k
I I
. . (j
'*• *■' ' -it • ’ ** ‘ .... * f 7|k " ir¥i • : .5 ^ l r . I
$2 60 PER ANNUM—In Advance.
■—r
NUMBER 89.
5ts oti%n.
rOBUSHBD EYERY TUESDAY.
OPPICB—BUS'I.V VISTA STREET.
Onr Job Printing Department.
We hare supplied ourselves with a good
assortment of. Printing Material and are
ready to eteeuie all hinds of jlob Priming,
•n reasonable terms. '
We ara prepared to print Pamphlets, Cata
logues, Posters, large or small, Cards, llAli
Tickets, Bilf Beads. Ala&s’oV etery descrip
tion, for Clerks, SlafrilTa, Justices of Cie
Peace. Constables. Ac. *
BATES OP ADVEBTISUre.
On* square (10 line* of this site type) foi
one insertion, $1; each additional insertion,
76 cent*.
11 ni. | 2 in | X ri. | II m. 11 year.
1 Square, $•'! <*• (V|$U 001*1200 *2(1 W)
2 Squares, 6 00 0 00|12 OOf 20 00 83 00
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to their legitimate business.
Personal communications charged double.
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one square or less, first insertion $1. and 75
cents per square Tor each additional insertion.
Advertisements not ordered for a specified
time, will be inseued till forbidden, and
charged for accordingly.
All advertising difa after second insertion.
’ PROF^SsicfNAL CARDS.
CP., J. ■W. SCP.2T3?, ’
Reiug permanently located at tyes Arc,
will continue the practice of hie profession in
all its branches.
Office at Col. J. M. Burney's Drug Store.
-- ~ ~ •. 1 ♦ - • •«- *
1 DR. ROB'T. B. TREZEVMT,
Tender* Wi* proie*»lon:»l m'lvlfip* to
the citizens ot' lies Are and vicinity.
Office—At B. ('.Johnson Drujr Store.
sop^l
L -——tr-TTT—1
J. E. GATEWOOD, J.^S. THOMAS.
GATEWO. D A TR0MI3,
AT SAW
DCS ARC. ARKANSAS.
PT. IP. Vatighan.
ATTORNEY AT LAW
EE? ARC ARKANSAS.
WILL practice in the Courts of the counties |
of Prairie. While, Jackson. Woodruff and '
Monroe. Particular attention given to the
Collection of clait&i any where in the State,
■tprtf.
T. E. EMERSO TV, j
ATTORNEY AT LAW i
AND GENERIL LAND AGENT,
AUSTIN, PRAIRIE COUNTY. ARK
m
Special attention given to the collection *
and securing claims, buying and selling lends
paying taxes, examing titles, &c. april l l
| J. It. P. ALDR!DGE,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
Cotton Plant, Arkansas.
Will practice in the Circuit Courts of !
i Woodruff countv. and the Circuit Courts of j
the seventh Judicial District, and give prompt
attention to all busiuch* entrusted ro his
care. janl2- |
% !
U- S. GANTT. W. J. BRONAUGH
GANTT Sr. BRONAUGH,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW,
BROWNSVILLE, ARKANSAS.
Prompt attention given to collection nt i
elatin'* - wpr1*
W. J. ROG£KS.
| ATTOHXKY AY LAW,
BROWNSVILLE- ARKANSAS.
Prompt Rtieniiou given to tb" Collection
of Claims, Investigation of Land Titles. Pay
, meut of Taxes. Ac. irrrlt>
J. C. JCNSON. Office—West Point, Arkansas
| , JNO. M. Mooilh, Office—Searcy, Ai'kaueas.
JOVS<>\ & HOOKE,
Attoraoys At Low,
SOLICITORS IX (IIAXCERY.
—AND —
General Land and Collecting Agents,
. .
SEARCY, ATI ICA.VlS AS.
Will give prompt attention to any hitsine*®
in tlie counties of Independence. Jackson, j
Woodruff, Monroe, Prairie, White. Conway I
and Van Buret*. niarO- ’ j
I SOL. r. CLARK. SAM W WILLIAMS
Clark & Williams.
Attorneys at Law,
LITTLE ROCK, ARIUSKAS
1ITU.I. practice in all the Courts, prnsecuts
vI ,,:«ini« of all kinds, eollcot debts. and
sot ns ft’eal .Vit iff and General .grate.
Ossies — Markham St reel, near Slate House.
april28*tf
WN. It. COODT. D. MC RAX
COODY & McRAE,
AfYO&Vm At RAW
SEARCY, WHITE COl’STY,
ARKANMAM.
Will practice in all til* courts of Arkansas
mar24
T. M. 0IB80Y,
A ttorney at Law
AND U. S. CLAIM AGENT.
UEVALI/S HLUFF, AUK.
ARKANSAS haring b en added to thejti
ri.Jicuon of tho Court of Claims at
Washington. I lie undersigned hereby gibes
notice that be is prepared to re-»ive and col
lect all claims held by loyal person* for Slock.
Forage. Supplies and Property of any and all
kinds taken by Federal officers or soldier*
for the u«e of tire government. Come and see
me. Fees moderate. No charge for adrice.
sept-3m
33. 3L Johnson
D HUGGIS T,
DES ARO, ARKANSAS,
KBHP on hand aUrgeaseortinent of Drugs
Medicine*. Paint*. OHn. Perfumery.
Patent Medicine*. 'Vine*, l.randies. "'biekey,
for medical purpose*, which be will sell low.
Prescriptions and orders filled promptly.
Term, cash tab. lb. X8MA
* ■ ** * "T • ■ 1 :* ’ —
From tbe Cleveland Herald. Nov. 28th.]
A Falftirui irifk.
On* cihliosecfse* In which womans
constancy, untlef the moil trying ciij
cuinsUiuccs. is exhibited. came to light
in this city 6»' Friday. Tlie stork
certainly ha* the imprint of the romats
tic more thou l£e reality, and border*
cjo»e upon The imaginative; yet tty
manner iu which the facts were told by
the two interested parties clears tbe
mind Of all dOuttY and'scctus to stamp
il with: trull*. The circumstance*, at
i related "to us, are subSlahtlnHy at fol
! lows:
j In the beginning of 1840. Henry Let
fingneil was a well-to-do iner’yiinot,
: living near the suburbs.of London,
{England. Li llie month of March of
I that year, u larceny was committed
] near his residence, and. circumstance*
| pointed tv him aa the perpetrator, lit'
I was urrestedy examined before one of
; the stipendiary uiagist rates, and tulle
^committed for trial. A tiioiftli later, lie
wns convicted and sentenced to hard
labor in the penal colony of Australia
for a period often years; and in lest
Ilian a week's time thereafter, he was
on his way to tlie I'arolf land. Ilis de
voted wife, who all tlie time firmly be
lieved in her husband's innocence, at
Once made preparations to follow and
remain neur him during bis ssnifinc
incut, so that she might be the first,
when liis ticket-of-leave came, to ciieer
him with good counsel and comfort
him with Wlfcri’ love.
T*ie ship containing the convicts ar
rived sale, and her caggoof living hu
nan beings was at once transferred to
the government workhouses. Not so,
however, tlie ship upon widely Mrs.
Letliugwell embarked. When about
hall way upon irer jourt ey (lie vessel
encountered a teaiTui storm, and, alter
butfeiing the waves tor two days, foun
dered and went down, (lie crew and
Mrs. Leffingwell barely escaping upon
a raft hastily coustruciid when jt was
louud tiiat the ship could not be saved.
Alter ail exposure of several days they
were picked up by tlie American ship
North Wind, bound from New York
to China, where Mrs. Leffingwell was
at length landed, only to hud herself
farther than ever from her destination,
and with no immediate prospect of
reaching it. After several months of
patient watching and waiting, site was
enabled, through the kind offices of the
American Consul, then residing at
Ycddo. to procure passage to Cuba,
whence tbe prospect of reaching Aus
tralia would be much improved. Pass
ing over a space ot a year and a half,
in tuliii'li \( i*a T , iki'U'vI I iiocsw.l
ihrough many seeuws calculated to try i
firmer resolutions ilian hers, hut :
through which sho clung to her resolve J
with true English obstinacy, she finally
found herselPun the shores of Austra
lia. but as lunch at a loss concerning
the exact locality of -her husband's
wherebouts as she would he of'* Needle
for which she was hunting in u hay
mow.
Site persevered, however, but four
long years passed away beloreshe was
enabled to ooi.fin the slightest trace ol
her husband, from the tact that when
onco landed Horn the ship each convict
received a no in her. hv which he is only
known to the keepers. Mrs. Letfinwell
knew not her husband's number, and
when she made inquiries she was al
ways baffled with the question: ‘‘IJi*
number, ma'am?” At the etui of the
time spoken of. during which her
means had become exhausted, and she
iiad been compelled to resort to menial
labor, she oils day picked up a Sidney
paper, in which was an account ot her
husband's release, the real criminal of
the larceny haying been found ami ex
ported. The account gave her hus
band's number and the tarts whicli
convicted him in so precise a manner
that she could not long doubt as to
who was meant, ller course was
marked out at once. Going to the
prison authorities of Sidney, she at
length learned that •■ticket of leave
man No. 18b,” her husband's number,
bad iett the island for tho United
States of America two weeks alter his i
release. The next tiling for her to do j
was to follow him. Scraping together j
her scanty means, she found she i
possessed barely means to pay her pass- i
age. She seized Upon her first oppor- '
tunity presented, and in June, 1847,
she found herself once more upon the
ocean, bound for the land of the free,
with Iter mission still unaccomplished.
In due time she arrived in New
York city, where, she remained until
the civil war broke out. not having in
the meantime heard one word of her
husband, though she hurt made every
exertion to find his whereabouts.
When the war broke out, and at tiie
first call for nurses in (he hospitals, she
responded, and. until peace was de
clared. there were none more faithful
in Hie care of our wounded than Mrs.
Clara Leffiugwell. W hile in one of the
hospitals at Washington. she nursed
to life and strength a man who knew
her husband in the army, who had
been iiis messmate and boon compan
ion, and who, in bis delirium, con
stantly railed his comrade to come to
Iiis assistance. When the erisis was
passed, and it was known that the sol
dier would live, she questioned him
concerning her husband, and ascer
tained that he was in a Pennsylvania
regiment, having enlisted from Pitts
burg two years before. She at once
addressed Lefflngwell a letter, slating
in lull her efforts to tind him, and de
tailing at length her disappointments
and trouble*. Willi the usual perver
sity of army mails, that letter never
reached its destination. Mrs. Leffling
well waited and watched, but atill no
answer came, and at length, when the
war was over, she set out once more in
search of her husband.
A visit to Pittsburg revealed the tael
that her husband'- term of enlistment
bad expired long before, and thus iden
tity wii* once more lost. Sshe inserted
advertisements in a number of Penn
sylvania papers, falling for information
of Iiis whereabout*, and then sat her
self again to watcli and wait. Time
ceppf slowly on. and still no tidings of
her absent one.
A week ago, when she had given up
all hope of ever seeing her husband
again, she very unexpectedly received
direct information ol'his place of abode
troin one who came across the adver
tisement of three vears before. The
paper containing it had. very providen
tially, escaped the destruction which
usually come* upon the dallies of the
different cities, and now was the means
of iiult.i.tg two person* who for tweu
ty-clgltl years bad been separated by a
cruel fate. Our heroine at once made
preparation to go to her husband, who
I live* in or near Cincinnati, nnd whf
1 had bteen apprised nl' ii«r ooming. Bin
I accerdtiwgly ieft Pittsburg on Frittek
, morning, nmk mwived in Cleveland if
i Ihe afternoon of the aatne day. Winn
* W»* her surprise knrt pleasure on alight
! ing froitfTM etfr# at the Union Depqi
; to procure some refreshments, to b*
! confronted by'jkef husbtipd.
Tot1 a ihoment they1 stated at each
other, and then, with a simultaneous
impulse, they rukhetl Into each other’s
arms, all unconscious of the gaping
crowd, who,, with the usual curiosity,
had paused in their hurry to witness
the scene. The years that had separa
ted them. though it had silvered the
heads of cndh and left mien ofonre
upon their brow, had not eradicated
the love they bore oue another, or lorn
from their hearts the memory of the
oltfti. timer Ire lore relentless fate had
soOrnetiy fnvust them asunder. The
trials of the past were forgotten in the
present Joy, and thkv took the train for
i home at 7 in the evening, linnpy only
! in each inther’s cwtanny. It if1** while
tlwy were waiting the departure of the
Cincinnati train, and through the kind
office* of one of the Cleveland and
Pittsburg officials, to whom Mrs. LeiT
iugwell had revealed a part other his.
fury, that the above was obtained.
Though, as we skid at the beginning of
this article, the story Ims the imprint
of the romantic and unreal, still we
give it as it was given to us, believing
in its truthfulness.
Annual Message
OF THE
FEES IDEA T OF THE UNITED
STATES
TO THE
UNITED STATES SENATE AND
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
Washington. December 9.—The
President sent liis message to Congress
to-day, which is as follows:
Fellow- Citizen» of the denote . .
and lionet oj Eeprtsentativea:
Upon the reassembling of Congress
it becomes my duty to call your atten
tion to the state ol the Union, and the
disorganized condition under llie vari
ous laws which have been passed upon
the subject of reconstruction. It may j
safely he assumed as an axiom that, in
the inivcrnment of the States. Ihe
greatest wrong inflicted oil a people |
was caused by unjust and arbitrary !
legislation, or by the unrelenting de-1
croes ol' despotic rule, and that in the!
lime ol' imperious and oppressive
measures, the greatest good that can lie |
conferred on a nntiou it the legislator !
or ruler who lias the wisdom and mag
rtniiiiinty to retrfcfle his steps, When
convinced ol'error, and lie will sooner
or later be rewarded with the respect
and gratitude ol an intelligent and pa
triotic people. Our own people, our
own history, although embracing a pe
riod ol' less Ilian u century, alfords
abundant proofs that most, if not all,
of nur domestic troubles are directly
traceable to direct violatioris of the Or
ganic laws and excessive legislation.
The most striking illustrations of ibis
fact are furnished by tlie enactments
of the past three years, on the question
of reconstruction; alter a lair trial
they have substantially failed, hiii1
proved pernicious in their results, and
there seems to be no good reason why
they should longer remain oil the stat- ;
Lite books. States to which the Con
stitution guarantees a ltepublican form
of Government hare been reduced to
military dcpeudeucies, in each nt
which the people have been made sub
ject to the arbitrary will of the Com- ;
manding General, and nlthong the i
Constitution requires that each State {
shall be represented in Congress, Vfr- j
ginia, Mississippi and Texas are > el ex- ;
eluded from the House, and contrary
to the express provisions of that in
strument were denied participation in
the recent election for President and ,
Vice President of the United State*, i
The attempt.to place the whole poptila- I
tiou under the domination of persons
of color in the South has impaired, it
not destroyed, the kindly relations
that had previously existed between i
them, and distrust has rendered a feel
ing of animosity which, leading in
some instances to collision and blood
shed, lias prevented that co-operation
between the two races, so essential to
the success of industrial enterprise* in
the Southern Stale*. Nor have the in
habitants ot those States alone suffered i
the disturbed condition ol' allairs
growing out of these Congressional
enactments. The entire Union has '
been agitated by grave apprehensions i
of troubles, which would again involve <
the peace of the nation. Its interests
have been injuriously affected by the
lifPAIIt/tillinill llllfiTlIftig mill I siwir ami .
(lie consequent want of property.
Throughout that portion of tlie Feder
al Constitution—the Magna Charm of
common rights, under whose wise and
salutary provisions we iiave success
lulls conducted all our domestic and
loreigu atlsire, ourselves, iu peace and
war, to be'uiue f great nation among
the powors of the earth, must assured
ly now be adequate to the settlement
of a question growing out of a civil
war, waged for its vindication. This
great fact is made most manifest by the
condition of the country when Con
gress assembled in tits month of De
cember, ISH6. Civil strife had ceased,
and the spirit of rebellion had spent its
entire force iu the bout hern Slates;
tlie people had warmed into national
life, and throughout Use whole country
a hearty rcactiou iu public sentiment
had taken place. By the application
of tlie simplest effective provisions of
the Constitution, the Executive De
partment, witli the voluntary aid of
those Stales, had brought the work of
restoration as near completion, as was
in the scope of its authority, and the
nation was encouraged by the prospect
of an early and satisfactory adjustment
ol' all its difficulties. Congress, how
ever, Intorferred, and refusing to per
fect the work so nearly done, declined
to admit tlie members of Congress
from tliose States, ami adopted a course
which arrested the progress of restera
1 ioil and frustrated that which had
been done and successfully accomplish
ed, and now, alter three years of agi
tation and strife, has left the country
further from the attainment of a warm
and fraternal feeling than at the incep
tion of the Congressional plan of re
construction. It needs no argument
to show that the legislation which has
produced such consequence* should he
abrogated, <w afo* ba made to conform
! to tho genuine principle* of Itepubll
: can government. Under the influenr*
| ofipurfy passion hnfl'bsftio.rtf h
i dice, other act* have been passed no
warrUntefl'Hb ‘»fi4 Of»r«ft«Sion> Con
'giess has already been made familial
with iny views respecting the Tenure
of-offies bill, and experience has prov
ed that its repgal is demanded by tin
best interests of the country, snd tha
while'll remains In force Bie»Pre*lden
cannot enjoin that rigid accountabilftj
of piihlic officers so essential to a jusi
aud efficient execntlon of tire laws, and
its revocation would enable the Exec*
utive Department to exercise the pow
' cr of appointment and removal In ac
i eordanee with, the original design ol
! the Federal Constitution. The met ol
; March, 1867, making an appropriation
i for the support of the army for the
year ending Jun? 30th. 1807, and foi
other purpose*, coiitainining provis
ions which interfere with the Presi
dent's constitutional functions as Com
mander-iit-Ghlcf of the army and navv,
and the rights to protect themselves by
means of their own militia.
These provision* should be at otine
annulled, for while the first might, in
a time df great emergency, seriously
embarrass the Executive in liis efforts
to employ and direct the common
strength oftlie nation for its protection
and power, the other is contrary to the
express declaration* of the Constitu
tion; that a well regulated militia be
ing imoossare to I lie security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep
and hear arms shall pot be infringed.
It is believed that the repeal of ail such
laws would be accepted by the Ameri
can people as at Inst a partial return to
the fundamental principles of the
Government, and an indication that
hereafter the Coiistilu'ion is to be
made the unerring national safeguard.
They can be productive of no perma
nent benefit, to the country, and should
not be permitted to stand as to many
monuments of the deficient wisdom
which has characterized our recent
legislation.
The condition of our finances de
mands the ready and earnest considera
tion of Congress. Compared with the
growth ofour population, the expendi
tures have reached an amount unprece
dented in our history. J'lie population
oftlie United States iu 1790 was nearly
4.000,000 and, increasing each decade
about tli'-ciy per cent., it reached iu
1800 31,000,000—an increase of 7/5 per
rent, on flic population iu 1790. In
lSf)9 it is estimated that it will reach
38,000,000—mi increase «i 808 per cent,
in seventy-nine years. 'I'lie annual ex
penditure* of the Federal Government
in 1791 were 84.203.090; i i> 1820. *10.200,
000; in 1850, *41,000,000; in 1800. *(53.
000.000; in 1806. nearly *1.390,000.000.
In 18*59 it Is estimated by tile Secretary
of llie Treasury, in his last animal re
port, tlint there will bo *372.000.000.
By comparison, tlio public disburse
ments ot 18*59. ns estimated with those
of 1791, it will be teen that llie increase
of expenditure* since the beginning of
the Government lias been 8,1)18 per
centum, while tlie increase of popula
tion tor tlie same period was only 8*«8
per centum. Agtitt, the expenses in
18*50. (lie year immediately preceding
tlie war, were only **>3.000.000 while in
1869, the year of peace, throe years alter
the war, it is estimated at *372.000.000.
att increase ot 489 per centum, while
tlie increase ot publioexpciidiHires was
only twenty-one per centum for the j
same period.
The statistics further show that in
1791 the annual national expenses com-j
pared wilit tlie population were little
more than *1 00 per capita, while in
lHtitittiey will reach the extraordinary !
sum of $9.*8 f)cr capita. It will he I
observed (hat all of these statements
referred to ai-c to exhibit the disburse-:
incuts in time of peace. It may, there- !
lore, be of interest to compare the ex-1
penditures of the three war periods, {
viz: tlie war with Great Britain, the i
Mexican war, anti the war of the lie
hellion. The Mtinsial expenses incident '
to the war of 1812, reached at their j
highest amount to about S-31.000.0UO. i
while our population exceeded 8,090.
000. showing an expenditure of only j
*3 80 p<-t capita. . t
in 1847, the expenditures growing
out of tlie war with Mexico reached
*54,000.000, and tlie population was
about 21.000,000, giving only *2 t>0 per
capita lor the war expense* of that year.
In 18(55. the expenditures called lor by !
tlie rebellion reached tlie vast amount |
of *1,290,000.000, which,compared wilit
a population ot 34.000.000, gives *38 20
per capita. Front I lie 4tli of M»tvh,
1789, to the 30llt June, 18*51 tlie entire'
expenditures ot tlie Government were]
*l,700,0OJ,UJ0. ami during that period;
we were engaged in a war with Great i
Britain and Mexico, and also involved
in troubles with powerful Indian tribes.!
Louisiana was purchased from France1
at a cost of 815,000,000; Florida was
vuuru »u up o|wuii nn o»*,VvJV/.VA"» .
California Was acquired from Mexico
lor *15.000.000, amt (lie Territory 01
New Mexico was obtained from Texas
for the sum of *10,000,000. Early in
1801 the wsr of the rebellion com
menced, and from tbe 1st of July of
that > ear to llie ikllli of June, 1865. the
public expenditures readied the enor
mous aggregate of83,300,0X1,000. Three
years of peace have since intervened,
and during that lime the disbursements
of the Government Iihvc sueeessivei»
been S5l!U,000,UU0,$31*1,000.000 and *373.'
UOO.OX). Adding to these amounts the
5372.030,000 estimated as necessary for
the li«cal year ending tbe 30th of June,
1860, we obtain a total expeudituie of
*1,0(10.000,000 during tbe lour yeurs
immediately succeeding the war—near
ly os much as was i xpeuded during the
twelve years that preceded the rebel
lion and embraced the extraordinary
circumstances already named. These
facts clearly illustrate the uncessily of
retrenchment In all brunches ol' the
public service. Abuses which were
tolerated during the war for the preser
vation of the nation will uoi lie endured
by I lie people, uow that profound peace
prevaila.
The receipts from Internal revenue
and customs hare, during the past three
years, gradually diminished, and the
continuance of useless and extravagant
expenditures will Involve u* in nation
al bankruptcy, or else m ike inevitable
an increase of taxes, already too enor
mous. and ili many respects obnoxious,
on account of their unquestioned char
acter. One hundred millions annually
are expended for the military force, a
large portion of which is employed Iu
tbe execution of laws both unnecessary
and uno.onst’iiitional. One hundred
and Ally' millions are required each
yesr to pay the interest on the public
i dsfet. Au truiy of tax-gatherers irn
- poverish the ns (I on. and public (^enti
• placed by Congress beyond the control
■ of the Executive, divert ij'pm their le
l gitiiiiatc purpose* large ^itm* of money
• which they collect from the people iii
• tlie inline of the Government. Judi
• clou* legislation nmj prudent economy
can alone remedy the defects ami avert
i the evils which, Jf suffered to exist,
cailnot fail to diminish confidence in
public counsel*, and weaken the at
tachment and respect of I ho people to
ward their political institution*.
Without proper care the small bal
ance which it is estimated will reptsiu
in the Treasury at the close of the pres
ent fiscal year, will not be realized, and
additional millions will be added to a
debt which is now enumerated by bil
liojis. It Is shown by thu able and
cbwjfrehensi ve report of the Secretary
of the Treasury, that the receipts for
the fiscal year ending dune 30, 1868.
were $485,628,063. and that the expen
ditures for the same period were >377,
1340,284. leaving in the Treasury r. sur
j plus of $28,297,798. It is estimated
j that Ihe receipts for the present fiscal
| year, ending June 30, 1869, will he
! $94i,392,S68, and the expenditures
i $336,152,470. showing a small balance
jof >5,240,398 itr favor of the Govern
i ment for tlie fiscal year ending June
30. 1870. In 1870 it is estimated that
! <he receipts will amount to >327,000000,
land the expenditures $353,000,000. ioav
jtng an estimated surplus of $240,000,
jOOO.
It becomes proper in this connection
I to make a brief reference to our public
j indebtedness, which has accumulated
! with such alarming rapiditv and as
1 sinned such colossi!) proportions. In
11789 when the government commenced
operations under tin* Federal Constitu
' lion it wn« burdened with an indebted
ness of >75,OiX).0O0, created during the
1 war of the Revolution : this amount
iia.i been reduced to $45,000,000, when
; in 1812 war was declared against Great
Itriuin. and tlie three years struggle
which followed largely increased Ihe
national obligations, and in 1816 they
had obtained Ihe sum of $127,000,000.
W ise and economical legislation, how
ever, enabled the Government to pay
• he entire 'iiiiouut within a period of
twenty years, mid I he extinguishment
of the national debt filled the laud with
rejoicing, and Was one of the greatest
events of Fresideut Jackson's adminis
tration ; and aticr its reduction, a large
sum remained in the Treasury, which j
for safe keeping, was deposited with 1
the several States, on condition Unit it
should be relumed when iv<|iiired by
public wants. In 1849, the year tiller
the termination ol nn expensive war
with Mt-xiun, we found ourselves in
volved in a debt of $f4.000,000, and this
was tlie amount owed by the Govern
ment in 1890, just prior to the out
break of tin- rebellion. In the spring
of 1801 our civii war commenced, and ■
which, in the years of its continuance,
made an enormous addition to the!
debt, and when in the spring of 1805
the nation siiccessinily emerged from
the conflict the obligations ol the Gov
ernment had reached the enormous
sum of $2,873,992,999. The Secretary
of the Treasury shows that on the flrst
day ol April, 18b7, this amount had
been reduced to $2,491.594.453, but at
the seine time his report exhibits an j
increase, during the past year, of $85. ;
('•25.192. tor the debt on the flrst day ot ■
November last is stated to have been '
$2,527,129,512. ll is estimated by the j
Secretary that the returns for tbe past |
month will add to our liabilities the I
further sum of $11,099,900, making a
total incretiae, during thirtccu mouths, '
ol 849,590,009.
In uiv message to Congressof Decem
ber 4, 1S86, it wns suggested that the
policy be devised which, without be
ing offensive to the people, would at
once begin to effect u reduction of the
debt and pensions, and discharge it
within a definite number of years.
The Secretary of the Treasury forcibly
recommends legislation of this charac
ter, and justly urges that the longer it
is deferred the more difficult must be
its accomplishment. Wc should tol
ling the wise precedent established in
4789 and 1819. and without further de
ley make provision lor the payment of
our obligations at as early a period as f
may be practicable. The truits oftheir I
labor should be enjoyed by our clti- |
reus, rather Ilian used to build up and
sustain moneyed .monopolies in our [
own and other lauds. Our foreign j
debt is already computed by the Secre
tary of the Treasury at $35.000.tW9. 1
Gitir.eus of foreign countries receive t
interest, upon a large portion^ of our [
Securities, and thus taxpayers arc made
to contribute large sums for ilieir sup- |
port. Tbe idea that Shell a debt is to :
become perm ment, shutild at times be j
discarded as involving taxation too !
1. I.. 1.., 1. ss.s.l ....ttnibiit omm '
iu evcrv sixteen years, at the presept
rate of interest at"one per cent, would
he equal to the original sum. Tills j
vast deht promises to become perm*- '
tieiit. is increasing, ami must eventual
ly he gathered into the hands of a lew, j
and enable them to create a dangerous j
and controlling power in the affairs of' j
toe Government: The borrowers
would become servants lo the lenders, 1
the lenders the masters of the people.
We now pride ourselves upon having
given freedom to four millions of the j
colored rare. It will, then, he our
shame Ih it forty millions of people, by
our toleration of usurpation and
profligacy, have aufl'ered themselves to
become enslaved, amt merely exchange
slave owners tor new pisk-UM-ters in j
the shape of bondholders and tax
gatherers. Besides permanent debts j
pertain to nioufrrhinl governments, i
and tend to monopolize and perpetuate 1
class legislation, and are totally incom
patible with free institutions. Intro- I
duced into our Bcpuhiicau system they
would gradually hut surely sap its
foundations, eventually subvert our
governmental fabric and erect upon its
ruin a money aristocracy. It Is our
sacred duty lo transmit utiimparipd to |
one posterity the blessings of liberty j
which were bequeathed to ns by the
founders uf the Hepublic. and by our
example to teach those who arc to fol- (
low us carefully to avoid the dangers
which threaten a free and independent
people. Various plan* have been pro
posed for the payment of the public
deht. However they have varied as to
the time and mode iu which it should
he redeemed, there seem* to be a gen
eral consciousness as to the propriety
ami justness of a redurlion in the pre
sent rate of interest. The Secretary of
the Treasury, in his report, recoin
mends live per cent. Congress. In a
I bill passed prior toils adjournment on
ilbe 8f ofJti'y last, agreed upon tour
'uud a ball" per ceut., while, by many.
j three per cent, ha* been held to be an
, amply sufficient return for tlie Invest
ment. The general impression as to
the exorbitancy of the existing rate of
! interest has led to an inquiry into the
j public mind respecting the considers
| tiou which the Government lias actual
ly received for its bonds, and the con
clusion is becoming prevalent that the
amount which it obtained was in real
money three or four hundred per cent,
less than the obligations which is paid
in return. It cannot be denied that
we are paving an extravagant perren
' tage for the money borrowed, which
j was paper ettrreuer greatly depreciated
; below the value of coin. This fact is
made apparent when we consider (hat
bondholders receive from the Treasury
upon each dollar they own upon
Government..securities six per cent, in
gold, which is quite or nearly equal to
nine per cent, in currency"; that the
bonds arc then converted into capital
; for National banks; upon which those
institutions issue their circulation boar
j ing six per cent, interest; that they are
| exempt from taxation by the Govern
: ment and the States, and thereby
! enhanced two per cent., in the hands ol*
I thejiolders and thus have an aggregate
of seventeen per rent, which may be
received upon each dollar by tliu owner
of Government securities. A system
that produces such results i£ justly re
garded as favoring a few at the ex
pense of many, and has led to the fur
ther inquiry whether our bondholders.
In view of the large profits which they
have enjoyed, would themselves b»
averse to a settlement of our indebted
ness on a plan which would yield them
a fair remuneration, and at the same
lime he just, to the tax-payers of the
nation. Our national credit should be
sacredly observed ; but in making pro
visions for uur creditors we should not.
forget what is due to the masses of the
people. It may be assumed that the
holders of our securities have already
made upon their bonds a larger amount
tliaii their original investment, mea
sured by a gold advancement. n.v this
statement offsets it would seem just
and equitable that the six per cent,
interest now paid by the Government
should be applied to the reduction of
the principal in semi-annual install
ments, which in sixteen years and eight
months would liquidate the entire j
national debt, six per cent, in gold !
would ai present raies be equal to nine
per cent, in currency—equivalent to
the payment of the amount in half the
liine—in a fraction less than seventeen
veara. This, in commotion with all flip !
other advantage* derived from Dis
investment, would afford the public
creditors a fair and liberal compensa
tion for ltic u<c of their capital, and
with this they should be satisfied. The
lessons ot the past admonish the lender
that it is not well to be over aufcious in
exacting from the borrower rigid com
pliance witii Die letter of the bond.
Provision should be made for the pay
ment of the indebtedness of the Govern
ment in the manner suggested, and our
country will rapidly resume its wonted
prosperity.
Interest demands that some measure !
should be taken to release the large I
amount of capita! invested in securities i
of Die Government. Lt is not now |
merely unproductive, but in taxation i
annually consumes $150.(300,000, which !
would otherwise he used by our enter- j
prising people in adding to Die wealth |
of the national commerce, which at one j
time fcuccessinily rivalled that of lhc|
groat maritime powers, lias rapidly j
diminished, and our industrial in-!
terests are in a depressed and languish
ing condition. The development of
our inexhaustible resources is checked,
and Die fields of the South are becom
ing wnst for the want of means to liil
them. With a return of capital a new
lil'o would be infused into the paralizcd
energies of our people, and activity
and vigor imparted lo every brunch 01
industry. Our people recei ved encour
agement in their efforts lo recover
from the effect of the rebellion and
injudicious legislation, anti it should !
be the aim of Ibo Government to sfiinu- j
late them by the prospect of an early j
relief from its burdens which impede !
their prosperity. If we cannot lake '
Die burdens from their shoulders we i
should at least manliest a willingness 1
to help lo bear them. In referring to j
the condition oftlie circulating medium I
I shall merely reiterate substantially :
that portion of my laBt annual message j
which relates to that subject. The pro
portion which tlie currency of any
country should bear to the whole value '
of annual produce Circulated by its!
means is a question on which political ;
economists have not agreed, nor can it !
lie controlled by legislation, but must;
be left to the irrevocable laws which j
nix.iM'ifrlmim i*Air it 1 rt I Pfttnmi'rPrt Mill)
trade. Tlte circu'atiug medium will i
irresistibly flow to those points where i
it >8 in grimiest demand. The laws of
demand and supply is as unerring as
that which regulates the tides of the
ocean ; and currency, like the tides, has
its ebbs and flows throughout# the
commercial world. At the beginning
of the rebellion the bank note circula
tion of the country amounted to not
much more than S200.lKlO.000; now that
circulation—of the Nalionnl Hank notes
and those known ns legal lender*—is
nearly *700.000.000. While it is urged
by some tlmt this amount should be In
creased, others rontend that a decided I
reduction Is absolutely essential to the
best interest of the country. In view
of iitems diverse opinions it, may be ;
well to ascertain the real value of our '
paper issues when compared with a
mcWttie or convertible currency. For |
this purpose let us inquire how, much
gold and silver could he purchased by !
the seven hundred millions of paper!
money now in circulation, probably
not more than half the amount of the 1
latter, showing that when our paper
currency is compared with gold and I
silver, its eomttieteisl value is com
pressed into S3oU,000,000. This strik-(
iug fact makes it tlie obvious duty of'
the Government, at early as may be
consistent with the principles of sound
political economy, to tnke such meas
ures as will enable the holder of Its
notes and those of the national hank*
to convert them wit limit loss into spe
cie or its equivalent. A reduction of
onr paper circulating medium may not
necessarily follow. This, however,
would depend upon the law iff demand (
and supply, though it should he borne
In mind that hv making legal lender i
and hank note* convertible into eoiti
or its equivalent, their present specie
value in the hands of holders would
he enhanced one hundred per cent. |
Legislation for the accomplishment of
a result so desirable is demanded by
the highest public considerations. The i
! Constitution contemplates that the cir
I nutating medium of the country shall
j be uniform in quality and value. Al
,tbe time of the formation of that hi
! strument the country had Just emerged
from the war of the Revolution, ami
| was suffering front the effects of a re
j dundant and worthless paper currency,
' and the sages of that period were anx
1 ious to protect their posterity from
tlie evil which they themselves had
experienced, and hence In providing a
circulating medium, they conferred
upon Congress the newer to cdln
money and regulate the value thereof,
at the same time .prohibiting the
States troui making Anything but
gold and silver a lender iu payment
of debts. The anomalous condition of
our currency is in striking contrast with
that which was originally designed Our
circulation now embraces, first, the notes
of the National Banks, which are made
receivable for all dues to the Government,
excluding imports, and by all its creditors
excepting in the payment of interest on
its bonds and the securities themselves
Second—tlie legal teuder notes issued by
the United States, which the law requires
shall be received, as well in payment of all
debit), delivering the eitisens of all port
dues except imports, end gold and aivlver
coin. By the operations of our present
system of finances, however, the metallic
currency, when collected, is reserved on
ly for one class of Government creditors
who, holding its bonds, semi annually re
ceiv their interest in coiu from the Natiou
al Treasury There is uo reason which
will be accepted as satisfactory by the peo
ple, why those who defended us ou the land
and protected us on the sea ; the pension
ers upon the gratitude of the nation, bear
ing the scars and the wounds received
while iu the service; the publio servants
in the various departments ot the Govern
ment, or the farmer who supplies the sol
diers of the army and the sailors of the
navy; the artisan who toils iu the nation's
workshops, or the mechanic and lahnrer
who builds its edifices or constructs its
forts and vessels of war in payment ot
their just and hard earned dues, should re
ceive depreciated paper, while anotherclass
ot their eitisens, no more deserving are
paid in coin of gold and silver. Equal
and exact justice tequirvs that all the
creditors of the Government should be
paid iu a currency possessing a uniform
....i... ....a —nt— i
by the restoration of the currency to the
standard established by the Constitute n ;
and, by this meaus, we would remove a
discrimination which may, if it has not al
ready done so, create a prejudice that may
become deep rooted and wide-spread, aud
imperil the national credit 'I he feasibili
ty of making our currency correspond
with tho constitutional standard may be
•een by a reference to a few facts derived
from our commercial statistics. The ag
gregate product of precious metals in the
United States, from 1849 to 18«i7 amount
ml to $1,174,900,000. while for the same
period the net exports of specie were
$741,000,000. This shows an excess of
produet ever the net exports of $433 000.
900. There are in «he Treasury $103,
407,985, in noin. and in circulation in the
Stale* ou the Pacific coast about $4,000,
900 and a few milliuu in the national and
other banks; in all less than $160,000 U00.
Taking into consideration the specie in the
country prior to 1849, aud that since
1X67 we have more than 300,000,000 not
accounted fur by exporta or by the returns
of the Treasury, and therefore most prob
ably remaining in the country. These are
important facts and show how completely
the inferior currency will supercede the
better, foicing it from circulation among
the misses aud vruaiug it -to be exported,
ss merely an article of trade, to add to the
money capital of foreign hands 'The ne ;
cessity of reiterating our paper money, j
that the return ofNgold and silver to the
avenues of trade may be invited and s de
mand ereuted that will cause the retention
at home of at least so much of the produc
lions of our rich aud inexhaustible gold
bearing fields as umy he sufficient for the
purposes of circulation. It is uureianua
ble to expect a return to a sound currency
to long as to Government aud banks, by
jootinuing the issue of irredeemable
notes, fill 'he channels of circulation with j
Jepieciated paper. Notwithstanding the]
min ago by our large mints, siuce 1849, ul j
(874,000,000, tho people are now strun
tors to the currency whieh was designer! |
I’ur their use and benefit, and specimens ut I
lie precious, metals, bearing national de
rice*. are seldom seen, exceut when oro !
luted to gratify the interest excited by
;hoir novelty. If"depreciated paper is to j
:>e continued as a permanent currency ot
die country, and all our ooin to become a I
mere article of traffic, and speculation the I
prices of all that is dispcnsthle to the com.
fort of a people, it will be wise economy j
•o abolish our mints, thus taring the care
ind expenae incident to such establish '
rnent. and let onr precious metals be ex 1
ported in bullion. The time has come'
alien the Government aud uational banks
De required to lake more efficient sieps
tint make arrangements for tbe resump j
don of specie psyuients Let specie pay
inents lie onee esrnescly inaugurated by
the Government and banks, and the
ralue of our paper circulation Would di !
reedy approximate a standard ; and speiV
payments having been resumed by »iej
Government and banks, all notes or bills1
paper issued bv either of a less denomina
tion ihau twenty dollars, should be by law
Bxeiuded from circulation, so that the peo
[do can have the benefit and convenience
»f gold and ailver currency, which in tali'!
ather business transactions will be uni
I’oi ui iu vslue st home and sbrosrd. Every
uisn of property or industry, every man
who desires to preserve what he honestly i
possesses, or to obtain what tie oan honest
[y. has s direct interest in maintaining s !
sate circulating medium; such n medium
ts shall be real end substantial, nut liable
to vibrate with opinions, not subject to be
blnwn up or blown do\rn by the breexe of;
speculation, but it is to bs made secure
A disordered currency i« one of the greet- j
est political evils. It under mines the vir- 1
tue* necessary for the sup|airt of tbe so I
Dial system, and encourages propenaiti-s
detractive of jts happiness. It wars,
against industry, frugality and economy,
and it fosters the evils xpirit of extrara- j
ganea and speculation (t has been as |
"eried by one of onr profound and gifted
statesmen that of ell the contrivance* for
, cheating mankind, no one has been eo
: effectual as that which delude* them with
j paper money. Tbi* ia the moat effectual
! <>f inventions to fertilise the rich man by
! the sweat of the poor man’s brow. Ordi
jnary tyranny, oppressive end exceesive
j taxation, bear lightly on the happiness of
! the community, compared with a fraudn
| lent currency, and the roberiee committed
j by depreciated paper. Our own history
| has received far instruction enough, and
j more than enough, of demoralising teu
j dency. The Injustice sod intolerable op
pressions on ths virtuous and Well dispos
ed, of a degraded paper currency, author
ized by lew. end in every way counten
anced by the Government. It i* one of
the moat successful devices, in time of
peace or war, of expansion or revolution,
to accomplish the transfer of all the pre
cious metals from the great mast of the
people into the bends of the few, where
they are hoarded in secret places or de
Iincited under bolts and bars, while the
i people are left to endnre all the inconvu
i ntences, sacrifices and demoralisation* re
! suiting from the use of depreciated and
worthless paper
Tho Secretary of the Interior, in his re
port, gives valuable information in refer
erence to the interest confided to the su
pervision of his department, and reviews
the operations of the Land Office, the
Pension and Patent Offices and Indian Bu
reau During the fiscal year, ending June
30, 1868 6,665,700 acres of public lands
were disposed of. ^be entire cash receipts
of the General Land Office, for tb* same
period were 91,632,145. being greater by
9284,883 than the amount realised from
the same sources dnring the previous
year. The entries under the homestead
law cover 21,828,923 acres, nearly ono
fourth of which was taken under the act
of June 21, 1866. which applies only to
the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Louis
isiana. Arkansas and Florida. On the
30th of June, 1868. 169,643 names weiu
borne on tbe pension rolls, and during the
year ending that day the total amount
paid for pensions, including the expenses
of disbursement, were 92,410,098, being
9861,200 greater than that expended for
like purposes during the proceeding year.
During the year ending the 30th of Sep.
last the expenses of Patent Offioe exceed
eu uie reueipui vy mciuaiBg
reissues and designs, 14,158 patents warn
issued.
Treaties with various Indian tribes
have been concluded, and will be submit
ted to the Senate for its constitutional ac
tion. I cordially sustain the stipulations
which provide for procuring lands for the
various tribes when they may be encour
aged to abandon their nomadic babita aud
engage in agricultural and domestic pur
suits. This policy, Inaugurated many
years since, has met with signal success,
wherever it has been pursued in good fhitb
and with economy and liberality by tho
United States. Tbe necessity for firmness
as far as practicable, in our relations with
the aboriginal population, is greater now
than at any preceding period. While we
Iqrnish subsistence and instruction to the
Indians, and guarantee the undiaturbed
enjoyment of their treaty rights, we should
habitually insist upon the faithful observ
ance of their agreement to remain within
their respective reservations- This is the
only mode by which collisions with other
tribes and with the whites can be avoided
and the safety of our fiuntier settlements
secured.
The companies constructing the rail
road from Omaha to Sacramento have
most energetically engaged in prosecut
ing tho work, and it is believed that
the line will be completed before the
expiration'of the next fiscal year. The
six pet- cent, bonus issued to those com
panies amounted, on tile 5th instant, to
$44,337,000, and additional work has
been farmed to the extent of $3,200,000.
The Secretary of the Interiorin August
last, directed my attention to the report
of a Government director of the Union
Pacific Hail road Company, who had
been specially instructed to examine
the location, construction, and equip
ments of the road. 1 submitted for tho
opiniou of the Attorney General cer
tain questions in regard to the authori
ty of tiie examiner, which arose upon
this report, and those which had from
timq to time been presented by commis
sioners appointed to examine lids aud
other lines, and have recently submit
ted a statement of their investigation,
of which the report of the Secretary of
of tho interior furnishes specific
information.
The report of Secretary Harlan eon
turns lliiormation or interest ana im
portance respecting the several bureaus
of the War Department and the opera
tions of the army. The strength of our
military force on the 30th of Septem
ber last was forty-eight thousand men,
and it is computed this number will be
decreased to forty-three thousand—the
opinion of the Secretary of War.
Within the next, year a considerable
diminution ol the infantry force may
be made without detriment to the in
terest ot'the country, and in view of
the great expense attending the milita
ry peace establishment and tbe abso
lute necessity of retrenchment wher
ever it can be applied, it ia hoped that
Congress will sanction a reduction
which his report recommeud*. While
in I860 16,300 men cost the nation $16.
472,000. the sum of $65,685,000 is esti
mated as necessary for the supporUof
the army during during the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1870. The estimate of
the War Department for the last two
fiscal years were for 1S67, $33,814,461,
and for 1868, $25,205,669. The actual
expenditures during the same periods
were respectively, $95,221,415, and
rl38.246.648. The estimate submitted ill
December last for the fiscal year ending
June 30. I860, was $77,124,708. Expen
ditures for the first quarter ending the
10th of September last were $27,319,117,
and the Secretary ot the Treasurv gives
$66,000,000 -as the amount which will
probably be required during the re
maining three-quarters if there should
be no reduction of the army, makings
the aggregate cost for the year unpaid,
erablv in excess of $92,000.0001 The
difference between the estimate and
expenses for tbe three fiscal yearn
which has been named is thus shown
to be $175,545,843 for this single branch
of public servhte. Tbe report t»f the
Secretary of the Navy exhibits tHt>
fcoixiwiaB ov uaaHtseal