it is thus far our settled and avowed policy to grant pensions only to widows whose husbands have died from causes related to military service.

I believe that in proper cases a relaxation of rules and a charitable liberality should be shown to parents old and in absolute need through default of the help which, it may be presumed, a son would have furnished if his life had not been…

But it seems to me the case presented here can not be reached by any theory of pensions which has yet been suggested.

The claimant certainly was not dependent in the least degree upon the soldier at the time of his death.

I am constrained to disapprove the bill under consideration.

the proposed legislation would, in my opinion, result in a discrimination in favor of this claimant unfair and unjust toward thousands of poor widows who are equally entitled to our sympathy and benevolence.

there shall be excluded from the benefits of the suspension hereby declared and proclaimed the vessels of any foreign country

I recommend the passage of a law prohibiting such importation, with proper regulations as to the continuance of such prohibition.

In testimony of respect to the memory of the honored dead it is ordered that the executive offices in Washington be closed on the day of the funeral and be draped in mourning for thirty days.

The national flag be displayed at half-mast on the public buildings and on all national vessels on the day of the funeral.

The painful duty devolves upon the President to announce the death, at an early hour this morning, at his residence in this city, of Morrison R. Waite, Chief Justice of the United States.

The sole purpose of the provision is to benefit the public service.

to preserve the public domain for settlers and to frustrate unlawful attempts to appropriate the same may not be neglected

the most unblushing frauds upon the Government

the roads have not been built, and yet an attempt is made to claim the lands

I herewith transmit, in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 16th ultimo, a report from the Secretary of State, accompanied by certain correspondence in regard to the Mexican zona libre.

It would seem advisable that the full text of this treaty should be made public.

I have the honor to transmit herewith and recommend for your constitutional approval a convention signed and concluded in this city on the 12th instant, under my direction, between the United States and China, for the exclusion hereafter…