The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-12-12
Presidents Message.
the senate and House OF

Representatives..
The members Of the Fory-siyth Congress
have assembled IN their frsf regular session
under circumstances calling for mutual con-
CALCULATIONS and grateful acknowledgement Ia
the eiNerof all g.rsi for the large and un-
usual measure OF National prosperity which
ave now enjoy. The most interesting events
which have occurred In our public affairs
since my last annual message 10 Congress ira
81 VITA the financial operations Of the
Government directly affecting the bust
ness interests Of the country con-
graduate Congress ON the successful execu-
tion 0f the Resumption act. Al the time liked.
.and In the manner contemplated by law. United
since the Isl IL january last they have hccn
promptly redeemed on presentation. and In all
business transactions, public and private, In all
parts OF the country, they are received and
paid out as the equivalent 81 coin. The de-
Inand upon the Treasury for gold and silver I'm
exchange for United States notes has been
comparatively small. and the voluntary de-
posi- Of coin and bullion in exchange for notes
has been very large. The excess Of the pre-
cious metals de2osiie OF cxrsanged foruniiee
States notes over the amount Of United SfatsS
anoss.~ redeemed u about <tOUjOUD.
Jnr resumption ~ specie payments has been
!ol..~ed p very great revival ~ business
money of the commercial world. VIC cna-
oiled ~ enter upon ma equal competition with
other nations In trade and production. tn.
increasing foreign demand for our nlanufac-
lures and agricultural products has caused a
large balance 81 ,radc I'm our favor. which has
been paid Ia gold. from the Isl Of July last To
November -. 20 the amount OF about S51uDp,-
COO since the resumption ~ specie payments
there has been q marked and gratifying Inn
prOycmcnf 81 the public credit The bonds IT
the Government bearing only per cent. inter-
est have sold ~ or above par, suiilc lent in
amount g pay gu az - the National Az. dep,
laws. The amount Of interest saved annually
by the process ~ rcfundng the debt since
March !. isss. Is <lf,.ys.lss. The bonds sold
we're largely IN small sums. and the number
OF our citizens now holding the public securi-
ties Is much greater than ever before The
amount ~ the National debit which natures
IN loss than TWO years. Is S.ss..igl..n, Of which
<G0us0.t00 bear interest AZ the rate ~ 1--WE
per cent. and the balance j. in bonds bearing q
Fer cent interest IL i believed that this part
OF the public debt be refunded
BY the issue of four per cent. bonds and
y sas DEDUCTION a an ,n's5sss which Will ,nms
saved 70 the Treasury. To secure this impOr-
tant reduction Of interest 10 be paid BY the
United states further legislation Is required.
which il Is hoped will BE- provided by Congress
during IL present session. The coinage OF
gold by the ilints OF the United states during
zee mag sf ss YER dss s the
o. the act for thst purpose UP 20 November !.
been issued from the Treasury. and are now In
circulation. and <-S.3ni<6 are stiil IN the pos
session ~ the Government: The pendency 81
the proposition Tor unity O! action between the
United States and the principal commercial
nations Of Europe 20 eject permanent
system for the equality Of gold and silver
leads me 70 recommend that Congress
refrain from any new legislation on the gen
eral subject Inc great revival q trade IN
coming year itS own Instructions. which may
well BE- awaited before attempting further cx-
perimental measures with the coinage. 1
would. however, strongly urge upon Congress
the importance Of authorizing the Secretary
Of the Treasury "a suspend the coinage
OF silver dollars upon the present leHtl
ratio. The market value ~ the silver
dollar heing uniformly aud largely less
than the MARKET value ~ the gold dollar. u
Il obviously inpfscticable 70 maintain
them at par with each other II both are coined
without limit. II tire cheaper coin l. forced
into circulation u will. IL coined without limit.
econ become the sole standard ~ value. and
thus defeat the desired object. which Is cur
rcncy ~ both geld and silver. which shall hc ~
equivalent value. dollar for dollar, with the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS money ~ the world.
The retirement flum circulation ~ united
States notes, with the capacity u legal tender
IN private Contracts. y u step a. he taken In
our prp0ress toward a safe ami stable currency.
which should - accepted a. the policy AMI
duty ~ the Government ani the Interest ind
security " the people. " - my firm
conviction that the issue ~ the lcual-tcndcr
paper money. iasci wholly upon the authnri-
IL and credit ~ the Government. except IN
extreme emergency. r without warrant IN the
Constitution. and "A violation ~ sound imam
cia principles. The issue ~ United states
notes during the late civil war with the ca
pncify ~ legal tender between private indi-
yiduals. not authorized except A. means
Of rrscning the cuuntr. from imminent peril.
The circulation Uf these notes AZ paper ~
Tor any prutrnctcd period 81 time after the ac-
complisnmcnt " this purpose was not contem-
plated rs the Trainers ~ the laws under which
they were issued. They anticipated the re-
demptf0n and withdrawal 81 these notes ~
the earliest practicable period consistent
with the attainment Of the object for which
they were provided, The policy M the Unit
ed States steadily adhered 20 from the adOp-
zion ~ the Constitution has been 20 avoid the
creation OF a National debt. and when, from
necessity. in time OF war. debts have
been created. they have been paid OF on the
return ~ peace as rapidly A. possible.
pose. Il i recommended that the existing
laws for the accumulation uf a sinking fund
sufficient - cxtnguish thc public debt within
a limited period DC maintained. II any change
OF the objects or rates Of taxation q deemed
necessary by Congress. II j. suggested that OK.
pcricncc has shown that duty can b. placed
on tea and coffee which win not enhance Inc
price ~ those articles 20 the consumer. and
which will add several millions Of dollars an
uuaily 20 the Treasury.
rnE srPPREssIoS or rOLyGAMY.
The continued Deliberate violation ~ large
number Of tho prominent and influential citi-
xcns 81 the Territory of Utah of the laws q
the United states for the prosecution and pun
tkhmcnt 81 poygnmy merits the attention
OF every department of the Government This
Territory has population sufficient a. cnfitie
y 70 admission as State. The general
interests 81 the. Nation, as well a.
s s.a, wers q ne s aysnse q f the T
Territorial firm 81 government ~ the rcspon-
sibiIiiic- and privileges ~ state. This i'm.
pOrtnnt change will not. however. be approved
by the country while the citizens ~ Utah. In
very considerable numbers. uphold practice
which ~ condemned n crime BY the laws "a
all CIVILIZED communities throughout thu
world The Inv for the suppression ~ this
oncnse was enacted with great unnnimltv rs
Congress more than seventeen years ago. nul
has remained until recently dead letter in
the Territory ~ Utah because Of the peculiar
diihcuitics attending ifs enforcement. Tho
opinion widely prevailed among the citizens ~
Lthh tnat the law was I'm cnnfrYNcntiun ~ tho
constitutional guarantccOf religious freedom
This objection l. now removed. The SUI
prcme Court 0f the United states has decided
the law 70 I've within the legislative power ol
Congress, and binding. as rule Of action. fui
all Who resided within the Territories. Their,
9snn longer any reason for delay or hesitation