nation. The Government and people of
the United States have not only fully APP
precIated this exhibition of kindly feeling,
but 1t may be justly and fairly expected
that no small benefits will result both to
ourselves and other nations from a better
acquaintance and better appreciation
Of our mutual advantages and mutual
wants.
FALSE ECONOMY.
Congress, at its last session, saw fit to
reducs the amount usually appropriated
for foreign intercourse, by withholding
appropriations from representatives of the
United States in certain foreign c0un-
tries, and for certain Consular offices,
and by reducing the amounts usually
appropriated for certain other diplomatic
posts, and thus necessitating a change in
the grade Of the representative. For
these reasons, Immediately upon the
passage of the bill making appropriations
for the diplomatic and consular service for
the present fiscal year, instructions were
issued to representatives of the United
States at Bolivia, Ecuador and Columbia,
and to the Consular officers for whom no
had been made to close
their respective legations and consulates
and cease from the performance of their
duties and in like manner steps were
Immediately taken to substitute charge
d'Affaires for Ministers Resident in
Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland
and Paraguay. While thoroughly i'm
pressed with the wisdom of sound econo
my in the foreign service, as in other
branches Of the Government, | cannot
escape the conclusion that in some in
stances the withholding of appropriations
will prove an expensive economy, and
that the small retrenchment secured by
a change Of grade in certain diplomatic
posts is not an adequate consideration for
the loss Of influence and Importance
which will attend our foreign representa-
tives under this reduction. | an of the
opinion that Il denomination of the
subject will cause a change in some
instances in the conclusions reached on
these subjects at the last session of Con,
gress.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
HIS CIVIL CAREER.

Ny civil career commenced, too, at a
most critical and difficult time. Less
than four years before, the country had
emerged from conflict such as no other
nation had ever survived. Nearly one
half Of the States had revolted against
the Government and Of those remaining
faithful to the Union a large per centage
Of the population sympathized with the
rebellion, aud made an 'enemy in the
rear" almost as dangerous as the more
honorable enemy in the front. The lat
ter committed errors of judgment, but
they maintained them openly and cour-
ageously The former received the pro
lection ofthe Government they would see
destroyed, and reaped all the pecuniary
advantage to be gained out of the then
existing state of attairs-many of them
by obtaining contracts and by swindling
the Government in the delivery Of their
goods.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13

cIt.zen- The subject Of the Indian poll
cy and treatment is so fully set forth hv
the Secretary of the Interior, and the
commissioner of Indian affairs. aud nv
views so fully expressed therein, that /
reterto their reports and recommendation
as my own
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
COLOR ADO.

Congress by an act approved the Sd
day of March, 1875. authorized the in
habitants of the territory of Colorado to
form State government with the name
Of the State of Colorado, and therein
provided for the admission of said State
when formed into the Union upon an
equal footing with the original States.
a Constitution having been adopted and
ratified by the people Of the State, and
the acting Governor having certified to
me the facts as provided by said Act, to-
ge,her with copy or said Constitution
and ordinances as provided for in said
Act, and provisions Of said Act having
been duly complied with, issued pro
clamation upon the 1st of August, 1876,
a copy of which is hereto annexed.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
Presidents Message.
EETRO5PECTIoS.


r., The Senate and House Of Representa-
tires:
In submitting my eighth and last. an
nal message to Congress, it seems
rr,, or thatI should refer to, and in
l,ma degree recapitulate, the events and
o4i.;al acts of the past eight years.
T. was NV fortune, or misfortune, to
no r1lIed to the office Of Chief Execu
tive without any previous political train
;ng From the age Of II, had never
agsn Witnessed the excitement attending
Presidential campaign but twice ante
.aIaut to my own candidacy, and at but
ooa of them was / eligible as a voter
Tnd4r.uch circumstances it Is but rea-
.ogable 10 suppose that errors Of judg
mani must have occurred :; even had they
r.t differences Of opinion between the
Executive. bound by an oath to the
.,rirf performance Of his duties, and
writer's and debatorS, must have arisen.
II + not necessarily evidence of blunders
m the part Of the Executive, because
there are thus differences Of views.
now MIsTAKEs WERE MADE.
Mistakes have been made, as all can
zoo and admit, hut it seems TO me Of
raner In the selections made Of the as
..tauts appointed to carry out the vari-
on. duties of administering the Govern
ment. in nearly every case selected with
out personal acquaintance with the APP
p9intee. but upon recommendations Of
I'M representatives chosen directly BY
tbe paoplc. 1t il impossible where so
many trusts are to be allotted that the
right parties should be chosen in every
in,.alce. History shows that no admin
i.trat.on, from the time Of Washington
TO the present, has been free from these
mistakes, bat | leave comparisons to his
.ory. claiming only that L have acted in
every instance from a conscientious de-
sire 10 DO what was right, constitutional,
Within the law, and for the very best in
terests Of the whole people. Failures
have been errors Of judgment, not of in
tent
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.

The Courts of Commissioners of the
Alabama Claims, whose functions were
continued by an Act of the last session OF
Congress until the first day of January,
1877, has carried OH its labors with
diligence and general satisfaction. BY a
report from the Clerk of the Court,
transmitted herewith, bearing date, No
vember IA, 1876, it appears that within
the time now allowed by law the Court
will have disposed of all the claims
presented for adjudication. This report
also contains a statement of the general
results of the labors of the Court to the
date thereof 1t Il cause of satisfaction
that the method adopted for the
satisfaction of the classes of claims sub
mitted to the Court which are of long
standing and justly entitled to early con
sheraton, should have proved successful
and acceptable.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
DELAYED REPORTS.

The reports of the District Commits
sioners and the Board of Health are Just
received, too late to read them and to
make recommendations thereon, and are
herewith submitted.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
VENEZUELA INDEBTEDNESS.

Monthly payments of a very small
part of the amount due by the govern
ment of Venezuela to citizens Of the
United States on account of claims of
the latter against that government, con-
tinue to be made with reasonable punctu-
ality. That government has proposed to
change the system which it has hitherto
pursued in this respect, by Issuing bonds
for part of the amount of the several
claims The proposition, however, could
not, it is supposed, properly be accepted
at least without consent of the holders
of certificates of the Indebtedness of
Venezuela. These are so much dispersed
that it would, be difficult if not imposi-
BILE to ascertain their disposition on the
subject
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13
THE CENTENNIAL ExHIRITIoa

The international Exhibition held in
Philadelphia this year in commemoration
of the one-hundredth anniversary of
American independence, has proven a
great success, and will no doubt be of
enduring advantage to the country. 1t
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13

come citizens Of the United States
it Is also true that persons, both native
born aud naturalized, once citizens OF the
+ United States, either by formal acts OF
a. the effect OF series of facts and cir
cumstances, abandon their citizenship
and cease to be entitled to the protection
OF the United States, but continue on
convenient occasion TO assert a claim TO
protection Ia the absence of provisions
on these questions and in this connection,
l again invite your attention to the
necessity of legislation concerning the
marriages Of A merican citizens contracted
abroad, and concerning the status Of
American women who marry foreigners,
and OF children born of American pa
rents III foreign country. The delicate
and complicated questions continually
occurring with reference to naturalization,
expatrlatlOn, aud the status of such
persons as | have above referred to,
induce me to earnestly direct Your at
tention again to these subjects. In like
m inner repeat my recommendation that
some means be provided for the hearing
an | determination of the just claims
of aliens upon the Government of the
United States, within a reasonable Hmi-
tation, and such as may hereafter arise.
While by existing provisions of law the
Court of Claims may, in certain cases,
re resorted to by an alien claimant, the
absence Of any general provisions gov
erlng all such cases, and the want of
tribunal skilled in the disposition of such
cases upon recognized, fixed and settled
principles, either provides no remedy in
many deserving cases, or comPels a con
sideration of such claims by Congress, or
the Executive Department of the Gov
1t is believed that other Gov
ernments are i'll advance of the United
States upon this question, aad that the
practice now adopted is entirely unsatis
factory.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13

BOUNDARY LINES.
1t is with satisfaction that | am ena-
bled to state that the work of the joint
commission for determining the boundary
line between the United States and
British possessions from the northwest
angle of the Lake of the Woods to the
Rocky Mountains, commenced in 1872,
has been completed. The final agree
ments of the Commissioners with the
maps, have been duly signed, and the
work of the commission is complete. The
fixing of the boundary upon the Pacific
Coast bv the protocol of March 10th,
1873. pursuant to the award of the
Emperor of Germany, by article 81 of
the treaty of Washington, with the
termination of the work of this commits
sion, adjusts and fixes the entire bounda-
nv between the United States and British
possessions, except as to the portion OF
territory ceded by Russia to the United
States under the treaty of 1867. The
work entrusted to the Commissioner and
the officers of the army attached to the
Commission, has been well and satlstac
torily performed. The original OF the
final agreement OF the Commissioners,
signed upon the 29th Of May, 1876, with
the original list of astronomical stations
observed, the official list OF monuments
marking the international boundary line,
and the maps, records, and general re-
ports relating TO the Commission, have
been deposited in the Department OF
State. The official report of the Com
missioners on the part of the United
States with the report of the Chief
Astronomer of the United States Will be
submitted to Congress in short time,
FUGITIVE CRIMINALS.
Preserve for a separate communlca-
ton to Congress, a statement OF the con-
dition of the questions which lately arose
with Great Britain respecting the sur
render of fugitive criminals under the
treaty of 1912.
RELATIONS WITH TURKEY AND EGYPT.
The Ottoman Government gave notice
under date of January 10, 1874, OF It's
desire to terminate the treaty OF IooZ
concerning commerce and navigation,
pursuant to the provisions of the ZZd
article thereof. Under this notice the
treaty terminated upon the 9th day OF
,Illfl L
vited negotiations towards the conclusion
Of n new treaty. By the Act of Con
press of March %, 1874, the President
Vas authorized when he should receive
satisfactory information that the Ottoman
Government or that of Egypt has organ
lied new tribunals likely to secure to
citizens of the United States the same
impartial Justice enjoyed under the exer-
else of judicial functions by diplomatic
and consular officers of the United States,
to suspend the operation of the Act OF
June 22d, 1860, and to accept for citizens
ofth United States the jurisdiction OF the
new tribunals. Satisfactory information
having been received of the organization
of such new tribunals in Egypt, caused
proclamation to be issued upon the
9th of March suspending the operation
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-13

! at least without consent of the holders
/ of certificates of the Indebtedness of
/ Venezuela. These are so much dispersed
that it would. be difficult if not imposi-
BILE to ascertain their disposition on the
subject.
| N4TURALIzATIoN EXPATRIATIoN, AND
| CLAIMS OF ALIENS.
| In former messages | have called the
attention Of Congress to the necessity of
/ legislation with regard to naturalization,
and to the subject of expatriation, and
| the election of nationality. The num-
1 bers of persons of foreign birth seeking
/ a home in the United States, the ease
/ and facility with which the honest emf
/ grant may, after the lapse of reason
| able time, become possessed OF all the
| privileges of citizenship, and the frequent
occasions which induce such adopted cit
/ liens to return to the country of their
/ birth, render the subject of naturaliza-
ton and the safeguards which experience
| mas proved necessary for the protection
of the honest naturalized citizen of par
amount Importance. The very simple
| ity in the requirements of law on this
question, afford opportunity for fraud,
and the want of uniformity in the pro-
ceedings and records Of the various
| Courts, and in the forms of the eertifi
Gates of naturalization issued, afford
constant source of difficulty. | suggest
no additional requirements to the acquI-
sition of citizenship, beyond those now
existing, but l invite the earnest at
tention of Congress TO the ne
cessity and wisdom of some provisions
regarding uniformity in the records and
certificates, and providing against the
| frauds which frequently take place, and
| for the vacating of a record of naturall-
cation obtained in fraud. These pro-
visions are needed in aid and for the pro
lection of the honest citizens of foreign
birth. and for the want of which he Is
made to suffer not unfrequently. The
| limited States has insisted upon the
right of repatriation, and has obtained,
after a long struggle, an admission OF the
principle contended for by acquiescence
therein on the part of many foreign
powers, and by the conclusion OF treaties
on that subject. 1t is, however, but
1 Justice to the Government TO which
such naturalizied citizens have former
ily owed allegiance, as well as to the
United States that certain fixed and
definite rates should be adopted gov
erning such cases, and providing how
expatriation may be accomplished
While emigrants in large numbers be-