Year: 1877

emDarraSS with new elements of con-
fusion and uncertainty the business of
the country, that urge upon your at
tention these considerations.


l respectfully recommend to Congress
that in any legislation providing for
silver coinage and imparting to it the
quality of legal tender there be i'm
pressed on the measure a firm provision
exempting the public debt heretofore
issued and now outstanding from pay
ment, either of principal or interest, in
any coinage of less value than the pres
ent gold coinage of the country.


The organization of the civil service
of the country has for a number of
years attracted more and more of the
public attention.


so GENERAL


has become the opinion that the meth
Ods of admission to it, and the condi-
tions of remaining in it, are so unsound,
that both of the great political parties
have agreed in the most explicit declar-
ations of the necessity of reform, and
in the most emphatic demands for it.


/ have fully believed these declara-
tions and demands to be the expression
of a sincere conviction of the intelligent
masses of the people upon the subject,
and that they should he recognized,
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 indicated
before my accession to office, | en-
deavOred to have my Own views dis
tinctly understood, and upon my in
auguration my accord with the public
opinion was stated in terms believed to
be plain and unambiguous.


My experience in the executive duties
has strongly confirmed my belief in the
in observing strictly the plan of the
constitution, which imposes upon the
executive the sole duty and RESPONSE
bility of the selections of those officers
who, by law, are appointed, not elected,
and which in like manner assigns to the
complete right to advise, and consent
| to, or to reject, the nominations SO
made, whilst the House of Representa-
tives stands as the public censor of the
performance of official duties with the
prerogative of investigation and prose
cution in all cases of dereliction.


The blemishes and imperfections in
the civil service may, as | think, be
traced, in most cases, to a practical
confusion of the duties assigned to the
several departments of the government
My purpose, in this respect, has been
to return to the system established by
THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS,


and to do this with the heartiest co.
operation and most cordial understand
ing with the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives. The practical difficulties
in the selection of numerous officers fol
posts of widely varying responsibilities;
and duties are acknowledged to be very
great.


No system can be expected to secure
absolute freedom from mistakes, an(
the beginning of any attempted change
of custom is quite likely to be more en-
barrassed in this respect than any sub
sequent period. 1t is here that the con
stitution seems to me to prove its claim
to the great wisdom accorded to it.


1t gives to the executive the assist
ance of the knowledge and experienc,
of the Senate, which, when acting upOI
nominations as to which they may b,
disinterested and impartial judges. Sc
cures as strong guaranty of freedom from
errors of importance as is perhaps pos
sible in human affairs.


In addition to this | recognize the
public advantage of making all nomi
nations, as nearly as possible, imper
sonal in the sense of being free from
mere caprice OF favor in the selection
and in those offices in which specia
training is of greatly increased value
believe snch rule as to the tenure o
Office should obtain as may induce mel
of proper qualifications to apply them
selves industriously TO the task of be
coming proficient.


Bearing these things in mind | hav,
endeavOred 10 reduce the number o
changes in subordinate places, usual.
made upon the change of the genera
administration, and shall most hearth,
cooperate with Congress in the bette
systematizing of such methods and rule
of admission to the public service ant
of


PROMOTION


within 1t, as may promise to he mos
successful in making thorough com
potency, efficiency and character tin
decisive tests in these matters.


l ask the renewed attention of Con
gress to what has already been done b,
the civil service commission appointed
in pursuance of the act of Congress b,
my predecessor to prepare and revis
civil service rules.


In regard to much of the department
service, especially at Washington, i
may be difficult to organize bette
system than that which has thus beef
provided, and it is now being used to
The commission has still legal exist
ence, although for several years no ap
preparation has been made for defrayini
it's expenses.


Believing that this commission ha
rendered valuable service and will be
most useful agency in improving th
administration of the civil service,
respectfully recommend that suitabl
appropriation to be Immediately avail
able be made to enable it to continu
its labors.


1t is my purpose to transmit to Con
gress, as early as practicable, repor
by the chairman of the commission, an
to ask your attention to such measure
on this subject as in my opinion vii
further promote the improvement of tn
civil service.


FOREIGN RELATIONS.
During the past year the United State
has continued TO maintain its peaceful
relations with foreign powers. Th
outbreak of war between Russia an
, Turkey though at one time attended b
the gravest apprehension as to it's etfaC
upon other European nations, has ha
no tendency TO disturb the amicable re
lations existing between the Unite
t States and each of the two contendin
t powers, and an attitude of just and i'm
: partial neutrality has been preserved