Manifestly the Legislature of the Territory cannot give to any court whatever the power to discharge by habeas corpus persons held by or under process from the courts created by Congress, but complaint is made that persons so held have been discharged in that way by the pro and by their consequent interference with the | between the two governments with reference to administration of justice. the subject specially suggested by the British government, it was thought that the removal of the differences growing out of what are generically known as the "Alabama" claims was essential to the restoration of cordial and amicable relations between the two governments, and the assent of this Government to treat on the subject of the fisheries was made dependent on the assent of Great Britain to allow the joint commission, which it had prepared on the questions suggested by that government, to treat also and settle the differences growing out of the "Alabama" claims. bate courts. I cannot doubt that Congress will agree with me that such a state of things ought not longer to be tolerated, and that no class of persons any where should be allowed to treat the laws of the United States with open defiance and contempt. Apprehensions are entertained that if Congress adjourns without any action upon this subject turbulence and disorder will follow, rendering military interference necessary, a result I should greatly deprecate. And in view of this and other obvious considerations, I earnestly recommend that Congress, at the present session, pass some act which will enable the district courts of Utah to proceed with independence and efficiency in the administration of law and justice. U. S. GRANT. Calling attention to matters connected with the Treaty of Washington and the Fisheries, February 24, 1873. To the Senate and House of Representatives: In my annual message to Congress at the opening of the second session of the present Congress, in December, 1871, I recommended the legislation necessary on the part of the United States to bring into operation the articles of the treaty of Washington of May 8, 1871, relative to the fisheries, and to other matters touching the relations of the United States toward the British North American possessions, to become operative so soon as the proper legislation should be had on the part of Great Britain and its possessions.. That legislation on the part of Great Britain and its possessions had not then been had. Having, prior to the meeting of Congress in December last, received official information of the consideration by Great Britain and its possessions of the legislation necessary on their part to bring those articles into operation, I communicated that fact to Congress in my annual message at the opening of the present session, and renewed the recommendation for your early adoption of the legislation in the same direction necessary on the part of this Government. The near approach of the end of the session induces me again to urgently call attention to the importance of this legislation on the part of Congress. Great Britain assented to this, and the treaty of Washington proposed a settlement of both classes of questions. Those relating to the Alabama claims and to the northwestern water boundary, commonly known as the San Juan question, have been disposed of in pursuance of the terms of the treaty. Those relating to the fisheries were made by the terms of the treaty to depend upon the legislation which the constitutions of the respective governments made necessary to carry those provisions into effect. Great Britain and her possessions have on their part enacted the necessary legislation. This Government is now enjoying the advantages of those provisions of the treaty which were the result of the condition of its assent to treat upon the questions which Great Britain had submitted. The tribunal at Geneva has made an award in favor of the United States on the Alabama claims, and His Majesty the Emperor of Germany has decided in favor of the contention of the United States on the northwestern boundary line. I cannot urge too strongly the importance of your early consideration of the legislation that may be necessary on the part this Government. In addition to the claim that Great Britain may have upon the good faith of this Government to consider the legislation necessary in connection with the questions which that government presented as the subject of a negotiation which has resulted so favorably to this Government upon the other questions in which the United States felt so much interest, it is of importance that the rights of the American fishermen, as provided for under the treaty, should be determined before the now approaching fishing season opens, and that the serious difficulties to the fishing interests and the grave questions between the two governments that may arise therefrom be averted. U. S. GRANT. Calling attention to the condition of affairs in the State of Louisiana, February 25, 1873. To the Senate and House of Representatives: Your attention is respectfully invited to the condition of affairs in the State of Louisiana. It will be remembered that the treaty of Washington resulted from an overture on the part of Great Britain to treat with reference to the fisheries on the coast of Her Majesty's possessions in North America, and other questions between them affecting the relations of the United States toward these possessions. To this Grave complications have grown out of the overture a reply was made on the part of this election there on the 6th of November last, Government that, while appreciating the import- chiefly attributable, it is believed, to an organance of a friendly and complete understandingized attempt on the part of those controlling the election officers and returns to defeat in that election the will of a majority of the electors of the State. Different persons are claiming the executive offices, two bodies are claiming to be the Legislative Assembly of the State, and the confusion and uncertainty produced in this way fall with paralyzing effect upon all its interests. Controversy arose as soon as the election occurred over its proceedings and results, but I declined to interfere until suit, involving this controversy to some extent, was brought in the circuit court of the United States, under and by virtue of the act of May 31, 1870, entitled "An act to enforce the right of citizens of the United States to vote in the several States of the Union, and for other purposes." tory arrangement that may be made by the parties to the controversy, which, of all things, is the most desirable, it will be my duty, so far as it may be necessary for me to act, to adhere to that government heretofore recognized by me. To judge of the election and qualification of its members is the exclusive province of the Senate, as it is also the exclusive province of the House to judge of the election and qualifications of its members; but as to State offices. filled and held under State laws, the decisions of the State judicial tribunals, it seems to me, ought to be respected. I am extremely anxious to avoid any appearance of undue interference in State affairs, and if Congress differs from me as to what ought to be Finding that resistance was made to judicial done, I respectfully urge its immediate decision process in that suit, without any opportunity, to that effect. Otherwise I shall feel obliged, as and, in my judgment, without any right to re- far as I can by the exercise of legitimate authorview the judgment of the court upon the juris-ity, to put an end to the unhappy controversy dictional or other questions arising in the case, which disturbs the peace and prostrates the busiI directed the United States marshal to enforce ness of Louisiana, by the recognition and support such process, and to use, if necessary, troops for of that government which is recognized and upthat purpose, in accordance with the thirteenth held by the courts of the State. section of said act, which provides that "it shall U.S. GRANT. be lawful for the President of the United States to employ such part of the land or naval forces of the United States, or of the militia, as shall be necessary to aid in the execution of judicial process under this act." Two bodies of persons claimed to be the returning board for the State, and the circuit court in that case decided that the one to which Lynch belonged, usually designated by his name, was the lawful returning board, and this decision has been repeatedly affirmed by the district and the Supreme Courts of the State. Having no opportunity or power to canvass the votes, and the exigencies of the case demanding an immediate decision, I conceived it to be my duty to recog nize those persons as elected who received and held their credentials to office from what then appeared to me to be, and has since been decided by the Supreme Court of the State to be, the legal returning board. Conformably to the decisions of this board a full set of State officers has been installed and a Legislative Assembly organized, constituting, if not a de jure, at least a de facto government, which, since some time in December last, has had possession of the offices, and been exercising the usual powers of government. But opposed to this has been another government claiming to control the affairs of the State, and which has, to some extent, been pro forma organized. Recent investigation into said election has developed so many frauds and forgeries as to make it doubtful what candidates received a majority of the votes actually cast, and in view of these facts a variety of action has been proposed. I have no specific recommendation to make upon the subject; but if there is any practical way of removing these difficulties by legislation, then I earnestly request that such action may be taken at the present session of Congress. Transmitting the Report of the Centennial Commissioners, February 25, 1874. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I have the honor herewith to submit the report of the Centennial Commissioners, and to add a word in the way of recommendation. There have now been international expositions held by three of the great powers of Europe. It seems fitting that the one hundredth anniversary of our independence should be marked by an event that will display to the world the growth and progress of a nation devoted to freedom, and to the pursuit of fame, fortune, and honors by the lowest citizen as well as the highest. A failure in this enterprise would be deplorable. Success can be assured by arousing public opinion to the importance of the occasion. To secure this end, in my judgment, congressional legislation is necessary to make the exposition both national and international. The benefits to be derived from a successful international exposition are manifold. It will necessarily be accompanied by expenses beyond the receipts from the exposition itself, but they will be compensated for many-fold by the commingling of people from all sections of our own country; by bringing together the people of different nationalities; by bringing into juxtaposition, for ready examination, our own and foreign skill and progress in manufactures, agriculture, art, science, and civilization. considered "to establish a government in the State of amendment, defeated-yeas 18, nays 20: Louisiana," February 27, 1873. On the 28th it was, after YEAS-Messrs. Anthony, Carpenter, Corbett, Cragin, Ferry of Michigan, Frelinghuysen, Gilbert, Hamlin, Howe, Logan, Machen, Osborn, Ramsey, Sawyer, Sherman, Sprague, Stewart, Wilson-18. NAYS-Messrs. Bayard, Boreman, Casserly, Clayton, It seems advisable that I should state now Conkling, Cooper, Davis, Flanagan, Hamilton of Mary. what course I shall feel bound to pursue in refer-land, Harlan, Johnston, Kelly, Lewis, Morton, Norwood, Saulsbury, Stockton, Thurman, TRUMBULL, West-20. ence to the matter in the event of no action by Congress at this time.* Subject to any satisfac *No action was taken. In Senate a bill (S. 1621) was Mr. DAVIS moved to reconsider this vote, and March 1 a motion to table the motion to reconsider was lost -yeas 26, nays 28, and, after further debate, agreed to -yeas 29, nays 28. The selection of the site for the exposition seems | has received the sanction of a majority of the to me appropriate, from the fact that one hundred legislators chosen by the people to make laws for years before the date fixed for the exposition the their guidance, and I have studiously sought to Declaration of Independence, which launched us find sufficient arguments to justify such assent, into the galaxy of nations as an independent but unsuccessfully. people, emanated from the same spot. Practically, it is a question whether the measunder discussion would give an additional dollar to the irredeemable paper currency of the country or not, and whether, by requiring threefourths of the reserves to be retained by the banks, and prohibiting interest to be received on the balance, it might not prove a contraction. We have much in our varied climate, soil, min-ure eral products, and skill, of which advantage can be taken by other nationalities to their profit. In return they will bring to our shores works of their skill, and familiarize our people with them, to the mutual advantage of all parties. Let us have a complete success in our Centennial Exposition, or suppress it in its infarcy, acknowledging our inability to give it the international character to which our self-esteem aspires. U. S. GRANT. Transmitting the Report of the Civil Service Commission, April 18, 1874. To the Senate and House of Representatives: Herewith I transmit the report of the civil service commission authorized by the act of Congress of March 3, 1871, and invite your special attention thereto. so im If sustained by Congress, I have no doubt the rules can, after the experience gained, be proved and enforced as to still more materially benefit the public service and relieve the Executive, members of Congress, and the heads of Departments from influences prejudicial to good administration. The rules, as they have heretofore been enforced, have resulted beneficially, as is shown by the opinions of the members of the Cabinet and their subordinates in the Departments, and in that opinion I concur; but rules applicable to officers who are to be appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate are in great measure impracticable, except in so far as they may be sustained by the action of that body. This must necessarily remain so unless the direct sanction of the Senate is given to the rules. But the fact cannot be concealed that theoretically the bill increases the paper circulation $100,000,000, less only the amount of reserves restrained from circulation by the provision of the second section. The measure has been supported on the theory that it would give increased circulation. It is a fair inference, therefore, that if in practice the measure should fail to create the abundance of circulation expected of it, the friends of the measure, particularly those out of Congress, would clamor for such inflation as would give the expected relief, The theory, in my belief, is a departure from true principles of finance, national interest, national obligations to creditors, congressional political parties, and of personal views and promises, party pledges, on the part of both sent to Congress, and in each inaugural address.* promises made by me in every annual message In my annual message to Congress in December, 1869, the following passages appear: ment, to secure to the citizen a medium of ex and not yet referred to, is that of an irredeema"Among the evils growing out of the rebellion, ble currency. It is an evil which I hope will receive your most earnest attention. It is a duty, and one of the highest duties of Governchange of fixed, unvarying value. This implies it can be devised. It should be commenced now, a return to a specie basis, and no substitute for and reached at the earliest practicable moment the debtor class. consistent with a fair_regard to the interests of Immediate resumption, if It would practicable, would not be desirable. contracts, the premium on gold at the date of compel the debtor class to pay, beyond their their purchase, and would bring bankruptcy and ruin to thousands. Fluctuation, however, in the paper value of the measure of all values The same amount appropriated last year makes the man of business an involuntary gam(gold) is detrimental to the interests of trade. It would be adequate for the coming year, but Ibler; for in all sales where future payment is to think the public interest would be promoted by authority in the Executive for allowing a small compensation for special service performed beyond usual office hours under the act of 1871 to persons already in the service of the Govern I advise for the present only such appropriation as may be adequate to continue the work in its present form, and would leave to the future to determine whether the direct sanction of Congress should be given to rules that may perhaps be devised for regulating the method of selection of appointees, or a portion of them, who need to be confirmed by the Senate. ment. U. S. GRANT. Vetoing the Senate Currency Bill, To the Senate of the United States: Herewith I return Senate bill No. 617, entitled "An act to fix the amount of United States notes and the circulation of national banks, and for other purposes," without my approval. In doing so I must express my regret at not being able to give my assent to a measure which made, both parties speculate as to what will be I still adhere to the views then expressed. of the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the necessity of a contraction of the currency with a view to as early a resumption of specie payments as the business interests of the country will permit," and pledging "co-operative action to this end as speedily as possible." The first act passed by the Forty-First Congress, on the 18th day of March, 1869, was as follows: *AN ACT to strengthen the public credit of the United States. Be it enacted, &c., That in order to remove any doubt as to the purpose of the Government to discharge all its obligations to the public creditors, and to settle conflicting questions and interpretations of the law, by virtue of which such obligations have been contracted, it is hereby provided and declared that the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to the payment in coin, or its equivalent, of all the obligations of the United States and of all the interest-bearing obligations, except in cases where the law authorizing the issue of any such obligations has expressly provided that the same may be paid in lawful money, or in other currency than gold and silver; but none of the said interest-bearing obligations not already due shall be redeemed or paid before maturity, unless at such times as the United States notes shall be convertible into coin at the option of the holder, or unless at such time bonds of the United States bearing a lower rate of interest than the bonds to be redeemed can be sold at par in coin. And the United States also solemnly pledges its faith to make provision, at the earliest practical period, for the redemption of the United States notes in coin. This act still remains as a continuing pledge of the faith of the United States "to make provision, at the earliest practicable moment, for the redemption of the United States notes in coin." as rapidly as it can be supplied, when the premium on gold reaches a sufficiently low point. With the amount of United States notes to be issued, permanently fixed within proper limits, and the Treasury so strengthened as to be able to redeem them in coin on demand, it will then be safe to inaugurate a system of free banking, with such provisions as to make compulsory redemption of the circulating-notes of the banks in coin, or in United States notes, themselves redeemable and made equivalent to coin. and for placing the Government in a condition As a measure preparatory to free banking, ticable moment," the revenues of the country to redeem its notes in coin "at the earliest pracshould be increased so as to pay current expenses, provide for the sinking fund required by law, and also a surplus, to be retained in the Treas ury, in gold. I am not a believer in any artificial method of making paper money equal to coin when the coin is not owned or held ready to redeem the promises to pay; for paper money is nothing more than promises to pay, and is valuable exactly in proportion to the amount of coin that it can be converted into. While coin is not used as a circulating medium, or the currency of the country is not convertible into it at par, it becomes an article of commerce as much as any other product. The surplus will seek a foreign of trade has nothing to do with the question. market, as will any other surplus. The balance Duties on imports being required in coin *creates a limited demand for gold. About enough To increase this supply I see no way open but to satisfy that demand remains in the country. by the Government hoarding, through the the national banks to aid." means above given, and possibly by requiring herewith returned that there is an unequal disIt is claimed by the advocates of the measure tribution of the banking capital of the country. A declaration contained in the act of June 30; of the question at first, but on reflection it will I was disposed to give great weight to this view 1864,† created an obligation that the total amount of United States notes issued or to be be remembered that there still remain four milissued should never exceed four hundred millions lions of dollars of authorized bank-note circulaof dollars. The amount in actual circulation tion, assigned to States having less than their six millions of dollars, at which point Congress lation have the option of twenty-five millions was actually reduced to three hundred and fifty- quota, not yet taken. In addition to this the States having less than their quota of bank circupassed the act of February 4, 1868, & suspending the further reduction of the currency. The forty- than their proportion. When this is all taken more to be taken from those States having more four millions have ever been regarded as a reserve, to be used only in case of emergency, up, or when specie payments are fully restored, such as has occurred on several occasions, and or are in rapid process of restoration, will be must occur when, from any cause, revenues sud- the time to consider the question of denly fall below expenditures; and such a rerency." serve is necessary, because the fractional currency, amounting to fifty millions, is redeemable in legal tender on call. It may be said that such a return of fractional currency for redemption is impossible. But let steps be taken for a return to a specie basis, and it will be found that silver will take the place of fractional currency *For votes on this act see McPherson's Reconstruction. p. 412. See note appended. + For votes on this, see notes appended.-ED. more curU. S. GRANT Notes by the Editor. The following record of votes from 1862 to 1868, inclusive, has been prepared in order to show the precise action of Congress, to which reference is made by the PRESIDENT, in his vari ous financial papers. 66 Note A.-The Legal Tender" and "Sinking Fund" Act, 1862, ThirtySeventh Congress, Second Session. In pursuance of act of April 12, 1866, for which and AN ACT to authorize the issue of United States votes, see notes appended.-ED. ED. For votes on this, see notes appended.-Ed. For argument pro and con, see notes appended.— notes, and for the redemption or funding *See note appended.-ED. †See notes appended.-Ex thereof, and for funding the floating debt of that have been, or may hereafter be, issued unthe United States. der any former act of Congress, or for United Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-States notes that may be issued under the proresentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to issue, on the credit of the United States, one hundred and fifty millions of dollars of United States notes, not bearing interest, payable to bearer, at the Treasury of the United States, and of such denominations as he may deem expedient, not less than five dollars each: Provided, however, That fifty millions of said notes shall be in lieu of the demand Treasury notes authorized to be issued by the act of July seventeen, eighteen hundred and sixty-one; which said demand notes shall be taken up as rapidly as practicable, and the notes herein provided for substituted for them: And provided further, That the amount of the two kinds of notes together shall at no time exceed the sum of one hundred and fifty millions of dollars, and such notes herein authorized shall be receivable in payment of all taxes, internal duties, excises, debts, and demands of every kind due to the United States, except duties on imports, and of all claims and demands against the United States of every kind whatsoever, except for interest upon bonds and notes, which shall be paid in coin, and shall also be lawful money and a legal tender in payment of all debts, public and private, within the United States, except duties on imports and interest as aforesaid. And any holders of said United States notes depositing any sum not less than fifty dollars, or some multiple of fifty dollars, with the Treasurer of the United States, or either of the Assistant Treasurers, shall receive in exchange therefor duplicate certificates of deposit, one of which may be transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall thereupon issue to the holder an equal amount of bonds of the United States, coupon or registered, as may by said holder be desired, bearing interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, and redeemable at the pleasure of the United States after five years, and payable twenty years from the date thereof. And such United States notes shall be received the same as coin, at their par value, in payment for any loans that may be hereafter sold or negotiated by the Secretary of the Treasury, and may be re-issued from time to time as the exigencies of the public interests shall require. visions of this act; and all stocks, bonds, and other securities of the United States held by individuals, corporations, or associations, within the United States, shall be exempt from taxation by or under State authority. SEC. 3. That the United States notes and the coupon or registered bonds authorized by this act shall be in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct, and shall bear the written or engraved signatures of the Treasurer of the United States and the Register of the Treasury, and also, as evidence of lawful issue, the imprint of a copy of the seal of the Treasury Department, which imprint shall be made under the direction of the Secretary, after the said notes or bonds shall be received from the engravers and before they are issued; or the said notes and bonds shall be signed by the Treasurer of the United States, or for the Treasurer by such persons as may be specially appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury for that purpose, and shall be countersigned by the Register of the Treasury, or for the Register by such persons as the Secretary of the Treasury may specially appoint for that purpose; and all the provisions of the act entitled "An act to authorize the issue of treasury notes," approved the twenty-third day of December, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, so far as they can be applied to this act, and not inconsistent therewith, are bereby revived and re-enacted; and the sum of three hundred thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to carry this act into effect. SEC. 4. That the Secretary of the Treasury may receive from any person or persons, or any corporation, United States notes on deposit for not less than thirty days, in sums of not less than one hundred dollars, with any of the assistant treasurers or designated depositaries of the United States authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury to receive them, who shall issue therefor certificates of deposit, made in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, and said certificates of deposit shall bear interest at the rate of five per centum per annum; and any amount of United States notes so deposited may be withdrawn from deposit at any time after ten days' notice on the return of said certificates: Provided, That the interest on all such deposits shall cease and determine at the pleasure of the Secretary of the Treasury: And provided further, That the aggregate of such deposits shall at no time exceed the amount of twenty-five millions of dollars. SEC. 2. That to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to fund the Treasury notes and floating debt of the United States, he is hereby authorized to issue, on the credit of the United States, coupon bonds, or registered bonds, to an amount not exceeding five hundred millions of dollars, redeemable at the pleasure of the United States after five years, and payable twenty years from date, and bearing interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually. And the bonds herein authorized shall be of such denominations, not less than fifty dollars, as may be determined upon by the Secretary of First. To the payment in coin of the interest the Treasury. And the Secretary of the Treas-on the bonds and notes of the United States. ury may dispose of such bonds at any time at SEC. 5. That all duties on imported goods shall be paid in coin, or in notes payable on demand heretofore authorized to be issued and by law receivable in payment of public dues, and the coin so paid shall be set apart as a special fund, and shall be applied as follows: Second. To the purchase or payment of one the market value thereof, for the coin of the per centum of the entire debt of the United United States, or for any of the Treasury notes | States, to be made within each fiscal year after |