American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-09
CANTON, MISS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1876.
lie Government exhibit be removed to
ie Capital and a suitable build
U he erected purchased for its


ing be erected or purchased for its
accommodation as permanent exhibition;
gross would second this view. directed that all
the Government exhibits at the Centennial Ex-
hibition should remain where they are, except
ing such as mightDe injured by remaining in a
| building not intended as protection in inclem-
ent weather, or such may be wanted by the
department furnishing them until the question
of the permanent exhibition is acted on. AL
though the moneys appropriated by Congress to
enable the participation of the several Executive
Departments in the International Exhibition of
1876 were not sufficient to carry out the under
taking to the full extent at first contemplated, it
gives me pleasure to refer t. the very efficient
and creditable manner in which the Board ap-
vide an exhibition on the part Of the Government
have discharged their duties with the funds
placed at their command, without a precedent to
guide them in the preparation OF such a display.
The success of theirslabots WIS amply attested
by the sustained attention which the contents of
the Government Building attracted during the
period of the exhibition from both foreign
and native people. am strongly impressed
with the value of the collection made by the
Government for purposes of exhibition, illus
trating, as it does, the general resources of the
country. the statistical and practical evidences
OF our growth as nation, the uses OF the mer-
cantiae arts. and the applications of applied
science in the administration of the affairs OF the
contributed their exhibits to the United States.
to increase the interest in any permanent exhibit.
generosty thew Should receive the thanks Of the
people, and respectfully suggest that a resolu-
ton of Congress to that effect be adopted.
SAFEGUARDS FOR ELECTIONS.
The attention of Congress can not be too earn.
estly called to the necess ity of throwing some
greater safeguard around the choosing and de-
claring the election of a President. Under the
present system there seems to be no provided
Temedy for Contrasting the election in any one
State. The remedy is partially in doubt. En-
lightenment of the electors, the compulsory sup
port of the free schools ,and the dstranchisement
Of all who can not read and write the English
language after fixed probation, would meet
my hearty approval would not make this ap,
ply, however, to those already voters; but
would to all becoming after the expiration of
probation fixed upon. Foreigners coming to
this country to become citizens, who are edu-
Gated in their own language, would acquire the
requisite knowledge of ours during the pecessa-
ry residence to obtain naturalization. If they
did not take enough interest in our language to
acquire sufficient knowledge of it to enable them
to study the institutions and laws of the country
intelligently / would not confer upon them the
right to make and enact laws not to suit those
whodo. .i
ence synopsis of administrative events and of
all recommendations to Congress by me during
the last seven years: Time may show some Of
conceived, but believe the larger part to be no
discredit to the Administration. One of these
recommendations met with the united opposi-
ton of political party in the Senate, and
with strong opposition from the other-name-
Domingo to the United States, to which shall
specially refer, maintaining, as do, that if my
views had been concurIed in The the country would
-
politically and financially.
sANro DOMINGO
is fertile, and upon its soil may be grown just
those tropical products of which the United
States use so much, and which are produced or
prepared for the market now by slave labor al
most exclusively, namely, sugar, coffee, dye
woods. mahogany, tropical fruits, tobacco. etc.
About IS per cent Of the exports, of Cuba are
consumed in the United States; a large percent
age of the exports of Brazil also find the same
market mere. and are paid for almost exclusively
unfavorabie to mutual exchange of the products
of each country. Flour shipped from the
Mississippi River to Havana can pass by
its way to a PORTION OF Spain, then
pay duty Il xed upon articles to be re-exported,
transferred to a Spanish vessel and brought back
almost to the point of starting, paying second
duty, and still leave profit over what would be
received by direct shipment All that is pro-
duced in Cuba could be produced in santo Do
mingo. Being part OF tine United States, the
commerce between the island and the main land
would be free; there would be no export duties
on her shipments nor import duties on those
coming here. There would be no import
ns from the states Rhe eecs that Would have
been produced upon Cuban commerce. with these
glance. The Cuban question would have been
settled long ago in favor of free Cuba. Hun
eTeds OF American vessels would now be advan-
the island to 3 market and in carrying sup.
sparsely settled, while it las an area sui
fcient for the production and employment OF
several millions of people. The soil would have
soon fallen into the hands of United States capt.
talists. The products valuable in COM
merce that emigration there would have been
encouraged. The emancipated race OF the South
would have found there a congenial home,
where their civil rights could not be disputed,
and where their labor would be much sought at
ter. The poorest among them could have found
means to go there. In cases of great oppression
and crueties such as have been practiced upon
them in many places within the last eleven
years, whole communities would have sought
refuge in Santo Domingo. do not suppose the
whole race would have gone, nor is it desirable
that they should go. Their labor is desirable,
Indispensable, almost, where they now are; but
the possession of this territory would have left
the negro master of the situation by enabling him
to amend his rights at home pain of sending
them elsewhere. do not present these views
now a recommendation for the renewal of the
subject of anne Ration, but do refer to it to vim
dictate my previous action in regard to it.
CONCLUSION.
With the present Congress my official life ter
1t is not probable public affairs will
ever again receive attention from me, further
than citizen of the republic, always taking
a deep interest in the honor and integrity and
prosperity of the whole land.
fSfgned] U. s. GRANT.
Executive MANSION. Dec 5, 1876.