Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-30
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents Message.
Tho New York Sun has gotten hold OF
CODY of the Presidents message 10 b. sent 10
at the commencement OF tho regular session OF
Congress- :.
1t contains defence of the Southern policy
and suggestions Of the Mexican policy: which
are, Of COURSE, subordinate TO the hoanclal
chapter Of the message. he discusses the haan.
| cial question very fully, and then taxes sian'
| for specie resumption. He is not disposed 10
| look upavoraby upon limited silver coinage,
| as ia shown 10 the following extract, which IS
from 40 extra proof slip CT a portion ct he mes,
sage now being printed by an extra confidential
set of printers specially detailed Tor the VOL
Upon most anxious and deliberate examlna-
ton. which l have felt it my duty to give to
| the sutecJ, | am but the more confirmed IN
the opinion which I expressed in accepting the
nomination for The Presidency. and again upon
my inauguration. that the policy Of resumption
should be pursued by every suitable meaus.
and that no legislation would be wise that
should disparage the imL ortance or retard the
attainment ofthat result. | have 20 disposition
and c,rtsinly 20 right to question the slocerlty
or the intelligence of opposing opinions, and
would neither conceal DOR u0jerVaIuo the con
| siderable difficulties aod even occasional dis
tresses which may attend the progress OF the
patton toward this primary condition to ltS
general and permanent prosperity. must,
| however, adhere to my most earnest convlcl0n
| that any Waverlng 10 purpose or unsteaolnesS
| in methods, so far from avoiding or reducing
the Inconvenience inSeparable from the tran
slion from an irrcdeemable to a rcdecmable
paper currency, Won d only tend TO Increased
and prolonged distul banoe 10 values, and, I'M
| l.. md
dishoncr and disaster 10 the financial affairs
of the government and Of the people.
Closely connected with this geners! s sahi
O. 81 the The pt01 OF specie payments is ono
of subordinate, but still of grave importance.
| mean the readjustment OF our coinage sys
| tenn by the renewal of the silver dollar as 40
| element in orr specie currency, endowed by
legislation With the quality of legal tender to
greater or less extent. As there is no doubt Of
the power of Congress under the Constitution
to coin money and regulate the value thereof,
and as this power covers the whole range OF
authority applicable to the metal, the rated
value and the legal tender quality which shall
be adopted for the coinage, the considerations
which should induce or discourage particular
measure connected with the coinage belong
clearly to the province of legislative discretion
and of public expcdieuoy. Without intruding
UPON the province of legislation 10 the least,
| have yet thought the subject OF such
critical Importance 10 the actual condition OF
our affairs, as to present an occasion for the cx-
crcise of the duty imposed by the constitution
on the President, of recommending to the con
sideration of Congress such measures as he
shall Judge necessary and expedient." Hold
ing the opinion, as do, that neither the inter.
csts of tho government nor of the people of
the U1ited States would BIO promoted by dis
paraging silver as ono of the two precious met
ais which furnish the intrinsic money OF the
world, and that legislation which shall lock to
maintaining The volume of that intrinsic money
to as full measure of both metals as their rel
alive commercial values will permit would be
neither unjust nor ine1r edent, must ask your
indulgence to brief and indefinite statement
of certain essential features 10 any such legsla'
commend
do not propose to enter tho debate, repre-.
sented on both sides by such able disputants in
Congress and before the people and 10 the press,
as TO the cxentto which the legislation ofany one
nation can control this question, even within its
Own borders, against the unwrtten laws OF trade
or the positive laws Of other governments The
law that may be presented for my approval,
may wholly supercede the necessity OF my co.
terpg into these considerations, and l willingly
avoid either vague or intricate inquiries. 1t is
only certain plain and practical traits of such
legislation that l desire to recommend to your
attention.
In any legislation providing for silver coiu-
age, regulating its value, and impartlng to 1t
the quality of legal tender, it seems to mo OF
great importance that Congress should not lose
sight of it's action as operating 10 a twofold
capacity, and In Two distinct directions. If the
u. S. Government we're free from a public
debt, its legislative dealing with the question of
silver coinage would DO purely sovereign and
governmental, under no restraints but those of
constitutional power. and tho public good as at
fectcd by the proposed legislation, but 10 the
actual circumstances Of the natioo, with vast
public debt distributed very widely among our
own citizs0s, and held 10 great amounts also
abroad, the nature of the silver coinage meas
urc as affecting this relation of the government
to the holders of the public debt, becomes an
clement 10 any proposed legislation of the high
est concern. The obligation of the public faith
trauscends all questions of profit or public ad'
vantage otherwise and it's urquestionablc main
tenance will ever be carefully guarded by Con
gress and people alike. 1t cannot even add to
our peoples sense Of this obligation to know,
as they do. that such maintenance is the die
tate as we'll of the highest expcdiency as of the
most necessary duty.
The Eastern War.
| Az bor,tnforo stated tho oaniurc nf K ars