The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-01-04
REFoRn IN TIE MODE OF ELEcr1se PRES


The attention Of congress cannot Be too earnestly
called 70 The necessity Of thCWtug some greater
ing the election Of president. Under the present
system there seems 70 be no providing remedy for
edy y partially, doubt, in the enIiRhtsRment Of
the electors The compulsory support Of the free
not read and write the English language, after =
nEed probation, would meet my hearty approval.
ready vot.rs' bal would 70 an becoming 70 after
the expiration fixed upon foreigners coming to the
country 20 become citizens who are educated In
Their own language would acquire the necessary
"A sqae Of ours daring the neSessaTy residence
enough interest in our language TO acquire sufficient
tions and laws Of the country inteiiFeutiy, would
not confer upon them the TiEht 10 make and enact
laws, but would 70 those who do.
l append to this message Tor convsnisat refer
erenCs- a synopsis Of Administrative events Of all
recommendations to congress By me during the last
seven years. Time may show some Of tie recon-
nendatinns not to have been wisely conceived, but
ADMINISTRATION One Of these recomme1d4ti68z
met With the united opposition Of one political par
the other namely the treaty for the
ANNEXATION OF SANTA DOMINGO
to the United states, to which shall specially re-
concurred in, the country would be in more pros
porous condition today both politically
and upon its soil may be grown Jrst t6oss
tropical products Of which the JUltsd States
f5r market now By tavs iaboEr almost excIasiTsy.
namely, sugar. coffee, dye woods, mahogony, trUpi~
Of the oorts Of Cuba are consumed in The United
states, and large per cent. Of the Extent Brazil ind
ly In coin: IegtsIatina particularly in CQba-beiHg
unfavorabIe to a mutual exchange Of the products
sipDt river to Havana. can pass by the vsry epr
trance g. the city or its way to portion II spain,
then pays a duty dIed upon articles 90 be re-eX-
ported, transferred to spanish vessel and brought
back almost 70 the point Of starting, paving sec
Srcsd in Cf5 ~oi5 h. BEEors5 in "a ~ 6o1iPg2
IA Of CON nfarr be-
tween the Island and the mainland would Be tree.
@ j. ~. ~ ~ t[1L-7 ~ ~ ~ .I
chinery, ETC g51E from the states ne eject thar
these advantages to America is observable at a
glance. The Cuban question would have beeu Get
American vessels would now be sdyantageOUsly
used in Transporting the valuable woods and other
products Of the soil Of the Island to market.
island is but sparsely settled while il has an area
sufficient for the production and employment Of
several millions Of people, the soil would have
fallen TO the hands Of United states capitalists
The products are 50 valuable in commerce that en-
zratiCn there would have been encouraged, and
the gm4InclPated race OF the south Eoggld naE5 5
rights could be disputed, and where their labor
would be much sought after The poorest among
them could have found means to go there in sss Of
great oppression and CTuelties such as been
last eleven years whole C0mmGnitiss would have
sought refuge in san Domingo. / do not suppose
desirable that they should go. Their labor
i desirable, indisPensi6Le alm3st EhsEs
would have len the negro the master Of the sirua-
on pain Of sending them elsewhere DO NOT present
these views now as a recommendation for a renewal
OF the subject Of annexation, but do refer % Il
the present congress my official life terminates, and
receive attention from me further than a. citizen
Of the republic, always taking q deep interest ia
the homer i9tIsgTtsy and prosperity q s1s T9'ls
Executive Mansion December 5, 1876.