PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



587 



The report of the Secretary of the Navy, accom- 

 panying this, shows the condition of the navy 

 when this Administration came into office, and the 

 changes made since. Strenuous efforts have been 

 made to place as many vessels in commission or 

 render them fit for service, if required, as possible, 

 and to substitute the sail for steam while cruising, 

 thus materially reducing the expenses of the navy 

 and adding greatly to its efficiency. Looking to our 

 future, I recommend a liberal though not extravagant 

 policy toward this branch of the public services. 



The report of the Postmaster-General furnishes a 

 clear and comprehensive exhibit of the operations of 

 the postal service, and of the financial condition of 

 the Post-Office Department. The ordinary postal 

 revenues for the year ending the 30th of June, 1869, 

 amounted to $18^44,510, and the expenditures to 

 $23,698,131, showing an excess of expenditures over 

 receipts, $5,353,620. The excess of expenditures over 

 receipts for the previous year amounted to $6,437,192. 

 The increase of revenues for 1869 over those of 1868 

 was $2,051,909, and the increase of expenditures was 

 $967,538. The increased revenue in 1869 exceeded 

 the increased revenue in 1868 by $936,336, and the 

 increased expenditure in 1869 was $2,527,570 less 

 than the increased expenditures in 1868, showing, by 

 comparison, this gratifying feature of improvement, 

 that, while the increase ot expenditures over the in- 

 crease of receipts in 1868 was $2,439,535, the increase 

 of receipts over the increase of expenditures in 1869 

 was $1,084,371. 



Your attention is called to the recommendations 

 made by the Postmaster-General for authority to 

 change the rule of compensation to the main trunk 

 railroad lines for their services in carrying the mails, 

 for having post-route maps executed, for reorganizing 

 the efficiency of the special agency service, for the 

 increase of the mail service on the Pacific, and for 

 establishing mail service under the flag^ of the Union 

 on the Atlantic ; and most especially do I call your 

 attention to his recommendation for the total abolition 

 of the franking privilege. This is an abuse from which 

 no one receives a commensurate advantage. It reduces 

 the receipts for postal service from twenty-five to 

 thirty per cent., and largely increases the service to 

 be performed. 



The method by which postage should be paid upon 

 public matter is set forth fully in the report of the 

 Postmaster-General. 



The report of the Secretary of the Interior shows 

 that the quantity of public lands disposed of during 

 the year ending 30th of June, 1869, was 7,666,000 

 acres, exceeding that of the previous year by 1,010,409. 

 Of this amount 2,899,544 acres were sold for cash, 

 and 2,737,365 acres entered under the homestead law. 

 The remainder was granted to aid in the construc- 

 tion of works of internal improvement, apportioned 

 to these States as swamp lands, and located with war- 

 rants and scrip. The cash receipts from all sources 

 were $4,472,886, exceeding those of the preceding 

 year $2,840,140. 



During the last fiscal year, 23,196 names were added 

 to the pension-rolls, and 4,876 dropped therefrom, 

 leaving at its close 107,963. The amount paid to 

 pensioners, including the compensation of disbursing 

 agents, was $8,422,884, an increase of $4,411,902 on 

 that of the previous year. 



The munificence of Congress has been conspicu- 

 ously manifest in its legislation for the soldiers and 

 sailors who suffered in the recent struggle to main- 

 tain that unity of government which makes us 

 one people. The additions to the pension-rolls of 

 each successive year since the conclusion of the hos- 

 tilities result in a great degree from the repeated 

 amendments of the act of the 14th of July, 1862, 

 which extended its provisions to cases not falling 

 within its original scope. 



The large outlay which it thus occasioned is further 

 increased by the more liberal allowance bestowed 

 since that date upon those who, in the line of duty, 



were wholly or permanently disabled. Public opinion 

 has given an emphatic sanction to these measures of 

 Congress, and it will be conceded that no part of our 

 public burden is more cheerfully borne than that 

 which is imposed by this branch of the service. It 

 necessitates further, next fiscal year, in addition to 

 the amount justly chargeable to the naval pension 

 fund, an appropriation ot thirty million dollars. Dur- 

 ing the year ending the 30th of September, 1869, the 

 Patent-Office issued 13,762 patents, and its receipts 

 were $686,389 being $213,926 more than the expen- 

 ditures. 



I would respectfully call your attention to the rec- 

 ommendation of the Secretary of the Interior, for 

 uniting the duties of supervising the education of 

 freedmen with the other duties devolving upon the 

 Commissioner of Education. 



If it is the desire of Congress to make the census 

 which must be taken during the year 1870 more com- 

 plete and perfect than heretofore, I would suggest 

 early action upon any plan that may be agreed upon. 

 As Congress at the last session appointed a com- 

 mittee to take into consideration such measures as 

 might be deemed proper in reference to the census, 

 and to report a plan, I desist from saying more. 



I recommend to your favorable consideration the 

 claims of the Agricultural Bureau for liberal appro- 

 priations in a country so diversified in climate and 

 soil as ours, and with a population so largely de- 

 pendent upon agriculture. The benefits that can be 

 conferred by properly fostering this Bureau are in- 

 calculable. 



I desire respectfully to call the attention of Con- 

 gress to the inadequate salaries of a number of the 

 most important officers of the Government. In this 

 message I will not enumerate them, but will specify 

 only the Justices of the Supreme Court. No change 

 has been made in their salaries for fifteen years, and 

 within that time the labors of the court have largely 

 increased, and the expenses of living have at least 

 doubled. During the same time Congress has twice 

 found it necessary to increase largely the compensa- 

 tion of its members, and the duty which it owes to 

 another department of the Government deserves, and 

 will undoubtedly receive, its due consideration. 



There are many subjects not alluded to in this mes- 

 sage which might with propriety be introduced, but' 

 I abstain, believing that your patriotism and states- 

 manship will suggest the topics and the legislation 

 most conducive to the interests of the whole people. 

 On my part I promise a rigid adherence to the laws, 

 and their strict enforcement. U. S. GEANT. 



Inaugural Address of President GEANT, de- 

 livered March 4, 1869. 



Citizens of the United States : 



Your suffrages having elected me- to the office of 

 President of the United States, I have, in conformity 

 with the Constitution of our country, taken the oath 

 of office prescribed therein. I have taken this oath 

 without mental reservation, and with the determina- 

 tion to do to the best of my ability all that it requires 

 of me. The responsibilities of the position I feel, but 

 accept them without fear. The office has come to me 

 unsought. I commence its duties untrammelled. I 

 bring "to it a conscientious desire and determination 

 to fill it to the best of my ability to the satisfaction 

 of the people. 



On all leading questions agitating the publicinind, 1 

 will always express my views to Congress, and urge 

 them according to my judgment ; and, when I think 

 it advisable, will exercise the constitutional privilege 

 of interposing a veto to defeat measures which I op- 

 pose. But all laws will be faithfully executed whether 

 they meet my approval or not. 



I shall, on all subjects, have a policy to recommend, 

 but none to enforce against the will of the people. 

 Laws are to govern all alike, those opposed, as well 

 as those who favor them. I know no method to se- 



