ial
Commissioners, and to add a word in the way of recommendation.

There have now been international expositions held by three of the great
powers of Europe. It seems fitting that the one hundredth anniversary of
our independence should be marked by an event that will display to the
world the growth and progress of a nation devoted to freedom and to the
pursuit of fame, fortune, and honors by the lowest citizen as well as
the highest. A failure in this enterprise would be deplorable. Success
can be assured by arousing public opinion to the importance of the
occasion.

To secure this end, in my judgment, Congressional legislation is
necessary to make the exposition both national and international.

The benefits to be derived from a successful international exposition
are manifold. It will necessarily be accompanied by expenses beyond the
receipts from the exposition itself, but they will be compensated for
many fold by the commingling of people from all sections of our own
country; by bringing together the people of different nationalities; by
bringing into juxtaposition, for ready examination, our own and foreign
skill and progress in manufactures, agriculture, art, science, and
civilization.

The selection of the site for the exposition seems to me appropriate,
from the fact that one hundred years before the date fixed for the
exposition the Declaration of Independence, which launched us into the
galaxy of nations as an independent people, emanated from the same spot.

We have much in our varied climate, soil, mineral products, and skill of
which advantage can be taken by other nationalities to their profit.
In return they will bring to our shores works of their skill and
familiarize our people with them, to the mutual advantage of all
parties.

Let us have a complete success in our Centennial Exposition or suppress
it in its infancy, acknowledging our inability to give it the
international character to which our self-esteem aspires.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, D.C., March 4, 1874_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I have the honor to transmit herewith replies from the several
Departments, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives
of the 16th of January last, requesting a list of all expenses incurred
by the various Departments for transportation of any matter which before
the abolition of the franking privilege was carried in the mails.

U.S. GRANT.

WASHI