Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


lage to Congress, is seems proper that should
ser to and in some degree recapitulate the events
and Official acts OF the past eight years.
RETROSPECTIVE.
n was my fortune. or misfortune. 70 be called
10 the office Of ckief Executive without any Ere
s1ous political training From the age Of seven
teen 1 had never even witnessed the excitement
attending Presidential campaign but twice an
Iecedent 10 my own candidacy, and at but
one Of them was / eligible as voter. I'M
der sneh circumstances. it is but reasonable
70 suppose that errors of Judgment must have Oc-
lou between the Executive. bound by an oath to
the strict performance of his duties. ana writers
rlly evidence of blunder the part Of the Execu-
tive because there these differences OF views.
Mistakes have been made. as al can see, and ad
mt, but il to me oftener in the selections
made OF assistants appointed TO AID in
fering the Government in nearly every
cElse selected Without personal end or
CONCENTRATIONS OF representatives chosen directly
by the people. II il impossible where many
trusts 10 be allotted that right parties Should
De chosen IN every instance. History shows that
no administration IRON the time OF Washington
20 the present has been free from these mis-
takes; but leave comparisons TO history, claim
ing tnat have acted IN every instance from con-
tutonal within the law. and for the very best in
terests OF the whole people. Failures have been
errors OF Judgment, not Of intent.
My civil career commenced at most critical
and di fcuIt tfme less than four years before the
country had merg ed from a conflict such as no
other Nation had ever survived. Nearly one-half
menT and Of those remaining iaiflful TO the Union
large percentage OF the population sympafhized
with the rebellion, and made an enemy in the rear
almost as dangerous as the more horrible enemy
IN the 'front.' The latter committed errors of judg
coureccons,y. me former received HE 5rofse
lion OF he Government they would see destroyed.
gained out OF the then exisnng state OF affairs.
many Of them by obtaining contracts and by
swindiing the Government in the delivery OF their
goods.
then noble President who had carried the country
far through It's peTis, fell a martyr to his pat
riOtism at the hands OF assassin The inter-
yeDing time to my first inauguration was filed
mp with wranglrngs between Congress and the
newEX ecutiye TO the best mode Of reconstruction
the Government should be thrown Immediately
INTO the hands Of those who had recently and per
tors should continue TO have equal voice with
them in this control OF reconstruction; finally
agreed upon. II means this and only this, except
that the Late slave was enfranehised, giving an
increase ease as was supposed. 70 the interviewing
sense OF the word they would not dfsappoint this
expectation: Hence at the beginning OF my first
much embarrassed by the long delay virtually
commenced I5 was the work OF tho legislative
branch Of the Government My province was
wholly in approving their acts which did most
heartily urgIng the Legislatures Of the States that
had not done 1t 10 ratify the Fifteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution. The country was labor
ing under an enormous debt. contracted in the
suppression OF the rebellion. and taxation was SO
oppressive as TO discourage production. Another
danger winch also EhfeabeneQ US foreign r.,
The last difficulty had TO be SO adjusted, and
was ADJUSTED, without war, and in
a manner highly honorable TO all parties con-
Cerned.
Taxes have been reduced within the last
seven years nearly SS00,OO0,000. and the National
debt has been reduced in the same time over $4s5.
100000. BY TefuDdnG the six percent. bonded debt
Tor bonds bearing five and four and one-hah per
cent. interest respectively, the annual in
terest has been reduced from over S130,000.0o0
The balance of trade has been changed
from over one hundred and thirty millions
one hundred and twenty millions of dollars in our
favor in 1876 II confidently believed that the
increase. and diminish; and that the pledge OF
Congress- TO resume specie payments in 1879 will
mueh-desired further Legislation on the subject.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
A policy has been adopted towards the Indian
tribes inhabiting large portion of the territory
OF the United States which has been humane, and
has substantially ended Indian hostiIties in the
Dakota. Wyoming and Montana Territories, the
Black Hills region, and approaches thereto Hos
TlIties there have grown out of the OF the
white man, VINO has violated treaty stipula-
tionE IN his search for gold. The question might
obedience TO tbs terms of the treaty promoting
the occupation of the Black Hills region by the
whites. The answer is simple: The first enIgrants
10 the Black Hills removed by troops,
but rumors and fresh discoveries OF gold
took into that region decreased numbers Gold
has actually been found in paving Quantities, ana
an effort to remove the miners would only result
in the destruction of the bulk of the troops that
might be sent there to remove them. All diff
Guilty in this matter has, however, been removed,
subject TO the approval OF Congress, by a treaty
ceding the Black Hills and approaches to settle
Is 80 fully set forth by the Secretary Of the Inter
lor and the Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs, and my views fully ex-
pressed therein, that refer to these reports and
recommendations as my own.
OUR Forcing RELATIONS.
The relations of the United States with foreign
Powers CONTINUE on a friendly footing Questions
have arisen from time to time in the foreign rea-
tons of the Government but the United States
have been happily free during the past year from
the complications and emoarrassments which have
s s1i solne OF tne ioIeisn , FoSers Inc
contains information as to certain of the matters
which have occupied the Government. The cor
diaity which attends relations with the
Powers OF the earth has been plainly shown
by the general participation of foreign Nations
in the Exhibition which has just close d, and by
tre exertlOus made by distant Powers to show
their interest in and friendly feelings toward the
United States IN cOmmemOration of the Centan-
NAL of he Nation. The Government and people
of the United states have not only fully appre-
cated this exhibition of kindly feeling, but II may
be justly and fairly expected that no small ben
efts viii result both TO ourselves and other Ma
tons from better acquaintance and a better ap-
probation of our mutual advantages ana mutual
relations.
Congress at its last session saw fit to reduce the
amount usually appropriated for foreign inter-
OF the Unied h9f ofeG
countries, and for certain consular officers, and
by reducing the amounts usually appropriated Tor
certain other diplomatic posts, and thus necessl-
tattng change IN the grade OF representative. For
these reasons, lmmeoateiy upon the passage OF
the bill making appropriations for diplomatic and
consular service for The present force. lnstFuc-
tons were issued to the representatives
OF the United States at Bolivia,
consular officers for whom no appropriation had
been made, To close their respectlve legations and
cOnsulates, and cease from the performance Of
their duties; and in like manner steps were imme-
Giately taken TO substitute charges d'dGGtres for
Ministers resident IN Portugal, Denmark, Greece
Switzerland and Paraguay. While thoroughly
impressed with the wisdom of sound economy in
the foreign service, as in other branches of the
Government, can not escape the conclusion that
IN some instances the withholding OF appropria-
tons Will prove an expensive economy, and
that the small retrenehment secured by a
change of grade in certain diplomatic
posts is not adequate consideration for the
loss of influence and Importance which will attend
our foreign representatives under this reduction.
am of opinion that a reorganization of the sub
jeet viii cause a change il some instances IN the
conclusions reached these subjects at the last
session of Congress and the Court
ALABAMA CLAIMS COMMISSION.
The Commissioners of the Alabama Claims
whOse functions were continued by an act of the