Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography . under the 14thamendment, which guaranteed equal civil rightsto all citizens, and in July, 1870, all the stateshad ratified this amendment and been readmit-ted to the Union. The votes of Arkansas andLouisiana were not received by congress in thepresidential election of 1872; but this was on ac- 720 GRANT GRANT count of fraud and illegal practices at the the presidents annual message to , 1869, he recommended the passage of an act authorizing the funding of the public debtat a lower rate of interest. This was followed bythe
Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography . under the 14thamendment, which guaranteed equal civil rightsto all citizens, and in July, 1870, all the stateshad ratified this amendment and been readmit-ted to the Union. The votes of Arkansas andLouisiana were not received by congress in thepresidential election of 1872; but this was on ac- 720 GRANT GRANT count of fraud and illegal practices at the the presidents annual message to , 1869, he recommended the passage of an act authorizing the funding of the public debtat a lower rate of interest. This was followed bythe passing of an act, approved 14 July, authorized the secretaryof the treasury to issue bonds to the amount of $200,000,000. bearinginterest at the rate of 5 per $300,000,000 atthe rate of -U per cent., and at therate of 4 per cent Tinier this act, and subse-quent amendments thereto, the national debt hasbeen refunded from time to time, until the averagerate of actual interest does not exceed &£ per In 1870 President Grant sent special messages tocongress urging upon that body the necessity ofbuilding up our merchant marine, and the adopt-ing of methods for increasing our foreign com-merce, and relating to our relations with Spain,which had become strained in consequence of theaction of Spanish officials in Cuba. In August ofthis year, soon after the beginning of the war be-tween France and Germany, he issued a proclama-tion of neutrality as to both of those nations, anddefined the duties of Americans toward the bel-li gerents, He directed the U. S. minister to France,Flihu B Washburne, to remain at his post in Paris,and extend the protection of the American flag topeoples of all nationalities who were without theprotection of their owm flag—an act that savedmuch sulfering and loss to individuals. In his annual message in 1870, the president tookstrong ground in favor of civil service reform, say-ing : I would have it govern, not the te
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