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mains being determined upon before the work was commenced, thus securing permanency when completed. I question whether so much has ever been accomplished before in any American city for the same expenditures. The Government having large reservations in the city, and the nation at large having an interest in their capital, I recommend a liberal policy toward the District of Columbia, and that the Government should bear its just share of the expense of these improvements. Every citizen visiting the capital feels a pride in its growing beauty, and that he, too, is part owner in the investments made here.

I would suggest to Congress the propriety of promoting the establishment in this District of an institution of learning, or university of the highest class, by the donation of lands. There is no place better suited for such an institution than the national capital. There is no other place in which every citizen is so directly inter

In three successive messages to Congress I have called attention to the subject of "civil service reform."

Action has been taken so far as to authorize the appointment of a board to devise rules governing methods of making appointments and promotions, but there never has been any action making these rules, or any rules, binding, or even entitled to observance where persons desire the appointment of a friend, or the removal of an official who may be disagreeable to them.

To have any rules effective they must have the acquiescence of Congress as well as of the Executive. I commend, therefore, the subject to your attention, and suggest that a special committee of Congress might confer with the civil service board during the present session for the purpose of devising such rules as can be maintained, and which will secure the services of honest and capable officials, and which will also protect them in a degree of independence while in office.

Proper rules will protect Congress, as well as

the Executive, from much needless persecution, and will prove of great value to the public at large.

I would recommend for your favorable consideration the passage of an enabling act for the admission of Colorado as a State in the Union. It possesses all the elements of a prosperous State, agricultural and mineral, and, I believe, has a population now to justify such admission. In connection with this I would also recommend the encouragement of a canal for purposes of irrigation from the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains to the Missouri river. As a rule, I am opposed to further donations of public lands for internal improvements, owned and controlled by private corporations, but in this instance I would make an exception. Between the Missouri river and the Rocky Mountains there is an arid belt of public land from three hundred to five hundred miles in width, perfectly valueless for the occupation of man, for the want of sufficient rain to secure the growth of any product. An irrigating canal would make productive a belt, as wide as the supply of water could be made to spread over, across this entire country, and would secure a cordon of settlements, connecting the present population of the mountain and mining regions with that of the older States. All the land reclaimed would be clear gain. If alternate sections are retained by the Government, I would suggest that the retained sections be thrown open to entry under the homestead laws, or sold to actual settlers for a very low price.

I renew my previous recommendation to Congress for general amnesty. The number engaged in the late rebellion yet laboring under disabilities is very small, but enough to keep up a constant irritation. No possible danger can accrue to the Government by restoring them to eligibility to hold office.

I suggest for your consideration the enactment of a law to better secure the civil rights which freedom should secure, but has not effectually secured, to the enfranchised slave.

U.S. Grant.

IX.

PROCLAMATIONS AND ORDERS OF PRESIDENT GRANT.

Order Respecting Wages of Labor, May 11,1872.

Whereas the act of Congress approved June 25, 1868, constituted, on and after that date, eight hours a day's work for all laborers, workmen, and mechanics employed by or on behalf of the Government of the United States;

And whereas on the nineteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixtynine, by executive proclamation, it was directed that from and after that date no reduction should be made in the wages paid by the Government by the day to such laborers, workmen, and me

chanics on account of such reduction of the hours of labor;

And whereas it is now represented to me that the act of Congress and the proclamation aforesaid have not been strictly observed by all officers of the Government having charge of such laborers, workmen, and mechanics:

Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do hereby again call attention to the act of Congress aforesaid, and direct all officers of the Executive department of the Government having charge of the employment and payment of laborers, workmen, or mechanics employed by or on behalf of the Government of the United Slates to make no reduction in the wages paid by the Government by the day to such laborers, workmen, and mechanics on account of the reduction of the hours of labor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington this eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord one thou

r -I sand eight hundred and seventy-two,

*■ "J and of the independence of the United States the ninety-sixth. By the President: U. S. Grant.

Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State.

Proclamation as to Ships and Vessels of Sweden and Norway, May 11,1872.

Whereas, pursuant to the first section of the act of Congress approved the eleventh day of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, entitled "An act to provide for the execution of treaties between the United States and foreign nations respecting consular jurisdiction over the crews of vessels of such foreign nations in the waters and ports of the United States," it is provided that before that act shall take effect as to the ships and vessels of any particular nation having such treaty with the United States, the President of the United States shall have been satisfied that similar provisions have been made for the execution of such treaty by the other contracting party, and shall have issued his proclamation to that effect, declaring that act to be in force as to such nation;

And whereas due inquiry having been made, and a satisfactory answer having been received that similar provisions are in force in the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the same accordingly.

Done at the city of Washington this eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord one thou

r -I sand eight hundred and seventy-two,

'• 'J and of the independence of the United States of America the ninety-sixth. By the President: U. S. Grant.

Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State.

Proclamation respecting Discriminating Duties on Japanese Vessels, September 4, 1872.

Whereas satisfactory information has been received by me from His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, through an official communication of Mr. Arinori Mori, His Majesty's Charge' d'Affaires, under date of the second instant, that no other or higher duties of tonnage or impost are imposed or levied in the ports of the Empire of Japan, upon vessels wholly belonging to citizens of the United States, or upon the produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported in the same from the United States, or from any foreign country, than are levied on Japanese ships and their cargoes in the same ports under like circumstances:

Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the

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authority vested in me by an act of Congress of the twenty-fourth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, do hereby declare and proclaim that, from and after the said second instant, so long as vessels of the United States and their cargoes shall be exempt from discriminating duties as aforesaid, any such duties on Japanese vessels entering the ports of the United States, or on the produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported in such vessels, shall be discontinued and abolished.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, the fourth day of September, in the year of oui Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and of the Independence of the United States the ninety-seventh. U. S. Grant. By the President: Charles Hale, Acting Secretary of State.

Proclamation respecting Discriminating Duties on French Vessels, October 30, 1872.

Whereas, upon information received by me from His Majesty the Emperor of the French, that discriminating duties before the date of said information levied in French ports upon merchandise imported from the countries of its origin in vessels of the United States were discontinued and abolished, and in pursuance of the provisions of an act of Congress of the 7th of January, 1824, and of an act in addition thereto of the 24th of May, 1828, I did, on the 12th day of June, 1869,* issue my proclamation declaring that the discriminating duties before that date levied upon merchandise imported from the countries of its origin into ports of the United States in French vessels were thereby discontinued and abolished;

And whereas, upon information subsequently received by me that the levying of such duties on all merchandise imported into France in vessels of the United States, whether from the country of its origin or from other countries, had been discontinued, I did, on the 20th of November, 1869, in pursuance of the provisions of the said acts of Congress, and by the authority in me vested thereby, issue my proclamation declaring that the discriminating duties before that date levied upon merchandise imported into the United States in French vessels, either from the countries of its origin or from any other country, were thereby discontinued and abolished;

And whereas, by the provisions of the said acts of Congress of January 7th, 1824, and of the 24th of May, 1828, as well as by the terms of the said proclamations of the 12th of June, 1869, and of the 20th of November, 1869, the said suspension of discriminating duties upon merchandise imported into the United States in French vessels was granted by the United States on condition that, and to continue so long as

*For this proclamation, see McPherson's History of Reconstruction, p, 421.

merchandise imported into France in vessels of the United States should be admitted into the ports of France on the same terms of exemption from the payment of such discriminating duties;

And whereas information has been received by me that, by a law of the French Republic, passed on the 30th of January, 1872, and published on the 3d of February, 1872, merchandise imported into France in vessels of the United States, from countries other than the United States, is (with the exception of certain articles enumerated in said law) subjected to discriminating duties;

And whereas, by the operation of said law of the French Republic of the 30th of January, 1872, the exemption of French vessels and their cargoes granted by the terms of the said proclamations of the 12th of June, 1869, and of the 20th of November, 1869, in accordance with the provisions of the acts of Congress aforesaid, has ceased to be reciprocal on the part of France towards vessels owned by citizens of the United States and their cargoes:

Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by an act of Congress of the seventh day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, and by an act in addition thereto of the twenty-fourth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, do hereby declare and proclaim that on and after this date the said suspension of the collection of discriminating duties upon merchandise imported into the United States in French vessels from countries other than France, provided for by my said proclamations of the twelfth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, and the twentieth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, shall cease and determine, and all the provisions of the acts imposing discriminating foreign tonnage and import duties in the United States are hereby revived, and shall henceforth be and remain in full force, as relates to goods and merchandise imported into the United States in French vessels from countries other than France, so long as any discriminating duties shall continue to be imposed by France upon goods and merchandise imported into France in vessels of the United States from countries other than the United States.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington this thirtieth

day of October, in the year of our

r 1 Lord one thousand eight hundred and

••' '-I seventy-two, and of the Independence

of the United States the ninety-seventh.

U. S. Grant.

By the President:

Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State.

Executive order prohibiting certain United States officers from holding office under any State or Territorial Government, January 17,1873.

Whereas it has been brought to the notice of

the President of the United States that many persons holding civil office by appointment from him, or otherwise, under the Constitution and laws of the United States, while holding such federal positions accept offices under the authority of the States and Territories in which they reside, or of municipal corporations, under the charters and ordinances of such corporations, thereby assuming the duties of the State, Territorial, or municipal office at the same time that they are charged with the duties of the civil office held under federal authority:

And whereas it is believe that, with but few exceptions, the holding of two such offices by the same person is incompatible with a due and faithful discharge of the duties of either office; that it frequently gives rise to great inconvenience, and often results in detriment to the public service; and, moreover, is not in harmony with the genius of the Government;

In view of the premises, therefore, the President has deemed it proper thus and hereby to give public notice that, from and after the 4th day of March, A. D. 1873, (except as herein specified,) persons holding any federal civil office by appointment under the Constitution and laws of the United States will be expected, while holding such office, not to accept or hold any office under any State or Territorial government, or under the charter or ordinances of any municipal corporation; and further, that the acceptance or continued holding of any such State, Territorial, or municipal office, whether elective or by appointment, by any person holding civil office, as aforesaid, under the Government of the United States, other than judicial offices under the Constitution of the United States, will be deemed a vacation of the federal office held by such person, and will be taken to be, and will be treated as, a resignation by such federal officer of his commission or appointment in the service of the United States.

The offices of justices of the peace, of notaries public, and of commissioners to take the acknowledgement of deeds, of bail, or to administer oaths, shall not be deemed within the purview of this order, and are excepted from its operation, and may be held by federal officers.

The appointment of deputy marshal of the United States may be conferred upon sheriffs or deputy sheriffs. And deputy postmasters, the emoluments of whose office do not exceed six hundred dollars per annum, are also excepted from the operations of this order, and may accept and hold appointments under State, Territorial, or municipal authority, provided the same be found not to interfere with the discharge of their duties as postmasters. Heads of Departments and other officers of the Government who have the appointment of subordinate officers are required to take notice of this order, and to see to the enforcement of its provisions and terms within the sphere of their respective departments or offices, and as relates to the several persons holding appointments under them, respectively.

By order of the President:Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State. Washington, January 17, 1873.

Letter of the Secretary of State ex-
planatory of the above Executive
Order, January 28,1873.

Department Of State,
Washington, January 28, 1873.

Inquiries having been made from various quarters as to the application of the executive order, issued on the 17th January, relating to the holding of State or municipal offices by persons holding civil offices under the Federal Government, the President directs the following reply to be made:

It has been asked whether the order prohibits a federal officer from holding also the office of an alderman or of a common councilman in a city, or of a town councilman of a town or village, or of appointments under city, town, or village governments. By some it has been suggested that there may be distinction made in case the office be with or without salary or compensation. The city or town offices of the description referred to, by whatever names they may be locally known, whether held by election or by appointment, and whether with or without salary or compensation, are of the class which the executive order intends not to be held by persons holding federal offices.

It has been asked whether the order prohibits federal officers from holding positions on boards of education, school committees, public libraries, religious or eleemosynary institutions incorporated or established or sustained by State or municipal authority. Positions and service on such boards or committees, and professorships in colleges, are not regarded as "offices" within the contemplation of the executive order, but as employments or service in which all good citizens may be engaged without incompatibility, and in many cases without necessary interference with any position which they may hold under the Federal Government. Officers of the Federal Government may, therefore, engage in such service, provided the attention required by such employment does not interfere with the regular and efficient discharge of the duties of their office under the Federal Government. The head of the department under whom the federal office is held will, in all cases, be the sole judge whether or not the employment does thus interfere.

The question has also been asked with regard to officers of the State militia. Congress having exercised the power conferred by the Constitution to provide for organizing the militia, which is liable to be called forth to be employed in the service of the United States, and is thus, in some sense, under the control of the General Government, and is, moreover, of the greatest value to the public, the executive order of 17th January is not considered as prohibiting federal officers from being officers of the militia in the States and Territories.

It has been asked whether the order prohibits persons holding office under the Federal Government being members of local or municipal fire departments; also, whether it applies to mechanics employed by the day in the armories, arsenals, and navy yards, &c, of the United States. Unpaid service in local or municipal fire departments is not regarded as an office

within the intent of the executive order, and may be performed by federal officers, provided it does not interfere with the regular and efficient discharge of the duties of the federal office, of which the head of the department under which the office is held will, in each case, be the judge. Employment by the day as mechanics or laborers in the armories, arsenals, navy yards, &c, does not constitute an office of any kind, and those thus employed are not within the contemplation of the executive order. Master-workmen, and others who hold appointments from the Government, or from any department, whether for a fixed time or at the pleasure of the appointing power, are embraced within the operation of the order. By order of the President:

Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State,

Proclamation requiring certain disorderly persons in Louisiana to disperse, May 22,1873.

Whereas, under the pretence that William P. Kellogg, the present executive of Louisiana, and the officers associated with him in the State administration, were not duly elected, certain turbulent and disorderly persons have combined together with force and arms to resist the laws and constituted authorities of said State; and

Whereas it has been duly certified by the proper local authorities, and judicially determined by the inferior and Supreme courts of said State, that said officers are entitled to hold their offices respectively, and execute and discharge the functions thereof; and

Whereas Congress, at its late session, upon a due consideration of the subject, tacitly recognized the said executive and his associates then, as now, in office, by refusing to take any action with respect thereto; and

Whereas it is provided in the Constitution of the United States that the United States shall protect every State in this Union on application of the Legislature, or of the executive when the Legislature cannot be convened, against domestic violence; and

Whereas it is provided in the laws of the United States, that in all cases of insurrection in any State, or of obstruction to the laws thereof, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States on application of the Legislature of such State, or of the executive when the Legislature cannot be convened, to call forth the militia of any other State or States, or to employ such part of the land and naval forces as shall be judged necessary for the purpose of suppressing such insurrection or causing the laws to be duly executed; and

Whereas the Legislature of said State is not now in session, and cannot be convened in time to meet the present emergency, and the executive of said State, under section 4 of article IV of the Constitution of the United States, and the laws passed in pursuance thereof, has, therefore, made application to me for such part of the military force of the United States as may be necessary and adequate to protect said State and the citizens thereof against domestic violence

and to enforce the due execution of the laws; and

Whereas it is required that whenever it may be necessary in the judgment of the President to use the military force for the purpose aforesaid, he shall forthwith by proclamation command such insurgents to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective homes within a limited time: Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do hereby make proclamation, and command said turbulent and disorderly persons to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes within twenty days from this date, and hereafter to submit themselves to the laws and constituted authorities of said State; and I invoke the aid and co-operation of all good citizens thereof to uphold law and preserve the public peace.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this twentysecond day of May, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seventy[SEAL.] three, and of the independence of the United States the ninety-seventh.

U. S. Grant. By the President:

J. C. Bancroft Davis,

Acting Secretary of State.

Proclamation announcing that the Government of Great Brtiain had given full effect to Articles 18th to 25th inclusive and Article 30th of the Treaty of Washington, July 1, 1873.

Whereas by the thirty-third article of a treaty concluded at Washington on the 8th day of May, 1871, between the United States and her Britannic Majesty, it was provided that "Articles XVIII to XXV inclusive and Article XXX of this treaty shall take effect as soon as the laws required to carry them into operation shall have been passed by the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain, by the Parliament of Canada, and by the Legislature of Prince Edward's Island on the one hand, and by the Congress of the United States on the other;"

And whereas by the first section of an act entitled "An act to carry into effect the provisions of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain signed in the city of Washington the eighth day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, relating to the fisheries," it is provided " that whenever the President of the United States shall receive satisfactory evidence that the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain, the Parliament of Canada, and the Legislature of Prince Edward's Island have passed laws on their part to give full effect to the provisions of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain signed at the city of Washington on the eighth day of May, eighteen hundred and seventyone, as contained in articles eighteenth to twentyfifth inclusive and article thirtieth of said treaty, he is hereby authorized to issue his proclamation declaring that he has such evidence;"

And whereas the Secretary of State of the

United States and Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington have recorded in a protocol a conference neld by them at the Department of State in Washington, on the 7th day of June, 1873, in the following language:

"Protocol "Of a conference held at Washington, on the seventh day of June, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.

"Whereas it is provided by Article XXXIII of the treaty between her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States of America, signed at Washington on the 8th of May, 1871, as follows:

"article XXXIII.

"The foregoing Articles, XVIII to XXV, inclusive, and Article XXX of this treaty shall take effect as soon as the laws required to carry them into operation shall have been passed by the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain, by the Parliament of Canada, and by the Legislature of Prince Edward's Island on the one hand, and by the Congress of the United States on the other. Such assent having been given, the said articles shall remain in force for the period of ten years from the date at which they may come into operation, and further, until the expiration of two years after either of the high contracting parties shall have given notice to the other of its wish to terminate the same; each of the high contracting parties being at liberty to give such notice to the other at the end of the said period of ten years, or at any time afterward;

"And whereas, in accordance with the stipulations of the above recited article, an act was passed by the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain in the 35th and 36th years of the reign of Queen Victoria, intituled 'An act to carry into effect a treaty between Her Majesty and the United States of America;'

"And whereas an act was passed by the Senate and House of Commons of Canada in the fifth session of the First Parliament, held in the thirty-fifth year of Her Majesty's reign, and assented to in Her Majesty's name, by the Governor General, on the fourteenth day of June, 1872, intituled 'An act relating to the treaty of Washington, 1871;'

"And whereas an act was passed by the Legislature of Prince Edward's Island and assented to by the Lieutenant Governor of that Colony on the 29th day of June, 1872, intituled 'An act relative to the treaty of Washington, 1871:'

"And whereas an act was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, and approved on the first day of March, 1873, by the President of the United States, intituled 'An act to carry into effect the provisions of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain signed in the city of Washington the eighth day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, relating to fisheries:'

"The undersigned, Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State of the United States, and the Right Honorable Sir Edward Thornton, one of her Majesty's

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