Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-17
Affairs uf the Aatiul1,
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

The first message of President Cleveland
to Congress was read before that body on
the 9Th instant. 1t is very lengthy docu-
ment. and opens with reference to the
death of Vice President Hendricks, as fol-
lows:
Your assembling is clouded by sense of
public bereavement, caused by the recent
and sudden death of Thomas A. Hendricks,
Vice. President of the United States. His
distinguished public services, his complete
integrity and devotion to every duty, and
his personal virtues will find honorable re.
cord in his country's history. Ample and
repeated proofs of the esteem and confidence
in which he was held by his felloW-country-
men, were manifested by his election to Of
fees of the most important trust and the
highest dignity, and at length, full of years
and honors, he has been laid at rest amid
universal sorrow and benediction.
The Constitution which requires those
chosen to legislate for the people to annual
ly meet in the discharge Of their solemn
trust. also requires the President to give to
Congress information of the state of the
Union, and recommend to their considera-
tion such measures as he shall deem neces'
sary and expedient. At the threshold of
compliance with these constitutional dlrec-
tions, it is we'll for us to bear in mind that
our usefulness to the peoples interests will
be promoted by constant appreciation OF
the SCOPE and character of our respective
duties as they relate to Federal legislation:
While the Executive may recommend
such measures as he shall deem expedient,
the responsibility for legislative action
must and should rest upon those selected
by the people to make their laws. Con-
temptation of the grave and responsible
function assigned to the respective branches
of the government under the CONSTITUTION
will disclose the partition of power between
our respective departments and their neces-
sary independence, and also the need for the
exercise of all the power entrusted to each.
In that spirit of comfy and cooperation
which is essential to the proper ful6llment
of the patriotic obligations which rest upon
us as the faithful servants of the people,
the Jealous watchfulness of our constituent
cies, great and small, supplements their
suffrages, and before the tribunal they es-
tablish every public servant should be
judged.
The President next devotes considerable
space to the relations of the United States
with foreign powers. These relations con.
tinue to be friendly, there being no ques-
tions of difficulty pending with any foreign
government. The refusal OF the govern
ment of Austro-H Hungary to receive MIR.
Kelley as the envoy of the United States is
referred to, and the President says that in
the reasons assigned by that government
for declining to receive MIR. Kelley ne
could not acquiesce without violation OF his
oath of office and the precepts of the Con-
stitution. Mr.. Kelley, however, has re-
new nomination has been made, and the
interests of this government at Vienna are
now in the care of the Secretary of the
Legation.
A consideration of the Nicaraguan treaty
leads the President to reiterate emphatic
ally the familiar American doctrine that
we should not favor the acquisition of new
and distant territory, or the Identification
of remote interest with our own. The en-
gagements proposed in the treaty combine
Chs construction and operation or trans,
interoceanic canal, with an offensive ana
defensive alliance for its protection. Ihe
engagements proposed IN the treaty comoine
the construction and operation of a trans
interoceanic canal, with an offensive and
defensive alliance for its protection. The
President holds that whatever highway is
to be constructed across the iSthmuS must
be for the worlds benefit, and removed from
the chance of domination by any single pow
er, The President, therefore, contends that
the inter-oceanic transit should be neutral
lied, which can only be accomplished by
making its use open to all nations, ana
subject to the ambitious and warlike ne
cessities of none.
On the Chinese question the President re-
fers deprecatingly to the recent outbreaks
in Wyoming and Washington Territories,
and while, in his view, the Asiatics are not
desirable as citizens, yet all the power of
the Government should be eXerted to main
tain the amplest good faith toward Chi
ma in the treatment of these men, and the
inflexible sternness of the law in bringing
the wrong-docrs' to justice should be insist
ed upon.
Discussing the revenue, the President
saws: In summary of the Treasury eXhib-
it it is shown that the ordinary receipts
from all sources for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1885, were $685., $50, 70G.3S. Of this
sum $lS1 All ,939.34 was received from Gus
toms and $112, ,49S, 1854 from internal reve-
nue.. The total receipts, as given above,
were S24, 1926, 1881 less than those for the
wear ended June 80, 1884. This diminution
embraces the falling off of Sl3,595, ,550.42 in
receipts from customs and S9,6S7 ,346.97 in
receipts from internal revenue. The total
ordinary expenditures of the government
for the fiscal year were s26O, ~, ,9So.oo leavc
ing surplus in the Treasury at the close OF
the year of 1863, 463, ,771.27. This is 4O,929,-
S54.32 less than the surplus reported at the
close of the previous year.
The fact that our resources are in excess OF
the actual needs of an economical admins
trati0n of the government justihes Il reduc-
ton in the amount eXacted from the people
for its support. Our government is but the
means established by the will of free peo-
ple, by which certain principles are applied
which they have adopted for their benefit
and protection, and it is never better admin
istered, and its true spirit is never better
administered than when the peoples taxa
tion for its support is scrupulously limited
to the actual necessity of expenditure, and
distributed according to a just and equita-
BILE plan.
One proposition with which we have to
deal is a reduction of the revenue received
by the general government, and paid by the
people from customs duties. The question
of free trade is not involved, nor is there
any occasion for general discussion of the
wisdom or eXpediency of a protective sys-
tenn. Justice and fairness dictate that in
any modification of our present laws relat-
ing to the revenue, the industries and in
terest which have been encouraged by such
laws, and in which our citizens have large
investments, should not be ruthlessly in
jured or destroyed. We should also deal
with the subject in such manner as to
protect the Interests of American labor,
which is the capital of our wOrkingmen.
Its stability and proper remuneration furn-
ish the most justifable preteXt for pro-
tective policy.
Within these limitations certain reduc-
tion should be made in our customs reve-
nue.. The amount of such reduction having
been determined, inquiry follows, where
can it best be remitted and what articles
oop hoSt no raleasn1 from dutV in the inter-