The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-12-14


claims of members to their seats In the
meanwhile il becomes the duty OF the Ex.
ecutiye and Judicial Departments Of the
/ Government, each in its province, to inquire
/ into and punish violations of the laws oil
the United States which have occurred. !
can hut repeat what ! said in this connec
tion III my last message, that whatever au.
thority rests with me to this end shall not
hesitate to put forth, and am unwilling to
forego a renewed appeal to the legislatures
the courts, the executive authorities, and
| the people of the States where these wrongs
| have been perpetrated, to give their assist
ance toward bringing to justice the offend
ers, and preventing a repetition of the
crimes. No means within my power will
be spared to obtain a full and fair investiga-
! tion of the alleged crimes, and to secure the
conviction and just punishment of the
| guilty.
1t is to be observed that the principal
appropriation made for the Department of
/ Justice at the last session contained the fol.
! lowing clause: /" And in defraying the ex-
! penses which may be incurred for the en-
| foreement of the act approved February
! IS, 1871, entitled An act to amend an ae.
! approved May 80, 1870, entitled an act to en-
/ force the rights of the United States to vote
in the several States of the Union, and for
other purposes or any act amendatory
| thereof or supplementary thereto"
1t is the opinion of the Attorney Cen
eral that the expense of the proceedings
will largely exceed the amount which was
thus provided, and rely confidently upon
Congress TO make adequate appropriations
to enable the Executive Department to en-
force the laws.
l respectfully urge upon your attention
that the Congressional elections, in every
district, in very important sense, are
Justly matter of political interest and con-
Germ throughout the whole country. Each
State, every political party, is entitled to
the share Of power which is conferred by
the legal and constitutional suffrage 1t is
the right of every citizen, possessing the
qualifications prescribed by law, to cast one
unintimidated ballot, and to have his ballot
honestly counted. So long as the exercise
of this power and the enjoyment OF this
right are common and equal, practically as
well as formally, submission to the results
of the suffrage will be accorded loyalty and
cheerfully, and all the depai tments of Gov
eminent will feel the true vigor of the pop
ular will thus expressed. No temporary or
administrative interests OF Government,
however urgent or weighty will ever dis
place the zeal of our people in defense of
the primary rights of citizenship. They I'M
derstand that the protection of liberty re.
quires the maintenance, the full vigor, of
the manly methods of free speech, free
press, and suffrage, and will sustain the full
authority of Government to enforce the
laws which are framed to preserve these es-
Unable RICH s. The material progress and
welfare of the States depend on the pro-
lection afforded to their citizens. There
can be no peace without such protection,
no prosperity without peace, and the whole
country is deeply interested in the growth
and prosperity of all its parts.
While the country has not yet reached
complete unity Of feeling and reciprocal
confidence between the communities so
lately and so seriously entangled, | feel an
absolute assurance that the tendencies are
in that di ection, and with increasing force.
The power of public opinion will override
all political prejudiees, and all sectional
or State attachments, in demanding that all
over our wide territory the name and char
scter of citizen of the United States shall
mean one and the same thing, and carry
with them unchallenged security and re-
spect.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with other countries con.
tinue peaceful. Our neutrality in contests
between foregn powers has been main
tanned and respected.
The Universal Exposition held at Paris
during the past summer has been attended
by large numbers of our citizens. The brief
period allowed for the preparation and ar
rangement of the contributions of our
citizens to this great Exposition was well
employed in energetic and judlcious efforts
to overcome this disadvantage. These eff
forts led and directed by the Commissioner
General, were remarkably successful and
the exhibition Of the products of American
industry was creditable and gratifying in
scope and character The reports of the
United States Commissioners, giving its re-
suits in detail, will be duly laid before you.
Our participation in this in irrational COM
petition for the favor and the trade of the
world may be expec ed to produce useful
and important results, in promoting inter-
course, friendship and commerce with other
nations.
In accordance with the provisions of the
act of February %, 1878, three commits
sioners were appointed to an international
conference on the subject of adopting a
common ratio between gold and silver, for
the purpose OF establishing information
ally, the use of the bimetallic money, and
| securing fxity of relative value between
those metals.
Invitations were addressed to the various
governments which had expressed a willing
ness to participate in its deliberations.
The conference held its meetings in Paris
in August last. The report of the Commits
sioners herewith submitted will show it's
results. No common ratio between gold
and silver coin could be agreed upon by the
Conference. The general conclusion was
| reached that it is necessary to maintain in
| the world the monetary functions of silver
as well as of gold, leaving the selection of
the use of one or the other of these two
metals, or of both, to be made by each
| State.
| Congress having appropriated at its last
session the sum of $5,500000 to pay the
award of the Joint Commission at Halifax,
| if, after correspondence with the British
| Government, on the subject of the conform
| ity of the award to the requirements of the
treaty and to the terms of the question
| thereby submitted to the Commission, the
President shall deem it his duty to make
| the payment, communications upon these
points were addressed to the British Gov
eminent through the legation Of the United
States at London. Failing to obtain the
concurrence of the British Government in
the views of this Government respecting
the award, have deemed it my duty to
tender the sum named within the year
fixed by the treaty, accompanied by no.
tice of The grounds of the payment, and a
protest against any other construction of
the same. The correspondence upon this
subject will be laid before you.
The Spanish Government has officially
announced the termination of the insured
ton in Cuba, and the restoration OF peace
throughout that island. Confident pecta
tions are expressed OF a revival of trade ant
prosperity, which it is earnestly hoped may
prove well founded. Numerous claims o
American citizens for relief for injuries o
restoration of property, have been among
the incidents of the long-continued hos
tilities. Seine of these claims are in process