The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of
Rpr, fo<S


Representatives:
The members Of the Forty-eixth Congress
have assembled in their first regular session
CALCULATIONS and grateful acknowledgment tC
the Giver of all good for the large and un
usual measure of National prosperity which
we now enjoy. The most interesting events
which have occurred in our public affairs
since my last annual message to Congress arc
connected with the financial operations of the
Government directly affecting the bust
ness interests of the country. l con.
gratulate Congress on the successful execu
ton OF the Resumption act. AT the time fixed
and in the manner contemplated by law, United
States notes began to be redeemed in coin
Since the LIST of january last they have been
promptly redeemed on presentation, a0d in all
business transactions, public and private, in ali
parts of the country, they are received and
pad out AS the equivalent of coin. The de
mand upon the Treasury for gold and silver in
comparatively small, and the voluntary de
post of coin and bullion in exchange for notes
cious metals deposited or exchanged forU nfted
states notes over the amount of United States
notes redeemed is about S40OOO.OO0
The resumption of specie payments has been
followed by Il very great revival of business.
With Il currency equivalent in value to the
money OF the commercial world, we are ena-
other nations i'll trade and production. The
increasing foreign demand for our manufac-
lures and agricultural products has caused a
large balance of trade in our favor. which has
been paid in gold, from the LIST of July last to
November Is, to the amount of about $50 OO0, :
600. Since the resumption of specie payments
there has also been marked and gratifying inn
provement of the public credit The bonds of
the Government bearing only four per cent. in
terest have been sold at or above par, sufficient
in amount to pay or all of the National debt
which was redeemable under present
laws. The amount of interest saved annually
Mares s is is slae The ne bonds s sos
We're largely in small sums. and the number
of our citizens now holding the public secure
amount of the National debt which natures
in less than two years is $1!s, III 100, of which
S5O,WO.tOO bear interest at the rate of five
per cent, and the balance is in bonds bearing
six per cent. interest. 1t is believed that this
part of the public debt can he refunded
by the issue of four per cent. bonds. and
be effected about Sll,0Oo,OO) can be annually
saved to the Treasury. To secure this impor-
tant reduction of interest to be paid by the
United states further legislation is required,
which il is hoped will be provided by Congress
during its present session.
The coinage of gold by the minis of the United
States during the last fiscal year was $40 1856 92.
The coinage of silver dollars since the passage
OF the act for that purpose up to November l,
been issued from the Treasury, and are now in
circulation. and sos are still in the pos
session of the Government. The tendency of
the proposition for unity of action between the
United States and the principal commercial
nations of Europe to effect a permanent
system for the equality of gold and silver
leads me to recommend that Congress
refrain from new legislation on the gen.
eral subject. The great revival of trade, in
coming year its own instructions, which may
well be awaited before attempting further ex-
pcrimental measures with the coinage. I
the importance of authorizing. the Secretary
of the Treasury to suspend the coinage
OF silver dollars upon the present legal
ratio. The market value of the silver
hpinU
than the market value of the gold dollar, it
is obviously impracticable to maintain
them at par with each other if both are coined
without limit. If the cheaper coin is forced
into circulation it will, if coined without limit,
soon become the sole standard of value, and
thus defeat the desired object, which is cur.
equivalent value, dollar for dollar. with the
univerSally-recOgnZed money of the world.
Ihe retirement mt, from circulation 10 OF United
in private contracts, is step to be taken in
our progress toward a safe and stable currency,
which should ,b be accepted as the policy and
security of the people. 1t is my firm
conviction that the issue OF the legal-tender
paper money, based wholly upon the author-
ty and credit of the Government, except in
extreme emergency, is without warrant in the
Constitution. and Il violation of sound finan-
cial principles The issue of United States
notes during the late civil war, with the ca.
pacity of legal tender between private indi-
viduals, was not authorized except as a means
OF reSculng the country from imminent peril.
The circulation of these notes as paper money
for any protracted period of time after the ac-
compishment of this purpose was not contem-
plated plate by the Trainers of the laws under which
demption and withdrawal of these notes at
the earliest practicable period consistent
they were provided. The policy of the Unit
ed States steadily adhered to from the adop-
ton of the Constitution has been to avoid the
creation of a National debt, and when, from
been created, they have been paid of on the
return t. Of peace as rapidly as possible.
THIS eeM aha b of tb this
laws for the accumulation OF a sinking fund
sufficient to extingllish the public debt within
a. mn period be maintained s If any change
necessary by Congress. it is suggested that ex-
periencc has shown that duty can be placed
on tea and coffee which will not enhance the
which will add several millions of dollars an
nually to the Treasury.
THE SUPPRESSION OF POLYGAMY.
The continued deliberate violation by a large
number of the prominent and influential cti-
zens of the Territory of Utah of the laws of
the United States for the prosecution and pun
lShment of pOlygamy merits the attention
OF every department of the Government. This
Territory has population sufficient to entitle
it ep of be as Sas sa3e The ws
the welfare of the citizens of the Ter
ritory, require its advance from the
Territorial form Of government to the respon-
slhillties and privileges of a State. This inn
portant change will not, however, be approved
by the country while the citizens of Utah, in
very considerable numbers, uphold a practice
which is condemned as a crime by the laws of
all civilized communities throughout the
world The law for the suppression of this
ofcnse was enacted with great unanimity by
Congress more than seventeen years ago, but
has remained until recently dead letter in
the Territory of Utah because of the peculiar
difficulties attending its enforcement. The
iladQ fhf,p c<>f
Utah that the law was in cOntravention of the
constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.
nr inns G objection e is now removed The su;
the law to be within the legislative power of
Congress, and binding, us rule of action for
all who resided within the Territories. There
in its enforcement. 1t should be firmly and
effectively executed. If not sufficiently
IN ans 5s as should be
in view, I recommend that more COM
prchensive and more searching methods for
preventing, h as well as furnishing this crime be
provided. Unnecessary to secure obedience to
the law. the enjoyment and exercise of the
rights and privileges of citizenship i'm the
Territories of the United States may be with
held or withdrawn from those who violate or
oppose the enforcement of the law on this sub
jcct. The elections of the past year, though
occupied only with State offices. have not
falcd to elicit in the political discussions
which attended them ali over the country
new and decisive evidence of the deep interest
WnicO tue great OOOy oil CltlZcnS take in the
progress OF the country toward a more gen.
eral and complete establishment, at what
ever cost, of universal security and free
dom in the exercise of the elective franchise.
While many topics of political concern demand
great attention from our people, both in the
sphere of National and State authority l find
no reason to qualify the opinion 1 expressed
in my last annual message, that no Temporary
or administrative interests of Government,
however urgent or weighty, will ever destroy
the zeal of our people in defense Of Tho
primary rights of citizenship. and that the
power of public opinion will override all
political prejudices and all sectional and
State attachments in demanding that all over
our wide territory the name and character Of
citizen of the United States shall mean one
and the same thing and carry with them I'M
challenged security and respect. earnestly
appeal to the intelligence and patriotism Of
all good citizens of every part Of the country,
however much they may be divided in Opin.
ions on other political subjects, to unite in
compelling obedience to existing laws aimed
at the protection of the right of suffrage.
respectfully urge upon Congress to supply
any defects in these laws which experience.
has shown, and which it is within its power to
remedy. l again invoke the cooperation of
the Executive and Legislative authorities of