New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-03
PRACTICAL DOCUMENT.
TREATS OF CURRENT SUBJECTS ONLY AND is MOI
UNUSUALLY LONG.

1T TREATS OF CURRENT SUBJECTS ONLY AND is NOT
| UNUSUALLY LONG.
| TBY rELEsRAPH THE TRBUsEl
| WASHINGTON, Dec 2.-The Presidents message
will be submitted to Congress tomorrow. 1t is not
of unusual length and does not treat of any novel
subjects.
After an introduction in the customary form, the
President passes at once to discussion Of the action
OF tie Administration last March in regard TO South
Carolina and Louisiana, rehearsing briefly what
| done in each The President justifes his
action in removing the troops from the State House
| in Columbia and New-Orleans the ground
| Of right, necessity and cOnstitutionality. OF the
effect of his Southern policy, the President says, in
effect that as far he now judge, it has been
| good the Southern States are quieter and more
prosperous than before credit is better; industries
more thriving especially is there absence Of
those acts of violence which before were so com
mon. The President can hardly be said to defend
his Southern policy, but he does call attention to
the evidences Of its success
HONEST DEALING IN FINANCE.
The second general subject treated in the message
! is the financial question. On the main points Of
this important controversy in the country the Pres
| dent gives no uncertain sound He speaks of the
resumption Of specie payments as matter of the
greatest and most general Importance to the people
| of the country, and necessary for the purpose Of
bringing our internal and foreign commerce into
| harmony with that of the rest of the world.
After most anxious and careful examination, the
President declares himself as more than ever con-
| irmed IN the opinion he expressed in his letter Of
acceptance and in his inaugural address, that the
policy of resumption should be pursued by every
| suitable means, and that no legislation that would
rotarl or postpone it ought to be enacted. lie be-
eycs that any wayering in purpose, or unsteadness
in methods instead Of relieving the country from any
Of tie Inconvenience attendant upon return to
specie payments would only aggrayate and prolong
tho distress already caused by an rredeemable paper
currency, aud end in serious disaster and dishonor
The mischief which would result from any other
policy than which will bring speedy resumption
would not, he believes, be confined to any class OK
people, although he thinks the industrial masses
would suffer most.
Secretary Sherman, in his report does not ask for
any additional legislation to enable him to carry
tine Resumption Act into effect, and the President,
in his message, agrees with the Secretary of the
Treasury. If Congress was favorable to resump-
ton and ready to assist the Administration in bring
ing about the specie payments, some additional
laws would be asked for but it is, the President
agrees with the Secretary that resumption can be ef
eced under the present laws by January l. 1879, and
also agrees 10 the wisdom of the policy of not asking
for further legislation. The Secretary also holds
that the Resumption Act of 1875 does not require
the cancellation and destruction of the $3OOOO0,-
900 of United States notes which ROMAN after the
volume Of the gTeenback currency has been reduced
to that point and that it may be left in circulation
for while, being always exchangeaole, OF course
at the sub-treasures for gold coin.
SILVER.
On the silver question the President Is equally ex
plict in his message He holds the ground that
I .tttri yaflf N -
reucy Of the country but he does not agree with
those who would undertake to legislate that
90 or 92 cents worth of silver shall pass
| or be receivable in the place OF 100 cents
| worth OF gold The public debt of the
country was contracted in the money of the world
and with the understanding that 1t should be PAID
principal and interest, in the money OF the world
| Tie does not therefore, favor any legislation that
would force the creditors of the United States to
receive in payment of what is due them any silver
| currency worth less than par in gold.
In other words the President declares his belief
in the good policy of using both precious metals, but
| he states his opposition TO any proposition that
| Congress shall exercise the power given it by the
| Constitution to coin money and regulate the value
thereof in such way as to swndle people.
TIN, President 10 in favor of making silver liberal
subudiary CON- with lega-tender limit somewhat
greater than al present, but is not IN favor OF max
|
| ing it an unlimited lega-tender.
| REFoRM-MExICAN AGGREssIoNs.
In treating Of Civil Service reform the President,
IN his message repeats in substance, the opinions
,rr.ssed in his inaugural address. As his views on
this subiect are well known to the country he has
ot annarenty deemed it necessary to discuss 1t az
vorv great length OF course he does not
| r.fcr directly To the controversy that mas
| aise, betyeen the Senate and the Execu-
| tve over the subject of appointments, nor
| il there ANYTHING in the message which eVlhcesa
d.nostion by the President to quarrel with the SEN
~ or IN interfere with the widest exercise by that
| bodv NJ the prcrogatiyes which belong to It, WINE
hot nortion of the message which relates to civil
Service reform is uuequiyocal IN ITS language the
| ,bioct 10 NOT owen as much prominence as might
| have been expected.
M subjects connected with the foreign relations
- the limited States. the Mexican border question
is naturally given the most prominence Inc condi-
tion M affairs ON the Rio Grande frontier, as shown
lv official reports received by the ADMINISTRATOR Is
| briefly described; and the considerations which
| led to the order to the commanders OF ohlteu
! States Troops 10 cross the river wheh III Iuli
pursnit of raiders, and punish them on Next
oan soil are recited. While the President re-
eocnIzes the delicacy of the position assumed
nv the Government by the issue OF that Order anu
i not unmtndfu Of the fact that IT may lead 10
serious international complications, he DEFENDS IL on
the ground that in no other way could the lives ana
property of our citizens be protected lie dlsclhuis
any intention or desire, to provoke hosthties with
the Mexican Republic.
This mart of the message shows that the foreign
poicy of the Administration, while IL Is vigorous
| one ia not one which seeks trouble Win o'her ha-