The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-03-18


by law may not disturb our monetary
system by driving either metals out Of !
circulation. If possible such adjustment
should be made that the the purchasing
power Of every coined dollar will be
exactly equal, as debt paving power in
vi markets of the world. The chief
duty Of the national government in con
nection with the currency Of the coun-
try is to coin money and declare its
value. Grave doubts have been enter
tanned whether Congress il authorized
by the constitution to make any form Of
money legal tender The present issue
of United States notes has been sustained
by the necessities Of war, but such paper
should depend for its value and currency
upon its convenience in use, and its
prompt redemption in coin at the will Of
the holder and not upon its compulsory
circulation. These notes are not money
but promises to pay money if the holder
demands it. The promise should be
kept.
The refunding Of the national debt at
lower rate of interest should be accom-
plished without compelling the with
drawal of national bank notes and thus
disturb the business of the country |
venture to refer to the business | have
occupied on financial questions during a
long service in Congress, and to say that
time and experience have strengthened
the opinions ] have so often expressed
on these subjects. The finances of the
government shall suffer no detriment
which it may be possible for my admin
istration to prevent.
g pttf ttYra n
more attention from the government
| than they have yet received. The farms
of the farmers of the United States
offer homes and employment for more
than one-half Of our people and furnish
much the larger part Of all our exports.
| As the government lights our coasts for
the protection Of our mariners, and the
benefi Of commerce, SO it should give
the tiller Of the soil the best lights Of
practical science and experience. Our
| manufacturers are rapidly making lis in
dustrially independent, and are opening
to capital and labor new and profitable
schemes of employment Their steady
and healthy growth should still be main-
tained.
Our facilities for transportation should
be promoted by the continued improve
ment Of our harbors and the great in
terror water ways, and by the increase
Of our tonnage on the oceans.
The development of the worlds com
merce has led to an urgent demand for
shortening the great sea voyage around
Cape Horn by constructing ship canals
or RAILWAYS across the isthmus which
unites the two continents. Various
plans to this end have been suggested,
and will need consideration, but none Of
them has been sufficiently matured to
warrant united aid The subject, how
ever. r one which will Immediately en-
rage the attention Of the government
with view to thorough protection to
American interests. We will urge nc
narrow policy, nor seek peculiar or ex.
elusive privilege in any commercial
route, but in the language of my pre-.
decessor, 'I believe it to be the right and
duty of the United States to assert and
maintain such supervision and authority
over any inter-oceanic canal across the
isthmus that connects North and South
America as will protect our national
interests"
The constitution guarantees absolute
freedom. Congress is prohibited from
making any law respecting an establish
!, ment of religion or prohibiting the fre'
|. exercise thereof. The territories of tn,
United States are subject to the direc
> legislative authority of Congress, ant
hence the general government is respon
sible for any violence Of the constitution
: in any Of them. 1t is, therefore, re
proach to the government that in tn
! most populous Of the territories the con
stitutional guarantee is not enjoyed b.
the people, and the authority Con
] eress is set at naught. The Mormon
i Church is not only an offense to th
II moral sense Of mankind by sanctionin
!. polygamy, but prevents the admlnlstra
! ton Of Justice through the ordinary u
y strumentaIities Of law. In my Judt
4 ment it is the duty Of Congress, Will
!, respecting to the uttermost the conscleI
4 tious convictions and religious scruplt
y of every citizen, to prohibit within j
/, Jurisdiction, all criminal practices, e
:. pecialIy of that class which destroy fan
4 ily relations and endanger social orde
4 Nor can any ecclesiastical organizatio
y. he safely permitted to usurp in u
= smallest degree the functions and powei
i of the national government.
10 The civil service can never be place
i. on a satisfactory basis until it is regul
Ia ted BY law for the good of the seryi
te | itself, for the protection Of those WI
v are entrusted with the appointing pow
1r against the waste of time and obstructit
e- to public business caused by the moro
ID nate pressure for place, and for the pr
ID lection Of incumbent against intrig
y and wrong. ] shall, at the proper tim
is ask congress to fix the tenure Of min
H. Offices Of the several executive depa
il, ments, and prescribe the grounds, up
~ which removals shall be made duri
n. the terms for which incumbents ha
iy been appointed.
~ Nv Finally, acting always within the a
n thority and limitations Of the constii
,ns ton, invading neither the rights of
az. states nor the reserved rights of the p
nd nIe. it will be the purpose Of my adm