Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-12-16
MIscELIAHEo Eous.
TEE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The annual message of President Hayes,
as it comes forth in advance of its delivery
to Congress, begins by congratulating that
body upon the success of the financial opera
tions of the treasury and their good effects
upon the business Of tho country. The
resume is not materially different from the
facts aud figures presented in Ghc report of
the Secretary of the Treasury, to bo found
elsewhere, aud of which wo treat in another
article. The public credit has been as
greatly bcnefted by resumption as the gem
crul business of the country, aud the Presi-
dent thinks that all the remaining per ceut.
aud 6 per cent. securities of the government
can be refunded in per ceut bonds. TINS
eiFree;ps Of 8 II, gee, ,0e0
in annual interest.
The silver dollars coined under the recent
acts of Congress now amount to Is 600 900,
of which So, ,300.SI still remain in tho
treasury. Upon the basis of this fact and of
tho current proposition for unity of action to
effect permanent system for the equality of
gold and silver 10 the exchanges between the
commercial nations, tho President advises
Congress to refrain from further experiments
with the coinage and to suspend the coming
of silver dollars as now ordered by law.
He says that ''the retirement from circu.
la,ion OF United Stntes notes, with tho ca.
pacity of IsgsI-tender in private contracts, is
a step to be taken in our progress towards n
safe and stable currency, which should be
accepted as the policy aud duty of the gov.
ernment aud the interest and security of the
people" The President expresses it as his
"frm conviction" that tho issue of legal,
tender paper money on the credit aud
authority OF the government, except in
extreme emergency, "is without warrant in
the constitution aud violation Of sound
financial principles" He therefore advo>
Gates the retirement and the rigid mainte>
nance of the sinking funds, in order TO ex-
tinguish the national debt as soon as possible
in pursuit of our traditional government
policy. If more revenue be needed ii can
be easily obtained by duties on tea and
coffee.
The President refers to the continued de-
liberate violation of the laws supervising
polygamy by prominent citizens of Utah, and
demands the strict enforcement of these laws
which have been decided to be constitutional
by the Supreme Court.
He appeals to Congress aud to the people
of the country to unite in bringing general
public opinion to bear in favor of the general
observance and respect for the laws enforcing
the ssnctity of the suffrage throughout the
whole land, and launches into long and
earnest argument in favor of his views about
the reform of the civil service, which have
several times before been discussed by him.
The President reports that considerable and
satisfactory progress has already been made
in these directions, but he thinks that much
remains still to be done. He distinguishes
elaborately between Offices which are simply
executive and administrative and those which
are more or less political, deeming i. to be
emiuently proper for the Presidents Official
advisers to explain before the people the
policy of an administration brought into
Office by the popular vote, and advocates the
providing of just and adequate means for ex-
amining candidates, SO that the worthiest
claimant may be certain of getting the ap-
pointmept. The Presidents duties 10 these
particulars are obvious, but he contends that
nothing adequate in the premises can be ac>
complished By him without the cooperation
of Congress and the considerate aud intelli-
gent support of tho people. The resumption
of work by the civil service commission is
recommended, and an appropriation to that
end is urged.
The foreign relations of the government
continue peaceful. The difficulty with Great
Britian growing out of the Fortune Bay
CNewfoundland} outrages is being considered
by Lord Beaeonsfeld's government. The
fisheries question. only temporarily adjusted
by the treaty of Washington, needs to be
permanently settled as whole, and negotia-
tions to that end are now in progress. The
message also touches upon the cattle trade
restrictions, upon life. saving measures taken
by the Dominion government in connection
with the commerce of the great lakes, and
upon the Australian international shows,
recommending an increased appropriation for
American exhibits.