Year: 1876

peoples and products of skill and labor from all parts of the world together, but in bringing together people from all sections of our own country, which must prove great benefit in the information imparted and pride of country engendered. It has been suggested by scien- lists interested in and connected with the Smithsonian Institution in 8 communication herewith that the government exhibit be re- moved to the capital, and suitable building be erected or purchased for it's accommo- dation as 8 permanent exhibit earnestly recommend this and believiI that Congress would second this vlew. directed that all government exhibits at the Centennial Exhi- bition should remain where they are, except such as might be inj jured by remaining in building not intended as protection in in- clement weather, or such as may be wanted by the department furnishing them until the question of a permanent exhibition is act d on. Although the moneys appropriated by Congress to enable the participation of the several executive departments in the Interna- tional Exhibition of 1876 were not sufficient to carry out the undertaking to the full extent at first contemplated, 1t gives me pleasure to refer to the very efficient and credi5able man. ner in which the board appointed from these several departments to provide an exhibition on the part of the government have dis charged their duties with the funds placed at their command without 8 precedent to guide them in the preparation of such display

 

 by the sustained attention which the contents of the government bui ding attracted dur ing the period of the Exhibition from both foreign and native visitors. am strong ly impressed with the value of the collection made by the government for the purpose of the Exhibition, Illustrating, as it does, the mineral resources of the country, the statisti- cal and practical evidences of our growth as nation, and the uses of the mechanical arts, and the applications of applied science in the adj inia If fho fFair If Many nations have voluntarily contributed their exhibits to the United States to increase the interest in any permanent exhibition Con gress may provide for. For this act of gen. erosity they should receieve the thanks of the people, and respectfully suggest that reso- lution of Congress to that effect be adopted.

 THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT

 The attention of Congress cannot be too earnestly called to the necessity of throwing some greater safeguard over the method of choosing and declaring the election of 8 President. Under the present system there seems to be no provided remedy for contest ing the election of any one State. Tha remedy is partially, no doubt, in the enlightenment of electors. The compulsory support of the free school, and the disfranchisenent of all who cannot read and write the English lan- guage after fixed probation, would meet my hearty approval. I would not make this apply. however, to those already voters, but I

 

 of the probation fixed upon. Foreigners com- ing to the country to become citizens, who are educated in their own language, would acquire the requisite knowledge of ours during the necessary residence to obtain nsturaliza- Jion. If they did not take interess enough in our language to acquire sufficient knowl- edge of it to enable themto study the institu- tions and laws of the country intelligently, I would not confer upon them the right to make such laws, nor select those who do. I append kN% %k,s., e. synopsis or administrative events and of all recommendations to Congress made by me durl' the last seven years. Time may show some of these recommendations not to have been wisely conceived, but believe the larger part will be no discredit to the administration. One of these recommendations met with the united opposition of one political psrty iu the Senate and with strong opposition from the other members-the treaty for the arshexa- tion of

 sANTo DOMINGO

 to the United States-to which shall specially refer, maintaining as do thstif my views had been concurred in the country would be in & more prosperous condition to-day, both politi- cally and financially. Santo Domingo is fertile, and upon it's soil may be grown just those tropi- cal products of which the United States use so much and which are produced or prepared for market now by slave labor almost exclusively, namely, sugar, coffee, dye-woods. mahogany,

 

 cent. of the exports of Cuba are9consumed in the United States. A large percentage of the exports of Brazil also find the same market These are paid for almost exclusively in coin. Legislation, particularly in Cuba being unfa- vorable to 8 mutual exchange of the products of each country, flour shipped from the Mssissip- pi river to Havana can pass by the very en- trance to the city on it's way to port in Spain, then pays duty fixed upon articles to be re-ex- ported, transferred to & Spanish vess 5l, and Ar4 payng second duty, and still leaves profit over what would bs received by direct ship ment All that is produced in Cuba could be produced in St. Domingo. Being part of the United States, commerce between the island and mainland would be free there would be no export duties on her shipments nor import duties on those coming here. Thei e would be no import duties upon the supplies, machinery, etc goang from the States. The effect that would have been produced upon Cuban com- merce, with these advantages 10 a rival, is ob- servable at 8 glance. The Cuban question would have been settled long ago

 IN FAVOR OF "FREE CUBA"

 Hundreds of American vessels would now be advantageously used in transporting the valuable woods and other products of the soil of the island to 8 market and in carrying SUD- plies and immigrants to it. The island is but epareely settled, while it has an area sufic icient for the profitable employment of several mil

 

 on into the hands of Unite States capitalists, andthe products are so valuable in commerce thatimmigration would have been encour- aged. The emancipated race of the South would have found there a copgenial home where their civil rights would no5 be disputed, and where their labor would be so much sought after, that the poorest among them cou,d have found the means to go. Thus, in cases of great oppression and cruelty, such as has boon practical upon them in many places within the last eleven years, whole communities would have sought refuge in Sa1 Domingo do not suppose the whole race would have gone, nor is it desirable that they should go Their labor is desirable, indispen sable almost, where they now are. But tn, possession of this territory would have left thu negro "master of the situation. , by enabling him to demand his rights at home, on pail of finding them elsewhere. do not presen these views now as 8 recommendation for renewal of the subject of annexation. But do refer to it to vindicate my previous action in regard to it. With the present Congress my official life terminates. It is not probable that public affairs will ever again re ceive at tention from me further than as 8 citizen O the Republic always taking deep interest il the honor, integrity and prosperity of th' yy,1to Io- r