The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1877-03-09


est and efficient local government as the
promotion of contentment and prosper
ity of their citizens. In that effort
shall make to accomplish this purpose,
l ask the cordial cooperation at all who
cherish an interest in the welfare of the
country, trusting that party ties and the
prejudice of race will be freely surren-
dered in behalf of the great purpose to
be accomplished. In the important
work OF the reconstruction of the Sonth,
it is not the political situation alone that
merits attention. The material devel-
opmeDt of that section of the country
has been arrested by the social and po-
litical revolution through which it has
passed, and now needs and deserves the
considerate care of the National Gov
ernment within the just limits prescrib-
ed by the Constitution and wise pub
lie economy. But at the basis OF all
prosperity, tor that as we'll as every
other part of the country, this improve
ment of the intellectual and moral con-
dition of the people.
| UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE SHOULD REST
UPON UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.
To this end liberal and permanent
provision should be made for the sup
port of free schools by State govern
ments, aid, if need be, supplemented by
| legitimate and from national authority.
/ Let me assure my countrymen OF the
Southern States that it is my earnest
desire and regard to promote their true
| interests interests of the white aud
of the colored people, both equally, and
| to put forth my best efforts in behalf of
a civil policy which will forever wipe
out of your political affairs the color
line and the distinction between North
and South, to the end that we may have
not merely united North and united
South, but united country.
CIVIL SERVICE.
| l ask the attention of the public to
the paramount necessity of reform in our
civil service, q reform not merely as to
certain abuses and practices OF so-ralled
official patronage which lave come to
have the sanction of usage in the several
departments of our government, but a
change i'll the system OF appointment
itself, reform that shall be thorough,
radical and complete, return to the
principles and practices of the founders Of
the government. They neither expected
nor desired from public officers any parti-
san service: they meant that public Off
GERS should owe their whole service to the
government and the people they meant
that the officer should be secure in his
tenure as long as MS personal character
remained untarnished, and the perform
ance of his d:ties satisfactory they held
that appointment to office was not to
be made or expected merely as rewards
for partisan services, nor merely on the
nominations of members of Congress a.
being entitled in any respect to the con
+ troll of such appointments. The fac
that both political parties of the country
in declaring their principles, prior tc
tie subject of the reform OF our civl
: service, recognizing and strongly urging
its necessity in terms almost identical il
their specinc import with those l hav'
here employed, must be accepted a
conclusive argument IL behalf of thes
measures. It must be regarded as al
expression of the united voice and will
OF the whole country.
. THE PRESIDENTIAL TERM SIX YEARS
The President Of the United States
of necessity, owes his election to otfic,
to the su1frages and jealous labors of
political party, members of which cher
ish with ardor and regard as of essentia
importance the principles of their part,
organization but he should strive to b.
always mindful of tile fact that he serve
his party best who serves the countr'
best. In furtherance of the reform w,
seek, and as in other important respect
a change OF great importance, l recon-
: mend an amendment to the Constitution
prescribing term of six years for TIN
Presidential office, and forbidding a re
election.
FINANCIAL.
With respect to the financial condition
of the country l shall not attempt an ex
2 tended history of the embarrassment an
s prostration which we have suffered. duriu
, the past three years. The depression in al
the varied commercial and manufacturin
interests throughout the country which be
D gan in September, 1873, still continues.
j is very gratifying, however, to be able t
p say that there are indications all around u
: of coming change to prosperous times
Upon
THE CURRENCY QUESTION,
z Intimately connected as it is with this tor
I ic, may be permitted to repeat here tn
o statement made in my letter of acceptance
h In my judgment the feeling of uncertainty
inseparable from an irredeemable pape
i currency, with its fluctuations of values.
e one of the great obstacles to a return t
i prosperous times. The only safe pape
/. currency is one which rests upon a col
!, basis, and is at all times promptly CONVEX
; ; ible into coin. l adhere to the views here
tofore expressed by me in favor of Congre
e sional legislation In behalf of an early r,
sumption of specie payment. And [ al
satisfied not only that this is wise, but ths
the interests as well as the public sentimer
4 of the country imperatively demand i
: Passing from these remarks upon the COZ
= dition of our own country to consider OF
sG relations with other lands, we are remjnde
g by International complications abroas
; threatening the peace of Europe, that oil
q traditional rule OF non-interferenee in
a AFFAIRS OF FOREIGN NATIONS
: has proved of great value in past time
and ought to be strictly observed. III
= policy inaugurated by my. shonored pred