The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-12-07
PRESIDENTS H!sSia:.
WASHINGTON. DC December ..

siLOOAN IS-Si - '.1sN- AZ S1i-4S 49,
ulate, the eyeLts ard official acts of the
past eight years:
RETROSPECTIVE VIEW.
ItEas my ior;une-or misfortune-to be
called to the Office Of Chief Executive with
out any previous political training. From
the age OF II had never even witnessed
the excitement attending z Presidential
campaign but twice anticedent to my own
candidacy, ard at bu. one 0! item
was / eligible as voter.
Under such circumstances It is but
reasonable - suppose that errors
Of Judgment must have occurred even had
they not, differences Of opinion between the
Executive. bound by an oath to the stric,
performance Of his duties, and writers and
debsters. must have arisen. Il is not nee
essarily evidence Of blunders on the part OF
the Executive because there are these dill
fereaces of yie~g. Mistakes have been
made, as all can see, and ! admit, but il
seems TO me 10 have been oitener in the Sc
lections made OF assistants, appointed TO
carry out the various duties CT administer
ing the Government. In nearly every case
these have TO be selected without 4
personal acquaintance with The APP
pointee, but upon the recommendations
OF representatives, chosen by the people.
II is possible. where 70 many trusts are to
be allotted, that the right parties should be
chosen in every Instance History shows
that no administration, from the time OF
Washington TO the present, has been free
from mistakes but, | leave comparisons to
history, claiming only that i have acted
in every instance from conscientious de-
sire TO do wha. was right, and constitution
al. within the law and for the very best
interests OF the whole people. The failures
have been errors OF judgement and not ef
intent. Nv civil ca.2er commenced at the
most critical and difficult time: less than
four years before, the country had emerged
from a conflict such as no other nation
had ever survived; nearly One-half OF the
States had revolted against the Government,
and of these remaining faithful to the
Union large percentage OF the population
sympathized with the Rebellion, and made
an enemy in the rear almost a. dangerous
as the more honorable enemy in the front /;
the latter committed errors OF judgement,
but they maintained them openly and val
liantly; the former received the pro-
lection OF the Government they would
see DESTROYED, and reaped ali the pc
cuniary advantage TO be gained out Of
the then existing state Of Affairs,
many Of them by obtaining contracts and
by swindling the Government in the deliv-
cry Of their goods. Immediately on the
cessation of hostilities the noble President
H. oI ,aI .ha for
Its perils, fell a martyr TO his patriotism
at the hands of an assassin. The interven-
ing time to my first Inauguration was fill
up with wranglings between Congress and
the new Administration, as TO the best mode
OF reconstruction, or, TO speak plainly, as 10
whether the control Of the Government
should be thrown Immediately
into the hands of those who had recently
and persistently tried to destroy il, or
whether the victors should continue 10
nave an equal voice with them in this con-
troll Reconstruction, as finally agreed
upon, means this and only this, except that
the late slave was enfranchised, giving an
increase, as was supposed, to the Union
loving and Union supporting votes. Ii
free, IN the full Eenss Of the word, they
would not disappoint this expectation.
hence at the beginning of my first admin
istratiol TIE work OF reconstruction
much embarrassed By the long delay, then
virtually commenced. 1t was the work of
the legislative branch of the Government.
Nv province was wholly in approving
their acts, which did most heartily, urg-
ing the Legislatures OF the States that had
not done so, 10 ratify the Fifteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution. The country
was l&boring under an enormous debt, Co..
tracted i the suppression Of the rebellion,
and taxation was 50 oppressive as TO dis
courage production. Another danger also
threatened the United States in the pros
pect Of foreign war. the last difficulty
had to be adjusted, ard was adjusted with
out war, in manner highly honorable to
all parties concerned.
DEBT AND TAXES.
Oar taxes have been reduced within the
last seven years nearly three hundred mil
lions Of dollars. and the natural debt has
been reduced within the same time over
four hundred and thirty-five Mullins of dol
lars by refundiug the six per cent. bonded
debt for bonds bearing and per cent
interest, respectively, the annual interest
has been reduced from over one houndred
and thirty millions of dollars in 1869. TO
but little over one hundred millions Of dol
lars In 1875.
THE BALANCE OF TRADE
has been changed from over one hundred
and thirty millions against the United
States in 1863, to more than one hundred
and twenty millions OF dollars in our favor
in 1876, and it is confidently believed that
IL, -, e -, IL Il
States will continue to increase, and not
diminish, and tina; the pledge OF Congiess
TO resume
SPECIE PAYMENTS.
In 1879 will be easily accomplished even
in absence OF much desired further legisla-
ton on the subject.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
A policy has been adopted towards the |
Indian tribes inhabitng a large portion of /,
he territory of the United States which |
mas been humane. and has substantially |
ended Indian hostilities in the whole land, |
except in portion of the State of Nebraska. |
and Dakotah. Wyoming ard Montana terri |
Black Hills region and the ap- |
proGches Observation-Disclosures there have |
grown out of the avarice of the white man,
rho has violated oIy treaty stipuiations in /
his search for gold. The question might /
De asked, why the Government has not en-
orced obedience to the terms of the treaty |
the occupation of the Black |
Hills region by whites, and the answer is
'imple: The first emigrants to the Black |
Hills were removed by troops but numerous
md fresh discoveries of gold took into that |
egion increased numbers. Gold had actu-
lilly been found there in paying quantities,
md efforts 10 remove the miners would
,niy result in the desertion of the bulk of
he troops that might be sent there to re-
move them. All difficulty in this matter
las, however, been removed, subject 10 the
approval OF Congress, by a treaty cedirg
he Black Hills and appro aches TO settle
nent by citizens. The subject OF the In
Ian policy and treatment is 30 fully set
orth by the Secretary of the Interior and
he Commissioner OF Indian Affairs and
nv own news 20 fully expressed therein,
hat L refer to their reports and recommen
ations as my own.
FOREIGN AFFAIKs.
The relations OF the United States with
oreigD powers continue on friendly foot
ng. Questions have arisen from time to
ime in the foreign relations of the Govern
,ent, but the United States have been hap
lily free, during the past year, from the
and elbarrassments which
ave surrounded some Of the foreign pow
rs. The diplomatic correspondence SUBJ
lifted herewith contains information "a to
.r,ain of the matters which have occupied ,
ne Government. The cordiality which at {
.nds our relations with the powers of the
nth has been plainly shown by the gener- /
participation of foreign nations in the ex-
ibition which has inst ceased and nv The