It would seem to me to be much more economical and better to authorize an increase of the present cavalry force by 2,500 privates, but if this is not deemed advisable, then that the President be authorized to call out not exceeding five regiments, 1,000 strong each, of volunteers, to serve for a period not exceeding six months.

Should this latter authority be given, I would not order out any volunteers unless in my opinion, based upon reports from the scene of war, I deemed it absolutely necessary, and then only the smallest number considered sufficient to meet the emergency.

U.S.  GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, August 14, 1876.

To the House of Representatives: 

In affixing my signature to the river and harbor bill, No. 3822, I deem it my duty to announce to the House of Representatives my objections to some features of the bill, and the reason I sign it.  If it was obligatory upon the Executive to expend all the money appropriated by Congress, I should return the river and harbor bill with my objections, notwithstanding the great inconvenience to the public interests resulting therefrom and the loss of expenditures from previous Congresses upon incompleted works.  Without enumerating, many appropriations are made for works of purely private or local interest, in no sense national.  I can not give my sanction to these, and will take care that during my term of office no public money shall be expended upon them.

There is very great necessity for economy of expenditures at this time, growing out of the loss of revenue likely to arise from a deficiency of appropriations to insure a thorough collection of the same.  The reduction of revenue districts, diminution of special agents, and total abolition of supervisors may result in great falling off of the revenue.  It may be a question to consider whether any expenditure can be authorized under the river and harbor appropriation further than to protect works already done and paid for.  Under no circumstances will I allow expenditures upon works not clearly national.

U.S.  GRANT.

WASHINGTON, August 14, 1876.

To the House of Representatives: 

In announcing, as I do, that I have attached my signature of official approval to the “Act making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic service of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1877, and for other purposes,” it is my duty to call attention to a provision in the act directing that notice be sent to certain of the diplomatic and consular officers of the Government “to close their offices.”

In the literal sense of this direction it would be an invasion of the constitutional prerogatives and duty of the Executive.

By the Constitution the President “shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint, ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls,” etc.