uun ..im Ji fy.-ifl""-
mhs
4
$7.00 a Year.
Mli. HAYES' MESSAGE
A CAMPAIGN DOCUMENT.
?
('tinea s: ( f 1 1 1 ' -SV
ami llousi- ' ll:in s idatt vts:
Our heartfelt gratitude is due to the Di
vitie Being, who holds in his hands tire
destinies of nations, for the continued le
fftowal during- the last year, of .countless
blessings upon our country.
A Ware at peace with all other nation..
Our public credit has. greatly improved,
aud h, perhaps, Dow .stronger than eiver
before. Abundant harvests have rewarded
those who till the ?oil, onr manufacturing
industries arc ; reviving, and it is believed
that general prosjierity, which has been so
loiig anxiourlv -looked for, is at la?t within
our reach.
The enjoyment of health by our people
generally has, however, been interrupted
during the print season by the prevalence
of a fatal pestilence, the yellow fever, in
borne portions of the Southern Slates, cre
ating an emergcucy which called for prompt
and extraordinary measures of relief. The
disease appeared asan epidemic at New Or
leans and at other places on the lower Mis
sissippi, eoou after midsummer. It was
rapidly spread by fugitives, from the in
fected cities ami towns, and did net disap
pear until early in November. The States
of Louisiana. Mississippi and Tennessee
have suffered severed v. About one hun-
dr.ed. thousand eases are believed to have
occurred, of which about twenty thousand,
according to intelligent estimates proved
fatal.!. It is impossible to estimate with
any approach to accuracy. the loss to the
country occasioned by this epidemic. It
is to be reckoned by the hundred millions
of dollars. The suffering and destitution
that resulted excited' the deepest sympa
thy in jail parts' of the Union.. Physicians
and nurses hastened from every quarter to
the assistance of the atllicted communities.
Voluntary -contributions of money and sup
plies, in everj' needed form, were speedily
and renerouslv furnished. The -govern
ment-was able to respond "in some measure
to the call for he hp . by -providing tents,
medicines and food for the sick and desti
tute, ithc requisite'- directions Tor the -purpose
being given, in the confident expecta
lion that this action of the Kxecutive
would receive the sanction of Congress.
About eighteen hundred tents and rations
of the value of about twenty-live thousand
dollars were sent to cities and towns which
applied for them, full details of which will
iKi iwnisued to Congress by ,tne. proper
Department. " ' "
The fearful spread of this pestilence has
awakened a very general public sentiment
in favor of national sanitary administra
tion, which shall not only control quaran
tine, but have the sanitary supervision of
internal commerce in times of epidemics,
and hold an advisory relation' to the State
and municipal health authorities, with
power to deal with whatever endangers
the public health, and which the municipal
and State authorities are uuable to regu
late. The national ' quarantine act ap
proved April 29, 1878, which was passed
too late in the .last session of Congress to
provides the means for carrying it into op
eration during the past season i a step in
the direction here iudicatcd: Jn view of
the necessity for the most effective meas
ures, by quarantine and otherwise, for the
protection of our seaports, and the country
geuerally. from this and other epidemics,
it is recommended that Congress give to
the whole subject early and careful consid
eration.' The permanent pacification of the coun
try by t,he-complete protection of all citi
zens in every civil and political right
continues to be of paramount interest with
the great body of our people. K'very step
in this direction is welcomed, with public
approval, and every interruption of steady
and uniform nroirress to the desired con
summation ' awakens general uneasiness
and widespread condemnation. The re
cent Congressional elections have -furnished
a direct and trustworthy test of the ad
vance thus far made in the practical estab
lishment of the right of suffrage, secured
by the Constitution to the liberated race
in the Southern States. All disturbing
influences, real or imaginary, had been re-
, moved from all of these States.;
" The three constitutional Amendments,
which conferred freedom and equality of
civjl and .politieal'rights upon the colored
people of the South, were, adopted by the
concurrent action of the great body of
good citizens who maintained the authority
of the national government and the integ
rity and perpetuity of the Union at such a
cost of treasure and life, as a wise and ne
cessary embodiment in the organic law of
the just results of the war. The people of
the former slaveholding States accepted
these results and gave, in every practicable
form, assurances that the. thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth amendments and laws
passed in pursuance thereof should in good
faith be enforced, rigidly and impartially,
in letter and spirit, to the end that the
humblest citizen without distinction of
race or color, should, under them, receive
full and equal protection in person and
property and in political rights and 'priv
ileges. liy these constitutional amend
ments -the southern section of the If n ion.
obtained a large increase of political pdwer in
Congress and the Electoral College, and
4he country justly expected that elections
would proceed, as to the enfranchised race,
upon the same circumstances of legal aud
constitutional freedom and protection
which obtained in all the other States of
the Union. The friends of law and order
looked -forward to the conduct of these
electiens, as offering to the general judg-
. me.nt of the country an important oppor
tunity to measure the degre in whi.cn the
right of suffrage could be exercised by the
colored people, and would be respected -.by
- their fellow-citizens, but a more general
enjoyment of freedom of suffrage by the
colored people, and a more just and gener
ous protection or that freedom by the com
munities of which they form a part,! were
generally anticipated" than the record of
the election discloses. In some of. those
States in which the colored people have
been unable to make their opinions felt in
the elections, the result is mainly due to
influences not easily measured or remedied
by legal protection; but in the" States of
Louisiana and South Carolina at large,
andinsome particular Congressional dis
taicts outside of those States, the records
of the elections seem to compel the conelu-
sion tfcat tne rierhts of the colored voters
have been overridden, aud their participa
tion in the election, not permitted to be
general or free.
ly will "be for the 'Congress For which
those elections were, held, to make such ex
aminations into their 'conduct as may be
appropriate to determine the validity oF
the claims oF members to their seats. In
the meanwhile it becomes the duty of the
Kxecutive and Judicial departments of the
government, each in its province, of the
quire into and punish violations of the laws
of the United States which have occurred.
I can but repeat what I said in this con
nection in niv last message, that w&atever
authority rests with me to this end I shall
not hesitate to put forth, aud I am unwil
ling to forego a renewed appeal to the
legislatures, the courts, the executive au
thorities, and the people of the States
where these wrongs have been perpetrated.
to give their assistance towards bringing
to justice the offenders and, preventing a
repetition of the crimes. No mean3 within
my power will be spared to obtain a full
and fair in vestigation of the alleged crimes,
and to secure the conviction just punish
ment of the guilty. -
It may be observed that the principal
appropriation made for the Department of
Justice at the last session contained the
following clause : "And for defraying the
expenses which may be incurred in the en
forcement ol the act approved. February
2rt, 1 K 1 . entitled 'An act to amend an act
approved May 30th. 1870. entitled An act
to enforce the rights of citizens of the
United Statesito vote in the several States
of the Union and for other purposes.' or
any acts amendatory thereof or supplement
ary thereto." .
It is the opinion of the Attorney Oeneral
that the expenses of these proceedings will
largely exceed the amount which w;as thus
provided, and I rely confidently upon Con
gress to nlake adequate (appropriations to.
enable the Executive Department 'to en
force the laws.. .
1 respectfully urge upon your attention
that the Congressional elections, in every
district, in a very important sense, are
justly a matter of political interest and
concern throughout the whole country.
iacli Mate, evtry. political party, is enti
tled to the share of power which is Confer
red by the legal and constitutional suf
frage. It is the right of every -citizen,
possessing the qualifications prescribed by
law, to cast one unintimidated ballot, and
to have his ballot hoiK?stly 'counted. So
long as the exercise of this power and the
enjoyment of this right are common and
equal, practically as well as formally, sub
mission to the results of -.the suffrage will
be accorded loyally and cheerfully, and all
the departments of government will feel
the true vigor of the popular will thus ex
pressed. No temporary or administrative
interests of government, however urgent
or weighty, will ever - displace the ?cal of
our people in defence of the primary rights
of citizenship. They understand that the
protection of liberty requires the mainte
nance, in full vigor, of the manly methods
of free speech, free press, and free suffrage,
and will sustain the full authority of gov-'
erument to enforce the laws which are
framed to preserve these inestimable rights.
The material progress and welfare of the
States depend on the protection afforded
to their citizens. There can be no peace
without such protection, -no prosperity
without peace,, aud the whole country is
deeply interested in the growth and pros
perity of all its parts.
AVlrile the country has not yet reached
complete unity of feeling- and reciprocal
confidence between the communities so late
ly and so seriously estranged, I feel an ab
solute assurance that the tendencies are in
that direction, and with 'increasing force.
The power of public opinion will overrule
all political prejudices, and all sectional or
State attachments, in demanding that all
over oiir wide territory the name and char
acter of citizen of the United States, shall
mean ouc and' the same thing, and carry
with them unchallenged -security and re
spect. Our relations with other countries con
tinue peaceful. Our neutrality in contests
between foreign powers has been main
tained and respected. v" .
The Universal Exposition held at Piiris
during the past summer has been attended
by large , numbers of our citizens. .The
brief period allowed for the preparation
and . arrangement of the contributions of
our citizens-to this great exposition was
well employed in energetic and judicious
efforts to JDverdome this -disadvantage."
These effortsled and directed by the Com
missioner . (Jeneral, were " remarkably suc
cessful, and the exhibition of the products
of American industry was creditable and
gratifying in scope and character. The
reports of the United States Commission
ers, giving its results in detail, will be
duly laid before jo.a.t Our participation
in this international competition for the
favor and the trade of the world maybe
expected to produce useful and important
results, in promoting, intercourse, friend
ship, and commerce with other nations.
In accordance with the provisions of the
act ot rebruary zn, leiis, three commis
sioners were appointed to an international
conference on the subject of adopting a
common ratio between old and silver, for
the purpose of establishing, international
ly, the use of bimetallic money, and secur-
mg fixity of relative value between those
metals. !
Invitatious were addressed to the various
governments which had expressed a willing
ness to- participate in its deliberations.
The conference held its meetings iu Paris,
in August last. The report of the 'com
missioners, herewith submitted, will show
its results. No common ratio between
gold and silver could be agreed upon by
the conference. The general conclusion
was reached that it is necessary to main
tain in the world the monetary" functions
of silver as well as of gold., leaving the
selection of the use of one ornhe othej- of
these two metals, or both, to be made by
each State.
Congress having appropriated at its last
session the sum! of $5,500,000 to pay the
award of the Joint Commission at Halifax,
if, after correspondence with the. British
Government, on the subject of the con
formity of the award to the requirements
of thetreaty and to the terms of the ques
tion thereby submitted to the Commission,
the President shall deem it his duty to
make the payment, communications upon
these points were addressed to thetBritish
Government through the legation of the
United States at London. Failing to ob
tain the concurrence of the British Gov
ernment in the views of this Government
respecting the award, I have deemed it my
duty to tender the sum named, within the
WILMINGTON, N. C, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1878.
year fixed by the treaty, accompanied by a
notice of the grounds of. the payment, and
a protest against any other construction of
the same. The correspondence upon this
subject will be laid before you.
.The Spanish Government has officially
.announced the termination of the insurrec
tion in Cuba, and the'restoration of peace
throughout that island. Confident expec
tations are expressed of a revival of trade
and prosperity, which it is earnestly hoped
may prove well-founded. Numerous claims
of American citizens for relief for injuries
or restoration of property, have been among
the incidents of the long-continued hostili
ties. Some of these claims are in process
of adjustment by Spam, and the others
ire promised early and careful consider
ation. The treaty made with Italy, in regard to
reciprocal consular privileges, has been
duly ratified and proclaimed.
No questions of e,rave importance have
arisen, with any other of the European
powers. .
.The Japanese Government has .been' de
sirous of a revision of such parts' of its
treaties with foreign powers as relate to
commerce, and, it is understood, has ad
dressed to each of- the treaty powers a re
quest to open negotiations with that view.
The United States Government has been
inclined to regard the matter favorably.
Whatever restrictions, upon trade with
Japan are found injurious to that people
cannot by t affect injuriously nations hold
ing commercial intercourse with them.
Japan, after a long period of seclusion, has
within the past few years made rapid
strides in .the path of enlightenment and
progress, and. not unreasonably," is looking
forward to the time when her-relations
with the nations of Europe and America
shall be assimilated to' those which they
hold with each other.. A treaty looking to
this end has been made, which will be sub
mitted for the consideration of the Senate.
After an- interval of several years, the
Chinese Government has again sent en
voys to' the United States. Thev have
been received, and a permanent legation is
now established here !y that (Joverument.
It is not doubted that this step will be of
advantage to born nations in promoting
friendly relations and removing causes of
"difference. The treaty with the Samoan
Islands, having been duly ratified and ac-,
cepted on the part of both .Governments,.
is now in operation, and a survey and
soundiuirs of the harbor of Pajro-Pasro
have been made fyy a naval vessel of the
United States, with a view of its occupa
tion as a, naval station, if found desirable
to the service.
Since the resumption of diplomatic re
lations with Mexico, correspondence has
been opened and. still continues between
the two Governments upon the various
questions which at one time seemed to en
danger their relations. "While no formal
agreement has' been reached as to the
troubles on the border, much has been
done to repress and diminish them. The
effective force of United States troops on
the Rio Grande, by a strict and faithful cem
pliance with iustfuctions,has done much to
remove the sources of dispute, and
it is how understood that a like
force of Mexican troops on the other side
of the river is also making an energetic
ihovement against the marauding Indian
tribes. " This Government looks with the
greatest satisfaction upon every evidence
of strength in the natural authority of
Mexico, and upon every effort put forth to
prevent of to punish . incursions upon our
territory.- Reluctant to assume any action
or attitude in the control of these incur
sions, by military movements across the
border, not imperatively demanded for the
protection of the lives and property of our
own citizens, I shall take the earliest op
portunity, consistent with the proper dis
charge of this plain duty, to recognite the
ability of the Mexican Government to re
strain effectively violations of our terri
tory. It is proposed to hold next year an
International Exhibition in) Mexico, and it
is believed that the display of the agricul
tural and manufacturing products of the
two nations will tend to better understand
ing aud increased commercial intercourse
between their people.
With Brazil, and the Republics of Cen
tral and South America, some steps have
been taken toward the development of
closer commercial intercourse. Diploma
tic relations have been resumed with Co
lombia and with Bolivia. A boundary
question between the Argentine Republic
an(L Paraguay has been submitted by those
Governments for arbitration to the Presi
dent of the United States, and I have, af
ter careful examination, given a decision
upon it.
A naval expedition up the Amazon and
Madeira rivers has brought back informa
tion valuable both for scientific and com
mercial purposes. A like expedition is
about visiting the coast of Africa and the
Indian ocean. The reports of diplomatic
and consular officers in relation to the de
velopment of our foreign commerce, have
furnished many facts that have proved of
public interest, and have stimulated to
practical exertion the enterprise of our
people.
The report of the Secretary of the Trea
sury furnishes a detailed statement of the
.operations of that Department of the Gov
ernment, and of the condition of tne pub
lic finances.
The ordinary revenues from all sources
for 'the fiscal veaf ended June 30, 1878.
were S257.TG3.8T8 70: the ordinary expen
ditures for the same period, were 236.-
4,o2G 80 leaving a, surplus revenue for
the year; of $20,799,551 90.
The receipts for the present fiscal vear,
ending June 30, 1879. actual and esti
mated, are as follows : Actual receipts for
the first quarter commencing July 1, 1878,
$73,389,743 43 ; estimated receipts for the
remaiuiug three-quarters f the year, 8191-
110,2aG o i ; total receipts for the current
fiscal year, actual and estimated, 264.500,-
000. the expenditures . for the same pe
riod will be, actual and estimated, as fol
lows: For the quarter commencing Julv
l.187S, actual expenditures. $73,344,573
27 ; and for the remaining J.hree-quarters
of the year, the expenditures are estimated
at $166,755,426 73 making the total ex
penditures, $240,100,000; and leaving an
estimated surplus revenue, for the year
ending J une 30. 1879, of $24,400,000.
The total receipts during tho next fiscal
year, ending June 30, 1880. estimated ac
cording to existing laws, will be $264,o00.
000; and the estimated ordinary expendi
tures, for the same period, .will be $236,
320,412 C8; leaving a surplus of $28,179,
587 32 tor that year.
In the foregoing statements of expendi
tures, actual and estimated, no amount is
allowed for the sinking fund provided for
by the act approved February 25, 1862,
wh'ch requires that one per cent; of the
entire debt of the United States shall be
purchased or paid within each fiscal year,
to be set apart as a sinking fund. There
has been, however, a substantial compli
ance with the conditions oF the law. By
its ter'm. the public debt should have been
reduced between 1862 and the close of the
last fiscal year, $518,361,806 28: the ac
tual reduction of the ascertained debt, in
that period, has been $720,644,739 61 ;
being in excess of the reduction required
by the sinking fund act $202,282,933 33.
The amount of the public debt, less cash
in the Treasury, November 1, 1878, was
$2,024,200,083" 18-a reduction, since the
same date last year, of $23,150,617 .39.
The progress made during the last year,
in refunding the public debt at lower rates
of interest, is very gratifying: The amount
of four per cent, bonds sold during the pre
sent year prior to November 23, 1878, is
$100,270,900, and six per cent, bonds, com
mohly known as five-twenties, to an equal
amount, have been, or will be redeemed as
calls mature.
It has been the policy of the Depart
ment to place the four per ceut. bonds
within easy reach of every citizen who de
sires to invest his savings, whether small
or great, in these securities. The Secretary
of the Treasury recommends that the law
be so modified, that small sums may be" in
vested, and through the postoffices, or
other agents of the Government, the freest
opportunity may be given in all parts of
the country for such investments.
The best mode suggested is, that the De
partment be authorized to issue certifi
cates of deposit, of the denomination of ten
dollars, bearing interest at the rate of 3.G5
per cent, per annum and convertible at any
time within one year after their issue into
the four per cent, bonds authorized by
the refunding act, and to be issued
only in exchange for United States
notes sent
to the
Such
Treasury by
man
or
otherwise
provision of law.
upported bv suitable regulations, would
enable any person readily, without cost or
risk, to-convert his money into an inierest-
jearing security of the united States, and
the money so received could be applied to
the redemption of six per cent, bonds.
Lhe coinage ot gold during the last fiscal
year was $52,798,980. The coinage of sil
ver dollars, under the act passed rebruary
28, 1878, amounted on the 23d of Novem
ber, 1878, to $19,814,550, of which amount
$4,894,947 arc in circulation, und the bal
ance, $14,839,603, is still in the possession
ot the Government.
AVith views unchanged with regard to
the act under which the coinage of silver
proceeds, it has been the purpose of the
Secretary faithfully to execute the law, and
to afford a fair trial to the measure.
In the present financial condition of the
country, l'am persuaded that the welfare
of legitimate business and" industry of ev
ery description will be best promoted by
abstaining from all attempts to make radi
cal changes in the existing financial legis
lation. Let it . be understood that during
the coming year the business of the coun
try will be undisturbed bv governmental
interference with the laws affecting it. and
we may confidently expect that the re
sumption or specie payments, which will
take place at the appointed time, will be
successfully and easily maintained, and
that it will be followed by a healthful and
enduring revival of business prosperity.
.Let the healing influence oi time, the
inherent energies of our people, and the
boundless resources ot our country, have a
fair opportunity, and relief from prcseut
difficulties will surely follow.
1 he report of the Secretary of V ar
shows that the army has been well and
economically supplied, that our small force
has been actively employed, and has taith
fully performed all the service required of
it. The morale of the army has improved,
and the number of desertions has mate
rially decreased during the year.
1 he Secretary recommends
1. That a pension be granted to the
widow of the late Lieutenant Henry II.
Benner, 18th Infantry who lost his life by
yellow fever while in command of the
steamer J. M. -Chambers, sent with
supplies,. for the relief of sufferers in the
2. The establishment of the annuity
scheme for the benefit of the heirs of de
ceased officers, as ' suggested by the Paymaster-General.
. " ,
3. The adoption by Congress of a plan
for the publication of the records of the
War of the Rebellion, now being prepared
for that purpose.
4. J he increase of the extra per diem of
soldier-teachers employed in post-schools,
and liberal appropriations for the erection
of buildings lor schools and libraries at the
different posts.
o. 1 he repeal or amendment of the act
of June 18, 1878, forbidding "the use of
the army as a posse comitatus, or other
wise, for the purpose of executing the laws
except in such cases and under such cir
cumstances as may be expressly authorized
by the Constitution or by act of Con
gress." . v '
6. The passage of a joint resolution of
Congress legalizing the issues of rations,
tents, and medicines which were made for
the relief of sufferers from yellow fever.
7. That provision be made for the erec
tion of a fire-proof building for the prescr
vatien of certain valuable records, now
censtantly exposed to destruction by fire.
These recommendations are all com
mended to your favorable considerations.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows that the navy has improved during
the last fiscal year. " Work has been done
on seventy-five vessels, ten of which have
been thoroughly repaired and made ready
for sea. Two others are in rapid progress
towards completion. The total expendi
tures for the year, including the amount
appropriated for the deficiencies of the
previous pear, were $17,467,392 65. The
actual expenses chargeable . to the year,
exclusive of these deficiencies, were $13,
306,914 09, or $767,199 18 less than those
of the previous year,. and $4,928,077 74
less thin the expenses, including' the defi
ciencies. The estimates for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1886 , are $14,562,381 45
exceeding the appropriations of the
present year only $33,949 75 ; which ex
cess is occasioned by the demands of the
Naval Academy and the Marine Corps, as
explained in the Secretary's report. The
appropriations for the present fiscal year
are $14,528,431 70. which in the opinion
of the Secretary, will be ample for all the
current expenses of the Department dar
ing the year. The amount drawn from the
Treasury from Julv 1 .to November 1,
1878, is $4,740,544 14, of which $70,980 75
has been refunded, leaving as the expendi
ture for that period $4,669,563 39, or
$520,899 24 less than the corresponding
period of the last fiscal yeir.
The report of the Postmaster (Jeneral
General embraces a detailed statement of
the operations ef the Postoffice Depart
ment. The expenditures of that Depart
ment . for the fiscal vear ended Jane 30.
1878, were $34,165,086 49. The receipts
including sales- of stamp?, money
order business and official stamps
were $29,277,516 95. The sum of
$290,436 90, included in the foregoing
statement oFjexpenditures, is chargeable to
preceding years, so that the .actual expen
ditures for the fiscal year ended June 30
1878, are $33,674,647 50. The amount
drawn from the Treasury on appropriations,
in addition (to the revenues of the Depart
ment, was $5,307,652 82. The expenJi
tu res for the fiscal year ending June 30,
180, are estimated at $36,571,900, und the
receipts from all sources at $30,664,023 90,
leaving a deficiency to be appropriated out
of theTreasury ef '$5,907,876 10. The re
port calls attention to the fact that the
compensation of postmasters and of rail
roads for carrying the mail is regulated by
law, and that the failure of Congress to
appropriate the amounts required for these
purposes does not relieve the Government
of responsibility, but necessarily increases
the deficiency bills which) Congress will be
called upon to pass.
In providing for the postal service, the
following questions are presented : Should
Congress annually appropriate a sum for
its expenses largely in excess of its reve
nues, or should such rates of postage le
established as will make the Department
self-sustaining ? Should the postal service
be reduced by excluding Trom the mails,
matter which does not pay its way ? Should
the number of post-routes be diminished ?
Should other methods be adopted which
will increase the revenues or diminish the
expenses of the postal service ?
The International Postal Congress,
which met at Paris May 1, 1878, and con
tinued in session until June 4 of the same
year, was composed of delegates from near
ly all the civilized countries of the world.
It adopted a new convention, to take the
'place of the treaty concluded at Berne
October 9, 1874 ; which goes into affect on
the 1st of April. 1879, between the coun
tries whose delegates have signed it. It
was ratified and approved, by and with the,
consent of the President, August 13, 1878.
A synopsis of this Univarsal Postal Con
vention will be found in the report of the
Postmaster General, and the full text in
the appendix thereto. In its origin the
Postal Union comprised twenty-three
counties, having a population of three hun
dred aud fifty millions of people, and will
soon, by the accession of the few remaining
countries and colonies which maintain or
ganized postal services, constitute, in fact
as well as in name, as its new title indicates,
a Universal Union, regulating, upon a uni
form basis of cheap postage-rates, the pos
tal intercourse between all. civilized
nations.
Some embarrassment has arisen out of
the conflict between the customs laws of i
this country and the provisions of the Pos-4
tal Convention, in regard to the transmis
sion of foreign books and newspapers to1
this country bv mail. It is hoped . that
Congress will be able to devise some means L
of reconciling the difficulties which have
thus beeivcreated, so as ,to do justice to all
parties involved.
The business of the Supreme Court, and
of the courts in many of the circuits, has j
increased to such an extent during the j
past years that additional legislation is im- ;
perative to relieve and prevent the delay !
of justice, and possible oppression to suit-)
ors, which is thus occasioned." The en- j
cumbered condition of these dockets is pre- j
sented anew in the report of the Attorney i
General, and the remedy suggested is earn
estly urged for Congressional action. The
creation of additional circuit judges, as
proposed, would afford a complete remedy,
and would involve an expense at the
present rate of salaries of not more than
$C0,00Q a year.
The annual reports of 'the Secretary of
the Interior and of the Commissioner ol
Indian Affairs, present an elaborate ac
count of the present condition of the In
dian tribes, and of that branch of the pub
lic service which ministers to their inte
rests. WTiile the conduct of the Indians,
generally, has been orderly, and their ro
tations with their neighbors friendly and
peaceful, two local disturbances' have oc
curred, which were deplorable in their
character, but remained, happly, confined
to a comparatively email number of In
dians. The discontent among the Ban
nocks, which led first to some acts of vio
lence on the part of some members of tlte
tribe a'nd finally to the outbreak. appears
to have been caused by an insufficiency of
food on the reservation, and this insuffici
ency to havebeeft owing to the inadequacy
of the appropriations, made by Congress,
to the wants of the Indians, at a time
when the Indians were prevented from sup
plying the deficiency by hunting. After
an arduous pursuit by the troops of the
United States, and several engagements,
the hostile Indians were reduced to subjec
tion, and the larger part of them surrend
ered themselves asprisoners. In this con
nection, I desire to call attention to the
recommendation made by the Secretary of
the Interior, that a sufficient fnnd be
placed at the disposal of the Executive, to
be used, with proper accountability, at
discretion, in sadden emergencies of the
Indian service.
The other case of disturbance wa3 that
of a band of Northern Cheyeuncs who
suddenly left their reservation in the In
dian Territory and marched rapidly through
the States of" Kansas and Nebraska in the
direction of their old hunting-,grounds,
committing murders and other crimes on
their way. From documents ac
companying the report Jof the . Sec
retary "of, the Interior, it appear
that this disorderly band was a- fully sup
plied with the necessaries of life as the
four thousand seven hundred other Indians
who remained quietly on the reservation,
and that the disturbance was caused by
men of a restless and mischievous disposi
tion among the Indians themselves. Al
most the whole of this band have surren
dered to the military authorities, and it is
a gratifying fact that, when some of them
had taken refuge in the camp of the Red
Cloud Sioux, with whom they had been in
friendly relations, the Sioax held them as
prisoners and readily gate them op to the
officers of the LwteJ State,, tho, itinr
new proof of the loyal Pp!rit mhkh.IUnL
ing romors to the eonti.ry notwith.UtKj.
ing. they have nmfonnly shown ever irx
the whes they expred at the council
ofptcmber, l.7f. had been comp J
Both the Secretary of the Inter
the Siertarv nf V" ..:.. .
ior ami
Hiviwauua mil provision be made bv (
gress ior tne organization or a
en-
,uulw imuan auxiliaries." tolvin.
uiu cuairoi oi tne army, and to be ned for
the purpte of keepin? the Ind:ans on tr ir
reservations and preventing or repr?i-
disturbance (n their part. I earneVlv
concur in this recommendation. It i be.
lieved that the organization of such a
body of Indian cavalry, receiving a mod
erate pay from the Government, w&uM
considerably weaken the restlc cletm-ut
among the Indians by withdrawing from
it a number of young men and 'giving
them congenial employment" under the
government, it being a nutter of expo
rien.ee that Indians in'our service almost
without exception are faithful i i the n r
Forniance of the duties aligned, them.
Snch an organization would materially aid
tho army in the accomplishment of a" task
for which its numerical strength 'is .some
times found insufficient.
But, while the employment of force for
the prevention or repression of Indian
troubles is of occasional necessity, and
wise preparation- should be made to that
end, greater reliance must be placed on
humane and civilizingagencies for the ulti
mate solution of what is called the Indian
problem. It may be very difficult and re
quire much patient effort.- to curb the un
ruly pirit t-f the savage Indun to the. re
straints of civilized life, but experience
shows 4hat it is not impossible. Manv of
the tribes which are now outlet and ord-rlv
and self-suporting were ouco as savage as
any that at present roam over the plains
or in the mountains of the far west, and
were then considered inaccessible
to civil-
izing influences
It may Ik? impossible to
raise l hem fully up to the level of the
white population of the United States; but
we should not forget that they are the
aborigines of the couutry. and culled
the soil their own on which our
people have grown rich, jMjwerful und
happy. We owe it to them as a iiioral
duty to help them in attaining at least that
degree of civilization which they m.iybe
able to reach. It is not only our duty
it is also our interest to do so. Indians
who have become agriculturists or herds
men, and feel an interest in property, will
thenceforth cease to le a warlike and dis
turbing element. It is also a well-authenticated-
fact that Indians are apt to be
peaceable and quiet when their children
are at school, and 1 amr gratified to know,
from the expressions of Indians themselves
and from many concurring reports, that
there, is a steadily increasing desire, even
among Indians belonging to comparatively
wild tribes, to have.their children educa
ted. I invite attention to the reports of
the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, touching
the experiment recently inaugurated, in
taking fifty Indian children, boys and
girls, from different tribes, to the Hampton
Normal Agricultural Institute, itj Virgi
nia, where they are to receive, an element
ary English education and training in ag
riculture and other useful work, to be re
turned to their tribes, after the completed
course, as interpreters, in-tructors, and
examples. It is reported that the officer
charged with the selection f those chil
dren might have had thousands of young
Indians sent with him had it been ossible
to make provision for them. 1 agree with
the Secretary of the Interior in saying
that ' the result of this interesting experi
ment, if favorable, may be destined to be
come an imp-ortant factor in the advance
ment of civilization among the Indians."
The question, whether a change in the
control of the Indian service should be
made, was. at the last session of Congress,
referred to a committee For -inquiry and
report. Without desiring to anticipate
that report, I venture to express the hope
that in the decision of so important a ques
tion, the views expressed above may not
be lost sight of, and that the decision,
whatever it may be. will arrest further
agitation of this subject, such agitation
being apt to produce a disturbing effect
upon the service as well as on the Indians
themselves.
Iu the enrolment of the bill making ap
propriations for sundry civil expenses, at
the last session of Congress,-- that portion
which provided for the continuation of the
Hot Springs commission was onnueu.
the commission had completed the work of
taking testimony on the many conmcung
claims, the suspension of their labor?, be
fore determining the rights of claimants :
threatened, for a time, to embarrass the in
terests, not only of the government, but
also of a large numberofthe citizens of Hot
Springs, whe were waiting for final act on
on their claims before beginning contem
plated improvements. In order to prevent
serious difficulties, which were apprehended,
andatthe solicitation of many leading citi
zens of Hot Springs, and otheri intereited
in the welfare of the town, the Secretary of
the Interior was authorized to request the
late commissioners to take charge of the
records of their proceedings, and to ter
form such work as coold properly be done
bv them under such circumstance, to facil
itate the future adjudication of the claims
at an early dav, ami to preserve the status
of the claimants until their rights should
be finally determined. The late commis
sioners compiled "with that request, and re
port that the testimony, in all the cases,
has been written out, examined; briefed,
and so arranired as to facilitate an early
settlement when authorized by law. It u
recommended that the requisite authority
lie triren at as earl v a day in the session as
uossible. aud that a fair, compensation be
allowed the late commissioners for the ex
pense incurred and the labor performed by
tuem siace me zaia vi ouuk is-
i Jnvit. the attention of Coaress to the
recommendations made by the Secretary of
the Interior with regard to the preserva
tion of the timber on the public Iaad of
the United States. The protection oi idc
pnblic property is one of the first duties or
the Government. The Department f tje
Interior should, therefore, be enabled by
sufficient appropriations, to enforce tbe
laws in that respect. But this matter
appears still more important
a question of public economy. me
rapid deitructiwn of our .forests is an era
fraught with the gravest consequences,
especially in the mountainous distrjcU,
where the rocky slopes, once denuded of
3 Cents a Copy.
their trcr. will remain frrer. Tfcerv
the injury, ooce doce. cannot be rvpairrd.
I fally Toncar with the .Seeirtary of th'
Interior in the opinion that, for this reaoa.
legislation toochinj the public timber ia
the mouauinoa States and Trmtorie of
the WeMj ihvHitd be ejcia!ly well con
e red. and that exLtnjr law, "iu which the
denrurtiwn of the forrmta i not uRcieot
ly guarded afaicit, ihontd W speedily
modified. A jrrneral rooreniing thi
important abject, appears to me. to b a -
matter -or urgent, public nectity.
rpr-ui the orrantxation of the G
lovern-
tneut, the importance of fncoorarinr. bv
all poiib!c rnean, the' mere? of oar
airncultnral production ha ketn ackpowb
ed;ed and urged cpon the attention of,
Congress and the pcop!e x the rcU and -readiest
means of increanj our aalataa
tial and cadaring prosperity.
The wurd of Washington are an appli
table twd.iy when, in hi eighth annual
mesage. he said : "It i not to 1 doubted ,
that with rrfrrence either to individual or -national
welfare, agriculture is of. primary
In proportion as .nation advattre in popSi
latHii and other circuralancra pi matur-
ity. th. truth becomes more apparent,
and rvnder the rultiratiou of. Ike Mi I
more and more an object of public patrou .
a?e. Institutions for patroii'iting it grow
up. supported by the public pure and to
w hat object can it bv dedicated with greater
propriety T Aurong the meant which, hare
lw en,e!npej to thin end, none have been
attended with greater succCM than the es
tablishment f boards computed of proper
character, charged- with collecting ami
diffusing information, aed enables!, by pre.
tniii tin and mall x-uniary aid, to
Coiirair" and uvst the spirit uf dio6yery
and improvement, this species of etab
lishment contributing doubly to the in
crease of iinpnlvetneni .by ttiltiuUtlBg to
enterprise and experiment, and by drawing
to a common centre the results everywhere
f individual skill and observation, and :
spreading them thence oi-r the whole lias
tion. KH-rience, aeeurdiiily hath ahown
that they aire very-cheap in"t rumenU of
imineu.se national benefit." .- , . .
The gteut prvpond erauee of the agricul
tural, over any other interest it: the Cnited
States, entitles it to all the consideration
claimed for it by Wadiiutotj. About
oire hnlfof the iml.ition .if the Cnited
States is engaged in agriculture.' The
value the agricultural product of the
Cnited States f. r the year l7tf, i esti
mated at 'three thousand millions- ofdol-,
lars. Tlie exjorts of aj ricullural product
for the year lTT. as apjieara from the re-
ort ol the lftireauof MatTstics. wen- fire
lundred and twent v-four millions of dol-
lars. The great extent of our country,
with its diversity of soil and climate; ena-i
Ides us to prodti-e within our own berdery,
ami by our own labor, not only the uevra..i
saries but most of the. luxuries that are:
consumed in civilized countries. Yet, not A
withstanding our advantage of soil,
climate, and intercommunication, .it ap
peurs from the statistical statements in
the rcfort"of the.t'ommisnioner of Agricul
ture, that we itn)rt annually from foreign
lauds many million of dollars' worth of
agricultural products which could Inr raised
iu our own country. .
Numerous questions arise in the practice
of advanced agriculture which can only Im?
answered by experiments, often costly and
sometimes fruitier, which are beyond the
means of private individual., and art a
just and protKr charge on the whole na
tion for the. benefit of" the nation. It ia
good policy, csjrt'cially in tirnea of deprrs
hion and uucettaiiity iu other busiuesc pursuit-,
with a vast area of uncultivated, and
hence ; unproductive territory, wisely ojiewd
to homestead settlement, to encourjige. by
every proper' and legitimate mean, the
occupation and tillage of the soil. Tie
efforts of the IVpartment of Agriculture :
to stimulate old aud introduce new agri- '
cultural industries, to improve the quality
and increase the quantity of our products, '
todcN naine the value of old or establish
the importance of new methods of culture,
are worthy of your cartful and favorable
consideration, and assistance by suh ap- -propria!
ion t, mony and enlarfcinetit of
facilities a.-, may seem to In? demanded'by
the present favorable" conditions for the
growth ami rapid development of this im
portant interest. ' " .
The abue of animals in transit is wide
ly attracting public attention.. A national -convention
of societies specially interested .
in the subject has recently met at Balti
more, and the facts developed both iu re
gard to cruelties to animals and the effect
of such cruelties upon-the public health.
would M-em to demand the careful, consid
eration of Congress, and the enactment of
more efficient laws for the proveiitiou of
these abuses.
The report of the Commissioner of the.
Bureau of Education ebowa very gratify
ing progress throughout the country, in all
the interests committed to the. care of tbi
important office. The leport is eseeiaily
encouraging with respect to the extension
of the advantages of the .toraon-chool '
system, in lections of the country where
the general enjoyment of the privifege-of
free schol is not yet attained.
To education more than to any ' other
agency we are to look, as the resource for
the advancement of she people, in the re
quisite 'knowledge, and appreciation of t heir
rights and responsibilities as citizens, and
I desire' to. repeat' the suggestion contained
iu my former. message in behalf of. the en
actment of appropriate measures by Con
gress for the purpose of suppiemenUog,
with national aid, the local system of Va
cation in the several States. j
Adequate accommodation for the great
library, which is overgrowing the capacity
of the' rooms bow occupied at the Capitol,
should be provided without delay. This
invaluable collection of boojes, nunascrtptf ,
aud illustrative art has grown Jo such pro
portion, in connection with the copyrigM
system of the country, as to demand the
prompt and careful attention of Congrew.
to save it from injary in lU present
crowded and insufficient quarters.- ,Ajb this
library w national in iu characterand
most, from the naUre of the caar, increase
even more rapidly in the fotore than ia th
past, it cannot be douWted that the people
will sactton any wise expenditure to pre
serve it and to enlarge its usefulness.
The appeal of the Ilegtnts of the Smith
sonian Institution for the means tt organ
ize, exhibit and make available for the
Eoblic benefit the articles now stored away
elonging to the National ; Mtaeara. I
heartily recommend to yotir favorable coo-'
sideratiOB.
coxtwted ox rorm race