The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-12-13

complete right to advise and consent
to or TO reject the nominations SO made,
whilst the House OF Representatives
stands as the public censor OF the per-
fOrmance of official duties, with the
Of investigation and pro.
viding in all cases of derelictiOn. The
and lmperfections in the
civil service may, think, be traced in
most cases to a practical confusion OF
the duties assigned to the several de-
partments of the government. My
purpose in this respect has been to re-
turn to the system established by the
fundamental law. and to do this with
IT,. heartiest cooperation and most
cordial understanding with the Senate
and House of Representatives the
practical difficulties in the selection of
numerous officers for posts of widely
varying responsibilities and duties,a ARE
to be very great. No
system can be expected to secure alb
sOlute freedom from mistakes, and the
of any attempted change OF
custom is quite likely to be more en-
Ill this respect than any sub
sequent period. IL is here that the
seems TO most prove its
claims to the great wisdom acc Jrded
to j.. Il gives to the Executive the as
sistance OF the knowledge and expert
ence ot the Senste, which, when act
ing upon nominations, as to which
they may be disinterested and. impair
tial judges, secures az strong y guar
anty OF freedom of errors of iinpOr-
tance as is perhaps possible in human
affairs. ln addition to this | recogniz
the public advantage of making al
nominations. or as nearly as possible,
in the sense of being free
from mere caprice or favor in these
and in those offices which
special training is of greatly increased
value. l believe such q RUE as to the
tenure of office should obtain as may
induce men of proper qualifications to
apply themselves induslriOusly to the
task of becoming prOticlents. t
Bearing these things in mind [ have
to reduce the number OF
changes in subordinate places usually
made upon the change Of a general ad
and shall most heartily
co cooperate with Congress in the better
systematizing of such methods and
rules OF admission to the public SER
promise to be most successful in max
ing through competency, efficiency
and character the decisive tests il
these matters. [ ask a renewed atten
tio.s of Congress to what has already
been done by the Civil Service Com
appointed in pursuance OF an
act OF Congress by my predecessor to
prepare and revise the civil service
rules in regard to much of the depart
mental service, especially at Washing
ton. 1t may be difficult to organize a
better system than that which has thus
been provided, and it is now being
used to q considerable extent under
my direction, The Commission has
still legal existence, although for sew
eral years no appropriation has been
made for defraying its expenses. Be-
lieving that this Commission has ren.
dered valuable service, aud will be q
most unusual agency in improving the
o: the civil service,
recommend that a suita-
BILE appropriation be Immediately
made to enable 1t to continue its SER
vice. 1t is my purpose to transmit to
Congress as early as practicable a re-
port by the Chairman of the Commits
sion, and to ask your attention to such
measures as in your opinion will fur
ther promote Improvement in the civ
il service.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
During the past year the Unite d
States have continued to maintain
peaceful relations with foreign pow
ers. The outbreak of war between
Russia aud Turkey, though at one
Time attended with grave apprehen-
sions as to it's effect upon other Euro
pean nations, has had DO tendency to
disturb the amicable relations existing
between the United States and each OF
the two contending powers,an attitude
of just and impartial neutrality has
been preserved. and 1 am gratified to
state in the midst OF their hostilities
both the Russian and theTurkish gov
ernmnnts have shown all earnest de
sire to adhere TO the obligations of all
treaties with the United States, and to
give due regard to the rights ofAMer
ican citizens. By the terms the treaty
defining the rights, immunities and
of cOnsuls between Italy
aud the United States, ratified in 1868.
either government may, after the lapse
of ten years, terminate the existence
of the treaty by giving twelve months
notice of its intention. The govern
ment of Italy, avsiling itself of this
has now given the required
notice, aud the treaty will accordingly
end on September 17th, 1878. 1t is
however, that the italian
government wishes to renew it in its
general scope, desiring only certain
in some of its articles
In this disposition l concur and shall
hope that no serious obstacles may in
lervene to prevent or delay the nego-
tiations of satisfactory treaty.
NATURALIZED AMERICANS.
Numerous questions In regard to
passports. naturalization and exemp-
lion from military service continue to
arise in cases OF emigrants from Ger
many, who have returned to their
country. The provisions of the treaty
oi February % I, 1868, have proved to
be SO ample aud so judicious that the
Legation of the United States at Ber-
lin has been able TO adjust all claims
arising under it, not only without
lctriment to the amicable relations be-
tween the two governments. but, it is
without injnry or injustice to
he duly nsturalized American citizen.
Ii ia desirable that the treaty original
~ made with the NorthGerman Union
in 1867 shO,.ld now be extended SO as
10 apply equally to all the states of the
German empire.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
The invitation OF the government of
France TO participate in the exposition
Of the products, agricultural industry
and the fine arts to be held at Paris
during the coming wear was submitted
fer your consideration at the extra
session. 1t il not doubted that its ac-
;eptance by the United States, and q
we'll selected exhibition of the pro-
ducts of American industry on that
occa sion will tend to stimulate inter
national commerce and immigration
as well as to promote the traditional
between the two countries.
A question arose soMe time since as to
he proper meaning of the cxtradition