The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-03-09


coined dollar will be exactly equal to
it's debt paying power in all markets
of the world. The chief dutyof the
national government in connection
with the currency of the country is
to coin money and declare its value.
Grave doubts have been entertain
ed whether Congress is authorized
by the Constitution to make any
form of paper money legal tender.
The present issue of United States
notes has been sustained by the ne
cessities of war, but such paper
should depend for its value and cur
rency 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. II the
holders demand it the promise
should be kept The refunding Of
the national debt at a lower rate OF
interest should be accomplished
without compelling the Withdrawal
Of national bank notes, and thus dis
turbing the business of the country.
[ venture to refer to the position l
have occupied on financial questions
during a long service in Congress,
and to say that time and experience
have strengthened the opinions l
have so often expressed on these sub
iects. The finance of the govern
ment shall suffer no detriment which
it may be possible for my admins
tration to prevent.
The interests of agriculture de-
serve more attention from the gov
eminent than they have yet receiv-
ed. The farmers of the United
States afford homes and employment
for more than one-half our people,
and furnish much the largest part
Of all our exports. As the govern
ment lights our coasts for the pro
lection of mariners and the benefit
of commerce, SO it should give to the
tillers of the soil the best lights Of
practical science and experience.
Our manufacturers are rapidly max
ing us industriously independent,
and are opening to capital and labor
new and profitable fields of employ
ment. Their steady and healthy
growth should still be maintained.
Our facilities for transportation
should be promoted by the continued
improvement of our harbOrs and
great interior water ways, and by
the increase Of our tonnage on the
oceans. The development of the
worlds commerce has led to urgent
demand for shortening the great sea
voyage around Cape Horn by con-
STRUGGLING 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
however, is one which will mime
diately engage the attention Of the
government.
With a view to q thorough pro-
lection of American interests, we
will urge no narrow policy nor seek
peculiar or exclusive privileges in
any commercial 70 :e, but, in the
language of my pr ,ecessor, | be
Iieve it to be the J. ut and duty of
the United States t. assert and main
tain such supervision and authority
over any interoceanic canal across
the Isthmus that connects North and
South America as will protect our
national interests.
The Constitution guarantees alb
solute religious freedom. Congress
is prohibited from making any law
respecting the establishment Of re-
igion or prohibiting the free. exer-
else thereof The Territories Of the
United States are subject to the di-
rect legislative authority of Con-
gress, and hence the general govern
ment is responsible for any viola
ton of the Constitution in any of
them. It is therefore a reprayal to
| the government that In the most
populous of the Territories the CON
victional guarantee is not enjoyed
by the people, and the authority of
Congress is set at naught. The
Mormon CHURCH net only 0fsends
the moral sense Of mankind by sane
tioning polygamy, but prevents the
administration Of justice there
through the ordinary instrumental
ties Of the law, In my Judgment it
is the duty of Congress, while re
speeding to the uttermost the con
scientious convictions and religious
scruples of every citizen, to prohibit
within its jurisdiction all criminal
practices, especially of that class
which destroy the family relations
and endanger the social order. Nor
can any ecclesiastical organization
be safely permitted to usurp in the
smallest degree, the functions and
powers Of the national government.
Civil service can never be placed
on satisfactory basis until it is regu-
lated by law, for the good of the
service itself, for the protection of
those who are entrusted with the
appointing power against the waste
Of time and obstruction to public
business caused by the inordinate
pressure for place, and for the pro
lection of incumbents against in
trigue and wrong l shall at the
proper time ask Congress to fix the
tenure of the minor officers of the
several executive departments, and
prescribe the grounds upon which
removals shall be made during the
terms for which incumbents have
been appointed.
Finally, acting always within the
authority of and limitations of the
Constitution, invading neither the
rights of States nor the reserved
rights of the people, it will be the
purpose Of my administration, to
maintain the authority Oftbe nation