Year: 1877

MISCHIEF AND MISFORTUNE
would follow from coinage of silver dol
lars with the quality Of unlimited legal
tender. Even in private transactions, any
OF temporary ease from an is
sue Of silver coinage, 10 pass as legal-ten-
der. al rate materially above its CONNER
cial value, Is. | am persuaded. delusion.
Nor can | think there is any substantial
distinction between an original Issue Of sill
vers, at nominal value, materially abrve
their commercial value, and the restoration
of the silver dollar at rate which once was,
but has ceased TO be. its commercial value.
Certainly the issue Of


OUR GOLD COINAGE,


reduced in weight materially below its legal
tender value, would net be any the less
present debasement of the coinage by reason
OF Its equalling, or even exceeding, in weight
gold coinage which, at some past time,
had been commercially equal to tn legal
tender fvalue assigned to the new issue. In
recommending that the regulation Of any
Congress should observe these conditions Of
commercial value and limited legal-tender,
am governed by the feeling that


EVERY POSSIBLE INCREASE


should be given TO the volume of metallic
money which can Le kept in circulation,
and thereby every possible aid offered to the
people, in the process OF resuming specie
payments. 1t is because OF my conviction
that disregard Of these conditions would
Illustrate the good results which are desired
from the proposed coinage, and embarrass,
with new elements OF confusion and uncer-
tainty, the business of the country, that |
urge upon your attention these considera-
tions, respectfully recommend TO Congress
that in any legislation providing for sill
Yer coinage, and imparting to it the quality
Of legai-teDder, there be impressed on the
measure firm provision exempting the
public debt heretofore issued and now out
standing, from the payment, either of prin-
cipal or interest, intany coinage of lie svalue
than the present gold coinage Of the coun-
try. The organization of


THE CIVIL SERVICE


of the country has, for a number of year,
attracted more and more of public atten-
ton 80 general has became the opionion
that the methods OF admission to it, and the
conditions Of remaining in il, are unsound
that both the great political parties have
agreed in most explicit declarations for the
necessity OF reform, and in the most EN-
phatic demands for it. have fully con-
sidered these declarations and demands to
be the expressions of the sincere conviction
OF the intelligent masses of the people, upon
the subject, and that they should be recog-
nized and followed by earnest and prompt
action on the part OF the legislative and ex-
ecutive departments Of the government In
pursuance of the purpose indicated, before
my accession to office, endeavored to have
my own views distinctly understood, and
upon my Inauguration my accord with the


PUBLIC OPINION


was stated in terms believed to be plain
and unambiguous. My experience in
executive duties has strongly confirmed nv
belief in the great advantage the country
would find in observing strictly the plan Of
the Constitution, which imposes upon the
executive the solemnity and responsibility
of the selection OF these Federal officers,
who, by law, are appointed, not elected,
and which, in like manner, assigns to the
Senate the complete right to advise and con-
sent to, or reject, the nominations so made,
whilst the House of Representatives stands
as the public censor of the performance of
official duties, with the


PREROGATIvE OF INVESTIGATION


and Impeachment in all cases of dereliction.
The blemishes and imperfections in the
civil service, may, as think, be traced in
most cases to practical confusion of the
duties assigned to the several departments
Of the Government. My purpose in this re-
spect has been to return 10 the system es-
tablish ed by the fundamental law, and to
do this with the heartiest corporation, and
most cordial understanding, with the Sem
ate and House of Representatives.


THE PRATICAL DIFFICULTIES


in the selection OF the numerous officers, for
posts of widely varying responsibilities and
duties, are acknowledged TO be very great !;
no system can be expected TO secure bso-
lutte freedom from mistakes, and the begin
ming OF an attempted change OF custom is
quite likely to be more embarrassed in this
respect than any subsequent period. 1t is
here that the Constitution seems to prove
most Of its claim to the great wisdom ac-
corded to it, 1t gives to the Executive the
assistance of the knowledge and experience
of the Senate, which, when acting upon
ds " NHl'i tHtN
terested, and impartial judges, secures as
strong guaranty of freedom from errors of
importance as is, perhaps, possible in hu-
man affairs. In addition TO this, | recog-
nize the public advantage of making all
nominations, as nearly as possible,


FOR PERSONAL MERIT


in the sense of being free from mere caprice
or favor. In those directions and in those
Offices, in which special training is of great
ly increased value, | claim such rule as
the tenure of office should obtain, as NAV
induce men OF proper qualifications to APP
ply themselves industriously to the task OF
becoming proficient. Bearing these things
in mind / have endeavored to reduce the
number of changes in subordinate
places usually made upon
change of general administration, and
shall most certainly cooperate with Con-
gress in better systematizing, by snch modes
and rules of administration to the public
service and of promotion within it, as may
promise to be most successful in making
thoroughness, competency, efficiency, and
character, the decisive tests in these mat
tiers. 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 Con-
gress by my predecessor, to pre-
pare and revise the civil
service rules in regard to much of the
departmen al service, especially at Wash
ington. 1t may be difficult to organize a
better system than that which has thus
been provided, and is now being used, to
N hla ,nl.r
The commission has still a legal existence,
although for several wears no appropria-
ton has been made for defraying its ex-
penses. Believing that this commission
has been a valuable agency in
improving the administration OF the civil
service, l respectfully recommend that a
suitable appropriation be Immediately
made to enable it to continue Its services.
1t is my purpose to transmit to Congress,
as early as practicable, report by the
chairman of the commission, and to ask
your attention to such measures on this
subject, as, in my opinion, will further pro-
mote improvement in the civil service.


FOREIGN AFFAIRS.


During the past year the United
States have continued to maintain peaceful
relations with Foreign powers.


TURKEY AND RUSSIA.


The outbreak of war between Russia and
Turkey, though at one time attended with
grave apprehension as to its effect up1n
other European Nations, has had no ten
dency to disturb the amicable relations ex-
isting between the United States and each
OF the two contending powers. An attitude of
just and impartial neutrality has been pre-
served, and am gratified to state that in the