In submitting my eighth and last annual message to Congress it seems proper that I should refer to and in some degree recapitulate the events and official acts of the past eight years. It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training. From the age of 17 I had never even witnessed the excitement attending a Presidential campaign but twice antecedent to my own candidacy, and at but one of them was I eligible as a voter. Under such circumstances it is but reasonable to suppose that errors of judgment must have occurred. Even had they not, differences of opinion between the Executive, bound by an oath to the strict performance of his duties, and writers and debaters must have arisen. It is not necessarily evidence of blunder on the part of the Executive because there are these differences of views. Mistakes have been made, as all can see and I admit, but it seems to me oftener in the selections made of the assistants appointed to aid in carrying out the various duties of administering the Government--in nearly every case selected without a personal acquaintance with the appointee, but upon recommendations of the representatives chosen directly by the people. It is impossible, where so many trusts are to be allotted, that the right parties should be chosen in every instance. History shows that no Administration from the time of Washington to the present has been free from these mistakes. But I leave comparisons to history, claiming only that I have acted in every instance from a conscientious desire to do what was right, constitutional, within the law, and for the very best interests of the whole people. Failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent. My civil career commenced, too, at a most critical and difficult time. Less than four years before, the country had emerged from a conflict such as no other nation had ever survived. Nearly one-half of the States had revolted against the Government, and of those remaining faithful to the Union a large percentage of the population sympathized with the rebellion and made an "enemy in the rear" almost as dangerous as the more honorable enemy in the front. The latter committed errors of judgment, but they maintained them openly and courageously; the former received the protection of the Government they would see destroyed, and reaped all the pecuniary advantage to be gained out of the then existing state of affairs, many of them by obtaining contracts and by swindling the Government in the delivery of their goods. Immediately on the cessation of hostilities the then noble President, who had carried the country so far through its perils, fell a martyr to his patriotism at the hands of an assassin. The intervening time to my first inauguration was filled up with wranglings between Congress and the new Executive as to the best mode of "reconstruction," or, to speak plainly, as to whether the control of the Government should be thrown immediately into the hands of those who had so recently and persistently tried to destroy it, or whether the victors should continue to have an equal voice with them in this control. Reconstruction, as finally agreed upon, means this and only this, except that the late slave was enfranchised, giving an increase, as was supposed, to the Union-loving and Union-supporting votes. If free in the full sense of the word, they would not disappoint this expectation. Hence at the beginning of my first Administration the work of reconstruction, much embarrassed by the long delay, virtually commenced. It was the work of the legislative branch of the Government. My province was wholly in approving their acts, which I did most heartily, urging the legislatures of States that had not yet done so to ratify the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution. The country was laboring under an enormous debt, contracted in the suppression of rebellion, and taxation was so oppressive as to discourage production. Another danger also threatened us--a foreign war. The last difficulty had to be adjusted and was adjusted without a war and in a manner highly honorable to all parties concerned. Taxes have been reduced within the last seven years nearly $300,000,000, and the national debt has been reduced in the same time over $435,000,000. By refunding the 6 per cent bonded debt for bonds bearing 5 and 4 1/2 per cent interest, respectively, the annual interest has been reduced from over $130,000,000 in 1869 to but little over $100,000,000 in 1876. The balance of trade has been changed from over $130,000,000 against the United States in 1869 to more than $120,000,000 in our favor in 1876. It is confidently believed that the balance of trade in favor of the United States will increase, not diminish, and that the pledge of Congress to resume specie payments in 1879 will be easily accomplished, even in the absence of much-desired further legislation on the subject. A policy has been adopted toward the Indian tribes inhabiting a large portion of the territory of the United States which has been humane and has substantially ended Indian hostilities in the whole land except in a portion of Nebraska, and Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana Territories--the Black Hills region and approaches thereto. Hostilities there have grown out of the avarice of the white man, who has violated our treaty stipulations in his search for gold. The question might be asked why the Government has not enforced obedience to the terms of the treaty prohibiting the occupation of the Black Hills region by whites. The answer is simple: The first immigrants to the Black Hills were removed by troops, but rumors of rich discoveries of gold took into that region increased numbers. Gold has actually been found in paying quantity, and an effort to remove the miners would only result in the desertion of the bulk of the troops that might be sent there to remove them. All difficulty in this matter has, however, been removed--subject to the approval of Congress--by a treaty ceding the Black Hills and approaches to settlement by citizens. The subject of Indian policy and treatment is so fully set forth by the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and my views so fully expressed therein, that I refer to their reports and recommendations as my own. 
The relations of the United States with foreign powers continue on a friendly footing. Questions have arisen from time to time in the foreign relations of the Government, but the United States have been happily free during the past year from the complications and embarrassments which have surrounded some of the foreign powers. The diplomatic correspondence submitted herewith contains information as to certain of the matters which have occupied the Government. The cordiality which attends our relations with the powers of the earth has been plainly shown by the general participation of foreign nations in the exhibition which has just closed and by the exertions made by distant powers to show their interest in and friendly feelings toward the United States in the commemoration of the centennial of the nation. The Government and people of the United States have not only fully appreciated this exhibition of kindly feeling, but it may be justly and fairly expected that no small benefits will result both to ourselves and other nations from a better acquaintance, and a better appreciation of our mutual advantages and mutual wants. Congress at its last session saw fit to reduce the amount usually appropriated for foreign intercourse by withholding appropriations for representatives of the United States in certain foreign countries and for certain consular officers, and by reducing the amounts usually appropriated for certain other diplomatic posts, and thus necessitating a change in the grade of the representatives. For these reasons, immediately upon the passage of the bill making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service for the present fiscal year, instructions were issued to the representatives of the United States at Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia, and to the consular officers for whom no appropriation had been made, to close their respective legations and consulates and cease from the performance of their duties; and in like manner steps were immediately taken to substitute charge's d'affaires for ministers resident in Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, and Paraguay. While thoroughly impressed with the wisdom of sound economy in the foreign service, as in other branches of the Government, I can not escape the conclusion that in some instances the withholding of appropriations will prove an expensive economy, and that the small retrenchment secured by a change of grade in certain diplomatic posts is not an adequate consideration for the loss of influence and importance which will attend our foreign representatives under this reduction. I am of the opinion that a reexamination of the subject will cause a change in some instances in the conclusions reached on these subjects at the last session of Congress. The Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims, whose functions were continued by an act of the last session of Congress until the 1st day of January, 1877, has carried on its labors with diligence and general satisfaction. By a report from the clerk of the court, transmitted herewith, bearing date November 14, 1876, it appears that within the time now allowed by law the court will have disposed of all the claims presented for adjudication. This report also contains a statement of the general results of the labors of the court to the date thereof. It is a cause of satisfaction that the method adopted for the satisfaction of the classes of claims submitted to the court, which are of long standing and justly entitled to early consideration, should have proved successful and acceptable. It is with satisfaction that I am enabled to state that the work of the joint commission for determining the boundary line between the United States and British possessions from the northwest angle of the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains, commenced in 1872, has been completed. The final agreements of the commissioners, with the maps, have been duly signed, and the work of the commission is complete. The fixing of the boundary upon the Pacific coast by the protocol of March 10, 1873, pursuant to the award of the Emperor of Germany by Article XXXIV of the treaty of Washington, with the termination of the work of this commission, adjusts and fixes the entire boundary between the United States and the British possessions, except as to the portion of territory ceded by Russia to the United States under the treaty of 1867. The work intrusted to the commissioner and the officers of the Army attached to the commission has been well and satisfactorily performed. The original of the final agreement of the commissioners, signed upon the 29th of May, 1876, with the original official "lists of astronomical stations observed," the original official "list of monuments marking the international boundary line," and the maps, records, and general reports relating to the commission, have been deposited in the Department of State. The official report of the commissioner on the part of the United States, with the report of the chief astronomer of the United States, will be submitted to Congress within a short time. I reserve for a separate communication to Congress a statement of the condition of the questions which lately arose with Great Britain respecting the surrender of fugitive criminals under the treaty of 1842. The Ottoman Government gave notice, under date of January 15, 1874, of its desire to terminate the treaty of 1862, concerning commerce and navigation, pursuant to the provisions of the twenty-second article thereof. Under this notice the treaty terminated upon the 5th day of June, 1876. That Government has invited negotiations toward the conclusion of a new treaty. By the act of Congress of March 23, 1874, the President was authorized, when he should receive satisfactory information that the Ottoman Government or that of Egypt had organized new tribunals likely to secure to citizens of the United States the same impartial justice enjoyed under the exercise of judicial functions by diplomatic and consular officers of the United States, to suspend the operation of the act of June 22, 1860, and to accept for citizens of the United States the jurisdiction of the new tribunals. Satisfactory information having been received of the organization of such new tribunals in Egypt, I caused a proclamation to be issued upon the 27th of March last, suspending the operation of the act of June 22, 1860, in Egypt, according to the provisions of the act. A copy of the proclamation accompanies this message. The United States has united with the other powers in the organization of these courts. It is hoped that the jurisdictional questions which have arisen may be readily adjusted, and that this advance in judicial reform may be hindered by no obstacles. The necessary legislation to carry into effect the convention respecting commercial reciprocity concluded with the Hawaiian Islands in 1875 having been had, the proclamation to carry into effect the convention, as provided by the act approved August 15, 1876, was duly issued upon the 9th day of September last. A copy thereof accompanies this message. The commotions which have been prevalent in Mexico for some time past, and which, unhappily, seem to be not yet wholly quieted, have led to complaints of citizens of the United States of injuries by persons in authority. It is hoped, however, that these will ultimately be adjusted to the satisfaction of both Governments. The frontier of the United States in that quarter has not been exempt from acts of violence by citizens of one Republic on those of the other. The frequency of these is supposed to be increased and their adjustment made more difficult by the considerable changes in the course of the lower part of the Rio Grande River, which river is a part of the boundary between the two countries. These changes have placed on either side of that river portions of land which by existing conventions belong to the jurisdiction of the Government on the opposite side of the river. The subject of adjustment of this cause of difficulty is under consideration between the two Republics. The Government of the United States of Colombia has paid the award in the case of the steamer Montijo, seized by authorities of that Government some years since, and the amount has been transferred to the claimants. It is with satisfaction that I am able to announce that the joint commission for the adjustment of claims between the United States and Mexico under the convention of 1868, the duration of which has been several times extended, has brought its labors to a close. From the report of the agent of the United States, which accompanies the papers transmitted herewith, it will be seen that within the time limited by the commission 1,017 claims on the part of citizens of the United States against Mexico were referred to the commission. Of these claims 831 were dismissed or disallowed, and in 186 cases awards were made in favor of the claimants against the Mexican Republic, amounting in the aggregate to $4,125,622.20. Within the same period 998 claims on the part of citizens of the Mexican Republic against the United States were referred to the commission. Of these claims 831 were dismissed or disallowed, and in 167 cases awards were made in favor of the claimants against the United States, amounting in the aggregate to $150,498.41. By the terms of the convention the amount of these awards is to be deducted from the amount awarded in favor of our citizens against Mexico, and the balance only to be paid by Mexico to the United States, leaving the United States to make provision for this proportion of the awards in favor of its Own citizens. 
I invite your attention to the legislation which will be necessary to provide for the payment. In this connection I am pleased to be able to express the acknowledgments due to Sir Edward Thornton, the umpire of the commission, who has given to the consideration of the large number of claims submitted to him much time, unwearied patience, and that firmness and intelligence which are well known to belong to the accomplished representative of Great Britain, and which are likewise recognized by the representative in this country of the Republic of Mexico. Monthly payments of a very small part of the amount due by the Government of Venezuela to citizens of the United States on account of claims of the latter against that Government continue to be made with reasonable punctuality. That Government has proposed to change the system which it has hitherto pursued in this respect by issuing bonds for part of the amount of the several claims. The proposition, however, could not, it is supposed, properly be accepted, at least without the consent of the holders of certificates of the indebtedness of Venezuela. These are so much dispersed that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain their disposition on the subject. In former messages I have called the attention of Congress to the necessity of legislation with regard to fraudulent naturalization and to the subject of expatriation and the election of nationality. The numbers of persons of foreign birth seeking a home in the United States, the ease and facility with which the honest emigrant may, after the lapse of a reasonable time, become possessed of all the privileges of citizenship of the United States, and the frequent occasions which induce such adopted citizens to return to the country of their birth render the subject of naturalization and the safeguards which experience has proved necessary for the protection of the honest naturalized citizen of paramount importance. The very simplicity in the requirements of law on this question affords opportunity for fraud, and the want of uniformity in the proceedings and records of the various courts and in the forms of the certificates of naturalization issued affords a constant source of difficulty. I suggest no additional requirements to the acquisition of citizenship beyond those now existing, but I invite the earnest attention of Congress to the necessity and wisdom of some provisions regarding uniformity in the records and certificates, and providing against the frauds which frequently take place and for the vacating of a record of naturalization obtained in fraud. These provisions are needed in aid and for the protection of the honest citizen of foreign birth, and for the want of which he is made to suffer not infrequently. The United States has insisted upon the right of expatriation, and has obtained, after a long struggle, an admission of the principle contended for by acquiescence therein on the part of many foreign powers and by the conclusion of treaties on that subject. It is, however, but justice to the government to which such naturalized citizens have formerly owed allegiance, as well as to the United States, that certain fixed and definite rules should be adopted governing such cases and providing how expatriation may be accomplished. While emigrants in large numbers become citizens of the United States, it is also true that persons, both native born and naturalized, once citizens of the United States, either by formal acts or as the effect of a series of facts and circumstances, abandon their citizenship and cease to be entitled to the protection of the United States, but continue on convenient occasions to assert a claim to protection in the absence of provisions on these questions. And in this connection I again invite your attention to the necessity of legislation concerning the marriages of American citizens contracted abroad, and concerning the status of American women who may marry foreigners and of children born of American parents in a foreign country. The delicate and complicated questions continually occurring with reference to naturalization, expatriation, and the status of such persons as I have above referred to induce me to earnestly direct your attention again to these subjects. In like manner I repeat my recommendation that some means be provided for the hearing and determination of the just and subsisting claims of aliens upon the Government of the United States within a reasonable limitation, and of such as may hereafter arise. While by existing provisions of law the Court of Claims may in certain cases be resorted to by an alien claimant, the absence of any general provisions governing all such cases and the want of a tribunal skilled in the disposition of such cases upon recognized fixed and settled principles, either provides no remedy in many deserving cases or compels a consideration of such claims by Congress or the executive department of the Government. It is believed that other governments are in advance of the United States upon this question, and that the practice now adopted is entirely unsatisfactory. Congress, by an act approved the 3d day of March, 1875, authorized the inhabitants of the Territory of Colorado to form a State government, with the name of the State of Colorado, and therein provided for the admission of said State, when formed, into the Union upon an equal footing with the original States. A constitution having been adopted and ratified by the people of that State, and the acting governor having certified to me the facts as provided by said act, together with a copy of such constitution and ordinances as provided for in the said act, and the provisions of the said act of Congress having been duly complied with, I issued a proclamation upon the 1st of August, 1876, a copy of which is hereto annexed. The report of the Secretary of War shows that the Army has been actively employed during the year in subduing, at the request of the Indian Bureau, certain wild bands of the Sioux Indian Nation and in preserving the peace at the South during the election. The commission constituted under the act of July 24, 1876, to consider and report on the "whole subject of the reform and reorganization of the Army" met in August last, and has collected a large mass of statistics and opinions bearing on the subject before it. These are now under consideration, and their report is progressing. I am advised, though, by the president of the commission that it will be impracticable to comply with the clause of the act requiring the report to be presented, through me, to Congress on the first day of this session, as there has not yet been time for that mature deliberation which the importance of the subject demands. Therefore I ask that the time of making the report be extended to the 29th day of January, 1877. In accordance with the resolution of August 15, 1876, the Army regulations prepared under the act of March 1, 1875, have not been promulgated, but are held until after the report of the above-mentioned commission shall have been received and acted on. By the act of August 15, 1876, the cavalry force of the Army was increased by 2,500 men, with the proviso that they should be discharged on the expiration of hostilities. Under this authority the cavalry regiments have been strengthened, and a portion of them are now in the field pursuing the remnants of the Indians with whom they have been engaged during the summer. The estimates of the War Department are made up on the basis of the number of men authorized by law, and their requirements as shown by years of experience, and also with the purpose on the part of the bureau officers to provide for all contingencies that may arise during the time for which the estimates are made. Exclusive of engineer estimates (presented in accordance with acts of Congress calling for surveys and estimates for improvements at various localities), the estimates now presented are about six millions in excess of the appropriations for the years 1874-75 and 1875-76. This increase is asked in order to provide for the increased cavalry force (should their services be necessary), to prosecute economically work upon important public buildings, to provide for armament of fortifications and manufacture of small arms, and to replenish the working stock in the supply departments. The appropriations for these last named have for the past few years been so limited that the accumulations in store will be entirely exhausted during the present year, and it will be necessary to at once begin to replenish them. I invite your special attention to the following recommendations of the Secretary of War: 
First. That the claims under the act of July 4, 1864, for supplies taken by the Army during the war be removed from the offices of the Quartermaster and Commissary Generals and transferred to the Southern Claims Commission. These claims are of precisely similar nature to those now before the Southern Claims Commission, and the War Department bureaus have not the clerical force for their examination nor proper machinery for investigating the loyalty of the claimants. Second. That Congress sanction the scheme of an annuity fund for the benefit of the families of deceased officers, and that it also provide for the permanent organization of the Signal Service, both of which were recommended in my last annual message. Third. That the manufacturing operations of the Ordnance Department be concentrated at three arsenals and an armory, and that the remaining arsenals be sold and the proceeds applied to this object by the Ordnance Department. The appropriations for river and harbor improvements for the current year were $5,015,000. With my approval, the Secretary of War directed that of this amount $2,000,000 should be expended, and no new works should be begun and none prosecuted which were not of national importance. Subsequently this amount was increased to $2,237,600, and the works are now progressing on this basis. The improvement of the South Pass of the Mississippi River, under James B. Eads and his associates, is progressing favorably. At the present time there is a channel of 20.3 feet in depth between the jetties at the mouth of the pass and 18.5 feet at the head of the pass. Neither channel, however, has the width required before payments can be made by the United States. A commission of engineer officers is now examining these works, and their reports will be presented as soon as received. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows that branch of the service to be in condition as effective as it is possible to keep it with the means and authority given the Department. It is, of course, not possible to rival the costly and progressive establishments of great European powers with the old material of our Navy, to which no increase has been authorized since the war, except the eight small cruisers built to supply the place of others which had gone to decay. Yet the most has been done that was possible with the means at command; and by substantially rebuilding some of our old ships with durable material and completely repairing and refitting our monitor fleet the Navy has been gradually so brought up that, though it does not maintain its relative position among the progressive navies of the world, it is now in a condition more powerful and effective than it ever has been in time of peace. The complete repairs of our five heavy ironclads are only delayed on account of the inadequacy of the appropriations made last year for the working bureaus of the Department, which were actually less in amount than those made before the war, notwithstanding the greatly enhanced price of labor and materials and the increase in the cost of the naval service growing out of the universal use and great expense of steam machinery. The money necessary for these repairs should be provided at once, that they may be completed without further unnecessary delay and expense. When this is done, all the strength that there is in our Navy will be developed and useful to its full capacity, and it will be powerful for purposes of defense, and also for offensive action, should the necessity for that arise within a reasonable distance from our shores. The fact that our Navy is not more modern and powerful than it is has been made a cause of complaint against the Secretary of the Navy by persons who at the same time criticise and complain of his endeavors to bring the Navy that we have to its best and most efficient condition; but the good sense of the country will understand that it is really due to his practical action that we have at this time any effective naval force at command. The report of the Postmaster-General shows the excess of expenditures (excluding expenditures on account of previous years) over receipts for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1876, to be $4,151,988.66. 
Estimated expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, are $36,723,432.43. Estimated revenue for same period is $30,645,165, leaving estimated excess of expenditure, to be appropriated as a deficiency, of $6,078,267.43. The Postmaster-General, like his predecessor, is convinced that a change in the basis of adjusting the salaries of postmasters of the fourth class is necessary for the good of the service as well as for the interests of the Government, and urgently recommends that the compensation of the class of postmasters above mentioned be based upon the business of their respective offices, as ascertained from the sworn returns to the Auditor of stamps canceled. A few postmasters in the Southern States have expressed great apprehension of their personal safety on account of their connection with the postal service, and have specially requested that their reports of apprehended danger should not be made public lest it should result in the loss of their lives. But no positive testimony of interference has been submitted, except in the case of a mail messenger at Spartanburg, in South Carolina, who reported that he had been violently driven away while in charge of the mails on account of his political affiliations. An assistant superintendent of the Railway Mail Service investigated this case and reported that the messenger had disappeared from his post, leaving his work to be performed by a substitute. The Postmaster-General thinks this case is sufficiently suggestive to justify him in recommending that a more severe punishment should be provided for the offense of assaulting any person in charge of the mails or of retarding or otherwise obstructing them by threats of personal injury. "A very gratifying result is presented in the fact that the deficiency of this Department during the last fiscal year was reduced to $4,081,790.18, as against $6,169,938.88 of the preceding year. The difference can be traced to the large increase in its ordinary receipts (which greatly exceed the estimates therefor) and a slight decrease in its expenditures." The ordinary receipts of the Post-Office Department for the past seven fiscal years have increased at an average of over 8 per cent per annum, while the increase of expenditures for the same period has been but about 5.50 per cent per annum, and the decrease of deficiency in the revenues has been at the rate of nearly 2 per cent per annum. The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture accompanying this message will be found one of great interest, marking, as it does, the great progress of the last century in the variety of products of the soil; increased knowledge and skill in the labor of producing, saving, and manipulating the same to prepare them for the use of man; in the improvements in machinery to aid the agriculturist in his labors, and in a knowledge of those scientific subjects necessary to a thorough system of economy in agricultural production, namely, chemistry, botany, entomology, etc. A study of this report by those interested in agriculture and deriving their support from it will find it of value in pointing out those articles which are raised in greater quantity than the needs of the world require, and must sell, therefore, for less than the cost of production, and those which command a profit over cost of production because there is not an overproduction. I call special attention to the need of the Department for a new gallery for the reception of the exhibits returned from the Centennial Exhibition, including the exhibits donated by very many foreign nations, and to the recommendations of the Commissioner of Agriculture generally. The reports of the District Commissioners and the board of health are just received--too late to read them and to make recommendations thereon--and are herewith submitted. The international exhibition held in Philadelphia this year, in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of American independence, has proven a great success, and will, no doubt, be of enduring advantage to the country. It has shown the great progress in the arts, sciences, and mechanical skill made in a single century, and demonstrated that we are but little behind older nations in any one branch, while in some we scarcely have a rival. It has served, too, not only to bring peoples and products of skill and labor from all parts of the world together, but in bringing together people from all sections of our own country, which must prove a great benefit in the information imparted and pride of country engendered. It has been suggested by scientists interested in and connected with the Smithsonian Institution, in a communication herewith, that the Government exhibit be removed to the capital and a suitable building be erected or purchased for its accommodation as a permanent exhibit. I earnestly recommend this; and believing that Congress would second this view, I directed that all Government exhibits at the Centennial Exhibition should remain where they are, except such as might be injured by remaining in a building not intended as a protection in inclement weather, or such as may be wanted by the Department furnishing them, until the question of permanent exhibition is acted on. Although the moneys appropriated by Congress to enable the participation of the several Executive Departments in the International Exhibition of 1876 were not sufficient to carry out the undertaking to the full extent at first contemplated, it gives me pleasure to refer to the very efficient and creditable manner in which the board appointed from these several Departments to provide an exhibition on the part of the Government have discharged their duties with the funds placed at their command. Without a precedent to guide them in the preparation of such a display, the success of their labors was amply attested by the sustained attention which the contents of the Government building attracted during the period of the exhibition from both foreign and native visitors. I am strongly impressed with the value of the collection made by the Government for the purposes of the exhibition, illustrating, as it does, the mineral resources of the country, the statistical and practical evidences of our growth as a nation, and the uses of the mechanical arts and the applications of applied science in the administration of the affairs of Government. Many nations have voluntarily contributed their exhibits to the United States to increase the interest in any permanent exhibition Congress may provide for. For this act of generosity they should receive the thanks of the people, and I respectfully suggest that a resolution of Congress to that effect be adopted. The attention of Congress can not be too earnestly called to the necessity of throwing some greater safeguard over the method of choosing and declaring the election of a President. Under the present system there seems to be no provided remedy for contesting the election in any one State. The remedy is partially, no doubt, in the enlightenment of electors. The compulsory support of the free school and the disfranchisement of all who can not read and write the English language, after a fixed probation, would meet my hearty approval. I would not make this apply, however, to those already voters, but I would to all becoming so after the expiration of the probation fixed upon. Foreigners coming to this country to become citizens, who are educated in their own language, should acquire the requisite knowledge of ours during the necessary residence to obtain naturalization. If they did not take interest enough in our language to acquire sufficient knowledge of it to enable them to study the institutions and laws of the country intelligently, I would not confer upon them the right to make such laws nor to select those who do. I append to this message, for convenient reference, a synopsis of administrative events and of all recommendations to Congress made by me during the last seven years. Time may show some of these recommendations not to have been wisely conceived, but I believe the larger part will do no discredit to the Administration. One of these recommendations met with the united opposition of one political party in the Senate and with a strong opposition from the other, namely, the treaty for the annexation of Santo Domingo to the United States, to which I will specially refer, maintaining, as I do, that if my views had been concurred in the country would be in a more prosperous condition to-day, both politically and financially. Santo Domingo is fertile, and upon its soil may be grown just those tropical products of which the United States use so much, and which are produced or prepared for market now by slave labor almost exclusively, namely, sugar, coffee, dyewoods, mahogany, tropical fruits, tobacco, etc. About 75 per cent of the exports of Cuba are consumed in the United States. A large percentage of the exports of Brazil also find the same market. These are paid for almost exclusively in coin, legislation, particularly in Cuba, being unfavorable to a mutual exchange of the products of each country. Flour shipped from the Mississippi River to Havana can pass by the very entrance to the city on its way to a port in Spain, there pay a duty fixed upon articles to be reexported, transferred to a Spanish vessel and brought back almost to the point of starting, paying a second duty, and still leave a profit over what would be received by direct shipment. All that is produced in Cuba could be produced in Santo Domingo. Being a part of the United States, commerce between the island and mainland would be free. There would be no export duties on her shipments nor import duties on those coming here. There would be no import duties upon the supplies, machinery, etc., going from the States. The effect that would have been produced upon Cuban commerce, with these advantages to a rival, is observable at a glance. The Cuban question would have been settled long ago in favor of "free Cuba." Hundreds of American vessels would now be advantageously used in transporting the valuable woods and other products of the soil of the island to a market and in carrying supplies and emigrants to it. The island is but sparsely settled, while it has an area sufficient for the profitable employment of several millions of people. The soil would have soon fallen into the hands of United States capitalists. The products are so valuable in commerce that emigration there would have been encouraged; the emancipated race of the South would have found there a congenial home, where their civil rights would not be disputed and where their labor would be so much sought after that the poorest among them could have found the means to go. Thus in cases of great oppression and cruelty, such as has been practiced upon them in many places within the last eleven years, whole communities would have sought refuge in Santo Domingo. I do not suppose the whole race would have gone, nor is it desirable that they should go. Their labor is desirable--indispensable almost--where they now are. But the possession of this territory would have left the negro "master of the situation," by enabling him to demand his rights at home on pain of finding them elsewhere. I do not present these views now as a recommendation for a renewal of the subject of annexation, but I do refer to it to vindicate my previous action in regard to it. 
With the present term of Congress my official life terminates. It is not probable that public affairs will ever again receive attention from me further than as a citizen of the Republic, always taking a deep interest in the honor, integrity, and prosperity of the whole land.
In submitting my eighth and last annual message to Congress it seems proper that I should refer to and in some degree recapitulate the events and official acts of the past eight years. It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training. From the age of 17 I had never even witnessed the excitement attending a Presidential campaign but twice antecedent to my own candidacy, and at but one of them was I eligible as a voter. Under such circumstances it is but reasonable to suppose that errors of judgment must have occurred. Even had they not, differences of opinion between the Executive, bound by an oath to the strict performance of his duties, and writers and debaters must have arisen. It is not necessarily evidence of blunder on the part of the Executive because there are these differences of views. Mistakes have been made, as all can see and I admit, but it seems to me oftener in the selections made of the assistants appointed to aid in carrying out the various duties of administering the Government--in nearly every case selected without a personal acquaintance with the appointee, but upon recommendations of the representatives chosen directly by the people. It is impossible, where so many trusts are to be allotted, that the right parties should be chosen in every instance. History shows that no Administration from the time of Washington to the present has been free from these mistakes. But I leave comparisons to history, claiming only that I have acted in every instance from a conscientious desire to do what was right, constitutional, within the law, and for the very best interests of the whole people. Failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent. My civil career commenced, too, at a most critical and difficult time. Less than four years before, the country had emerged from a conflict such as no other nation had ever survived. Nearly one-half of the States had revolted against the Government, and of those remaining faithful to the Union a large percentage of the population sympathized with the rebellion and made an "enemy in the rear" almost as dangerous as the more honorable enemy in the front. The latter committed errors of judgment, but they maintained them openly and courageously; the former received the protection of the Government they would see destroyed, and reaped all the pecuniary advantage to be gained out of the then existing state of affairs, many of them by obtaining contracts and by swindling the Government in the delivery of their goods. Immediately on the cessation of hostilities the then noble President, who had carried the country so far through its perils, fell a martyr to his patriotism at the hands of an assassin. The intervening time to my first inauguration was filled up with wranglings between Congress and the new Executive as to the best mode of "reconstruction," or, to speak plainly, as to whether the control of the Government should be thrown immediately into the hands of those who had so recently and persistently tried to destroy it, or whether the victors should continue to have an equal voice with them in this control. Reconstruction, as finally agreed upon, means this and only this, except that the late slave was enfranchised, giving an increase, as was supposed, to the Union-loving and Union-supporting votes. If free in the full sense of the word, they would not disappoint this expectation. Hence at the beginning of my first Administration the work of reconstruction, much embarrassed by the long delay, virtually commenced. It was the work of the legislative branch of the Government. My province was wholly in approving their acts, which I did most heartily, urging the legislatures of States that had not yet done so to ratify the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution. The country was laboring under an enormous debt, contracted in the suppression of rebellion, and taxation was so oppressive as to discourage production. Another danger also threatened us--a foreign war. The last difficulty had to be adjusted and was adjusted without a war and in a manner highly honorable to all parties concerned. Taxes have been reduced within the last seven years nearly $300,000,000, and the national debt has been reduced in the same time over $435,000,000. By refunding the 6 per cent bonded debt for bonds bearing 5 and 4 1/2 per cent interest, respectively, the annual interest has been reduced from over $130,000,000 in 1869 to but little over $100,000,000 in 1876. The balance of trade has been changed from over $130,000,000 against the United States in 1869 to more than $120,000,000 in our favor in 1876. It is confidently believed that the balance of trade in favor of the United States will increase, not diminish, and that the pledge of Congress to resume specie payments in 1879 will be easily accomplished, even in the absence of much-desired further legislation on the subject. A policy has been adopted toward the Indian tribes inhabiting a large portion of the territory of the United States which has been humane and has substantially ended Indian hostilities in the whole land except in a portion of Nebraska, and Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana Territories--the Black Hills region and approaches thereto. Hostilities there have grown out of the avarice of the white man, who has violated our treaty stipulations in his search for gold. The question might be asked why the Government has not enforced obedience to the terms of the treaty prohibiting the occupation of the Black Hills region by whites. The answer is simple: The first immigrants to the Black Hills were removed by troops, but rumors of rich discoveries of gold took into that region increased numbers. Gold has actually been found in paying quantity, and an effort to remove the miners would only result in the desertion of the bulk of the troops that might be sent there to remove them. All difficulty in this matter has, however, been removed--subject to the approval of Congress--by a treaty ceding the Black Hills and approaches to settlement by citizens. The subject of Indian policy and treatment is so fully set forth by the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and my views so fully expressed therein, that I refer to their reports and recommendations as my own. The relations of the United States with foreign powers continue on a friendly footing. Questions have arisen from time to time in the foreign relations of the Government, but the United States have been happily free during the past year from the complications and embarrassments which have surrounded some of the foreign powers. The diplomatic correspondence submitted herewith contains information as to certain of the matters which have occupied the Government. The cordiality which attends our relations with the powers of the earth has been plainly shown by the general participation of foreign nations in the exhibition which has just closed and by the exertions made by distant powers to show their interest in and friendly feelings toward the United States in the commemoration of the centennial of the nation. The Government and people of the United States have not only fully appreciated this exhibition of kindly feeling, but it may be justly and fairly expected that no small benefits will result both to ourselves and other nations from a better acquaintance, and a better appreciation of our mutual advantages and mutual wants. Congress at its last session saw fit to reduce the amount usually appropriated for foreign intercourse by withholding appropriations for representatives of the United States in certain foreign countries and for certain consular officers, and by reducing the amounts usually appropriated for certain other diplomatic posts, and thus necessitating a change in the grade of the representatives. For these reasons, immediately upon the passage of the bill making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service for the present fiscal year, instructions were issued to the representatives of the United States at Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia, and to the consular officers for whom no appropriation had been made, to close their respective legations and consulates and cease from the performance of their duties; and in like manner steps were immediately taken to substitute charge's d'affaires for ministers resident in Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, and Paraguay. While thoroughly impressed with the wisdom of sound economy in the foreign service, as in other branches of the Government, I can not escape the conclusion that in some instances the withholding of appropriations will prove an expensive economy, and that the small retrenchment secured by a change of grade in certain diplomatic posts is not an adequate consideration for the loss of influence and importance which will attend our foreign representatives under this reduction. I am of the opinion that a reexamination of the subject will because a change in some instances in the conclusions reached on these subjects at the last session of Congress. The Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims, whose functions were continued by an act of the last session of Congress until the 1st day of January, 1877, has carried on its labors with diligence and general satisfaction. By a report from the clerk of the court, transmitted herewith, bearing date November 14, 1876, it appears that within the time now allowed by law the court will have disposed of all the claims presented for adjudication. This report also contains a statement of the general results of the labors of the court to the date thereof. It is a because of satisfaction that the method adopted for the satisfaction of the classes of claims submitted to the court, which are of long standing and justly entitled to early consideration, should have proved successful and acceptable. It is with satisfaction that I am enabled to state that the work of the joint commission for determining the boundary line between the United States and British possessions from the northwest angle of the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains, commenced in 1872, has been completed. The final agreements of the commissioners, with the maps, have been duly signed, and the work of the commission is complete. The fixing of the boundary upon the Pacific coast by the protocol of March 10, 1873, pursuant to the award of the Emperor of Germany by Article XXXIV of the treaty of Washington, with the termination of the work of this commission, adjusts and fixes the entire boundary between the United States and the British possessions, except as to the portion of territory ceded by Russia to the United States under the treaty of 1867. The work intrusted to the commissioner and the officers of the Army attached to the commission has been well and satisfactorily performed. The original of the final agreement of the commissioners, signed upon the 29th of May, 1876, with the original official "lists of astronomical stations observed," the original official "list of monuments marking the international boundary line," and the maps, records, and general reports relating to the commission, have been deposited in the Department of State. The official report of the commissioner on the part of the United States, with the report of the chief astronomer of the United States, will be submitted to Congress within a short time. I reserve for a separate communication to Congress a statement of the condition of the questions which lately arose with Great Britain respecting the surrender of fugitive criminals under the treaty of 1842. The Ottoman Government gave notice, under date of January 15, 1874, of its desire to terminate the treaty of 1862, concerning commerce and navigation, pursuant to the provisions of the twenty-second article thereof. Under this notice the treaty terminated upon the 5th day of June, 1876. That Government has invited negotiations toward the conclusion of a new treaty. By the act of Congress of March 23, 1874, the President was authorized, when he should receive satisfactory information that the Ottoman Government or that of Egypt had organized new tribunals likely to secure to citizens of the United States the same impartial justice enjoyed under the exercise of judicial functions by diplomatic and consular officers of the United States, to suspend the operation of the act of June 22, 1860, and to accept for citizens of the United States the jurisdiction of the new tribunals. Satisfactory information having been received of the organization of such new tribunals in Egypt, I caused a proclamation to be issued upon the 27th of March last, suspending the operation of the act of June 22, 1860, in Egypt, according to the provisions of the act. A copy of the proclamation accompanies this message. The United States has united with the other powers in the organization of these courts. It is hoped that the jurisdictional questions which have arisen may be readily adjusted, and that this advance in judicial reform may be hindered by no obstacles. The necessary legislation to carry into effect the convention respecting commercial reciprocity concluded with the Hawaiian Islands in 1875 having been had, the proclamation to carry into effect the convention, as provided by the act approved August 15, 1876, was duly issued upon the 9th day of September last. A copy thereof accompanies this message. The commotions which have been prevalent in Mexico for some time past, and which, unhappily, seem to be not yet wholly quieted, have led to complaints of citizens of the United States of injuries by persons in authority. It is hoped, however, that these will ultimately be adjusted to the satisfaction of both Governments. The frontier of the United States in that quarter has not been exempt from acts of violence by citizens of one Republic on those of the other. The frequency of these is supposed to be increased and their adjustment made more difficult by the considerable changes in the course of the lower part of the Rio Grande River, which river is a part of the boundary between the two countries. These changes have placed on either side of that river portions of land which by existing conventions belong to the jurisdiction of the Government on the opposite side of the river. The subject of adjustment of this because of difficulty is under consideration between the two Republics. The Government of the United States of Colombia has paid the award in the case of the steamer Montijo, seized by authorities of that Government some years since, and the amount has been transferred to the claimants. It is with satisfaction that I am able to announce that the joint commission for the adjustment of claims between the United States and Mexico under the convention of 1868, the duration of which has been several times extended, has brought its labors to a close. From the report of the agent of the United States, which accompanies the papers transmitted herewith, it will be seen that within the time limited by the commission 1,017 claims on the part of citizens of the United States against Mexico were referred to the commission. Of these claims 831 were dismissed or disallowed, and in 186 cases awards were made in favor of the claimants against the Mexican Republic, amounting in the aggregate to $4,125,622.20. Within the same period 998 claims on the part of citizens of the Mexican Republic against the United States were referred to the commission. Of these claims 831 were dismissed or disallowed, and in 167 cases awards were made in favor of the claimants against the United States, amounting in the aggregate to $150,498.41. By the terms of the convention the amount of these awards is to be deducted from the amount awarded in favor of our citizens against Mexico, and the balance only to be paid by Mexico to the United States, leaving the United States to make provision for this proportion of the awards in favor of its Own citizens. I invite your attention to the legislation which will be necessary to provide for the payment. In this connection I am pleased to be able to express the acknowledgments due to Sir Edward Thornton, the umpire of the commission, who has given to the consideration of the large number of claims submitted to him much time, unwearied patience, and that firmness and intelligence which are well known to belong to the accomplished representative of Great Britain, and which are likewise recognized by the representative in this country of the Republic of Mexico. Monthly payments of a very small part of the amount due by the Government of Venezuela to citizens of the United States on account of claims of the latter against that Government continue to be made with reasonable punctuality. That Government has proposed to change the system which it has hitherto pursued in this respect by issuing bonds for part of the amount of the several claims. The proposition, however, could not, it is supposed, properly be accepted, at least without the consent of the holders of certificates of the indebtedness of Venezuela. These are so much dispersed that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain their disposition on the subject. In former messages I have called the attention of Congress to the necessity of legislation with regard to fraudulent naturalization and to the subject of expatriation and the election of nationality. The numbers of persons of foreign birth seeking a home in the United States, the ease and facility with which the honest emigrant may, after the lapse of a reasonable time, become possessed of all the privileges of citizenship of the United States, and the frequent occasions which induce such adopted citizens to return to the country of their birth render the subject of naturalization and the safeguards which experience has proved necessary for the protection of the honest naturalized citizen of paramount importance. The very simplicity in the requirements of law on this question affords opportunity for fraud, and the want of uniformity in the proceedings and records of the various courts and in the forms of the certificates of naturalization issued affords a constant source of difficulty. I suggest no additional requirements to the acquisition of citizenship beyond those now existing, but I invite the earnest attention of Congress to the necessity and wisdom of some provisions regarding uniformity in the records and certificates, and providing against the frauds which frequently take place and for the vacating of a record of naturalization obtained in fraud. These provisions are needed in aid and for the protection of the honest citizen of foreign birth, and for the want of which he is made to suffer not infrequently. The United States has insisted upon the right of expatriation, and has obtained, after a long struggle, an admission of the principle contended for by acquiescence therein on the part of many foreign powers and by the conclusion of treaties on that subject. It is, however, but justice to the government to which such naturalized citizens have formerly owed allegiance, as well as to the United States, that certain fixed and definite rules should be adopted governing such cases and providing how expatriation may be accomplished. While emigrants in large numbers become citizens of the United States, it is also true that persons, both native born and naturalized, once citizens of the United States, either by formal acts or as the effect of a series of facts and circumstances, abandon their citizenship and cease to be entitled to the protection of the United States, but continue on convenient occasions to assert a claim to protection in the absence of provisions on these questions. And in this connection I again invite your attention to the necessity of legislation concerning the marriages of American citizens contracted abroad, and concerning the status of American women who may marry foreigners and of children born of American parents in a foreign country. The delicate and complicated questions continually occurring with reference to naturalization, expatriation, and the status of such persons as I have above referred to induce me to earnestly direct your attention again to these subjects. In like manner I repeat my recommendation that some means be provided for the hearing and determination of the just and subsisting claims of aliens upon the Government of the United States within a reasonable limitation, and of such as may hereafter arise. While by existing provisions of law the Court of Claims may in certain cases be resorted to by an alien claimant, the absence of any general provisions governing all such cases and the want of a tribunal skilled in the disposition of such cases upon recognized fixed and settled principles, either provides no remedy in many deserving cases or compels a consideration of such claims by Congress or the executive department of the Government. It is believed that other governments are in advance of the United States upon this question, and that the practice now adopted is entirely unsatisfactory. Congress, by an act approved the 3d day of March, 1875, authorized the inhabitants of the Territory of Colorado to form a State government, with the name of the State of Colorado, and therein provided for the admission of said State, when formed, into the Union upon an equal footing with the original States. A constitution having been adopted and ratified by the people of that State, and the acting governor having certified to me the facts as provided by said act, together with a copy of such constitution and ordinances as provided for in the said act, and the provisions of the said act of Congress having been duly complied with, I issued a proclamation upon the 1st of August, 1876, a copy of which is hereto annexed. The report of the Secretary of War shows that the Army has been actively employed during the year in subduing, at the request of the Indian Bureau, certain wild bands of the Sioux Indian Nation and in preserving the peace at the South during the election. The commission constituted under the act of July 24, 1876, to consider and report on the "whole subject of the reform and reorganization of the Army" met in August last, and has collected a large mass of statistics and opinions bearing on the subject before it. These are now under consideration, and their report is progressing. I am advised, though, by the president of the commission that it will be impracticable to comply with the clause of the act requiring the report to be presented, through me, to Congress on the first day of this session, as there has not yet been time for that mature deliberation which the importance of the subject demands. Therefore I ask that the time of making the report be extended to the 29th day of January, 1877. In accordance with the resolution of August 15, 1876, the Army regulations prepared under the act of March 1, 1875, have not been promulgated, but are held until after the report of the above-mentioned commission shall have been received and acted on. By the act of August 15, 1876, the cavalry force of the Army was increased by 2,500 men, with the proviso that they should be discharged on the expiration of hostilities. Under this authority the cavalry regiments have been strengthened, and a portion of them are now in the field pursuing the remnants of the Indians with whom they have been engaged during the summer. The estimates of the War Department are made up on the basis of the number of men authorized by law, and their requirements as shown by years of experience, and also with the purpose on the part of the bureau officers to provide for all contingencies that may arise during the time for which the estimates are made. Exclusive of engineer estimates (presented in accordance with acts of Congress calling for surveys and estimates for improvements at various localities), the estimates now presented are about six millions in excess of the appropriations for the years 1874-75 and 1875-76. This increase is asked in order to provide for the increased cavalry force (should their services be necessary), to prosecute economically work upon important public buildings, to provide for armament of fortifications and manufacture of small arms, and to replenish the working stock in the supply departments. The appropriations for these last named have for the past few years been so limited that the accumulations in store will be entirely exhausted during the present year, and it will be necessary to at once begin to replenish them. I invite your special attention to the following recommendations of the Secretary of War: First. That the claims under the act of July 4, 1864, for supplies taken by the Army during the war be removed from the offices of the Quartermaster and Commissary Generals and transferred to the Southern Claims Commission. These claims are of precisely similar nature to those now before the Southern Claims Commission, and the War Department bureaus have not the clerical force for their examination nor proper machinery for investigating the loyalty of the claimants. Second. That Congress sanction the scheme of an annuity fund for the benefit of the families of deceased officers, and that it also provide for the permanent organization of the Signal Service, both of which were recommended in my last annual message. Third. That the manufacturing operations of the Ordnance Department be concentrated at three arsenals and an armory, and that the remaining arsenals be sold and the proceeds applied to this object by the Ordnance Department. The appropriations for river and harbor improvements for the current year were $5,015,000. With my approval, the Secretary of War directed that of this amount $2,000,000 should be expended, and no new works should be begun and none prosecuted which were not of national importance. Subsequently this amount was increased to $2,237,600, and the works are now progressing on this basis. The improvement of the South Pass of the Mississippi River, under James B. Eads and his associates, is progressing favorably. At the present time there is a channel of 20.3 feet in depth between the jetties at the mouth of the pass and 18.5 feet at the head of the pass. Neither channel, however, has the width required before payments can be made by the United States. A commission of engineer officers is now examining these works, and their reports will be presented as soon as received. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows that branch of the service to be in condition as effective as it is possible to keep it with the means and authority given the Department. It is, of course, not possible to rival the costly and progressive establishments of great European powers with the old material of our Navy, to which no increase has been authorized since the war, except the eight small cruisers built to supply the place of others which had gone to decay. Yet the most has been done that was possible with the means at command; and by substantially rebuilding some of our old ships with durable material and completely repairing and refitting our monitor fleet the Navy has been gradually so brought up that, though it does not maintain its relative position among the progressive navies of the world, it is now in a condition more powerful and effective than it ever has been in time of peace. The complete repairs of our five heavy ironclads are only delayed on account of the inadequacy of the appropriations made last year for the working bureaus of the Department, which were actually less in amount than those made before the war, notwithstanding the greatly enhanced price of labor and materials and the increase in the cost of the naval service growing out of the universal use and great expense of steam machinery. The money necessary for these repairs should be provided at once, that they may be completed without further unnecessary delay and expense. When this is done, all the strength that there is in our Navy will be developed and useful to its full capacity, and it will be powerful for purposes of defense, and also for offensive action, should the necessity for that arise within a reasonable distance from our shores. The fact that our Navy is not more modern and powerful than it is has been made a because of complaint against the Secretary of the Navy by persons who at the same time criticise and complain of his endeavors to bring the Navy that we have to its best and most efficient condition; but the good sense of the country will understand that it is really due to his practical action that we have at this time any effective naval force at command. The report of the Postmaster-General shows the excess of expenditures (excluding expenditures on account of previous years) over receipts for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1876, to be $4,151,988.66. Estimated expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, are $36,723,432.43. Estimated revenue for same period is $30,645,165, leaving estimated excess of expenditure, to be appropriated as a deficiency, of $6,078,267.43. The Postmaster-General, like his predecessor, is convinced that a change in the basis of adjusting the salaries of postmasters of the fourth class is necessary for the good of the service as well as for the interests of the Government, and urgently recommends that the compensation of the class of postmasters above mentioned be based upon the business of their respective offices, as ascertained from the sworn returns to the Auditor of stamps canceled. A few postmasters in the Southern States have expressed great apprehension of their personal safety on account of their connection with the postal service, and have specially requested that their reports of apprehended danger should not be made public lest it should result in the loss of their lives. But no positive testimony of interference has been submitted, except in the case of a mail messenger at Spartanburg, in South Carolina, who reported that he had been violently driven away while in charge of the mails on account of his political affiliations. An assistant superintendent of the Railway Mail Service investigated this case and reported that the messenger had disappeared from his post, leaving his work to be performed by a substitute. The Postmaster-General thinks this case is sufficiently suggestive to justify him in recommending that a more severe punishment should be provided for the offense of assaulting any person in charge of the mails or of retarding or otherwise obstructing them by threats of personal injury. "A very gratifying result is presented in the fact that the deficiency of this Department during the last fiscal year was reduced to $4,081,790.18, as against $6,169,938.88 of the preceding year. The difference can be traced to the large increase in its ordinary receipts (which greatly exceed the estimates therefor) and a slight decrease in its expenditures." The ordinary receipts of the Post-Office Department for the past seven fiscal years have increased at an average of over 8 per cent per annum, while the increase of expenditures for the same period has been but about 5.50 per cent per annum, and the decrease of deficiency in the revenues has been at the rate of nearly 2 per cent per annum. The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture accompanying this message will be found one of great interest, marking, as it does, the great progress of the last century in the variety of products of the soil; increased knowledge and skill in the labor of producing, saving, and manipulating the same to prepare them for the use of man; in the improvements in machinery to aid the agriculturist in his labors, and in a knowledge of those scientific subjects necessary to a thorough system of economy in agricultural production, namely, chemistry, botany, entomology, etc. A study of this report by those interested in agriculture and deriving their support from it will find it of value in pointing out those articles which are raised in greater quantity than the needs of the world require, and must sell, therefore, for less than the cost of production, and those which command a profit over cost of production because there is not an overproduction. I call special attention to the need of the Department for a new gallery for the reception of the exhibits returned from the Centennial Exhibition, including the exhibits donated by very many foreign nations, and to the recommendations of the Commissioner of Agriculture generally. The reports of the District Commissioners and the board of health are just received--too late to read them and to make recommendations thereon--and are herewith submitted. The international exhibition held in Philadelphia this year, in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of American independence, has proven a great success, and will, no doubt, be of enduring advantage to the country. It has shown the great progress in the arts, sciences, and mechanical skill made in a single century, and demonstrated that we are but little behind older nations in any one branch, while in some we scarcely have a rival. It has served, too, not only to bring peoples and products of skill and labor from all parts of the world together, but in bringing together people from all sections of our own country, which must prove a great benefit in the information imparted and pride of country engendered. It has been suggested by scientists interested in and connected with the Smithsonian Institution, in a communication herewith, that the Government exhibit be removed to the capital and a suitable building be erected or purchased for its accommodation as a permanent exhibit. I earnestly recommend this; and believing that Congress would second this view, I directed that all Government exhibits at the Centennial Exhibition should remain where they are, except such as might be injured by remaining in a building not intended as a protection in inclement weather, or such as may be wanted by the Department furnishing them, until the question of permanent exhibition is acted on. Although the moneys appropriated by Congress to enable the participation of the several Executive Departments in the International Exhibition of 1876 were not sufficient to carry out the undertaking to the full extent at first contemplated, it gives me pleasure to refer to the very efficient and creditable manner in which the board appointed from these several Departments to provide an exhibition on the part of the Government have discharged their duties with the funds placed at their command. Without a precedent to guide them in the preparation of such a display, the success of their labors was amply attested by the sustained attention which the contents of the Government building attracted during the period of the exhibition from both foreign and native visitors. I am strongly impressed with the value of the collection made by the Government for the purposes of the exhibition, illustrating, as it does, the mineral resources of the country, the statistical and practical evidences of our growth as a nation, and the uses of the mechanical arts and the applications of applied science in the administration of the affairs of Government. Many nations have voluntarily contributed their exhibits to the United States to increase the interest in any permanent exhibition Congress may provide for. For this act of generosity they should receive the thanks of the people, and I respectfully suggest that a resolution of Congress to that effect be adopted. The attention of Congress can not be too earnestly called to the necessity of throwing some greater safeguard over the method of choosing and declaring the election of a President. Under the present system there seems to be no provided remedy for contesting the election in any one State. The remedy is partially, no doubt, in the enlightenment of electors. The compulsory support of the free school and the disfranchisement of all who can not read and write the English language, after a fixed probation, would meet my hearty approval. I would not make this apply, however, to those already voters, but I would to all becoming so after the expiration of the probation fixed upon. Foreigners coming to this country to become citizens, who are educated in their own language, should acquire the requisite knowledge of ours during the necessary residence to obtain naturalization. If they did not take interest enough in our language to acquire sufficient knowledge of it to enable them to study the institutions and laws of the country intelligently, I would not confer upon them the right to make such laws nor to select those who do. I append to this message, for convenient reference, a synopsis of administrative events and of all recommendations to Congress made by me during the last seven years. Time may show some of these recommendations not to have been wisely conceived, but I believe the larger part will do no discredit to the Administration. One of these recommendations met with the united opposition of one political party in the Senate and with a strong opposition from the other, namely, the treaty for the annexation of Santo Domingo to the United States, to which I will specially refer, maintaining, as I do, that if my views had been concurred in the country would be in a more prosperous condition to-day, both politically and financially. Santo Domingo is fertile, and upon its soil may be grown just those tropical products of which the United States use so much, and which are produced or prepared for market now by slave labor almost exclusively, namely, sugar, coffee, dyewoods, mahogany, tropical fruits, tobacco, etc. About 75 per cent of the exports of Cuba are consumed in the United States. A large percentage of the exports of Brazil also find the same market. These are paid for almost exclusively in coin, legislation, particularly in Cuba, being unfavorable to a mutual exchange of the products of each country. Flour shipped from the Mississippi River to Havana can pass by the very entrance to the city on its way to a port in Spain, there pay a duty fixed upon articles to be reexported, transferred to a Spanish vessel and brought back almost to the point of starting, paying a second duty, and still leave a profit over what would be received by direct shipment. All that is produced in Cuba could be produced in Santo Domingo. Being a part of the United States, commerce between the island and mainland would be free. There would be no export duties on her shipments nor import duties on those coming here. There would be no import duties upon the supplies, machinery, etc., going from the States. The effect that would have been produced upon Cuban commerce, with these advantages to a rival, is observable at a glance. The Cuban question would have been settled long ago in favor of "free Cuba." Hundreds of American vessels would now be advantageously used in transporting the valuable woods and other products of the soil of the island to a market and in carrying supplies and emigrants to it. The island is but sparsely settled, while it has an area sufficient for the profitable employment of several millions of people. The soil would have soon fallen into the hands of United States capitalists. The products are so valuable in commerce that emigration there would have been encouraged; the emancipated race of the South would have found there a congenial home, where their civil rights would not be disputed and where their labor would be so much sought after that the poorest among them could have found the means to go. Thus in cases of great oppression and cruelty, such as has been practiced upon them in many places within the last eleven years, whole communities would have sought refuge in Santo Domingo. I do not suppose the whole race would have gone, nor is it desirable that they should go. Their labor is desirable--indispensable almost--where they now are. But the possession of this territory would have left the negro "master of the situation," by enabling him to demand his rights at home on pain of finding them elsewhere. I do not present these views now as a recommendation for a renewal of the subject of annexation, but I do refer to it to vindicate my previous action in regard to it. With the present term of Congress my official life terminates. It is not probable that public affairs will ever again receive attention from me further than as a citizen of the Republic, always taking a deep interest in the honor, integrity, and prosperity of the whole land.
in submitting my eighth and last annual message to congress it seems proper that i should refer to and in some degree recapitulate the events and official acts of the past eight years it was my fortune or misfortune to be called to the office of chief executive without any previous political training from the age of 17 i had never even witnessed the excitement attending a presidential campaign but twice antecedent to my own candidacy and at but one of them was i eligible as a voter under such circumstances it is but reasonable to suppose that errors of judgment must have occurred even had they not differences of opinion between the executive bound by an oath to the strict performance of his duties and writers and debaters must have arisen it is not necessarily evidence of blunder on the part of the executive because there are these differences of views mistakes have been made as all can see and i admit but it seems to me oftener in the selections made of the assistants appointed to aid in carrying out the various duties of administering the government in nearly every case selected without a personal acquaintance with the appointee but upon recommendations of the representatives chosen directly by the people it is impossible where so many trusts are to be allotted that the right parties should be chosen in every instance history shows that no administration from the time of washington to the present has been free from these mistakes but i leave comparisons to history claiming only that i have acted in every instance from a conscientious desire to do what was right constitutional within the law and for the very best interests of the whole people failures have been errors of judgment not of intent my civil career commenced too at a most critical and difficult time less than four years before the country had emerged from a conflict such as no other nation had ever survived nearly of the states had revolted against the government and of those remaining faithful to the union a large percentage of the population sympathized with the rebellion and made an enemy in the rear almost as dangerous as the more honorable enemy in the front the latter committed errors of judgment but they maintained them openly and courageously the former received the protection of the government they would see destroyed and reaped all the pecuniary advantage to be gained out of the then existing state of affairs many of them by obtaining contracts and by swindling the government in the delivery of their goods immediately on the cessation of hostilities the then noble president who had carried the country so far through its perils fell a martyr to his patriotism at the hands of an assassin the intervening time to my first inauguration was filled up with wranglings between congress and the new executive as to the best mode of reconstruction or to speak plainly as to whether the control of the government should be thrown immediately into the hands of those who had so recently and persistently tried to destroy it or whether the victors should continue to have an equal voice with them in this control reconstruction as finally agreed upon means this and only this except that the late slave was enfranchised giving an increase as was supposed to the and votes if free in the full sense of the word they would not disappoint this expectation hence at the beginning of my first administration the work of reconstruction much embarrassed by the long delay virtually commenced it was the work of the legislative branch of the government my province was wholly in approving their acts which i did most heartily urging the legislatures of states that had not yet done so to ratify the fifteenth amendment to the constitution the country was laboring under an enormous debt contracted in the suppression of rebellion and taxation was so oppressive as to discourage production another danger also threatened us a foreign war the last difficulty had to be adjusted and was adjusted without a war and in a manner highly honorable to all parties concerned taxes have been reduced within the last seven years nearly and the national debt has been reduced in the same time over by refunding the 6 per cent bonded debt for bonds bearing 5 and 4 per cent interest respectively the annual interest has been reduced from over in 1869 to but little over in 1876 the balance of trade has been changed from over against the united states in 1869 to more than in our favor in 1876 it is confidently believed that the balance of trade in favor of the united states will increase not diminish and that the pledge of congress to resume specie payments in 1879 will be easily accomplished even in the absence of further legislation on the subject a policy has been adopted toward the indian tribes inhabiting a large portion of the territory of the united states which has been humane and has substantially ended indian hostilities in the whole land except in a portion of nebraska and dakota wyoming and montana territories the black hills region and approaches thereto hostilities there have grown out of the avarice of the white man who has violated our treaty stipulations in his search for gold the question might be asked why the government has not enforced obedience to the terms of the treaty prohibiting the occupation of the black hills region by whites the answer is simple the first immigrants to the black hills were removed by troops but rumors of rich discoveries of gold took into that region increased numbers gold has actually been found in paying quantity and an effort to remove the miners would only result in the desertion of the bulk of the troops that might be sent there to remove them all difficulty in this matter has however been removed subject to the approval of congress by a treaty ceding the black hills and approaches to settlement by citizens the subject of indian policy and treatment is so fully set forth by the secretary of the interior and the commissioner of indian affairs and my views so fully expressed therein that i refer to their reports and recommendations as my own the relations of the united states with foreign powers continue on a friendly footing questions have arisen from time to time in the foreign relations of the government but the united states have been happily free during the past year from the complications and embarrassments which have surrounded some of the foreign powers the diplomatic correspondence submitted herewith contains information as to certain of the matters which have occupied the government the cordiality which attends our relations with the powers of the earth has been plainly shown by the general participation of foreign nations in the exhibition which has just closed and by the exertions made by distant powers to show their interest in and friendly feelings toward the united states in the commemoration of the centennial of the nation the government and people of the united states have not only fully appreciated this exhibition of kindly feeling but it may be justly and fairly expected that no small benefits will result both to ourselves and other nations from a better acquaintance and a better appreciation of our mutual advantages and mutual wants congress at its last session saw fit to reduce the amount usually appropriated for foreign intercourse by withholding appropriations for representatives of the united states in certain foreign countries and for certain consular officers and by reducing the amounts usually appropriated for certain other diplomatic posts and thus necessitating a change in the grade of the representatives for these reasons immediately upon the passage of the bill making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service for the present fiscal year instructions were issued to the representatives of the united states at bolivia ecuador and colombia and to the consular officers for whom no appropriation had been made to close their respective legations and consulates and cease from the performance of their duties and in like manner steps were immediately taken to substitute charge for ministers resident in portugal denmark greece switzerland and paraguay while thoroughly impressed with the wisdom of sound economy in the foreign service as in other branches of the government i can not escape the conclusion that in some instances the withholding of appropriations will prove an expensive economy and that the small retrenchment secured by a change of grade in certain diplomatic posts is not an adequate consideration for the loss of influence and importance which will attend our foreign representatives under this reduction i am of the opinion that a reexamination of the subject will because a change in some instances in the conclusions reached on these subjects at the last session of congress the court of commissioners of alabama claims whose functions were continued by an act of the last session of congress until the 1st day of january 1877 has carried on its labors with diligence and general satisfaction by a report from the clerk of the court transmitted herewith bearing date november 14 1876 it appears that within the time now allowed by law the court will have disposed of all the claims presented for adjudication this report also contains a statement of the general results of the labors of the court to the date thereof it is a because of satisfaction that the method adopted for the satisfaction of the classes of claims submitted to the court which are of long standing and justly entitled to early consideration should have proved successful and acceptable it is with satisfaction that i am enabled to state that the work of the joint commission for determining the boundary line between the united states and british possessions from the northwest angle of the lake of the woods to the rocky mountains commenced in 1872 has been completed the final agreements of the commissioners with the maps have been duly signed and the work of the commission is complete the fixing of the boundary upon the pacific coast by the protocol of march 10 1873 pursuant to the award of the emperor of germany by article xxxiv of the treaty of washington with the termination of the work of this commission adjusts and fixes the entire boundary between the united states and the british possessions except as to the portion of territory ceded by russia to the united states under the treaty of 1867 the work intrusted to the commissioner and the officers of the army attached to the commission has been well and satisfactorily performed the original of the final agreement of the commissioners signed upon the 29th of may 1876 with the original official lists of astronomical stations observed the original official list of monuments marking the international boundary line and the maps records and general reports relating to the commission have been deposited in the department of state the official report of the commissioner on the part of the united states with the report of the chief astronomer of the united states will be submitted to congress within a short time i reserve for a separate communication to congress a statement of the condition of the questions which lately arose with great britain respecting the surrender of fugitive criminals under the treaty of 1842 the ottoman government gave notice under date of january 15 1874 of its desire to terminate the treaty of 1862 concerning commerce and navigation pursuant to the provisions of the article thereof under this notice the treaty terminated upon the 5th day of june 1876 that government has invited negotiations toward the conclusion of a new treaty by the act of congress of march 23 1874 the president was authorized when he should receive satisfactory information that the ottoman government or that of egypt had organized new tribunals likely to secure to citizens of the united states the same impartial justice enjoyed under the exercise of judicial functions by diplomatic and consular officers of the united states to suspend the operation of the act of june 22 1860 and to accept for citizens of the united states the jurisdiction of the new tribunals satisfactory information having been received of the organization of such new tribunals in egypt i caused a proclamation to be issued upon the 27th of march last suspending the operation of the act of june 22 1860 in egypt according to the provisions of the act a copy of the proclamation accompanies this message the united states has united with the other powers in the organization of these courts it is hoped that the jurisdictional questions which have arisen may be readily adjusted and that this advance in judicial reform may be hindered by no obstacles the necessary legislation to carry into effect the convention respecting commercial reciprocity concluded with the hawaiian islands in 1875 having been had the proclamation to carry into effect the convention as provided by the act approved august 15 1876 was duly issued upon the 9th day of september last a copy thereof accompanies this message the commotions which have been prevalent in mexico for some time past and which unhappily seem to be not yet wholly quieted have led to complaints of citizens of the united states of injuries by persons in authority it is hoped however that these will ultimately be adjusted to the satisfaction of both governments the frontier of the united states in that quarter has not been exempt from acts of violence by citizens of one republic on those of the other the frequency of these is supposed to be increased and their adjustment made more difficult by the considerable changes in the course of the lower part of the rio grande river which river is a part of the boundary between the two countries these changes have placed on either side of that river portions of land which by existing conventions belong to the jurisdiction of the government on the opposite side of the river the subject of adjustment of this because of difficulty is under consideration between the two republics the government of the united states of colombia has paid the award in the case of the steamer montijo seized by authorities of that government some years since and the amount has been transferred to the claimants it is with satisfaction that i am able to announce that the joint commission for the adjustment of claims between the united states and mexico under the convention of 1868 the duration of which has been several times extended has brought its labors to a close from the report of the agent of the united states which accompanies the papers transmitted herewith it will be seen that within the time limited by the commission claims on the part of citizens of the united states against mexico were referred to the commission of these claims 831 were dismissed or disallowed and in 186 cases awards were made in favor of the claimants against the mexican republic amounting in the aggregate to within the same period 998 claims on the part of citizens of the mexican republic against the united states were referred to the commission of these claims 831 were dismissed or disallowed and in 167 cases awards were made in favor of the claimants against the united states amounting in the aggregate to by the terms of the convention the amount of these awards is to be deducted from the amount awarded in favor of our citizens against mexico and the balance only to be paid by mexico to the united states leaving the united states to make provision for this proportion of the awards in favor of its own citizens i invite your attention to the legislation which will be necessary to provide for the payment in this connection i am pleased to be able to express the acknowledgments due to sir edward thornton the umpire of the commission who has given to the consideration of the large number of claims submitted to him much time unwearied patience and that firmness and intelligence which are well known to belong to the accomplished representative of great britain and which are likewise recognized by the representative in this country of the republic of mexico monthly payments of a very small part of the amount due by the government of venezuela to citizens of the united states on account of claims of the latter against that government continue to be made with reasonable punctuality that government has proposed to change the system which it has hitherto pursued in this respect by issuing bonds for part of the amount of the several claims the proposition however could not it is supposed properly be accepted at least without the consent of the holders of certificates of the indebtedness of venezuela these are so much dispersed that it would be difficult if not impossible to ascertain their disposition on the subject in former messages i have called the attention of congress to the necessity of legislation with regard to fraudulent naturalization and to the subject of expatriation and the election of nationality the numbers of persons of foreign birth seeking a home in the united states the ease and facility with which the honest emigrant may after the lapse of a reasonable time become possessed of all the privileges of citizenship of the united states and the frequent occasions which induce such adopted citizens to return to the country of their birth render the subject of naturalization and the safeguards which experience has proved necessary for the protection of the honest naturalized citizen of paramount importance the very simplicity in the requirements of law on this question affords opportunity for fraud and the want of uniformity in the proceedings and records of the various courts and in the forms of the certificates of naturalization issued affords a constant source of difficulty i suggest no additional requirements to the acquisition of citizenship beyond those now existing but i invite the earnest attention of congress to the necessity and wisdom of some provisions regarding uniformity in the records and certificates and providing against the frauds which frequently take place and for the vacating of a record of naturalization obtained in fraud these provisions are needed in aid and for the protection of the honest citizen of foreign birth and for the want of which he is made to suffer not infrequently the united states has insisted upon the right of expatriation and has obtained after a long struggle an admission of the principle contended for by acquiescence therein on the part of many foreign powers and by the conclusion of treaties on that subject it is however but justice to the government to which such naturalized citizens have formerly owed allegiance as well as to the united states that certain fixed and definite rules should be adopted governing such cases and providing how expatriation may be accomplished while emigrants in large numbers become citizens of the united states it is also true that persons both native born and naturalized once citizens of the united states either by formal acts or as the effect of a series of facts and circumstances abandon their citizenship and cease to be entitled to the protection of the united states but continue on convenient occasions to assert a claim to protection in the absence of provisions on these questions and in this connection i again invite your attention to the necessity of legislation concerning the marriages of american citizens contracted abroad and concerning the status of american women who may marry foreigners and of children born of american parents in a foreign country the delicate and complicated questions continually occurring with reference to naturalization expatriation and the status of such persons as i have above referred to induce me to earnestly direct your attention again to these subjects in like manner i repeat my recommendation that some means be provided for the hearing and determination of the just and subsisting claims of aliens upon the government of the united states within a reasonable limitation and of such as may hereafter arise while by existing provisions of law the court of claims may in certain cases be resorted to by an alien claimant the absence of any general provisions governing all such cases and the want of a tribunal skilled in the disposition of such cases upon recognized fixed and settled principles either provides no remedy in many deserving cases or compels a consideration of such claims by congress or the executive department of the government it is believed that other governments are in advance of the united states upon this question and that the practice now adopted is entirely unsatisfactory congress by an act approved the 3d day of march 1875 authorized the inhabitants of the territory of colorado to form a state government with the name of the state of colorado and therein provided for the admission of said state when formed into the union upon an equal footing with the original states a constitution having been adopted and ratified by the people of that state and the acting governor having certified to me the facts as provided by said act together with a copy of such constitution and ordinances as provided for in the said act and the provisions of the said act of congress having been duly complied with i issued a proclamation upon the 1st of august 1876 a copy of which is hereto annexed the report of the secretary of war shows that the army has been actively employed during the year in subduing at the request of the indian bureau certain wild bands of the sioux indian nation and in preserving the peace at the south during the election the commission constituted under the act of july 24 1876 to consider and report on the whole subject of the reform and reorganization of the army met in august last and has collected a large mass of statistics and opinions bearing on the subject before it these are now under consideration and their report is progressing i am advised though by the president of the commission that it will be impracticable to comply with the clause of the act requiring the report to be presented through me to congress on the first day of this session as there has not yet been time for that mature deliberation which the importance of the subject demands therefore i ask that the time of making the report be extended to the 29th day of january 1877 in accordance with the resolution of august 15 1876 the army regulations prepared under the act of march 1 1875 have not been promulgated but are held until after the report of the commission shall have been received and acted on by the act of august 15 1876 the cavalry force of the army was increased by men with the proviso that they should be discharged on the expiration of hostilities under this authority the cavalry regiments have been strengthened and a portion of them are now in the field pursuing the remnants of the indians with whom they have been engaged during the summer the estimates of the war department are made up on the basis of the number of men authorized by law and their requirements as shown by years of experience and also with the purpose on the part of the bureau officers to provide for all contingencies that may arise during the time for which the estimates are made exclusive of engineer estimates presented in accordance with acts of congress calling for surveys and estimates for improvements at various localities the estimates now presented are about six millions in excess of the appropriations for the years and this increase is asked in order to provide for the increased cavalry force should their services be necessary to prosecute economically work upon important public buildings to provide for armament of fortifications and manufacture of small arms and to replenish the working stock in the supply departments the appropriations for these last named have for the past few years been so limited that the accumulations in store will be entirely exhausted during the present year and it will be necessary to at once begin to replenish them i invite your special attention to the following recommendations of the secretary of war first that the claims under the act of july 4 1864 for supplies taken by the army during the war be removed from the offices of the quartermaster and commissary generals and transferred to the southern claims commission these claims are of precisely similar nature to those now before the southern claims commission and the war department bureaus have not the clerical force for their examination nor proper machinery for investigating the loyalty of the claimants second that congress sanction the scheme of an annuity fund for the benefit of the families of deceased officers and that it also provide for the permanent organization of the signal service both of which were recommended in my last annual message third that the manufacturing operations of the ordnance department be concentrated at three arsenals and an armory and that the remaining arsenals be sold and the proceeds applied to this object by the ordnance department the appropriations for river and harbor improvements for the current year were with my approval the secretary of war directed that of this amount should be expended and no new works should be begun and none prosecuted which were not of national importance subsequently this amount was increased to and the works are now progressing on this basis the improvement of the south pass of the mississippi river under james eads and his associates is progressing favorably at the present time there is a channel of feet in depth between the jetties at the mouth of the pass and feet at the head of the pass neither channel however has the width required before payments can be made by the united states a commission of engineer officers is now examining these works and their reports will be presented as soon as received the report of the secretary of the navy shows that branch of the service to be in condition as effective as it is possible to keep it with the means and authority given the department it is of course not possible to rival the costly and progressive establishments of great european powers with the old material of our navy to which no increase has been authorized since the war except the eight small cruisers built to supply the place of others which had gone to decay yet the most has been done that was possible with the means at command and by substantially rebuilding some of our old ships with durable material and completely repairing and refitting our monitor fleet the navy has been gradually so brought up that though it does not maintain its relative position among the progressive navies of the world it is now in a condition more powerful and effective than it ever has been in time of peace the complete repairs of our five heavy ironclads are only delayed on account of the inadequacy of the appropriations made last year for the working bureaus of the department which were actually less in amount than those made before the war notwithstanding the greatly enhanced price of labor and materials and the increase in the cost of the naval service growing out of the universal use and great expense of steam machinery the money necessary for these repairs should be provided at once that they may be completed without further unnecessary delay and expense when this is done all the strength that there is in our navy will be developed and useful to its full capacity and it will be powerful for purposes of defense and also for offensive action should the necessity for that arise within a reasonable distance from our shores the fact that our navy is not more modern and powerful than it is has been made a because of complaint against the secretary of the navy by persons who at the same time criticise and complain of his endeavors to bring the navy that we have to its best and most efficient condition but the good sense of the country will understand that it is really due to his practical action that we have at this time any effective naval force at command the report of the shows the excess of expenditures excluding expenditures on account of previous years over receipts for the fiscal year ended june 30 1876 to be estimated expenditures for the fiscal year ending june 30 1878 are estimated revenue for same period is leaving estimated excess of expenditure to be appropriated as a deficiency of the like his predecessor is convinced that a change in the basis of adjusting the salaries of postmasters of the fourth class is necessary for the good of the service as well as for the interests of the government and urgently recommends that the compensation of the class of postmasters above mentioned be based upon the business of their respective offices as ascertained from the sworn returns to the auditor of stamps canceled a few postmasters in the southern states have expressed great apprehension of their personal safety on account of their connection with the postal service and have specially requested that their reports of apprehended danger should not be made public lest it should result in the loss of their lives but no positive testimony of interference has been submitted except in the case of a mail messenger at spartanburg in south carolina who reported that he had been violently driven away while in charge of the mails on account of his political affiliations an assistant superintendent of the railway mail service investigated this case and reported that the messenger had disappeared from his post leaving his work to be performed by a substitute the thinks this case is sufficiently suggestive to justify him in recommending that a more severe punishment should be provided for the offense of assaulting any person in charge of the mails or of retarding or otherwise obstructing them by threats of personal injury a very gratifying result is presented in the fact that the deficiency of this department during the last fiscal year was reduced to as against of the preceding year the difference can be traced to the large increase in its ordinary receipts which greatly exceed the estimates therefor and a slight decrease in its expenditures the ordinary receipts of the department for the past seven fiscal years have increased at an average of over 8 per cent per annum while the increase of expenditures for the same period has been but about per cent per annum and the decrease of deficiency in the revenues has been at the rate of nearly 2 per cent per annum the report of the commissioner of agriculture accompanying this message will be found one of great interest marking as it does the great progress of the last century in the variety of products of the soil increased knowledge and skill in the labor of producing saving and manipulating the same to prepare them for the use of man in the improvements in machinery to aid the agriculturist in his labors and in a knowledge of those scientific subjects necessary to a thorough system of economy in agricultural production namely chemistry botany entomology etc a study of this report by those interested in agriculture and deriving their support from it will find it of value in pointing out those articles which are raised in greater quantity than the needs of the world require and must sell therefore for less than the cost of production and those which command a profit over cost of production because there is not an overproduction i call special attention to the need of the department for a new gallery for the reception of the exhibits returned from the centennial exhibition including the exhibits donated by very many foreign nations and to the recommendations of the commissioner of agriculture generally the reports of the district commissioners and the board of health are just received too late to read them and to make recommendations thereon and are herewith submitted the international exhibition held in philadelphia this year in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of american independence has proven a great success and will no doubt be of enduring advantage to the country it has shown the great progress in the arts sciences and mechanical skill made in a single century and demonstrated that we are but little behind older nations in any one branch while in some we scarcely have a rival it has served too not only to bring peoples and products of skill and labor from all parts of the world together but in bringing together people from all sections of our own country which must prove a great benefit in the information imparted and pride of country engendered it has been suggested by scientists interested in and connected with the smithsonian institution in a communication herewith that the government exhibit be removed to the capital and a suitable building be erected or purchased for its accommodation as a permanent exhibit i earnestly recommend this and believing that congress would second this view i directed that all government exhibits at the centennial exhibition should remain where they are except such as might be injured by remaining in a building not intended as a protection in inclement weather or such as may be wanted by the department furnishing them until the question of permanent exhibition is acted on although the moneys appropriated by congress to enable the participation of the several executive departments in the international exhibition of 1876 were not sufficient to carry out the undertaking to the full extent at first contemplated it gives me pleasure to refer to the very efficient and creditable manner in which the board appointed from these several departments to provide an exhibition on the part of the government have discharged their duties with the funds placed at their command without a precedent to guide them in the preparation of such a display the success of their labors was amply attested by the sustained attention which the contents of the government building attracted during the period of the exhibition from both foreign and native visitors i am strongly impressed with the value of the collection made by the government for the purposes of the exhibition illustrating as it does the mineral resources of the country the statistical and practical evidences of our growth as a nation and the uses of the mechanical arts and the applications of applied science in the administration of the affairs of government many nations have voluntarily contributed their exhibits to the united states to increase the interest in any permanent exhibition congress may provide for for this act of generosity they should receive the thanks of the people and i respectfully suggest that a resolution of congress to that effect be adopted the attention of congress can not be too earnestly called to the necessity of throwing some greater safeguard over the method of choosing and declaring the election of a president under the present system there seems to be no provided remedy for contesting the election in any one state the remedy is partially no doubt in the enlightenment of electors the compulsory support of the free school and the disfranchisement of all who can not read and write the english language after a fixed probation would meet my hearty approval i would not make this apply however to those already voters but i would to all becoming so after the expiration of the probation fixed upon foreigners coming to this country to become citizens who are educated in their own language should acquire the requisite knowledge of ours during the necessary residence to obtain naturalization if they did not take interest enough in our language to acquire sufficient knowledge of it to enable them to study the institutions and laws of the country intelligently i would not confer upon them the right to make such laws nor to select those who do i append to this message for convenient reference a synopsis of administrative events and of all recommendations to congress made by me during the last seven years time may show some of these recommendations not to have been wisely conceived but i believe the larger part will do no discredit to the administration one of these recommendations met with the united opposition of one political party in the senate and with a strong opposition from the other namely the treaty for the annexation of santo domingo to the united states to which i will specially refer maintaining as i do that if my views had been concurred in the country would be in a more prosperous condition both politically and financially santo domingo is fertile and upon its soil may be grown just those tropical products of which the united states use so much and which are produced or prepared for market now by slave labor almost exclusively namely sugar coffee dyewoods mahogany tropical fruits tobacco etc about 75 per cent of the exports of cuba are consumed in the united states a large percentage of the exports of brazil also find the same market these are paid for almost exclusively in coin legislation particularly in cuba being unfavorable to a mutual exchange of the products of each country flour shipped from the mississippi river to havana can pass by the very entrance to the city on its way to a port in spain there pay a duty fixed upon articles to be reexported transferred to a spanish vessel and brought back almost to the point of starting paying a second duty and still leave a profit over what would be received by direct shipment all that is produced in cuba could be produced in santo domingo being a part of the united states commerce between the island and mainland would be free there would be no export duties on her shipments nor import duties on those coming here there would be no import duties upon the supplies machinery going from the states the effect that would have been produced upon cuban commerce with these advantages to a rival is observable at a glance the cuban question would have been settled long ago in favor of free cuba hundreds of american vessels would now be advantageously used in transporting the valuable woods and other products of the soil of the island to a market and in carrying supplies and emigrants to it the island is but sparsely settled while it has an area sufficient for the profitable employment of several millions of people the soil would have soon fallen into the hands of united states capitalists the products are so valuable in commerce that emigration there would have been encouraged the emancipated race of the south would have found there a congenial home where their civil rights would not be disputed and where their labor would be so much sought after that the poorest among them could have found the means to go thus in cases of great oppression and cruelty such as has been practiced upon them in many places within the last eleven years whole communities would have sought refuge in santo domingo i do not suppose the whole race would have gone nor is it desirable that they should go their labor is desirable indispensable almost where they now are but the possession of this territory would have left the negro master of the situation by enabling him to demand his rights at home on pain of finding them elsewhere i do not present these views now as a recommendation for a renewal of the subject of annexation but i do refer to it to vindicate my previous action in regard to it with the present term of congress my official life terminates it is not probable that public affairs will ever again receive attention from me further than as a citizen of the republic always taking a deep interest in the honor integrity and prosperity of the whole land
submitting eighth last annual message congress seems proper refer degree recapitulate events official acts past eight years fortune misfortune called office chief executive without previous political training age 17 never even witnessed excitement attending presidential campaign twice antecedent candidacy one eligible voter circumstances reasonable suppose errors judgment must occurred even differences opinion executive bound oath strict performance duties writers debaters must arisen necessarily evidence blunder part executive differences views mistakes made see admit seems oftener selections made assistants appointed aid carrying various duties administering government nearly every case selected without personal acquaintance appointee upon recommendations representatives chosen directly people impossible many trusts allotted right parties chosen every instance history shows administration time washington present free mistakes leave comparisons history claiming acted every instance conscientious desire right constitutional within law best interests whole people failures errors judgment intent civil career commenced critical difficult time less four years country emerged conflict nation ever survived nearly states revolted government remaining faithful union large percentage population sympathized rebellion made enemy rear almost dangerous honorable enemy front latter committed errors judgment maintained openly courageously former received protection government would see destroyed reaped pecuniary advantage gained existing state affairs many obtaining contracts swindling government delivery goods immediately cessation hostilities noble president carried country far perils fell martyr patriotism hands assassin intervening time first inauguration filled wranglings congress new executive best mode reconstruction speak plainly whether control government thrown immediately hands recently persistently tried destroy whether victors continue equal voice control reconstruction finally agreed upon means except late slave enfranchised giving increase supposed votes free full sense word would disappoint expectation hence beginning first administration work reconstruction much embarrassed long delay virtually commenced work legislative branch government province wholly approving acts heartily urging legislatures states yet done ratify fifteenth amendment constitution country laboring enormous debt contracted suppression rebellion taxation oppressive discourage production another danger also threatened us foreign war last difficulty adjusted adjusted without war manner highly honorable parties concerned taxes reduced within last seven years nearly national debt reduced time refunding 6 per cent bonded debt bonds bearing 5 4 per cent interest respectively annual interest reduced 1869 little 1876 balance trade changed united states 1869 favor 1876 confidently believed balance trade favor united states increase diminish pledge congress resume specie payments 1879 easily accomplished even absence legislation subject policy adopted toward indian tribes inhabiting large portion territory united states humane substantially ended indian hostilities whole land except portion nebraska dakota wyoming montana territories black hills region approaches thereto hostilities grown avarice white man violated treaty stipulations search gold question might asked government enforced obedience terms treaty prohibiting occupation black hills region whites answer simple first immigrants black hills removed troops rumors rich discoveries gold took region increased numbers gold actually found paying quantity effort remove miners would result desertion bulk troops might sent remove difficulty matter however removed subject approval congress treaty ceding black hills approaches settlement citizens subject indian policy treatment fully set forth secretary interior commissioner indian affairs views fully expressed therein refer reports recommendations relations united states foreign powers continue friendly footing questions arisen time time foreign relations government united states happily free past year complications embarrassments surrounded foreign powers diplomatic correspondence submitted herewith contains information certain matters occupied government cordiality attends relations powers earth plainly shown general participation foreign nations exhibition closed exertions made distant powers show interest friendly feelings toward united states commemoration centennial nation government people united states fully appreciated exhibition kindly feeling may justly fairly expected small benefits result nations better acquaintance better appreciation mutual advantages mutual wants congress last session saw fit reduce amount usually appropriated foreign intercourse withholding appropriations representatives united states certain foreign countries certain consular officers reducing amounts usually appropriated certain diplomatic posts thus necessitating change grade representatives reasons immediately upon passage bill making appropriations diplomatic consular service present fiscal year instructions issued representatives united states bolivia ecuador colombia consular officers appropriation made close respective legations consulates cease performance duties like manner steps immediately taken substitute charge ministers resident portugal denmark greece switzerland paraguay thoroughly impressed wisdom sound economy foreign service branches government escape conclusion instances withholding appropriations prove expensive economy small retrenchment secured change grade certain diplomatic posts adequate consideration loss influence importance attend foreign representatives reduction opinion reexamination subject change instances conclusions reached subjects last session congress court commissioners alabama claims whose functions continued act last session congress 1st day january 1877 carried labors diligence general satisfaction report clerk court transmitted herewith bearing date november 14 1876 appears within time allowed law court disposed claims presented adjudication report also contains statement general results labors court date thereof satisfaction method adopted satisfaction classes claims submitted court long standing justly entitled early consideration proved successful acceptable satisfaction enabled state work joint commission determining boundary line united states british possessions northwest angle lake woods rocky mountains commenced 1872 completed final agreements commissioners maps duly signed work commission complete fixing boundary upon pacific coast protocol march 10 1873 pursuant award emperor germany article xxxiv treaty washington termination work commission adjusts fixes entire boundary united states british possessions except portion territory ceded russia united states treaty 1867 work intrusted commissioner officers army attached commission well satisfactorily performed original final agreement commissioners signed upon 29th may 1876 original official lists astronomical stations observed original official list monuments marking international boundary line maps records general reports relating commission deposited department state official report commissioner part united states report chief astronomer united states submitted congress within short time reserve separate communication congress statement condition questions lately arose great britain respecting surrender fugitive criminals treaty 1842 ottoman government gave notice date january 15 1874 desire terminate treaty 1862 concerning commerce navigation pursuant provisions article thereof notice treaty terminated upon 5th day june 1876 government invited negotiations toward conclusion new treaty act congress march 23 1874 president authorized receive satisfactory information ottoman government egypt organized new tribunals likely secure citizens united states impartial justice enjoyed exercise judicial functions diplomatic consular officers united states suspend operation act june 22 1860 accept citizens united states jurisdiction new tribunals satisfactory information received organization new tribunals egypt caused proclamation issued upon 27th march last suspending operation act june 22 1860 egypt according provisions act copy proclamation accompanies message united states united powers organization courts hoped jurisdictional questions arisen may readily adjusted advance judicial reform may hindered obstacles necessary legislation carry effect convention respecting commercial reciprocity concluded hawaiian islands 1875 proclamation carry effect convention provided act approved august 15 1876 duly issued upon 9th day september last copy thereof accompanies message commotions prevalent mexico time past unhappily seem yet wholly quieted led complaints citizens united states injuries persons authority hoped however ultimately adjusted satisfaction governments frontier united states quarter exempt acts violence citizens one republic frequency supposed increased adjustment made difficult considerable changes course lower part rio grande river river part boundary two countries changes placed either side river portions land existing conventions belong jurisdiction government opposite side river subject adjustment difficulty consideration two republics government united states colombia paid award case steamer montijo seized authorities government years since amount transferred claimants satisfaction able announce joint commission adjustment claims united states mexico convention 1868 duration several times extended brought labors close report agent united states accompanies papers transmitted herewith seen within time limited commission claims part citizens united states mexico referred commission claims 831 dismissed disallowed 186 cases awards made favor claimants mexican republic amounting aggregate within period 998 claims part citizens mexican republic united states referred commission claims 831 dismissed disallowed 167 cases awards made favor claimants united states amounting aggregate terms convention amount awards deducted amount awarded favor citizens mexico balance paid mexico united states leaving united states make provision proportion awards favor citizens invite attention legislation necessary provide payment connection pleased able express acknowledgments due sir edward thornton umpire commission given consideration large number claims submitted much time unwearied patience firmness intelligence well known belong accomplished representative great britain likewise recognized representative country republic mexico monthly payments small part amount due government venezuela citizens united states account claims latter government continue made reasonable punctuality government proposed change system hitherto pursued respect issuing bonds part amount several claims proposition however could supposed properly accepted least without consent holders certificates indebtedness venezuela much dispersed would difficult impossible ascertain disposition subject former messages called attention congress necessity legislation regard fraudulent naturalization subject expatriation election nationality numbers persons foreign birth seeking home united states ease facility honest emigrant may lapse reasonable time become possessed privileges citizenship united states frequent occasions induce adopted citizens return country birth render subject naturalization safeguards experience proved necessary protection honest naturalized citizen paramount importance simplicity requirements law question affords opportunity fraud want uniformity proceedings records various courts forms certificates naturalization issued affords constant source difficulty suggest additional requirements acquisition citizenship beyond existing invite earnest attention congress necessity wisdom provisions regarding uniformity records certificates providing frauds frequently take place vacating record naturalization obtained fraud provisions needed aid protection honest citizen foreign birth want made suffer infrequently united states insisted upon right expatriation obtained long struggle admission principle contended acquiescence therein part many foreign powers conclusion treaties subject however justice government naturalized citizens formerly owed allegiance well united states certain fixed definite rules adopted governing cases providing expatriation may accomplished emigrants large numbers become citizens united states also true persons native born naturalized citizens united states either formal acts effect series facts circumstances abandon citizenship cease entitled protection united states continue convenient occasions assert claim protection absence provisions questions connection invite attention necessity legislation concerning marriages american citizens contracted abroad concerning status american women may marry foreigners children born american parents foreign country delicate complicated questions continually occurring reference naturalization expatriation status persons referred induce earnestly direct attention subjects like manner repeat recommendation means provided hearing determination subsisting claims aliens upon government united states within reasonable limitation may hereafter arise existing provisions law court claims may certain cases resorted alien claimant absence general provisions governing cases want tribunal skilled disposition cases upon recognized fixed settled principles either provides remedy many deserving cases compels consideration claims congress executive department government believed governments advance united states upon question practice adopted entirely unsatisfactory congress act approved 3d day march 1875 authorized inhabitants territory colorado form state government name state colorado therein provided admission said state formed union upon equal footing original states constitution adopted ratified people state acting governor certified facts provided said act together copy constitution ordinances provided said act provisions said act congress duly complied issued proclamation upon 1st august 1876 copy hereto annexed report secretary war shows army actively employed year subduing request indian bureau certain wild bands sioux indian nation preserving peace south election commission constituted act july 24 1876 consider report whole subject reform reorganization army met august last collected large mass statistics opinions bearing subject consideration report progressing advised though president commission impracticable comply clause act requiring report presented congress first day session yet time mature deliberation importance subject demands therefore ask time making report extended 29th day january 1877 accordance resolution august 15 1876 army regulations prepared act march 1 1875 promulgated held report commission shall received acted act august 15 1876 cavalry force army increased men proviso discharged expiration hostilities authority cavalry regiments strengthened portion field pursuing remnants indians engaged summer estimates war department made basis number men authorized law requirements shown years experience also purpose part bureau officers provide contingencies may arise time estimates made exclusive engineer estimates presented accordance acts congress calling surveys estimates improvements various localities estimates presented six millions excess appropriations years increase asked order provide increased cavalry force services necessary prosecute economically work upon important public buildings provide armament fortifications manufacture small arms replenish working stock supply departments appropriations last named past years limited accumulations store entirely exhausted present year necessary begin replenish invite special attention following recommendations secretary war first claims act july 4 1864 supplies taken army war removed offices quartermaster commissary generals transferred southern claims commission claims precisely similar nature southern claims commission war department bureaus clerical force examination proper machinery investigating loyalty claimants second congress sanction scheme annuity fund benefit families deceased officers also provide permanent organization signal service recommended last annual message third manufacturing operations ordnance department concentrated three arsenals armory remaining arsenals sold proceeds applied object ordnance department appropriations river harbor improvements current year approval secretary war directed amount expended new works begun none prosecuted national importance subsequently amount increased works progressing basis improvement south pass mississippi river james eads associates progressing favorably present time channel feet depth jetties mouth pass feet head pass neither channel however width required payments made united states commission engineer officers examining works reports presented soon received report secretary navy shows branch service condition effective possible keep means authority given department course possible rival costly progressive establishments great european powers old material navy increase authorized since war except eight small cruisers built supply place others gone decay yet done possible means command substantially rebuilding old ships durable material completely repairing refitting monitor fleet navy gradually brought though maintain relative position among progressive navies world condition powerful effective ever time peace complete repairs five heavy ironclads delayed account inadequacy appropriations made last year working bureaus department actually less amount made war notwithstanding greatly enhanced price labor materials increase cost naval service growing universal use great expense steam machinery money necessary repairs provided may completed without unnecessary delay expense done strength navy developed useful full capacity powerful purposes defense also offensive action necessity arise within reasonable distance shores fact navy modern powerful made complaint secretary navy persons time criticise complain endeavors bring navy best efficient condition good sense country understand really due practical action time effective naval force command report shows excess expenditures excluding expenditures account previous years receipts fiscal year ended june 30 1876 estimated expenditures fiscal year ending june 30 1878 estimated revenue period leaving estimated excess expenditure appropriated deficiency like predecessor convinced change basis adjusting salaries postmasters fourth class necessary good service well interests government urgently recommends compensation class postmasters mentioned based upon business respective offices ascertained sworn returns auditor stamps canceled postmasters southern states expressed great apprehension personal safety account connection postal service specially requested reports apprehended danger made public lest result loss lives positive testimony interference submitted except case mail messenger spartanburg south carolina reported violently driven away charge mails account political affiliations assistant superintendent railway mail service investigated case reported messenger disappeared post leaving work performed substitute thinks case sufficiently suggestive justify recommending severe punishment provided offense assaulting person charge mails retarding otherwise obstructing threats personal injury gratifying result presented fact deficiency department last fiscal year reduced preceding year difference traced large increase ordinary receipts greatly exceed estimates therefor slight decrease expenditures ordinary receipts department past seven fiscal years increased average 8 per cent per annum increase expenditures period per cent per annum decrease deficiency revenues rate nearly 2 per cent per annum report commissioner agriculture accompanying message found one great interest marking great progress last century variety products soil increased knowledge skill labor producing saving manipulating prepare use man improvements machinery aid agriculturist labors knowledge scientific subjects necessary thorough system economy agricultural production namely chemistry botany entomology etc study report interested agriculture deriving support find value pointing articles raised greater quantity needs world require must sell therefore less cost production command profit cost production overproduction call special attention need department new gallery reception exhibits returned centennial exhibition including exhibits donated many foreign nations recommendations commissioner agriculture generally reports district commissioners board health received late read make recommendations thereon herewith submitted international exhibition held philadelphia year commemoration one hundredth anniversary american independence proven great success doubt enduring advantage country shown great progress arts sciences mechanical skill made single century demonstrated little behind older nations one branch scarcely rival served bring peoples products skill labor parts world together bringing together people sections country must prove great benefit information imparted pride country engendered suggested scientists interested connected smithsonian institution communication herewith government exhibit removed capital suitable building erected purchased accommodation permanent exhibit earnestly recommend believing congress would second view directed government exhibits centennial exhibition remain except might injured remaining building intended protection inclement weather may wanted department furnishing question permanent exhibition acted although moneys appropriated congress enable participation several executive departments international exhibition 1876 sufficient carry undertaking full extent first contemplated gives pleasure refer efficient creditable manner board appointed several departments provide exhibition part government discharged duties funds placed command without precedent guide preparation display success labors amply attested sustained attention contents government building attracted period exhibition foreign native visitors strongly impressed value collection made government purposes exhibition illustrating mineral resources country statistical practical evidences growth nation uses mechanical arts applications applied science administration affairs government many nations voluntarily contributed exhibits united states increase interest permanent exhibition congress may provide act generosity receive thanks people respectfully suggest resolution congress effect adopted attention congress earnestly called necessity throwing greater safeguard method choosing declaring election president present system seems provided remedy contesting election one state remedy partially doubt enlightenment electors compulsory support free school disfranchisement read write english language fixed probation would meet hearty approval would make apply however already voters would becoming expiration probation fixed upon foreigners coming country become citizens educated language acquire requisite knowledge necessary residence obtain naturalization take interest enough language acquire sufficient knowledge enable study institutions laws country intelligently would confer upon right make laws select append message convenient reference synopsis administrative events recommendations congress made last seven years time may show recommendations wisely conceived believe larger part discredit administration one recommendations met united opposition one political party senate strong opposition namely treaty annexation santo domingo united states specially refer maintaining views concurred country would prosperous condition politically financially santo domingo fertile upon soil may grown tropical products united states use much produced prepared market slave labor almost exclusively namely sugar coffee dyewoods mahogany tropical fruits tobacco etc 75 per cent exports cuba consumed united states large percentage exports brazil also find market paid almost exclusively coin legislation particularly cuba unfavorable mutual exchange products country flour shipped mississippi river havana pass entrance city way port spain pay duty fixed upon articles reexported transferred spanish vessel brought back almost point starting paying second duty still leave profit would received direct shipment produced cuba could produced santo domingo part united states commerce island mainland would free would export duties shipments import duties coming would import duties upon supplies machinery going states effect would produced upon cuban commerce advantages rival observable glance cuban question would settled long ago favor free cuba hundreds american vessels would advantageously used transporting valuable woods products soil island market carrying supplies emigrants island sparsely settled area sufficient profitable employment several millions people soil would soon fallen hands united states capitalists products valuable commerce emigration would encouraged emancipated race south would found congenial home civil rights would disputed labor would much sought poorest among could found means go thus cases great oppression cruelty practiced upon many places within last eleven years whole communities would sought refuge santo domingo suppose whole race would gone desirable go labor desirable indispensable almost possession territory would left negro master situation enabling demand rights home pain finding elsewhere present views recommendation renewal subject annexation refer vindicate previous action regard present term congress official life terminates probable public affairs ever receive attention citizen republic always taking deep interest honor integrity prosperity whole land
submit eighth last annual message congress seem proper refer degree recapitulate event official act past eight year fortune misfortune call office chief executive without previous political training age 17 never even witness excitement attend presidential campaign twice antecedent candidacy one eligible voter circumstance reasonable suppose error judgment must occur even difference opinion executive bound oath strict performance duty writers debater must arise necessarily evidence blunder part executive difference view mistake make see admit seem oftener selection make assistant appoint aid carry various duty administer government nearly every case select without personal acquaintance appointee upon recommendation representative choose directly people impossible many trust allot right party choose every instance history show administration time washington present free mistake leave comparison history claiming act every instance conscientious desire right constitutional within law best interest whole people failure error judgment intent civil career commence critical difficult time less four year country emerge conflict nation ever survive nearly state revolted government remain faithful union large percentage population sympathize rebellion make enemy rear almost dangerous honorable enemy front latter committed error judgment maintain openly courageously former receive protection government would see destroyed reap pecuniary advantage gain exist state affair many obtain contract swindle government delivery good immediately cessation hostility noble president carry country far peril fell martyr patriotism hand assassin intervene time first inauguration fill wrangling congress new executive best mode reconstruction speak plainly whether control government thrown immediately hand recently persistently try destroy whether victor continue equal voice control reconstruction finally agree upon mean except late slave enfranchise give increase suppose vote free full sense word would disappoint expectation hence begin first administration work reconstruction much embarrass long delay virtually commence work legislative branch government province wholly approve act heartily urge legislature state yet do ratify fifteenth amendment constitution country labor enormous debt contract suppression rebellion taxation oppressive discourage production another danger also threaten u foreign war last difficulty adjust adjust without war manner highly honorable party concern tax reduce within last seven year nearly national debt reduce time refund 6 per cent bond debt bond bear 5 4 per cent interest respectively annual interest reduce 1869 little 1876 balance trade change united state 1869 favor 1876 confidently believe balance trade favor united state increase diminish pledge congress resume specie payment 1879 easily accomplish even absence legislation subject policy adopt toward indian tribe inhabit large portion territory united state humane substantially end indian hostility whole land except portion nebraska dakota wyoming montana territory black hill region approach thereto hostility grow avarice white man violate treaty stipulation search gold question might ask government enforce obedience term treaty prohibit occupation black hill region white answer simple first immigrant black hill remove troops rumor rich discovery gold take region increase number gold actually find pay quantity effort remove miner would result desertion bulk troop might send remove difficulty matter however remove subject approval congress treaty cede black hill approach settlement citizen subject indian policy treatment fully set forth secretary interior commissioner indian affair view fully express therein refer report recommendation relation united state foreign power continue friendly footing question arisen time time foreign relation government unite state happily free past year complication embarrassment surround foreign power diplomatic correspondence submit herewith contains information certain matter occupied government cordiality attend relation power earth plainly show general participation foreign nation exhibition close exertion make distant power show interest friendly feeling toward united state commemoration centennial nation government people united state fully appreciate exhibition kindly feel may justly fairly expect small benefit result nation good acquaintance well appreciation mutual advantage mutual want congress last session saw fit reduce amount usually appropriate foreign intercourse withholding appropriation representative united state certain foreign country certain consular officer reduce amount usually appropriate certain diplomatic post thus necessitate change grade representative reason immediately upon passage bill make appropriation diplomatic consular service present fiscal year instruction issue representative united state bolivia ecuador colombia consular officer appropriation make close respective legation consulates cease performance duty like manner step immediately take substitute charge minister resident portugal denmark greece switzerland paraguay thoroughly impressed wisdom sound economy foreign service branch government escape conclusion instance withhold appropriation prove expensive economy small retrenchment secure change grade certain diplomatic post adequate consideration loss influence importance attend foreign representative reduction opinion reexamination subject change instance conclusion reach subject last session congress court commissioner alabama claim whose function continue act last session congress 1st day january 1877 carry labor diligence general satisfaction report clerk court transmit herewith bearing date november 14 1876 appear within time allow law court dispose claim present adjudication report also contain statement general result labor court date thereof satisfaction method adopt satisfaction class claim submit court long stand justly entitle early consideration prove successful acceptable satisfaction enable state work joint commission determine boundary line unite state british possession northwest angle lake wood rocky mountain commence 1872 complete final agreement commissioner map duly sign work commission complete fix boundary upon pacific coast protocol march 10 1873 pursuant award emperor germany article xxxiv treaty washington termination work commission adjust fix entire boundary united state british possession except portion territory cede russia united state treaty 1867 work intrust commissioner officer army attach commission well satisfactorily perform original final agreement commissioner sign upon 29th may 1876 original official list astronomical station observe original official list monument mark international boundary line map record general report relate commission deposit department state official report commissioner part united state report chief astronomer unite state submit congress within short time reserve separate communication congress statement condition question lately arose great britain respect surrender fugitive criminal treaty 1842 ottoman government give notice date january 15 1874 desire terminate treaty 1862 concern commerce navigation pursuant provision article thereof notice treaty terminate upon 5th day june 1876 government invite negotiation toward conclusion new treaty act congress march 23 1874 president authorize receive satisfactory information ottoman government egypt organize new tribunal likely secure citizen united state impartial justice enjoy exercise judicial function diplomatic consular officer united state suspend operation act june 22 1860 accept citizen united state jurisdiction new tribunal satisfactory information receive organization new tribunal egypt cause proclamation issue upon 27th march last suspending operation act june 22 1860 egypt accord provision act copy proclamation accompany message united state united power organization court hop jurisdictional question arise may readily adjust advance judicial reform may hinder obstacle necessary legislation carry effect convention respect commercial reciprocity conclude hawaiian island 1875 proclamation carry effect convention provide act approve august 15 1876 duly issue upon 9th day september last copy thereof accompany message commotion prevalent mexico time past unhappily seem yet wholly quiet lead complaint citizen united state injury person authority hop however ultimately adjusted satisfaction government frontier united state quarter exempt act violence citizens one republic frequency suppose increase adjustment make difficult considerable change course low part rio grande river river part boundary two country change place either side river portion land exist convention belong jurisdiction government opposite side river subject adjustment difficulty consideration two republics government unite state colombia pay award case steamer montijo seize authority government year since amount transfer claimant satisfaction able announce joint commission adjustment claim unite state mexico convention 1868 duration several time extend brought labor close report agent united state accompany paper transmit herewith see within time limited commission claim part citizen united state mexico refer commission claim 831 dismissed disallow 186 case award make favor claimant mexican republic amount aggregate within period 998 claim part citizen mexican republic united state refer commission claim 831 dismiss disallow 167 case award make favor claimant united state amount aggregate term convention amount award deduct amount award favor citizen mexico balance pay mexico united state leave united state make provision proportion award favor citizen invite attention legislation necessary provide payment connection please able express acknowledgment due sir edward thornton umpire commission give consideration large number claim submit much time unwearied patience firmness intelligence well know belong accomplished representative great britain likewise recognize representative country republic mexico monthly payment small part amount due government venezuela citizen united state account claim latter government continue make reasonable punctuality government propose change system hitherto pursue respect issue bond part amount several claim proposition however could suppose properly accept least without consent holder certificate indebtedness venezuela much disperse would difficult impossible ascertain disposition subject former message call attention congress necessity legislation regard fraudulent naturalization subject expatriation election nationality number person foreign birth seek home united state ease facility honest emigrant may lapse reasonable time become possessed privilege citizenship united state frequent occasion induce adopt citizen return country birth render subject naturalization safeguard experience prove necessary protection honest naturalize citizen paramount importance simplicity requirement law question affords opportunity fraud want uniformity proceeding record various court form certificate naturalization issue affords constant source difficulty suggest additional requirement acquisition citizenship beyond exist invite earnest attention congress necessity wisdom provision regard uniformity record certificate provide fraud frequently take place vacating record naturalization obtain fraud provision need aid protection honest citizen foreign birth want make suffer infrequently united state insist upon right expatriation obtain long struggle admission principle contend acquiescence therein part many foreign power conclusion treaty subject however justice government naturalize citizen formerly owe allegiance well united state certain fixed definite rule adopt govern case provide expatriation may accomplish emigrant large number become citizen united state also true person native bear naturalized citizen united state either formal act effect series fact circumstance abandon citizenship cease entitle protection united state continue convenient occasion assert claim protection absence provision question connection invite attention necessity legislation concern marriage american citizen contract abroad concern status american woman may marry foreigner child born american parent foreign country delicate complicate question continually occur reference naturalization expatriation status person refer induce earnestly direct attention subject like manner repeat recommendation mean provide hear determination subsist claim alien upon government unite state within reasonable limitation may hereafter arise exist provision law court claim may certain case resort alien claimant absence general provision govern case want tribunal skilled disposition case upon recognize fix settle principle either provide remedy many deserve case compels consideration claim congress executive department government believe government advance united state upon question practice adopt entirely unsatisfactory congress act approve 3d day march 1875 authorized inhabitant territory colorado form state government name state colorado therein provide admission say state form union upon equal footing original state constitution adopt ratified people state act governor certify fact provide say act together copy constitution ordinance provide say act provision say act congress duly comply issue proclamation upon 1st august 1876 copy hereto annexed report secretary war show army actively employed year subdue request indian bureau certain wild band sioux indian nation preserve peace south election commission constitute act july 24 1876 consider report whole subject reform reorganization army meet august last collect large mass statistic opinion bear subject consideration report progress advise though president commission impracticable comply clause act require report present congress first day session yet time mature deliberation importance subject demand therefore ask time make report extend 29th day january 1877 accordance resolution august 15 1876 army regulation prepare act march 1 1875 promulgate hold report commission shall receive acted act august 15 1876 cavalry force army increase men proviso discharge expiration hostility authority cavalry regiment strengthen portion field pursue remnant indian engage summer estimate war department make basis number men authorize law requirement show year experience also purpose part bureau officer provide contingency may arise time estimate make exclusive engineer estimate present accordance act congress call survey estimate improvement various locality estimate present six million excess appropriation year increase ask order provide increase cavalry force service necessary prosecute economically work upon important public building provide armament fortification manufacture small arm replenish work stock supply department appropriation last name past year limited accumulation store entirely exhaust present year necessary begin replenish invite special attention follow recommendation secretary war first claim act july 4 1864 supply take army war remove office quartermaster commissary general transfer southern claim commission claim precisely similar nature southern claim commission war department bureaus clerical force examination proper machinery investigate loyalty claimant second congress sanction scheme annuity fund benefit family decease officer also provide permanent organization signal service recommend last annual message third manufacture operation ordnance department concentrate three arsenal armory remain arsenal sell proceeds apply object ordnance department appropriation river harbor improvement current year approval secretary war direct amount expend new work begin none prosecute national importance subsequently amount increase work progress basis improvement south pas mississippi river james eads associate progress favorably present time channel foot depth jetty mouth pass foot head pas neither channel however width required payment make united state commission engineer officer examine work report present soon received report secretary navy show branch service condition effective possible keep mean authority give department course possible rival costly progressive establishment great european power old material navy increase authorize since war except eight small cruiser build supply place others go decay yet do possible mean command substantially rebuild old ship durable material completely repair refit monitor fleet navy gradually bring though maintain relative position among progressive navy world condition powerful effective ever time peace complete repair five heavy ironclad delay account inadequacy appropriation make last year work bureau department actually less amount make war notwithstanding greatly enhance price labor material increase cost naval service grow universal use great expense steam machinery money necessary repair provide may complete without unnecessary delay expense do strength navy develop useful full capacity powerful purpose defense also offensive action necessity arise within reasonable distance shore fact navy modern powerful make complaint secretary navy person time criticise complain endeavor bring navy best efficient condition good sense country understand really due practical action time effective naval force command report show excess expenditure exclude expenditure account previous year receipt fiscal year end june 30 1876 estimate expenditure fiscal year end june 30 1878 estimated revenue period leave estimate excess expenditure appropriate deficiency like predecessor convince change basis adjust salary postmaster fourth class necessary good service well interest government urgently recommend compensation class postmaster mention base upon business respective office ascertain sworn return auditor stamp cancel postmaster southern state express great apprehension personal safety account connection postal service specially request report apprehend danger make public l result loss live positive testimony interference submit except case mail messenger spartanburg south carolina report violently drive away charge mail account political affiliation assistant superintendent railway mail service investigate case report messenger disappear post leave work perform substitute think case sufficiently suggestive justify recommend severe punishment provide offense assault person charge mail retard otherwise obstruct threat personal injury gratify result present fact deficiency department last fiscal year reduce preceding year difference trace large increase ordinary receipt greatly exceed estimate therefor slight decrease expenditures ordinary receipt department past seven fiscal year increase average 8 per cent per annum increase expenditures period per cent per annum decrease deficiency revenue rate nearly 2 per cent per annum report commissioner agriculture accompany message find one great interest mark great progress last century variety product soil increase knowledge skill labor produce save manipulate prepare use man improvement machinery aid agriculturist labor knowledge scientific subject necessary thorough system economy agricultural production namely chemistry botany entomology etc study report interested agriculture derive support find value point article raise great quantity need world require must sell therefore less cost production command profit cost production overproduction call special attention need department new gallery reception exhibit return centennial exhibition include exhibit donate many foreign nation recommendation commissioner agriculture generally report district commissioner board health receive late read make recommendation thereon herewith submit international exhibition hold philadelphia year commemoration one hundredth anniversary american independence proven great success doubt endure advantage country show great progress art science mechanical skill make single century demonstrate little behind old nation one branch scarcely rival serve bring people product skill labor part world together bring together people section country must prove great benefit information impart pride country engender suggested scientist interest connected smithsonian institution communication herewith government exhibit remove capital suitable building erect purchased accommodation permanent exhibit earnestly recommend believe congress would second view directed government exhibit centennial exhibition remain except might injure remain build intend protection inclement weather may want department furnish question permanent exhibition act although money appropriate congress enable participation several executive department international exhibition 1876 sufficient carry undertake full extent first contemplate give pleasure refer efficient creditable manner board appoint several department provide exhibition part government discharge duty fund place command without precedent guide preparation display success labor amply attest sustained attention content government building attract period exhibition foreign native visitor strongly impress value collection make government purpose exhibition illustrate mineral resource country statistical practical evidence growth nation use mechanical art application apply science administration affair government many nation voluntarily contribute exhibit united state increase interest permanent exhibition congress may provide act generosity receive thanks people respectfully suggest resolution congress effect adopt attention congress earnestly call necessity throw great safeguard method choose declare election president present system seem provide remedy contest election one state remedy partially doubt enlightenment elector compulsory support free school disfranchisement read write english language fix probation would meet hearty approval would make apply however already voter would become expiration probation fix upon foreigner come country become citizen educated language acquire requisite knowledge necessary residence obtain naturalization take interest enough language acquire sufficient knowledge enable study institution law country intelligently would confer upon right make law select append message convenient reference synopsis administrative event recommendation congress make last seven year time may show recommendation wisely conceive believe large part discredit administration one recommendation meet united opposition one political party senate strong opposition namely treaty annexation santo domingo united state specially refer maintain view concur country would prosperous condition politically financially santo domingo fertile upon soil may grow tropical product united state use much produce prepared market slave labor almost exclusively namely sugar coffee dyewood mahogany tropical fruit tobacco etc 75 per cent export cuba consume united state large percentage export brazil also find market pay almost exclusively coin legislation particularly cuba unfavorable mutual exchange product country flour ship mississippi river havana pas entrance city way port spain pay duty fix upon article reexported transfer spanish vessel bring back almost point start pay second duty still leave profit would receive direct shipment produce cuba could produce santo domingo part united state commerce island mainland would free would export duty shipment import duty come would import duty upon supply machinery go state effect would produce upon cuban commerce advantage rival observable glance cuban question would settle long ago favor free cuba hundred american vessel would advantageously use transport valuable wood product soil island market carry supply emigrant island sparsely settled area sufficient profitable employment several million people soil would soon fall hand united state capitalist product valuable commerce emigration would encourage emancipated race south would find congenial home civil right would dispute labor would much seek poor among could find mean go thus case great oppression cruelty practice upon many place within last eleven year whole community would seek refuge santo domingo suppose whole race would go desirable go labor desirable indispensable almost possession territory would leave negro master situation enable demand right home pain find elsewhere present view recommendation renewal subject annexation refer vindicate previous action regard present term congress official life terminates probable public affair ever receive attention citizen republic always take deep interest honor integrity prosperity whole land