Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-04


may Be ulslGtcrestc;l and ;mp.ria! judges, Sc
cures as strong Il guaranty q Ircr!A'i from er-
rorS Oh lmp0TtaUc2 as Is perhaps iI">S:ia Ia Eu-
man affairs.
10 addition to this, r:cosLiZ> Tie public adj
vantage of making all nominations, as aear;y as
possible, impersonal, in The scrsa ct being tree
from mere caprc, OF favor 10 thc scIeclol; and
10 those Offices in which special training is OF
greatly increased value bcli7c such q rue al
to the tenure of ofic, should obtain, IS may
ioduce men Of proper qualifications to apply
themselves indu.tiiOusy to the task Of hccom
ing pro6cients B,ariug thos? things in mind,
have en 1eavorcd to rcducc The number CT
changes IN subordinate places, usually made u?
| on the change OF the genera! administration,
aud shall most heartily co operate with Con
gress 10 the better systematzlnE Of such meth
| DDS and rules Of admission to the public ScrVlc2
and Of promotion within it., IL nay promise to be
most successful in makios thorough eomrc;cn-
cy, efficiency, aud character, the decisive tests
| in these matters.
The revolution which recently occurred in
Mexico Yves followed by the ACCESSION OF the
| success full party 10 power, and the lnstailat'oh
of its chief. General Pcrf,ro Daz. in tho prtsl'
| Dental Office. 1t has bonn tho custom OF TIE
United Stsle;, VIII IN such changes OF goTer"-
ment have heretofore occurred in Mexico. to re
cognze and enter into cticial relations with the
de tacto government as soon IS It III )uld appear
| to ave The approval Of the Mexican people,
and should manifest q DISPOSITION To adhere II
tho obligations Of treaties End international
friendship. In the present CASH s IN Gill 1l.l re-
cogntion has bean deferred By tho occurrences
on the Rio Grande border, the records o. watch
have already been communicated To each House
Of Congress, in answer to their respective reso-
lutons of inquiry. Assurances have been ro
ceved that The authorities at thu seat OF the
ian
aid the power to prevent and punish such I'M
lawful invasons and depro5a.luns. 1t IS c!rn.
esty TO be hoped that events m.y provo these
assurances to DO well founded. The best later
ests OF both countries require the maintenance
of peace upon the border, and tho development
Of commerce between the two republics.
It is CRAFTY ing to sdd that this temporary in
corruption of official relations has not prevented
due attention by the Representatives of TIE United
States in Mexico to tho protection Of American
citizens, so far as practicablo Nor has it Inter
fered with tho promp! payment OF tho amounts
duo from Mexico TO the United States under the
treaty of July (, 1868. and tho awards OF tho
Joint commission. While | do not anticipate an
interruption of friendly relations with Mexico,
yet cannot but look with some sollCltude upon
| a continuance of border disorders lis exposing
tho two countries to init atoms Of popular f,el-
ing and mschances Of action which arc natur-
ally unfAvorable to complete Gmity. Firmly
determined that nothing shil be wanting Oh NY
part TO promote q good understanding botwech
tho two nations, yet must ask the attention OF
Congress TO the actual occurrences on the Dor
der, that tho lives ard property of our citizens
may be adequately protected md peace pre-
served.
The Government Of tho Samoan Islands has
sent an envoy in the person CT is Secretary Oh
State TO invite tho Government Of tho United
States TO recognize and protect thar indcpond
ence to establish mercisl relations with their
people, and to assist them in their steps toward
regulated and responsible government. Inc In
hsbtsnts of these islands having made con:l 1e'
able progress in Christian civilization ana the
dcvalopment of trade, are doubtful CT their abll-
ity to maintain peace and indopeE Ance without
the aid Of some stronger Power. The subject Is
deemed worthy of respectful attention, and the
claims upon our assistance by this disl@Gt com
munity will DO carefully considered.
A tax of ten cents pound on tea AID t%o c.s.
| q pound on coffee would produce q rcvonue eX-
ceedIg Sl2. 0CO. 0C0. and thus enable Congress to
repeal multitude OF annoying taxes, ylodlAG
revenue not exceeding that sum- The internal
revenue syste n grew out OF the necessities OF the
war, and most OF tho legislation Imposing taxes
upon domestic products, under this system has
been repealed. by tho substitution OF a lax on
tea and cotfco, all forms Of internal taxation may
| Lv uyualId, eAuopt tnaL OH wnlskey, spirits, To-
bacco and le3r.
Attention is also call d to :ha necessity q
enacting more vigorous laws FIR th' protection
OF the revenue and for tho puni: hmOnt of fraud;
and smuggling. This Can best be donn by judi
cious provisions hst will induce the di:cio3urt
of attempted fraud by undcr-vaustlon sI.t
smuggling. All reveaue laws should be simple
in thor provisions and easily understood Sc
far as practicable the rates Ct tsXatlon should bl
in tAs form Of specific duties; and not al n"!ar
en- recurring tho jud8 mont Of experienced ln2T
to ascertain values and exposing tho revenue Il
the temptation Of fraud.
| Disturbances along tho Rio Grar do, in Texas
to which l have already referred, have rondcret
necessary tho constant employment CT a mill
tary force in that vicinity. a lull report or nj
recent military operations in that quarter ha
been transmitted TO tho House Of Represents
tives in answer to resolution Ct that body, and
it will, therefore, not be necessary To ontor into
details. regret to say that these lawlesS incur
sions into our territory by armed bands from
the Mexican side of tho iiao, for the purpose {
| robbery, have been OF frequent occurrence. and
in spite Of thy most vigilant Efforts of tho com
mander ofour forces, tho maraudcrs have geEe7.
ally succeeded in escaping into Mexico With
their plumber In May last gave orders for
the exercise Of the utmost vglancn on the part
of our troops for the suppression Ct these raids
as the rocapture Of property sttl1n by them.
General Ord, commanding in Texas, WAS direct
cd to invite the cooperation OF tho Mexican
authorities in efforts to this cud, and to assure
| them that wss anxious 70 avoid giving tho least
offence to Mexico. At the Same time he was
| directed to give notice of my denomination to
put an end to the invasion Of our territory by
| lawless hands, intent upon the p'under OF our
peaceful citiz9n even if the etlectusl punish
ment Of the outlaws should mako the crossing
| Of the border by our troops. in their pursuit,
necessary. 1t is believed that this policy has
had the effect to check somewhat these depreda.
tions, akd that with considerable increase Of
our force upon the frontier, and the cstablis h.
ment of several addi!ionsi military posts along
the Rio Grande, so as more efectua!ly to guard
that extensive border, peace may be preserved,
and the lives and proper of cur citizens in
Texas fully protected.
1t is encouraging to observe in connection
with tho growth OF fIn.crnsl feciug in thoso
States in which slavery formerly existed, evil
dences of increasing interest in universal educe.
| ton, and shall be- glad to give my approval to
any approopristiate measures which may DO en-
menting with national aid tho local systems of
education in those States and in all the States
| and having already invited your attention to tho
needs of the District Of Columbia with respect to
| its public school system, l hero add that l be.
lieve it desirable not so much with reference to
the local wants of the District, but 10 the great
and lasting benefit of the entiro country, that