Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-12-06
The Presidents Message,

evidently taken hint from the late
elections that the people Of the Cnlttf
States do not approve Of his mode Of
conducting the government.
The discus j." o. questions OF 10
meNic concern naturally forms tie
greater part of The communication, and
the interesting ana important SUBJECTS
Of revision of the tariff and reduc
ton 10 internal revenues taxation a"
treated at some length. Referring !"
The report Of the Secretary ofihe Treas
ury .'as 10 the necessity of providin'
by legislation some mode OF freeing Il"
treasury ri an excese Of assets" th'
President Gays he heartily approve
the secretarv's recommendation nj H.
mediate and extensive r. ductions il
the annual revenues Of the government
The surplus revenue for tie fiscal yea
ended June 30, 1881, was 400, 900, 0OO
and for the fiscal year ended on the 80
Of June lLst was more than one hun
lred and SIT, five millions. ALTHOUGH
shis surplus has heen largely applied t.
he payment Of the national debt, tn
President renews the expression Of til
eeuyicliun that such rapid extnguish
mset Of he national Indebtedness as j.
now taking place Is cause for serious
apprehension. ra her than for c"ngraiu-
lstion. II the a. ollen revenues ofthr
yovtr neni lie Idle in the treasury h.
will b, come the TEN taiien TO corruli
and exlravagant expenditure. TIE
President, therefore. suggests that un
ICES il ,tall be found that the probable
Expenditures OF tie government TOR ih'
coming year lave been UDderestima'ed
all internal taxes exec pit those which
relate 10 distilled spiTits, can he pm
DENLY aianeatd. This would dinini>l
the cost Of colec ion o. 500 600 anf
geure tom , ffic, from 500 t. 200
,trSons. He does not thin k, hOwevei
that tie limo has arrived for the total
abolition a internal taxes. for tie rea
sou ;!aiiiis doubtful whether the du
les OF. Imports would alone be sufii'
cieul Ter the needs of government, an'
because. moreover, a total abolition Il
excise taxes would prove O serious "b-
stacie 10 IA thorough revision Of th'
tariff. The present tariff system l.,
the President fraDSlY admits. in man!
respects UNJUST; and if the lax O.
domestic tpiIiIs is 10 be retained, he il
clearly ofihe OF nior, judging from H.,
revenses derived from customs durir.
the last few wears. that large reduction
IN the customs revenue are enirel'
ie asihle; and this may be accomplished.
he b, liryts, ~lteout abandoning The
protection OF domestic labor by euualz-
ing the public burdens among all classes
and occupations. The President refer
10 lis veto Of the river and harbor bill
Of last session, ard rec' nnisnds IL Il G
consideration of Congress the adviss-
bilIiy Of tie lsssagc OF an amendment
20 The Ftdt raj constitution y hch wOuIc
permit the e>,Cuiive 10 disapprove al
sny item or items IN an appropriation
bill without icing under tie necessity
% condemnlng the entire mea>Iie.
Referring in The r. port OF the Secre-
tary of War. the attention of Congress
j. 10 wit, i to lie piOprieiy at maSi"s
more adj quaie provision for arn.ins al d
eqmpping TIE militia, and 10 the cor-
a:ciing legislation With reference to the
retirement Of army officers. The con-
diIion OF tie navy. as shown 10 the
secreiary's report, is commented upon.
and Tie s,teni;"n of Congress called 20
he Intimate Coz ncction and inierden-
renee Of the navy and the commercial
marine. and to the continued 6ecadence
Of the latter aud the transfer o! our
grow ing commerce 10 foreign bottoms.
The report Of Tie os'masier-f;sneral
shows that 81 ere ga considerable sur.
plus 10 bis department, and the Presi'
dent Ell resses himself IN favor Of a re.
dnction OF The letter postage to the rate
OF two cent. er half ouree and believes
that the increase in postal patronage
would 'qual the exp nditures after Il e
lapse OF three or four years,if they would
ooi ulIin sitiy greatly increase The rcve-
nue. from this source. IL regard 10 that
portion OF The Aiiofney.Geutral'A ie
port " bicl touches upon the siar-rouIe
cares, the p, sidsnt says that ''if any
gully psitons shall finally escape
pu isnmeni II will not be tor lack 81
earnest al diligeni forts on the part
Of the prosecution" Commenting in
connection eith the report Of the Secre
tary of the Interior upon the illileracy
disclose IN certain portions of the coun-
try by the census returns, the President
thinks il momenious question whe her
Congress should not extend immediate
and substantial aid to supplement in-
diiidual fort aud STATE legislation In
be half of e,uca Ion. Upon the subject
OF civil-serYice reform the PresidtnI
recalls the sentiments expressed in his
last communication 10 Congress, and
sdds that since these suggestions were
submitted 'the people Of the Country.
apparently without distinction Of party.
have in. various ways given expressions
Of their earnest wish for prompt and
definite action. IL my jud9men' such
action should no longer be po-'ponsd."
The President takes occasion TO SET
himself right upon the question Of off,
cial removals. and claims that in the