Huntsville gazette., 1888-12-08
THE MESSAGE.
rCont,nusd from First Pagc.l

appropriating money Tor puDIlc lnCerhai III
movement would fail to meet with favor unless
If contained more for local and private advant-
age than for public benefit. These statements
can be much emphasized by an aScertainment
of the proportion of Federal legislation which
either bears upon its face Its private character
or which upon examination. develops such a mo-
tive power. And yet the people wait ana tlfr" a
from their chosen representatives such patriot |
ic action as will advance the welfare or the en-
tire country; and this expectation can only pc
answered by the performance OF pubic uuty
with unseltsh purpose. Our mission among
the nations of the earth. and our success IN ac-
complishing the work God has given the Amer
lean people to do require OF those intrusted
w tn the making and execution OF our laws per-
feet devotion above all other things, to the pub
lie good. This devotion will lead us to strongly
resist all impatence OF constitutIonal nullta-
tions OF Federal power and TO persstently
check the increasing tendency to extend the
scope OF Federal legislation into the domain OF
State and local jurisdiction upon the plea OF
subserving the public welfare. The preserva-
ton of the partitions between proper SUBJECTS
of Federal and local care and regulation is OF
such Importance under The Constitution
which is the law OF our very existence
that no consideration of espedieney .er
sentiment should tempt us to enter
upon doubtful ground. We have undertaken
to discover and proclaim the richest dressings
of q free government, with the Constitution as
our guide. Let us follow the way It points out,
1t will not mslead US. And surely no one VINO
has taken upon himself the solemn obligation
to support and preserve the Constitution can
find justification solace for disloyalty IN the
excuse that ne wandered ana ulSODeytu III
search of q better way to reach the pubic wei
fare than the Constituten pffered asss
What has beer said is deemeH not inappro-
pirate at a time when, from eeEtpT5 heIgnt,
we view the way already trod bg the American
people, and attempt to discover their y;frtEre
path. The seventh President OF ne
and at all times the firm and brave friend of
the people-in vindication OF his course
as the protector of the popular rights
shin shG the decarad rhe @ am6ition which leads
me on is an anxious desire ana
hxed determination to restore to
the people unimpared the sacred trust they
have confided to my care, to heal the wounds
of the Constitution and to prevent its vlo-
lation: to persuade my countrymen. so far as L
may, that it is not in a splendld government,
supported by powerful monopolleS and arlsto-
cratic establishments, that they Will hnd nap
pinesS or their liberties protected, but IN a
plain system, void Of pomp, protecting all ana
granting favors to none, dispensing It's bless-
ings like the dew of Heaven, unseen and unfelt
save in the freshness and beauty they con-
tribute 10 produce. 1t is such government
that the genius of our people requres-such q
one only under which States mag remain
for ages to come united, prosperous and free"
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS
In pursuance of constitutional provision
requiring the President from time to time
to give to ire Congress- information OF the
state of the Union, have the satisfaction to
announce that the close Of the year finds the
United States in the enjoyment o. DOMESTIC
Since my last annual message our fore gn rela-
tions have been strengthened and improved by
performance of international good ofhces and
by new and renewed treaties or amlty, COM
merce and reciprocal eXtradltlon or GRIM
inals Those international questions which still
await settlement are all reasonably within the
domain of amcable negot alton, and there is no
existing subject of dispute between the United
States and any foreign power that is not sus
ceptible of satisfactory adjustment by frank
diplomatic treatment. The questions between
Great Britain and the United States relating to
the rights OF American fishermen under treaty
and international comfy in the territorial
waters of Canada and Newfoundland, regret
to say, are not yet satisfactorily adjusted.
These matters were fully treated in my meg
sage to the Senate of February p 1SSS, which, to-
gether with convention concluded under my
authority with Her Majesty Government on the
10th OF February last for the removal Of all
causes OF misunderstanding, was submitted by
me for the approval of the Senate. This treaty
having been rejected by the Senate, trans
mitted q message to the Congress on
the 23d of August last, reviewing the
transactions and submitting tor considera-
tion certain T ftnasnt lor leaEs
involved. Afterwards, on the 18th of Septem-
Der. in response to resolution of the Senate
/ again communicated fully all the informa.
ton in my possession as to the action of the
government OF Canada affecting the CONNER
cial relations between the Dominion and the
United States, including the treatment of
American fishing vessels in the ports and
waters of British America. The communica-
tions have all been published, and therefore
opened TO the knowledge OF D0th Houses
OF Congress- although two were addressed
to the Senate alone. Comment upon
or repetition of their contents would be super
fluous, and / am not aware that any thing has
since occurred which should be added to the
facts therein stated. Therefore, l merely re-
peat, as applicable to the present time, the
statement which will be found in my message
to the Senate of September II last: THAT
since March 3, 1887. no case has been reported
to the Department OF State wherein complaint
has been made OF unfriendly or unlawful
American vessels
of the Canadian authorities, in which repara-
ton was not promptly and satisfactorily OBJ
tanned by the United States Consul-General at
Halifax" Hiving essayed in the discharge of
my duty to procure by negotiation the settle
ment of long-standng cause Of dispute, and
to remove constant menace to the good rela-
tionS of the two countries, and continuing to
hold the opinion that the treaty of February
last, which failed to receive the approval OF
the Senate, did supply "a satisfactory, prac-
tcal and final adjustment on Il basis honorable
and just to both parties of the difficult and
vexed question to which it related and hav-
ing subsequently and unavaiilngly recommend
ed other legislation to Congress which hoped
would suffice to meet the eXigency created by
the rejection of the treaty now again invoke
the earnest and immediate attention of the
Congress to the condition of this important
question as il now stands before them and the
country, and for the settlement Of which am
deeply solicitous.
GOVERNMENT REVENUE.
The revenues of the Government for the year
ending June 80, 1882, ascertained for the quarter
ended September 3O 1888 and estimated for the
remainder of the time. amount to S377, ,0000D),
and the actual and estimated ordinary expen-
ditures for the same year are S273,0.n,00O, leaV-
ing an estimated surplus of $10i0J0,000.
The estimated receipts for the year ending
June 80. 1890 are S37, ,0J0, 900 and the estimated
ordinary expenditures for the same time
S275 167, 4SS3 81 showing surplus of s101, 3D.,
511.66. The foregoing statements OF surplus do
not take into account the sum necessary to be
expended to meet the require ments of the
Sinking Fund act, amounting TO more than
SI7,0oOV00 annually. The cost of collecting the
customs revenues for the last fiscal year was24i
per cent; for the year 1885 it was 3.77 per cent
The excess OF internal revenue taxes collect
ed during the last fiscal year over those collect
ed for the year ended June 30, 1887, was s., 49,,
174.26, and the cost OF collecting this revenue
decreased from 34 per cent in 1887, to less
than 3.2 per cent. for the last year. The tax
collected on oleomargarine was 1913 948 04 for
the year ending June 30 1881; and 1851, 130 50 for
the following year.
ftt& 4s+ THE BOND PURCHASES.
The requirements of the Sinking Fund act
have been met for the year ended June 80,
1888, and for the current year also, by the
purchase OF bonds. Alter complying with this
law, positively required, and bonds sufl
cient for that purpose had been bought at a
premium, il was not deemed prudent to further
expend the surplus in such purchases until
the au thority To do so should be more explicit.
Daily nurcnaseS of bonds We're. on