Darlington & Richmond Herald. — 1873-12-06 (Darlington, Durham, England)

AMERICA. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.  WASHINGTON, Tuesday. The President's Message was read in to-day's sitting of the Congress. President Grant said, in the fiscal year ending June, the surplus revenue applied to the reduction of the National Debt amounted to thirty-three million dollars. The revenue had since decreased in consequence of the panic; but should it fall below the requirements of the public service, he recommended additional taxation rather than the public debt should be increased. He also recommended that the national banks be restricted in paying interest on deposits. He urged upon the Congress a thorough investigation of the currency question, with .a view ton speedy return of a specie basis. After making various suegestions in regard to the Banking tariff, commerce, and navigation, the President referred to the Virginius question. The capture of a ,vessel bearing the American flag had, he said, threatened the most serious consequences, but the question was happily in course of satisfactory adjustment in a manner honourable to both nations. The relations of America with other countries were cordial and friendly. In reference to the Vienna Exhibition, he believed that the objet Congress had in view was achieved. An advance had been made towards the suppression of the infamous coolie traffic, and he recommended additional legislation on this subject. The money awarded to, the United States by the Geneva Tribunal was paid a few days in advance, and the Treasury invested the same in 5-20 registered bonds, to the amount of 15,500,000 dollars. The sufferers by the depredations of the Alabama, the Florida, and the Shenandoah, after leaving Melbourne, have not received either any equivalent or compensation. Making the computation on the basis' of,the Geneva arbitration, the Treaty of Washington awarded 1,929,879 dollars to Great Britain, dismissing other claims amounting to 93,000,000 dollars and disallowing the claims against Great Britain. The President recommends the creation of a special court, composed of three judges, to determine the claims of aliens upon the United States, although the treaty confines the claims to be decided to those of British subjects. The British envoy has consciatod to act as umpire in the Mexican Commission. The request of the Government of St. Domingo for a protectorate merits consideration. The President recommends attention to the laws on expatriation, preventing persons who have never resided in the United States, or the children of natm:alised citizens returning to America, from claiming exemption from military service. The Government has recognised the Spanish Republic, and the President. congratulates Congress on the emancipation of . slaves in Porto Rico, and the restoration of the sequestrated estates of Americans in Cuba. -Unhappily, the slaveholders have defeated the efforts of liberal-minded men in Spain. The Pro-slavery Autocratic party are displaying gradually more and more open hostility, to the Home Government; and while maintaining a political connection with the Republic, deny its authority, and do acts at variance with the principles of justice. In the interests of civilisation, humanity, and progress, this evil influence must be averted. The Virginius, with a registered certificate, and sailing under the American flag, was forcibly seized by the Tornerdo, and carried to Santiago. There some passenger citizens of the United States were, without due process of law, put to death. It is an established principle that any visitation, molestation, or forcible detention of American vessels, is a derogation of the sovereignty of the United States. The Government has therefore demanded the restoration of the Virginius, the surrender of the survivors, due reparation to the American flag, and the punishment of the authorities guilty of such illegal acts of violence. The Spanish Government has recognised the justice of the demand, -and has arranged for the immediate delivery of the vessel and the surrender of the survivors. The American. flag is to be saluted, the guilty persons punished, and those entitled to be indemnified. President Grant repeated his conviction that the existence of slavery in Cuba is the principal cause 'of the lamentable condition of the island. The murder of prisoners taken in arms has produced an outburst of indignation threatening war. Pending negotiations, the President has given his authorisation to place the navy on a war footing to the extent of the entire annual appropriation to that branch of the service, and he trusts this course will be justified by public opinion. Wasnit:r9vrox, Wednesday.—Mr Richardson, Secretary of the Treasury, prefers additional taxation to borrowing, and recommends immediate arrangements' for the payment of the twenty millions Loan of 1858. He also teCommends the restriction of the legal tender notes to four hundred millions.