The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-12-06
REPORT.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
INTRODUCTORY.

tires:
In submitting my eighth and last
annual message to Congress, it seems
proper that l should refer to and in
some degree recapitulate the events and
official acts of the past eight years. 1t
was my fortune or misfortune to be
called to the Office of chief executive
without any previous political training
from the age of u. l had never even
witnessed the excitement attending a
Presidential campaign but twice ante
cedent to my own candidacy, and at but
one of them was l eligible as a voter.
Under such circumstances it is but
reasonable to suppose that errors of
judgment must have occurred, even had
there not been differences of opinion
between the executive, bound by an
oath to the strict performance of his
duties, and writers and debaters.
have acted in every instance from
conscientious desire to do what was
right, constitutional, within the law,
and for the best interests of the whole
people. My failures have been errors
Of judgment, not of intent.
FINANCIAL
Taxes have been reduced within the
iaob otNCh yCdio hCdiiy CooO,oSO,OOO.aha
the national debt has been reduced in
the same time over s435, ,OOo, 600. The
annual interest has been reduced fivm
over $3.50, ,OOO, 900 in 1869 to but little
over 500, 200, 900 in 1876.
The balance of trade has been chang
ed from over s130, 900, 900 against the
U. S. in 1868, to more than s120, ,0O0. 900
in our favor in 1876.
THE INDIANS.
A policy has been adopted toward
the Indian tribes inhabiting a large
portion of the territory of the United
States, which has been humane and
has subtantially ended the Indian hos
tilities in the whole land except in a
portion of Nebraska and in Dakota,
Wyoming and Montana, the Black
Hills region and approaches thereto.
THE BLACK HILLS.
Hostilities there have grown out of
the advance of the white man, who has
violated our treaty stipulations in search
for gold.
The question might be asked, why
the government has not enforced obe-
dience to the terms of the treaty pro-
hibiting the occupation of the Black
Hills region by whites. The answer is
simple. The first emigrants to the Hills
were stopped by troops, but rumors of
fresh discoveries Of gold took into that
region increased numbers. Gold has
been found in paying quantity, and an
effort to remove the miners would only
result in the desertion of the bulk of
the troops that might be sent there to
remove them. All difficulty in this
matter has been removed, subject to the
approval of Congress, by a treaty ceding
the Black Hills and approaches to set
tlement by citizens. The subject of
our Indian policy and treatment is so
fully set forth by the Secretary of the
Interior and the Commissioner of In
dian affairs, and my views so fully
expressed therein, that refer to their
reports and recommendations as my
own.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The relations of the United States
with foreign powers continue on n
friendly footing. Questions have arisen
from time to time in the foreign rela-
tions of the government, but the United
States have been happily free during
the past year from the complications Of
foreign powers. The diplomatic cor
respondence submitted herewith con-
tains information as to certain matters
which have occupied this government.
| The cordiality which attends our rela-
tions with the powers of the earth has
been plainly shown by the genial par
ticipation Of foreign nations in the
exhibition which has just closed, and
by the exertions made by the distant
powers to show their interest in and
friendly feeling towards the United
States in the commemoration of the
Centennial Of the nation.
OUR NORTHERN BOUNDARY.
The work of the joint commission for
determining the boundary line between
the United States and the British Pos
sessions from the northwest angle of
the Lake-of-the-W Woods to the Rocky
Mountains, commenced in 1872, has
been completed. The final agreements
of the commissioners, with the maps,
have been duly signed, and the work Of
the commission Is completed.
The fixing of the boundaries upon
the Pacific coast by the protocol of
March 10, 1872, pursuant to the award
Of the Emperor of Germany by an ar
ticle Of the Treaty of Washington, with
the termination Of the work of the
commission, adjusts and fixes the boun-
dary between the United States and the
British Possessions, except as to the
portion of territory ceded by Russia
to the United States under treaty of
1867.
| EXTRADITION.
I reserve for separate communica-
tion to Congress statement of the
condition of the questions which lately
arose with Great Britain respecting the
surrender of fugitive criminals, under
the treaty Of 1e42.
MEXICAN MATTERS.
The connections which have been
prevalent in Mexico for some time past,
unhappily seem to he not yet wholly
auieted. It is hoped, however, that
these will ultimately be adjusted to the
satisfaction Of both governments.
| 1t IL with satisfaction that I am
able to announce that the joint com.
mission for the adjustment Of, claimi
between the United States and Mexico
under the convention Of 1868, the dura.
tion Of which has been several times
extended, has brought its labors to .
close.
FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION.
! T. Rcrrnor y,nooanUan l,ave called tlif