The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-06
President Grants Fi:aal Annual
Message to Congress.
WASHINGTON, Dee. 5, 1876.

20 the Senate and House OF Representatives;
In submitting my eighth and last an
nual message to Congress, it seems
proper that I 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 II / had never even
witnessed the excitement attending a
Presidential campaign but twice antece-
dent to my own candidacy, and at but
one of them was eligible as voter. Un-
der the circumstances it is but reasonable
TO suppose that errors of Judgment must
have occurred. Even had there not,
differences of opinion between the
executive, bound by an oath TO the strict
performance Of his duties, and writer's
and debator~, must have arisen. 1t Is
not necessarily evidence Of blunder on
the part of thr Executive because there
are these differences of views.
MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE
as all can see aud 1 admit, but it seems
TO me oftener in the selections made of
assistants appointed to aid III carry
out the various duties of admins
tering the Government, in nearly
every case selected without a personal
acquaintance with the appointee, but
upon recommendations of the repre-
sentatives chosen directly by the peo-
pie. 1t is impossible where so many
trusts are to be allotted that the right
parties should be chosen in every iu-
stance. History shows that no admin
istratiOn, from the time of Washington
10 the present, has been free from these
mistakes. But l leave comparisons to
history, claiming only that have acied
in every instance from conscientious
desire To do what was right, constitu-
tional, within the law and for the very
best interests of the whole people. Fail
ares have been errors of judgment, not
NJ intent
Ny civil career commenced at 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
States had revolted against tho Govern
ment, and of those remaining faithful to
fhe Union large percentage of the pop
ulation mpathized with the rebellion
and made an enemy in the roar almost
As dangerous as the more honorable
enemy in the front The latter com
United errors of Judgment but they
maintained them openly and courageous.
~. The former received the protection
of the Government they would see de-
stroyed and reaped all the pecuniary
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 delivery of their
goods. Immediately on the cessation of
hostihties the then noble President who
had carried the country so tar through
ats perils, fell a martyr to his patrio tism
at the hands Of an assassin. The inter
vening time to my first Inauguration was
filled up with wranglings between Con-
gress and the new executive as to the
best mode of reconstruction, or to speak
plainly, as to whether the control of the
Government should be thrown immed-
lately into the hands of those who had
50 recently and parsistently tried to de-
stroy 1t, or whether the victors should
continue to have al equal voice with
ehen iii this control. Reconstruction,
as finally agreed upon, means this and
only this, except that the late slave was
snfranchised. giving an increase as was
supposed, to the Union loving and
UNION SUPPORTING VOTES.
Ii free in the full sense OF the word
they would not disappoint this expecta-
tlon. Hence at the beginning of my first
administration, the work of reconstruc-
uon,much embarrassed by the long delay,
had virtually to DO commenced. 1t was
the work of the Legislative branch of the
Government, My province was wholly
al approving their acts which / did most
heartily. urging the Legislatures of the
States that had not yet done SO
TO ratify the Fifteenth Amendment
TO the constitution. The country was
Jaboring under an enormous debt con
tracted In the suppression of rebellion,
and taxation was so oppressive as to
discourage production. Another dan
ger also threatened us--a foreign war.
The last difficulty had to be- adjusted
and was adjusted without war and in
n manner highly honorable to all parties
Taxes have been reduced
within the last seven years nearly $780,
DOC, 900, and the national debt has been
reduced in the same time over S435, OOO.-
goo. By refunding the 6 per cent.
bonded debt III bonds bearing 5 and
~ per cent. interest respectively, the
annnal interest has been reduced from
over $130,000.0O0 in 1869 to bnt little
over S1O0,000.000 in 1875. The
balance of trade has been changed
from over one hundred and thirty mil.
lions against the United States in 1869
80 more than one hundred and twenty
millions of dollars in our favor ia 1876.
Is is confidently believed that the bal