Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-07
The President,s Message.

1estSroaY PRESIDENT AtlAuI sSAt AAS
first message to Congress. 1t is an ex-
ceedingly lengthy document and most
Of It is taken up by q repetition, almost
verbatim, OF the various reports OF the
different heads of departments
He begins by dwelling upon our for
eign relations, and, on this subject, he
discusses separately the relations of the
United States with nearly every indi-
vidual country on the globe. His entire
remarks on this theme may be summar-
lied in few words, however. He favOrs
compliance with the terms OF the
Chinese treaty, recommends proper dis
position of the japanese indemnity fund,
hopes that the order of the Red Cross
an international order, organized for the
purpose of affording relief to sick and
wounded in time of wsr-will be encour-
aged in this country; thinks that Secre-
tsry Blaine was perfectly right IN the
stand he took recently regarding the
rights of the United States in connec
ton with De Lesseps' Panama Canal
scheme, and congrstulates the country
upon the universally friendly relations
which exist between ourselves and all
the world.
He then discusses at length the finan
cial condition of the country and the
state of the Treasury. He thinks the
present prosperity of the United States
a cause of sincere congratulation, and al
ludes to the plan of Secretary Window for
exchanging the and per cent. ma
tured bonds for those of 81 per cent,
bearing long dates. This plan he ap-
proves of, and expresses the opinion that
unless governments can be successfully
aoated at a lower rate than 81 per cent,
further legislation on the subject is I'M
necessary. He favors the abolition of
internal revenue taxes on all articles ex-
cept whisky and tobacco, and thinks that
even on these the tax can wisely be re-
duced. He also favors the stopping OF
silver coinage and the non-issuance of
more silver certificates In these
last two positions he virtually
announces himself in favor of a high
protective tariff-as the protectiOnists
favor the abolition of the internal ex-
cises and desire to raise the government
revenues solely through customs duties
and declares his sympathy with the
single standard bondholders and the
money power of the Eastern States.
He also reviews the Postmaster Gener-
ais report, synopsis of which we have
already published, and endorses all that
is therein recommended by that gentle
man. About the most interesting portion
of this part of the message is that the
the President announces that he has
given instructions to the counsel for the
government in the star route cases to
proceed with the prosecution until
the charges are either fully proved
or the accused acquitted. This action
will meet the approval of the country,
and Is an earnest that the new admins
tratlOn will be conducted with an eye to
honesty. If this is persisted in, it follows
that Grant will play by no means so
conspicuous a part in the affairs of the
nation during the next three years as has
been spprehended.
In discussing the reports of the Secre
taries of War and Navy he, as he does
in discussing all the other reports of
Cabinet officers, approves everything
therein contained. He favOrs rehabili
tation of the navy and an increase of the
army, and recommends that Congress
devote its attention specially to
these points. He also evidently
desires a repeal or modification OF
the posse coBlttdtVs legislation of the 18th
Congress, and thinks the Executive
should, at least in the Territories, be en-
abled to use the military as a means of
assisting the civil authorities in the exc
cution of Federal laws. He also favors
more liberal policy towards the In
dams, and takes decided stand in OPP
position to Mormonism.
After finishing with his recapitulation
of the reports of the various depart
ments, he devotes the remainder of the
document to discussion of matters and
things generally in the United States.
without very strongly committing him
self to any decided line of policy. The
most promising feature of the message
is that it makes no allusion to the South,
and while it is, as we have said, very
lengthy, to great extent, is merely re-
petition of official reports, and is gener-
ally non-committal in its tone, it is, upon
the whole, instructive and interesting, as
it gives considerable information of
value to the people at large relative to
the condition of the country. 1t will be
found published in full in our telegraphic
columns