Ligonier Banner., Volume 15, Number 34, Ligonier, Noble County, 9 December 1880 — Page 2

The Zigonier Banner. u,uo;\"x.m, ‘:’ sz 'INDIA.NA.

NEWS SUMMARY. : GSt TGS : G Important Intelligence from All Parts. : , . Domestic. - THE public-debt statement igsued on the Ist makes the following exhibit: Toetal debt ‘(including interest of $18,861,662), $2,115,807,930. Cash .in Treasury, $210,926,763. Debt, less amount in Treasury, #1,904,881,167. Decrease during November, $3,609,201. Decreasge since June 30, 1830, $37,201,128. - . . Ax Indianapolis Judge has decided that the tea prize-package bustipggs is a lottery, and fined the managers of sudh a concern $2OO. . LoreN2zo IVEY, a colored school teacher at Danville, Va., recently punished a pupil, a lad of fiftcen. At recess the boy and a brother attacked the tea¢her with knives and fatally stabbed him. { . 5 SECRETARY SCHURZ, in' his annual report, ‘renews his argument in favor of retaining the control ‘of the Indians/in the Interior Department, instedd of ftransferring it to the army. The Secretary gtates that nearly half a million acres of land dre being cultivated by Indians, and urges the issuance of individual patents for farms. The employment of Indians as freighters has proven a beneficent innovation, and their aptitude to mechanical pursuits is pronounced surprising. : "]{HE Inter-State Convention of Agricultural Boards at Springtield, 11, on the Ist adopted a resolution indorsing the Keifer bill, pending in Congress, for preventing the spread of the cattle disease. Ix Pulaski County, Tenn., on the 24 Dan Smith, colored, was found guilty of an outragéous assault uponja white woman and sentenced -to the Penitentiary for a period of twenty-one years. The citizens, being dissatisfied with the sentence, took the prisoner from the custody of the Sheriff, put a rope round his neck, . fastened one end of it to a bridge, and threw him over. its side, where he swung until dead. | - - : . o Tae New York Chamber of Comimerce on the 2d adopted a |resolution declaring that “‘the proposed National-Bankrupt act for the distribution of insplvent estates and for the discouragement of insolvency will promote the general well-being, by confirming confidence in business transactions, and greatly increage inter-State trade.”’ A WASHINGTON 1’ special of the 2d says Mr. Burchard, Directar of the Mint, thought the stringency of the New York money market was caused, for the most part, by the hoard‘ing of gold. Tt had been shown by his investigations that/ two hundred millions of dollars had disappeared from circulation. Of this the banks held $95,000,000 against $l7;000,000 six months before.! The increase of the amount held by the people was in nearly the same proportion. ] ToHERE was in the New York Assay office on the 2d foreign gold coin to the value of $50,000,000. It 'was estimated $12,000,000 more was on the| way to the United States. Tre New York piano manufacturing firm of Dunham & Sons failed on the 2d. Liabilities, $40,000. | | SECRETARY THOMPSON reports that 'the Navy Departmént has on hand an unex--pended balance out of the last year’s appropriations of $1,788,004. - A RECENT Greenvilie (8. C.) dispatch says a man named Cteorge Martin, a wealthy cotton planter, whp was riding on horseback on: the railroad near that place, was run into by a locomotive gding fifty miles an hour. The: horse was killed, but the man could not be found until the train stopped at the next station, when he was discovered on the pilot of the engine, still sitting on his saddle, stone ‘dead. 'He wasjan old man, and corn whisky was detected on him, a pigce of a jug handle hanging arounil his neck by a string. . A CHINESE giant/recently arrived at New York, who is said to be the tallest man in the world. He:is eizht feet six inches in height, and is well-proportioned. He says his purents and the rest of his family are not above the ordinary height. ‘ TuE foreign/ coin and bullion received at the mints and assay -offices of the United States for the/ past year amounted in value to $61,627,556; the bullion product of American mines depositied during the same period was of the aggregate value of $35,821,705, being nearly three millions less than for the preceding year. | ; - - ComMIssIONER Raum, in his report, shows hat the internal revenue receipts for the last year were.Slm,QSX,Qlfi, being an increase-over the twelve months preceding of $10,532,204. The cost of ¢ollecting the same was $4,505,842, being 3.62 per. cent. of the amount colJected. . | ) . . Tae report of the Superintendent of the Government Life-Saving Service shows that the Service comprises 179 stations, ef which 139 are on the Atlantic coast and 84 on the great-lakes pnd the Pacific. The number of people rescuied from wrecks by the Service Aduring the past year was' 706, in addition to which 128 vessels with their crews were aided out of dangerous positions. ' TaE Beckwith House, a four-story hotel at Oshkosh, Wis., valued at $50,000, was destroyed by fire on the night of the 3d. .It was knowr{ on the morning of the 4th that one person, Mrs. Paige, wife of a wealthy retired merchant, perished in the flames, and it was feared that three other persons, including a gervant girl and a watchman, also perished. | One :lady escaped by jumping from a four-story window on some carpets placed on | the sidewalk. Mrs. Paige might have been saved also had she had the courage to jump. | - TuE Inter-Btate Convention of Agricutural Boards|/in session at Bpringfield, lil., adjourned on the 34, after adopting resolutions tavorinf }he more thorough collection of agricultural statistics. 2 A Detroit on the morning of the 8d Wilhelmina Bpindler, a domestic in. the family of ‘Henry ({j Weber, was fatally burned. The old foolighness of urging a slow-burning fire with a can of kerosene was the cause of the catastrophe. j o

Personal and Political. . THE vote in Arkansas was: Hancock, 60,481; Garfield, 41,661; Weaver, 4,161 Total, 106,303. | Hancock’s plurality, 18,820; over all, 14,659, | : , "~ CoxeßrEssMAN Evarts W. Farr, of the Third New Hampshire District, died at Littleton, fin that State, on. the 30th.ult., of pneumonia. He was forty years of age. Tae full official returns from California show a, total vote of 163,970. Hancock received 80,332; Garfield, 80,257; Weaver, 3,381. - Hancock’s plurality, 75. The Electoral vote “will stand five for Hancock and one for Garfield. < - GENHRAL GARFIELD arrived at his home at Mentor|on the 80th ult., from Washington. Tar Blectoral Colleges in all the States except’ Georgia met on the Ist and cast their votes for President of the United States. The

Electors in the exceptional state did not mect, as tlie Georgia code provides that the votes shall be cast on the Wednesday following the first Monday in December, which will be December 8. It is claimed that the United Btates law directing the counting on the first Monday in December is supreme, and that’ the Georgia vote cannot, therefore, be counted. g . TaREE judges of election at Manchester, Va., have been arrested for refusing negro votes at the Presidential election. - Tre semi-millennial «celebration of the birthday of John Wycliffe, who made the first translation of the Holy Scriptures into En-. glish, was held under the auspices of the Bible Society at New York on the evening of the THaE trial of B. F. Allen, President of the defunct. Cook County National Bank, upon the indictment charging himr with making false report'to the Comptroller as to its condition, was termifated in Chicago on the 3d, before Judge Blodgett, by the return of a verdict of “not guilty.”’ s A Wasmx~arox dispatch of the 3d says the Christiancy divorce case had utterly and unexpectedly collapsed. The witness who was relied on to prove the bad conduct of Mrs. C., on seeing her in court declared that she was not the woman. - It is stated that Mrs. C. will press her cross-bill asking for a divorce on the ground of cruelty. e A New York Grand Jury on the 8d pre-’ sented indic'ments against Joseph Hart. Louis A. Post, Kenward Philp and Charles A. Byrne for publishing in the Zruth a crimina, libel on General Garfield. An indictment was also presented against Samuel Sullivan Morey for perjury. . ;

Lo Fo ROrelem, - AN Athens telegram of the Ist says Greece had asked of Turkey a definite proposition for the settlement of the differences between the two Nations. - 1 It is stated in a Constantinople dispatch of the Ist that Dervish Pasha had declared he would not obey the order of the military convention giving San’ Giorgio to Montenegro. : : L Mwme. MoxTIFOND, a noted Parisian writer, has been fined 500 francs and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for literary offenses against decency. / - NEGOTIATIONS were in progress in Vienna on the .Ist for the recall g‘fr the International fleet from Turkish waters. : ot It is stated in a Paris dispatch of the Ist that the Papal Nuncio had made a fresh protest against the French religious decrees in terms so offensive that it was necessary to suspend diplomatic relations with the Vatican. - : : GoxNzALES has been peacefully inaugurated President of the Republic of Mexico, and General Diaz has accepted the portfolio of Public Works in his Cabinet. : THE Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has advised Orangemen throughout Ireland to organize counter demonstratiouns to the Land League on the'same days and at the same places. A Dublin dispatch of the 2d says there was an almost universal suspension of the payment of rent throughout the country. TaE freedom of the city of London and a sword have been voted to General Roberts for distinguished services in Afghanistan. A RAgusa dispatch of the 2d announces the dissolution of the Executive Committee of the Albanian League, . THE dissolution of the International fleet has been ordered, the British squadron sailing for Malta, the French for Toulon, the Italian for Brindisi, the German for Trieste, and the Russian for the Pireus. TaE President of the Argentine Republic in South America has offered free lands to 50,000 Irish immigrants. . A croruliNG store in Toronto, Canada, caught fire on the 3d. All egress by the stairways was cut off and four persons were fatally burned. . . It was officially proclaimed in Dublin on the 8d that County Leitrim was in a state of disturbance requiring additional police. It was stated that a fund of £3,000 'had. been raised for the defense of the Land Lesguers. The Government had commenced proceedings against the Sligo Champion for publish, ing a notice calling upon a tenant to relinquish his farm. 1 ] .

LATER NEWS, . Dr. JouN BUCHANAN, the Philadelphia dealer in bogus medical diplomas, has been sentenced to pay a fine of $5OO and to be imprisoned for ten months. Chapman, his accomplice, received a similar'sentence. ; BorH houses of the Vermont Legislature have passed a bill declaring a nuisance any place where liquor is sold or given away, or gambling is allowed, and its keeper can be fined and imprisored. _‘ : Pk ABRAHAM ROBINSON, a Chicago cigar dealer, has been arrested on the charge of arson. His establishment was found to:be on fire on the morning of the 6th, and the firemen found that two wooden pillars had been chopped away, a train of kerosene and shayings laid, the flooring torn up and a candle Placed so as to fire a pile of oil-soaked paper. ILs stock was heavily insured. - A CONSTANTINOPLE dispatch of the 6th says fears of an attack by the Kurds had detained at Bagdad several thousand pilgrims returnoing from Mecca.' o B - Tue City of Berlin, in Prussia, has a popu. lation of 1,118,630, which is double that of 1860. - | >

Ix his speech at Waterford, Ireland, a few days ago, Parnell declared that nothing short of mak ng the tiller of the soil its owner could put down the agitation in Ireland. He also predicted that the country would ultimafely recover its legislative independence. A Loxpox dispatch of the 6th says that Gladstone’s withdrawal from the House of Commons was urged by his physician. It was reported that, after the presentation of the budget, Gladstone would be made a Peer and support the Irish Land bill in the House of Lords. i : CoxGßEss reassembled on the 6th. In the Senate Messrs. Pugh, of Alabama, and Brown, of Georgia, took the oath of office, after which the Presideut’s Message was read and the Senate adjourned. In the House Mr. Scoville was seated for the Thirty-second New York District. - Several resolutions were presented, among them one favoring a tariff for revenue only; one for the appointment of two temporary Justices of the Supreme Court, and one calling upon the Secretary of. War for an estimate of the cost of a steel railroad from New York to Council Bluffs. The President’s Message was then read and the House adjourned. : : - |GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAzeN, of the army, was on the 6th appointed Chief Signal Officer, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of General Myer. This appointment promotes General McCook, of (eneral Sherman’s staff, to the Coloneley of the Sixth Infantry. A PEDESTRIAN match for $23500 has been arranged between the American champions, O’Leary and Weston. : A ToroxTo (Can.) telegram of the 6th says there were 4'great number of counterfeit x 1 Dominion notes in circulation there. They are printed from the “D” plates, and are finely executed. | G

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE j . FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: : s I congratulate you on the continued and in.creusin(%pmspcnt¥ of our country. By the favor | Divine Providence we have been blessed, during the past year, with health, with abundant harvests, witg grofitable employment for all our people, and with contentment at home, and with peace and friendship with other Nations. - ; : : THE RECENT ELECTION. The occurrence of the twenty-fourth election of Chief Magistrate has afforded ancther opportunity to the people of the United States to exhigit to the world asignificant exampleof the peidceful and safe transmission of the power and authority of government from the public sérvants whose terms of office are about to expire to their newly-chosen successors. This example cannot fail toimpress, profoundly, thoughtful people of other countries with the advantages which republican institutions afford. The immediate, general and cheerful acquiescence of all good citizens in the ' result of the election gives gretifying assurance to our country, and to Its friends throughout the world, that a Governmentibased on the free consent of an intelligent and patriotic people posiesses elements of strength, stability and permanency not found in any other form of government. Continued opposition to the full and free enjoyment of the rights of citizenship conferred upon the colored people by the recent amendments to the Constitution still prevails in several of the late slaveholding States. It hag, perhaps, not been manifested in the recent election to any large extent in acts of wviolence or intimidation. It has, however, by fraudulent practices in connection with the ballots, with the regulations as to-the places and manner of voting, and with counting, returning and canvassing the votes cast, been successful in defeating the exercise of the right preservative of all rights, the right of suffrage, which the constitution expressly confers upon our enfranchised citizens. , ' SECTIONALISM. It is the desire of the good people of the whole country that sectionalism as a factor in our politics should disappear. They prefer that mo section of the country should be united in =olid opposition to any other section. The disposition’ to refuse a prompt and hearty obedience to , the equal-rights amendment to the Constitution is all that now standsin the way of a complete obliteration of sectional lines in our political contests. As long as either of these amendments is flagrantly violated or disregarded, it is safe to assume that the people who placed them in the Constitution, as embodying the legitimace results of the war. for the Union, and who believe them to be wise and necessary, will continue t(\?«:t together, and 'to insist that they shall be obeyed. The | paramount question still is ‘ay to the . enjoyment of the right by every American citizen who - has the requisite gualitications to freely cast his vote and to have it honestly counted. With thig question rightly settled, the country will be relieved of the contentions of the past; bygones will indeed be bygones ; and political and party issues with respect to economy and efficiency of administration, internal improve-. ments, the tariff, domestic taxation, education, finance, and other important subjects, will then receive their full share of attention; but resistance to and nullification of the resultsof the war will unite together in resolutef purpose for their support all who maintain the authority of the Government and the per‘petuity of. the Union, and who adequately appreciate the value of the victory achieved. This determination proceeds from no hostile sentiment or feeling to any part of the people of our country, or to any of their interests. The inviolability of the amendments rests upon the fundamental principle of our Government. They are the solemn expression of the will of the people of the United States. : CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. The sentiment that the]Constitutional rights of all our citizens must be maintained does not grow weaker, It will continue to control the Govermment of #he country. Happily, the history of the Ilate election shows that in many parts of the country where opposition to the Fifteenth Amendment has heretofore prevailed it is diminishing, and is likely to cease saltogether, if firm and well-considered action is taken by Congress, I trust the House of Representatives and the ' Senate, which have the right to judge of| the elections, returns and qgualificatiohs ojf their owna.members, will see to it that every case of violation of the letter or spirit of the Fifteenth amendment is thoroughly investigated, and that no benefit from such violation shall accrue to any person or party. It will be the duty of the Executive, with sutficient appropriations for the purpose, to prosecute unsparingly all who have been engaged in depriving gitizens of the rigz‘htsguarantegd to them by the Constitution. It is not, however, to be forgotten that the best and surest guarantee of the primary rights of citizénship is to be found in that capacity for self-protection which ean belong only to a people whose right to universal sutfrage is supported by universal education. The means at the comnmand of the local and State authorities are, in many cases, wholly inadequate to furnish free instruction to all who need it. This i 8 especially true wherk, before emancipation, the cducation of the peopie was neglected or prevented, in the interest of slavery. Firmly counvinced that the subject of popular education deserves the. earnest attention of the people of the whole country, with a view to wise and comprehensive action by the Government of the United States, | respectfully recommend that Congress, by suitable legislatioh and with proper safeguards, supplement the local educational funds in the several States where the grave -duties and responsibilities of citizenship have been devolved on‘uneducated people, by devoting to the purpose grants ot the public lands, and, if necessary,by appropriations from the Treasury of the United States. Whatever Government can fairly do to promote frec¢ popular education ought to be done, Wherever general education is found, peace, virtue and social order prevail, and civil and religious liberty are secure.

4 THE CIVIL SERVICE. In my former annual messages T haveasked the attention of Congress to the urgent necesgity of a reformation of the Civil-Service system of the Government. My views concerning the dangers of patronage, or appointments for personal or partisan considerations, have been strengthened by my observation and experience in the Executive office, and I believe these dangers threaten the stability of the Government. Abuses so serious in their nature cannot be permanently tolerated. They tend to become more alarming with the enlargement of administrative service, as the growth of the country in population increases the number of officers’ and placemen employed. : : The reasons are imperative for the adoption of fixed rules for the regulation of appointments, promotions and removals, establishing a uniform method, having exclusively in view, in every instance, the attainment of the best qualifications for the position in question. Such a method alone is:consistent with the equal rights of all citizens, and the most economical and efficient administration of the publie business. / -Competitive examinations, in aid of impar tial appointments and promotions, have been conduected for some years past in several of the Executive Departments, and by my direction this system has been zid(;pted in the custom-houses and post-offices of the larger cities of the country. In the city of N%W York over two thousand positions in the Civil Service have been subject, in their appointments and tepure of place, to the operation of published rules for this Furpose. during the past two years. The results of these practical trials have been very satistactory, and have confirmed my oPinion in favor of this system of selection. All are subjected to'the same tests, and the result is free from prejudice by personal favor or ?artisan influence. It secures for the position applied for the best qualifications attainable among the competing applicants. It is an effectual protection from the pressure of importunity which, under any other course pursued, largely exacts the time and attention of appointing officers, ,to their ' great detriment in the discharge ot other official duties, preventing the abuse of the service for the mere furtherance of private or fpa,rty purposes, and leaving the emgloye of the Government, freed from the obligations imposed by patronage, to depend solely upon merit for retention and advancement, and with this constant incentive to exertion and improvement. These invaluable results have been attained ina high degree in the offices where the ruies for a%pointment by competitive examination have been applied. : : A method which has so approved itself by experimental tests at points where such tests may be fairly considered conclusive should be extended to all subordinate positions under the Government. I believe that a strong and growing public sentiment demands immediate measures for securing and enforcing the highest possible efficiency in the Civil Service, and its i)rotectioq from recognized abuses. and that the experience referred to has demonstrated the feasibility of such measures. The examinations in the custom-houses and post-offices have been held under many embarrassments and without provigion for compensation for the extra labor performed by the officers who have conducted them, and whose commendable interest in the improvement of the public service has induced this devotion of t{)me and labor without pecuniary reward. A continuance of these labors gratuitously ought not to be expected, and without an appropriation by Congress for compensation, it

is not Pmcflcfible to extend the system of examinations generally throughoutthe Civil Service. Itis also highly important that all such examinations should be conducted upon a uniform system and under general supervision. Section 1753 of _the Revised Statutes authorizes the . President to prescribe } the regulations for admission to the Civil Ser- i vice of the United States, and for this purpose | to employ suitable persons to conduct the | requisite inquiries with reference to *‘the fit- | ness of each candidate,; in respect to age, heaith, character, knowiedge and avility for. the branch of service into which he sceks to enter;” but the law is practically inoperative for want of the requisite appropriation. | . Itherefore récommend an appropriation of | . $25,000 per annum to meet the expenses of & commission, to be appoirited by the President { in accordance withi the terms of this section. | whose duty it shall be to devise a just, uni- E form and efficient system of compet- | itive examinations, and. to supervise the | application of the same throughout thé ! entire Civil Service of the Government. 1 am persuaded that the facilities which such a commission will afford for testing the fitness of those who ups‘)ly for oflice wilfnot only be as. welcome a relief to members of Congress as it will be to the President and heads of Departments, but that it will also greatly tend to re- l move the causes of embarrassment which now | inevitably and constantly attend the conflict- | ing claims of patronage between the Legisla- | tive and Executive Departments. The most effectual check upon the pernicious competi- ! tion of influence and ofticial favoritism, in the | bestowal of office, will be the substitution of: an open competition of merit between the ap- | plicants, in which every one can make his own ! record with the assurance that his success wiill | depend upon this alone. . . [# ‘1 also recommend such legislation as, while leaving every officer as free as any other citizen to express his political opinions and to use | his means for their advancement, shall alsoenable him to'feel as safe a 8 any private citi- | zen in refusing all demands upon his salary. for political purposes. A law which should thus guarantee true iiberty ahd justice to all | whd, are engaged in the public service, and ‘ likewise contain stringent provisions against | the use of oflicial authority to coerce the po- | litical action of private citizens or of official subordinates, iz greatly to be desired. | The most serious obstacle, however, to an improvement of the Civil Service, and especialt | ly to a retorm in the method ot appointment | and removal, has been found to be the practice, under what is known as the spoils system, 1 by which the appointing power has been so | largely encroached upon by members of Cori- | gress. The first step in the raform of the Civil | Service must be a compleie’ divorce between | Congress and the Executive in the matter of appointments. The corrmipting doctrine that **to the vietors belong the spoils,” i 3 inseparable from Congressional patronage as the established rule and practice of parties in power. It comes .to= be understood by applicante _for office, and by | the people generally, that Representatives and | Senators are entitled to disburse the patron- | age of their respective districts and States. It is not necessary to recite at length the evils resuiting from this invasion of the Executive functions. The true principles of govern- | ment on the subject of appointments to f oftice, as stated in the National Conven- | tions of /the leading parties of the coun- | try, have again and .again been ap- | proved by the American people, and have not been called in question in any quarter. Thése. authentic expressions of public opinion upon this all-important subject, are the statement of principles that belong to the constitutional strueture of the Government. | “Under the Constitution, the President and | Heads of Departments are t(fiz make nomina-! tions for office. The Senate is to advise and . consent to appointments, and the House of | Representatives is to accuse and prosecute | faithless officers. The best interest of the public service demands that thesg distinc- | tions be respected; thot Senators and Rep- | resentatives, who may be judzes and accusers,. | should not dictate appointments to otfice.”” To | this.end the co-operation of the Legislative | Department of the Goveriment is required, | alike by*the ‘necessities of the case and by | public opinion. Members of Coneress will | not be relieved from the demands made upon | them with reference to appointments to of- | fice until, by legislative enuctment. the per- § nicious practice is condemned and forbidden. | It is thevefore recommended that an act be | passed defining the relations of members of | Congress with respect to appointment to office | by the Président, and 1 also recommend that | the provisions ot Section 1,767 and of the sec- | tions followingz, of the Revised Statutes, com- | prising the. Tenure-of-Office act of March 2, | 1867, be repealed. . : | Believing that to reform the system and | methods of the Civil Service in our country is | one of the highest and most imperative duties | of statesmanship, and that .it can be perma-| nently done only by the co-operation of the | Legislative and Executive Departments of the [ Government, I azain commend the whole sub- | ject to your considerate attention. : I

: ; POLYGAMY. . It is the recognized duty and purpose of the people of the. United. State to suppress polygamy where it now exists in our Territories, and to prevent its extension. TFaithful and zealous efforts have been made by the United States authorities in- Utah to enforce the laws against it. Experience has shown that the legislation upen this subject, to be effective, requires extensive modification and amendment. The longer aection is delayed, the more difficult it will be to accomplish what . is ‘desired. Prompt and decided i measures ' are necessary. The Mormon - sectarian organization which upholds polyga~ ) my has the whole power of making and executing the local legislation of the Territory. i By. its control of the grand and petit juries, it - possesses large influence over the administra- ! tion of justice. Exercising, as the heads of ' this sect do, the local A political power of -the - Territory, they are able to make effective their hostilitg’ _to the law of Congress on the subject 6f polygamy, and, in fact, do prevent its enforcement. Polyga--my will not be abolished if the enforcement of the law depends on those who practice and uphold the crime. ‘lt can only be suppressed by takingaway the political power of the sect which encourages and sustains it. The power of Congress to enact suitable laws to protect ‘the Territories is ample. Itis not & case for half-way measures. The political power of the Mormon sect is increasing; it controls now one of our wealthiest and most populous Territories. It is extending steadily into otheg Territories. = Wherever it goes it establishes polygamy and sectarian political power. ‘The sanctity of marriage and the family relation are the corner-stone of ourcAmerican society and civilization. Religious liberty and the separation of Church and State are among the elementary ideas of free institutions. To re-establish the interests and principles which polygamy and Mormonism have imperiled, and to fully re-open to intellizent and virtuous immigrants of all creeds that part of our domain which has been, in a great degree, closed to general immigration by intolerant and immoral institutions, it is recommended that the Government of the Territory of Utah be reorganized. I recommend that Congress provide for the government of Utah by a Governor and Judges, or Commissioners, appointéd by the President and confirmed by the Senate—a Government analogous to the Provisional Government es-. tablished for the Territory northwest of the Ohio, by the ordinance of 1787. If, however, it is deemed best to continue the existing form of local Government, I recommend that the right to vote, hold office, and sit on juries in. the Territory of Utah, be confined tothose who neither practice nor uphold polygamy. Ilf thorough measures are adopted. it is believed that within a few years the evils which now afflict Utah will be eradicated, and that this Territory will in good time become one of the most ‘prosperous and attractive of the new States qf the Union. : FOREIGN RELATIONS. Our relations with all foreign countries have. been those of undisturbed peace, and have presented no occasion for concern as to their continued maintenance. My anticipation of an early reply from the British Government to the demand ot indemnity to our fishermen for the injuries suffered by that industry at Fortune Bay, in™ January, 1878, which I expressed in my last annual message, was disappointed. This answer was received only in the latter part of April in the present year, and, when received, exhibited g tailure of accord between the two Governments, as to the measure of the inshore-fish-ing %rlvllesre secured to our fishermen by the Treaty .of Washington, of so serious 'a character that 1 made it the subject of a communication to Congress, in which 1 recommended the adoption of the measures which seemed to me froper to be taken by this Government in maintenance of the rights accorded to our fishermen under the treaty, and towards securing an indemnitg for the injury these interests had suftered. A bill to carry out these recommendations was under consideration by the House of Representatives at the time of the adjournment of Congress inJune last. it Within a few weeks .1 have received a communication from Her Majesty’'s Government, renewing the consideration of the subject, both of the indemnity for the injuries at Fortune Bay, and of the interpretation of the treaty in which . the previous correspondence had shown the two Governments to be at variance. Upon both these topics the disposition towards a friendly a.greement i 8 manifested b{ a recognition of our right toan ihdemni?' for the transaction at FKortune Bag, leaving the measure of such indemnity to further eonference, and by an assent to the view of this Government, Fresented in the previous correspondence, that the regulation of conflicting interests of theshore fishery

of the Provincial sea-coasts, and the vessel | fishery of our fishermen, should be made thé’ subject of conference and concurrent arrangement between the two Governments.. - Isincerely hope that the basis may be found | for a speedy adjustment of the very serious divergence of views in the interpretation of’ the fishery clauses of the Treaty of Washington, which, .as the correspondence between the two Governments stood at the close of the last session of Congress, seemed to be irreconcilable. : In the important exhibition of arts and industriés, which was held last year at Sydney, New South Wales, as well as in ‘that now in progress at Melbourne, the United States have been efficiently and honorably represented. The exhibitors from this country at the former place received a large number of awards in some of’the most considerable departments, and the participation of the ['nited States was recognized by a special mark of distinction. | In the exhibition at Melbourne, the share taken by our country is no less notable, and an equal ‘degree of success is confidently expected. ' The state of peace and tranquility now enjoyed by all the nations of the continent of Ewurope has its. favorable intluence upon our diplomatic and e¢Hmmercial relations with them. We have concluded and ratitied a convention with the French Republic for the spttlement of claims of the citizens of | either country’ against the other. Under: this convention - a Commission, presided over by a distinguished publicist, appointed, in pursuance of the request of both Nations! by His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, has been organized and has begun its sessions in this city. A Congress to consider medans for the protection of ‘industrial property has recently been in session in Paris, to which I have appointed the Ministers of ‘the United States in France and in Belgium as delegates. The International Commission upon Weights and Measures also continues its work in Paris. I invite your attention to the necessity of an appropriation to be made in time to enable this Government to comply with'its obligations under the .\lctriczualonvention. |

' Our friendly relations with the German Empire continue without interruption. At the re¢ent International Exhibition of Fish and Fisheries at Berlin, the participation of the Unjited States, notwithstanding the haste with which the Commission was forced to make its preparations, was extremely successful and meritorious, winning for private exhibitors numerous awards ot a high éla,ss, and for the country at large the principal prize ot bonor offered by His Majesty, the’ Emperor. The results of this great success cannot but. be advantageous to this important = and -growing industry. There have been some questions raised between the two (Governments -as to the proper -effect’ and ix{xterpretation of our treaties of naturalization] but recent despatches from our Minister at Berlin show that tavorable progress is making toward an . understanding, in accordance pith the views of this (overnment,- whieh makes and admits no distinction whatever between the richts of anative and a naturalized citizen of the United States. In practice, the complants of molestation sutfere® by naturalized citizens abroad have never been fewer than at present. . { There is nothing of importance to nore in our- unbroken friendly relations withl the Governments of "Austrin-Hungary. Rujssia, Portugal, Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and Greeace. : 1 During the last summer several vessels belonging to the merchant marine of this ¢ountry, sailing in neutral wators of ‘the West Indies, were fired at, boarded, and searched by an armed cruiser of the Spanish- Government. The circumstances, as reported, involve¢ not only a private injury to the pm‘sonsii concerned, but also seemed too little observant of the friendly relations existing for a century between this country and Spain. The wrong was brought to. the attention of 'the Spfxmi,&h Government in a serious protest and re¢monstrance, and the matter is undergoing ili‘\'esrigation by the royal authorities, with a view to such explanation or reparation as m:iy be called for by the fuacts. I | The Commission sitting in this e¢ity for the adjudication of claims of our citizens against the Government of Spain, is, [ hope, approaching the termination of its labors. | The claims against -the United St:lt(\sxfindc‘r the Fiorida Treaty with Spain were submitted to Congress for its actiownr at the late session, and I again inyite your attention to this longstanding question, with a view to afinal fiisposition of the matter. . SR -

At the invitation of the Spanish Government, a conference has recently been held at the city of Madrid to consideér the subject of protection by foreign Powers of native Moors in the Empire of Moroccb. The Minister ot the United States, in Spain. was;directed to {take part in the deliberations of| this ‘conference, the: result of which |is a convention: signed on ' behalf of all the Powers represented. © The' instrument will be laid before the Senate for its consideration. The Government of the United SBtates has also lost no opportunity to urge/ upon that of the Emperor of Morocceojthe necpessity, in accordance with .the humgne and enlightened spirit of the age, of putting an end to the persecutions, which have been so prevalent in that country, of persons of & taith other than the Moslem, and especially |of the Hebrew residénts of Morocco. | The consular treaty concluded with Belgium has not yet been officially promulgated, owing to the alteration of a word in the text by the Senate of the United States, which oceasioned ja delay, during which the time allowed for ratification expired. The Senate will be asked to extend the period for ratificatjon. ‘ : o The attemrg)t ta negotiate a treaty of| extraditfon with Denmark failed on account of the' objection of the Danish Government to the usual clause providing that each Nation|should pay the expense of the arrest of the p\ersons 'whose extradition it asks. ; ! . The provision made by Congress, at its last session, for the expense of the Commission which had been appointed to enter upon negotiations with the Tmperial ‘Government of China, on subjects of .great interest to hh( relations of the two countries, enabled the Commissioners to proceed at once upon their mission. The Imperial Govemmerlt was prepared to give prompt and respectful attention to the matters brought under negotiation, and the conference proceeded with such rapidity and success that, on thé 17th of November last, two treaties were gsigned at Pekin, one relating to the introduction of Chinese into this country and one relatingito commerce. Mr. Trescot, one of the: coinmissioners, is now on his way home bringing the treaties, and it is expected that they will be received in season to be laid before the Senate early in January. : - QOur Minister .in. Japan has ne%otiated a convention for the reciprocal relief of shipwrecked seamen. I take occasion to urge once more upon Congress the propriety of making provision for the erection of suitable fire-proof buildings at the Japanese Capital for the use of the American Legation, and the court-house and jail connected with it. The Japanese Government, with great generosity and courtesy, has offered for this purpose an eligible piece of land. In my last annual message I invited the attention of Congress to the subject of the indemnity funds received some years ago from China and Japan. I renew the recommendation then made, that whatever portions of these funds are due to American citizens should be promptly paid, and the residue returned to the Nations, respectively, to which they justly and equitably belong. ‘The extradition treaty with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which has been for some time in course of negotiation, has, during the past year, been concluded and duly ratified. Relations of friendship and amity have been established between the Government of the United States and that of Roumania. We have sent a diplomatic representative to Bucharest,: and have received at this capital the s%ecial envoy, who has been charged by his Royal Highness, Prince Charles, to announce the independent sovereignty of Roumania. We hope for a speedy development of commercial relations hetween the ¢wo countries. -

In my last annual message I expressed the hope that the prevalence of quiet on the border between this country and Mexico would ‘soon become so assured as to justify the modification of the orders, then in force, to our military commanders, in regard to crossing the frontier, without encouraging such disturbances as would endanger the peace of the two countries. Events moved in accordance with these expectations, and the orders were accordingly withdrawn, to the entire satisfaction of our own citizens and the Mexican Government. Subseguently the peace of the border was again disturbed by a savz%ge foray, under the command of the Chief Victoria, but, by the combined and harmonious action of the military forces of both countries, his band has been broken up anhd substantially destroyed. - There is reason to believe that the obstacles which have 8o long prevernted rapid jand convenient communication between the United States and Mexico by railways are on the point of disappearing, and that several important enterprises of this character will soon be set on foot which cannot fail to contribute lalx;?ely to the progperity of both countries. ew Envoys from Gautemala, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela 'and Nicaragua have recently arrived at this capital, whose distinction and enlightenment afford the best guarantee of the continuance of . friendly relations between ourselves and these sister ¥U‘epublios. The relations between this Government, and that of the United States of Colombia have engaged public attention during the past year, mainly by reason of the pro’fect of| an interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Panama, to be built by pri\mge capital under a concession from thé Colombian Government for that purpose. The treaty obligations subsisting be-

tween the United States and Colombia, by which we guarantee the neutrality of the tran= sit and the sovereignty.and property of Colombia in thé Isthmus, make it hegessavy that the counditions under whic¢h 8o stupendous a change in: the region embracad in this - guarantee should . be éffected—transforming, as it would, this Isthmus. from: a bar- ' rier between the Atlantic and Pacitic oceans, into a -gateway/ and- thoroughtare between them, for the navies and the merchant-ships of. the world—=should receive the approvdl of this Government, as beinge compatible with the discharge of these obligations on our part, and consistent with our interests as’ the principal commercial - power. of the Western Hemiss phere, The views which [ expressed-in a specinl'message to Congress in- March list, in relation to this projeet, I deem it'my duty again to press upon your attention. | Subsejuent consideration has but contirmed the opinion ‘thut it is the right and jduty of the United States to assert and maintain such supervision and authority over 'any interoceanic canal across the Isthmus that connects North and somh America as will protect our National inerest.”’ ; i LA L : The war between ‘the Republic ‘of Chili on the one hand, and the allied Republies bf Peru and Bolivia on the other; still continues. This Government his not felt ¢ led upon to interfere in a contest that is within the bellizerent, rights of the parties as independent States. We have, however, always held. oarzelyes in readiness toaid in accommodating. their difference; and have at ‘different times reminded ‘both belligerents of our willingness to render: suel servicel - 0 L - - + Our - good offices, in this diréction, were recently aceepted by all -the belligarents; and it wus hoped they would prove efficacious; ‘but I regret to aunounce -that the meéasures, which the Ministers of the United States at Santiago. andl Lima were authorized to take, with the ‘view to bring about a peace; were now suceessful. In the éourse of the war some questions have arisen affecting neutral rights; in ‘all of these thé Ministors of the United Xtates have, nnder their instructions, acted with promptness and energy in protec- - tion of American interests. - . - s e The relations of the United States with the Empire of Brazil continue to be most cordial, ‘and their eommercial intercoursé steadily ingreases, to mutual advantage, : The internal - disorders with which the Ar- | gentine Republic has for sometime beenafllicted, and which have more or less intluenced its - extemnal trade, dre understood to have’ been brought to'a cloge. This - happy result may be expected to redound to the benetit of - the foreign commerce. of ‘that Republie as well as to the development of its vast interior resources. e e : In Samoa, the Governmentof King Malietoa, under the support and recognition of the Con~ sular Representatives' of the United States, Great Britain and Germany, seems to- have given peace and tranquillity to the Islands. While it does not appear desirable to adopt as a whole the scheme of tripartite loeal government, which has been propos=e iy the (.‘-",'YIHHOI!' interests of the three great treaty Powers re?uire harmony in.their relations to the native rame of Government, and: this .may be best secured by a simple diplomati¢ agreement between them. -It would be well it the consulary jurisdietion: of our représentative at Apia were increased inextent and importance 8o as to guard American interests in the ‘surrounding and outlying Islands of Oceanica.” . ‘ S ;THE . OBELISKS o 0 : The obelisk, generously presénted by the Khedive of Egypt to the City of New York,has safely arrived in this country, and will soon be erected in that metropolis. A Commission for the liquidation.of the Egyptian debt has latély concluaed its worky and this Government, at the'earnest Solicitation of the Khedive, has acceded 10 the provisions adopted by it, which will be laid before ‘Congress for its information. A Commission for-the Revigion of the Judicial Code of the Reform Tribunai of BEgypt is now in segsion-in Cairo. Mr. Farman, Con- . sul-General, and J. M. Batchelder, Esq., bave been appointed as Commissioners to participate. in this work. The organization of the Reform Tribunals wiil probably be continued for another period.of five years. .

THE SANITARY CONFERENCE. - In pursuance ot the act passed at the last . session of. Congress, invitations have been extended to foreign maritime Statesto join in a t sanitary conference in Washington, beginning the Ist “of January. .The acceptance of -this invitation: by ‘many prominent Powers gives l promise of suecess in this important measure, | designed to establish asystem of international notification by which the spread of “ infectious l or epidemie diseases may be more effectively checkéd=or prevented. The atiention of Congress isinyited to the necessary appropriations for carrying-into effect the provisions ot the act referred to. i : el | ' TRADE AND COMMERCE. el - _The eiforts of the Departnient -of State to enlarge the tradd and commerce.of the United States, through the "aetive agency of consular ofticers and through the disseniination of information obtained trom fhem. have been unrelaxed. The interest in these elforts, as developed " in our commercial Go6mmunities, and the value of the.information :secured by this means to the trasle and manufactures of the country, were recognized hy Congress at its last session, and provigion was made for the - more frequent ‘publication of consular and other reports by the. Department of State. The first issué of this publication has now been! prepared, and subsequent issues may regularly be expected.: The importance and interest attached to the reportsof consular oflicers are witnessed by the general demand for them by all classes of merchants and manutacturers engaged in our foreign .trade. 1t is believed that the system of such: publications is.deserv"ing of the approval of Congress,. and that the necessary - appropriation for its eontinuance and enlargement will’commend itself to your consideration. g e The prosperdus energies of our domesticiindustries, and. their immense produdtion ! of the = subjects of foreign commerce, invite, and. ‘even' require, an active development of the wishes and interests of our people in that - direction. Especaally important -is * it - that our commercial relations with the Atlantic and Pacific eoasts of South America, with the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico should be .direct, and not through the circuit-of European systems, and should be carried on in our own bottoms. The full appreciation of the opportunities which our front on the Pagcific ‘Ocean gives to eommerce with Japan, China and the East Indies, with Australia and the'island groups which lie along these routes of navigation, should inspire equal efforts to appropriate: to our own shipping, and to administer by our ewn eapital, a due proportion of this trade. Whatever: modifications of our regulations of trade and navigation may -bé necessary = or useful to meet and” direct "these - impulses to the enlargement of our exchanges and of out carrying trade, I am sure the . wisdom of 'Congress will be ready to supply. One initial measure, however, séems to me so clearly useful and efficient that I venture to press it upon your earnest attention. It seems to be very evident that the provision of regular steam-: postal communic¢ation, by aid from Govern-: ment, has been the forerunner of the commercial predominance of Great Britain on all these coasts.and seas, & greater share in whose trade is now thé desire and the intent of our people. Itis also manifest that the efforts of other European nations to contend with Great Britain for a share of this. commerce have been successtul in'proportion with their adoption of regular steam-postal communication with the markets whose trade they sought. Mexico ‘and the :States of South America are anxious to receive such postal communications with this country, and‘to aid in their development.: Similar co-operation tnay be looked for, indue time, from the Eastern Nations and from Australla. It isdifficult to see how the lead in this movement can be expected from private interests. . In' respect of foreign commerce, quite as much. as in internal trade, postal communication seems necessarily a matter of common and public administration, and thus pertaining to Government. I respectfully recommend to your prompt attention such just and efficient measures a 8 may conduce to the development of . our foreign commercial exchanges and the building up of our earrying trade. = - : In this connection I desire. alsoto suggest the very great Bervice which might be expected in enlarging-and. facilitating our commerce on the Pacific Ocean, were a transmarine cable laid from San Francisco to the Sandwich Islands, and thence to Japan at the north and Australia at the south. The great intluence of such means of communication on these routes of navigation, in developing and securing the due share of our Pacific coast in the ¢c)mmerce of the world, needs no illustration or'enforecement. It-may be that such an enterprise, useful and in the end profitableas it would prove to private investment, may need to be aocelerated by én'udent legislationby Congress in its aid, and 1 submit the mat--ter to your careful consideration. - ;. An_ additional, and not unimportant, although secondary. reason for fostering and enlarging the navy may be found in the unquéstionable service to the expangion of our commerce, which would be rendered by thefrequent circulation of naval ships:in the seas and ports of all quarters of the globe. Ships’ of the groper construction and equipment, to be of the greatest efficiency in case of mari--time war, might be made constant and active agents in time of peace in the 'a;dvancersent and protection of. our foreign: trade, and in the nurture and disciplineof young seamen, who would, naturally, in some numbers, mix with and improve the crews of our merchant--ships. Our merchants at home and abroad recognize the value to foreign commerce of’ an active movement of our’ naval vessels, and the intelligence and patriotic zeal of our navak officers in promoting every interest of their