Year: 1877




that in any legislation providing for a
silver coinage, and imparting to it the
quality Of legal tender, there be impress
ed upon The measure a firm provision
exempting the public debt heretofore is.
sued, and now outstanding, from pay
meut, either of principal or interest, in
any coinage of less commercial value
than the present gold coinage of the
country.


The Civil Service.


The organization of the Civil Service
of the country, which has for number
of years attracted more and more of the
public attention 80 general has become
the opinion that the methods of admis
sion to it and the condition of remaining
in it are unsound, that both the great
political parties have agreed in the most
explicit declarations of the necessity of
reform, and in the most emphatic de-
mands for it. | have fully believed these
declarations and demands to be the ex-
preston of sincere conviction of the
masses of the people upon the
su ject, and that they should be reCog
nized and followed by earnest and prompt
action on the part of the legislative and
executive departments of the Govern
ment, In pursuance of the purpose in
diCated before my accession to Office,
endeavored to have my own views dis
tinctIy understood, and upon my inaugu-
ration my accord with the public opin.
ion was stated in terms believed to be
plain and unambiguous. My experience
in the Executive chair has strongly con-
frmed the belief in the great advantage
the country would find in observing
strictly the plan of the Constitution,
which imposes on the Executive the sole
duty and responsibility of the selection
of those Federal officers who, by law,
are appointed, not elected and which in
like manner assigns to the Senate the
complete right to advise and consent to
or reject the nominations 30 made;whilst
the House of Representatives stands as
the public censor of the performance of
official duties, with the prerogatiVe of in
vestigation and prosecution in all cases
of dereliction. The


Blemishes and ImperfeCtlOns


in the Civil Service may, as l think, be
traced, in most cases, to a practical con-
fusion of the duties assigned the several
departments of the Government. NY
purpose in this respect has been to re-
turn to the system established by the
law, and to do this with the
heartiest cooperation and most cordial
with the Senate and
House of Representatives. The practical
difficulties in the selection of numerous
officers for posts Of widely varying re.
sponsibilities and duties, are ackDowl-
edged to be very great. No system can
be expected to secure absolute freedom
from mistakes, and the beginning OF any
attempted change of custom is quite
likely to be more embarrassed in this re-
spect'than at any subsequent period, 1t
is here that the Constitution seems to
me to prove its claim to the great wis
dom accorded to it. 1t gives to the Ex-
ecutive the assistance of the knowledge
and experience Of the Senate, which,
when acting upon nominations as to
which they may be disinterested and
impartial judges, secures as strong a
of freedom from errors of inn
portauce as is perhaps possible in human
affairs.


In addition to this I recognize the pub
lie advantage of making all nominations
as nearly as possible impersonal, in the
sense of being free from mere caprice or
favor in the selection, and in those off.
ces in which special training is ofgreatly
increased value. / believe such a rule
as to the tenure of Office should obtain
as may induce men of proper qualifica-
tions to apply themselves industriously
to the task of becoming proficient.
Bearing these things in mind, have en-
deavored to reduce the number of chan.
ges in subordinate places, usually made
upon the change of the general admins
tration, and shall most heartily cooper
ate with Congress in the better SYSTEM
atizing of such methods and rules of ad-
mission to the public service, and of the
promotion within it, as may promise to
be most successful in making thorough
efficiency and character
the decisive tests in these mBtters.


The Work of the Civil Service Commission.


l ask the renewed attention of Con-
gress to what has already been done by
the Civil Service Commission, appointed
in pursuance of an act of Congress by my
to prepare and revise Civil
Service rules in regard to much of the
service, especially at Wash
ington. 1t may be difficult to organize a
better system than that which has thus
been provided, and it Is now being used
to considerable extent under my direC-
tion. The Commission has still legal
existence, although for several years no
appropriation has been made for defray-
ing its expenses. Believing that this
Comm ission has rendered valuable SER
vice, and will be a most useful agency in
the administration of the Civil
Service, respectfully recommend that a
suitable appropriation, to be Immediately
available, be made to enable it to con.
5inue its labor. Itis my purpose to give
10 Congress as early as practicable, re.
port by the Chairman of the Commission
md to ask your attention to such meas.
Tres on this subject as, in my opinion,
will further promote the improvement
II the Civil Service.


Our Foreign Relations.


During the past year the United States
las continued to maintain peaceful rela-
ions with foreign powers. The war be-
ween Russia and Turkey, though at one
ime attended by grave apprehension as
o it's effect on other European nations,
las had no tendency to disturb the amic-
bile relations between the two contend
ng powers. An attitude of just and i'm
,artial neutrality has been preserved,
nd l am gratitied to state that in the
midst of their hostilities, both the Rus
ian and the Turkish Governments have
hown an earnest disposition to adhere
o the obligations of all treaties with the
United States, and to give due regard to
be rights of American citizens.


By the terms of the treaty defining
be rights, immunities and privileges of
Onsuls between Italy and the United |
tates, ratified in 1868, either Govern
lent may, after the lapse of ten years,
arminatn tha nxiatpncn of the treaty. nv |