, 1877-12-15

exact observance to public faith will enabl,
the government to rapidly reduce the burder
OF Interest on the national debt TO an amount
not exceeding S20, 1900, coo per annum, anC
effect an aggregate saving to the Unitet
States OF more than $500, 0U0, 0cO before the
bonds can be fully paid. In adopting tn,
new silver coinage TO the ordinary uscs o
currency III the every day transactions u
hte and preserving the quality of legal tender
to be assigned 1t, a consideration OF the frs,
Importance should bc to SO adjust the ra.iC
between the silver and the gold Coinage
which now constitutes two species of cur
rcncy, as to accomplish the desired end o
maintaining the circulation OF the two me
tallIc currenclcs and keeping up the volume
OF the two precious metals as our intrinsic
money. II is mixed question for scientific
reasoning and historical experience to dc.
termine how far and by what methods Z
which viii keep both metals i'll circulation in
their appropriate spheres OF common use.
An absolute equality Of commercial value
from disturbing fluctuations Is hardly attain
able, and without 1t an unlimited legal tender
Tor private transactions assigned TO both me-
tails would tend to drive out Of circulation
the dearest coinage and diSappoiat the prin-
cipal object proposed by the legislation III
view. apprehcnd, therefore, that the two
conditions of a near approach to equality Of
commercial value between gold and silver
com of the same denomination and % 4 hmi-
tatIon Of the amounts Tor which the silver
coinage Is to be Il legal tender, are essential
to maintaining both in circulation. Ii these
conIsIonS can he successfully observed the
issue from the mint of silver dollars would
afford material assistance to the community
IN the transition To redeeEable paper money
and would facilitate the resumption oi specie
payments and its permanent establishment.
Without those conditions | fear that only
mischief and misfortune would flow from a
coinage Of silver dollars with the quality Of
unlimited legal tender Even III private
transactions any expectation Of temporary
ease from an issue OF silver coinage to pay rs
i Legal tender IT :, rate materially above its
commercial value is, am persuaded, delu-
SION ; nor can ! thinl; that there Is any sub
StGnt!al distinction between an original issue
of silver dGilarS at a nominal value material
ly above their commcrcIa! raluc and the re-
of the silver dollar at rate which
was once but has ceased to be its commercial
value. Certainly the issue OF our gold com
age, reduced i'll we;gAt materially below It's
le9al tender value, would not bc any the less
4 present debasement of the coinage by
reason Of its equality or even exceeding IN
weight 2 good coinage, which at some past
time has been commercially equal to the legal
tender value assigned t. the new isSue. In
recommending that the regulation OF any sill
yer coinage which may bc authorized by con
eress should observe these conditions Of com-
lnercial value ana limited legal tender, am
governed Icy the feeling that every possible
increase shunlI be given to the volume OF
metallic money which cGn bc kept III clrcnia-
ton and thereby every possible 2ld @ticrdcd
to the people IN the p-ocess OF reSamnS
specie payments 1t is because Of my c"a-
vi:tion that disregard of these conditions
would frIs;rate the good results which are
desired from the proposed coinage and en-.
barr2.;s with Hcw clements, with confusion
and uncertainty the business Of the country
that nr3e upon your attention these CON
sidcratiolls
| respectfully recommend to congress that
in any legislation providing for silver coinage
and ilnparting 70 it the quality of legal ten
der there be Impressed Oh the measure firm
cxen,p:ing the public debt hereto
fore issued and Eow outstanding from pay
Iacnt either Of principal or interest in any
.oinage Of less value than the present gold
coinage OF the country.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
The organization of the civil service OF
the country has for number of years at
tracted more and more of public attention.
80 general has become the opinion that
-he methods of admission to it, and the con
iitions of remaining IN 1t, are unsound,
that both of the great political parties
have agreed in the most explicit deelara-
ions of the necessity Of reform, and III
he most emphatic demands for 1t. have
;ully considered the declarations ard de
nands to be expressions Of sincere con
rictions of the intelligent masses OF the
people upon the subject, and that they
should be recognized and followed by
earnest and prompt action Oh the part Of
the legislative and executive departments
# the government. In pursuance of the
purpose indicated before LILY accession to
office | cndcarured to have my own views
distinctly understood, and upon my IN
my accord with the public
opinion WAS stated i'll terms believed to
be plain and unambiguous. My expe:i-
ence and belief i'll the great advantage Of
following strictly the plan OF the eonSti-
tuition, which imposes upon the executive
the sole duty and responsibility of the
selection Of those federal officers who by
law are appointed, not elected, and which
in like manner assigns 10 the senate the
ri sht to advise and consent To or
10 reject the nominations SO made, whilst
the house of representatives stands rs the
public cenSorof the performance Of official
duties, with the prerugatlve OF lnvestlga-
ton in all cases of dereliction. The
blemishes and imperfections III the civil
service, may as | think, be traced in the
most cases TO a practical confusion of the
duties assignedto the several departments
Of the government. My purpose IN this
respect has been to return 10 the system
established by the fundamental law, and
to do this with the heartiest cooperation
and most cordial understanding with the
senate and house Of representatives Tie
| olitical difficulties in the selection of
numerous officers Tor posts of widely
Tarying responsibilities and cares are ac
TO be very great No system
can be expected TO secure absolute free
dom from mistakes, and the beginning of
any attempted change Of custom is quite
likely TO be more embarrassed in tins re-
spect than at any subsequent period. 1t is
here that the constitution seems to most
prove its claim to be the great piece OF
wisdom accorded TO It, 1t gives TO the
executive the assistance cf the knowledge
and experience of the senate, which when