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 natious 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 cannot 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 cannot read and write the English languageafter 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 the 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, dye-woods, mahogany, tropical fruits, tobacco, &c. About seventy-five 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 re-exported, 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, &c., 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 advan tageously 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.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 5, 1876.

U. S. GRANT.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND EVENTS.

FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE, DECEMBER 6, 1869.

"I earnestly recommend to you, then, such legislation as will insure a gradual return to specie payments, and put an immediate stop to fluctuations in the value of currency."

Six and 5 per cent. United States bonds due, and coming due, "may be replaced by bonds bearing a rate of interest not exceeding 4 per cent." and also suggesting the "propriety of redeeming currency at market-value at time law goes into effect, increasing the rate at which currency shall be bought and sold, from day to day, or week to week, at the same rate of interest as Government pays upon its bonds." Renewal of tax on incomes, 3 per cent. for three years.

Advising "such legislation as will forever preclude the enslavement of the Chinese upon our soil, under the name of coolies, and also prevent American vessels from engaging in the transportation of coolies to any country tolerating the system." Recommending that the mission to China be raised to one of the first class. Total repeal of "tenure-ofoffice acts" earnestly recommended.

Indian policy.-Management of a few reservations of Indians given to Society of Friends, and selection of agents thrown upon them. For superintendents and Indian agents not on reservations, officers of the Army selected. As a substitute for old system, suggests the placing of all Indians on large reservations, giving them absolute protection there, and inducing them, as soon as they are fitted for it, to take their lands in severalty, and to set up territorial governments for their own protection.

Special attention of Congress called to recommendation of Postmaster-General for total abolition of franking privilege; and also to that of Secretary of War for repeal of act March 3, 1869, prohibiting promotions and appointments in staff corps of the Army.

SECOND MESSAGE, DECEMBER 5, 1870.

San Domingo.-Treaty for annexation of, rejected, and suggesting that, by joint resolution of Congress, the Executive be authorized to appoint a commission to negotiate a treaty for the acquisition of the island. Tien-Tsin massacre.-France and North Germany invited to make an authorized suspension of hostilities in the East, and to act together for the future protection in China of the lives and properties of Americans and Europeans.

Ratifications of treaty with Great Britain for abolishing the mixed courts for suppression of slave trade, and of the naturalization convention between that country and the United States exchanged.

Boundary-line between the United States and British possessions discovered to be 4,700 feet south of true position of forty-ninth paralfel, leaving Hudson's Bay Company at Pembina, within territory of United States. Joint commissioners of the two governments proposed to fix definitely the boundary-line.

Regrets that no conclusion has been reached for the adjustment of

Alabama claims, and recommends that Congress authorize appointment of a committee to take proof of amounts and ownership of claims, &c. Anticipating that an attempt may possibly be made by Canadian authorities in the coming season to repeat unneighborly acts toward American fishermen, recommends that authority be conferred upon the Executive to suspend by proclamation operation of laws authorizing transit of goods, &c., in bond, across United States territory to Canada, and, should an extreme measure become necessary, the suspension of the operation of any laws whereby Canadian vessels are permitted to enter the waters of the United States.

Manifestation on part of Canada to exclude United States citizens from the navigation of St. Lawrence. It is hoped that Great Britain will see the justice of abandoning the narrow and inconsistent claim to which her Canadian provinces have urged her adherence.

Recommends a liberal policy toward American steamers plying between the Pacific States and China and Japan, and encouragement, even if it should be at some cost to the national Treasury, of American ship-building.

Recommends an appropriation for the construction of a building for the State Department; the transfer from State to Interior Department of all powers and duties in relation to the Territories, and from the Interior to the War Department the Pension Bureau, and the payment of naval pensions by one of the bureaus of Navy Department.

Congress should look to a policy which would place our currency at par with gold at no distant day.

Tax collected from the people reduced more than $80,000,000 per an

num.

Suggests that revenue-stamps be dispensed by postmasters, and a tax on liquors and tobacco, and the imposition of duty only on luxuries. Recommends an appropriation for a new War Department building, and a reform in the entire civil service of the country.

The experiment of making the management of Indian affairs a missionary work found to work most advantageously. Submits, as a question worthy of serious consideration, whether the residue of our national domain should not be wholly disposed of under the provisions of the homestead and pre-emption laws.

Land-grant subsidies." The United States should not loan their credit in aid of any enterprise undertaken by States or corporations, nor grant lands in any instance unless the projected work is of acknowledged national importance. I am strongly inclined to the opinion that it is inexpedient and unnecessary to bestow subsidies of either description; but, should Congress determine otherwise, I earnestly recommend that the rights of settlers and of the public be more effectually secured and protected by appropriate legislation."

Untrammeled ballot, "where every man entitled to cast a vote may do so, just once, at each election, without fear of molestation or proscription on account of his political faith, nativity, or color."

THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE, DECEMBER 4, 1871.

"I recommend Congress at an early day to make the necessary provision for the tribunal at Geneva, and for the several commissioners on the part of the United States called for by the treaty."

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"I recommend the legislation necessary on the part of the United States to bring into operation the articles of the treaty relating to the