Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Ihe PRESIDENT opens his message with an eA-
preston of gratitude to God for the preserva-
ton of the United States. He then refers to
the grief of the nation at the death of his prede-
ceSsor by the hand of an assassin, after he hal
lived TO enjoy the highest proof of the nations
confidence by an election to renewed term Of
Office, and after he had brought the war sub
stantially to close. He refers to the weight
of cares which then devolyed upon him, and
hopes to merit and receive the support and con-
fidence of the people by a frank statement Of
the principles which shall guide the conduct of
his administration. He speaks of the wisdom
of the trainers of the Constitution in adapting
to the great purposes of republican govern
ment. 1t sustains within itself ample resour-
ces for its own preservation. The harrassing
fears that many patriots have suffered of an alb
sorption of State governments by the general
government, or that the States would break
away from their orbits, should be allayed by the
very greatness of our country. He explains lbs
views of the mutual relations of the Government
and the States, and says this government ofthe
United States is limited government, and
States with proper limitations of power are es-
sential to the existence of the Constitution Of
the United States. After the closing of hostiF
tiles, the first question that presented itself for
his decision was, whether the territory within
the limits of the recovered States should be held
as conquered territory, under military authority
emanating from the President as the head of the
army. He opposed the policy of military rule
for various reasons. The true theory is, that
all pretended acts of secession were from the be-
ginning, null and void. If any State neglects
or refuses TO perform its offices, there is themore
need that the general government should main
tain all its authority, and as soon as practicable
resume the exercises Of all its functions, which
happily for us all, brings with it blessing to
the States over which they are extended. He
has felt it necessary to assert one other power
of the general government, the power of pardon
connected with the clearest recognition of the
binding force of the laws of the United States,
and an acknowledgement of the change in re-
gard to slavery. The next step, which he says
he has taken to restore the constitutional rela-
tons of the States has been an invitation to
them to participate in the high Office of amend
ing the Constitution. The adoption of the pro-
posed amendment re-unites us beyond all pow
er of disruption. 1t will efface the sad memory
of the past, and bind us more than ever to mu-
tual affection and support Every natrint nnst
wisL for q general ann, sty az theearllest epoch
consistent with the public good. For this great
end there is need of a concurrence of all opin-
ions, and spirit of mutual conciliation. The
amendment to the Constitution being adopted,
it would remain for the States whose powers
have been so long in abeyance to resume their
places in the two branches of the national leg
islature, and thereby complete the work of
restoration. "Here," says the President, ait
is for you fellow-citizens of the Senate and
House of Representatives, to judge each for
yourselves, of the election returns and the quail
iications of your own members"
He refers to the unwillingness Of the Chief
Justice to hold a term of the United States Cir
cult Court in Richmond, "until Congress should
have an opportunity to consider and act on the
whole subject" He hopes that Congress may
make an early provision for the resumption OF
all its judicial functions Persons charged with
treason should have fair and impartial trials in
the highest civil tribunals of the country. The
truth should be affirmed, that treason is crime,
and traitors should be punished, and the offence
made infamous, and that the question should
be udicially settled, that no State has the right
of its own will to renounce its place IN the
Union.
In relation to the question of extending the
right Of suffrage to the freedmen emancipated
by the war, and of necessity to the free colored
men in all the States Of the Union, the Presi-
dent expresses his well known views and policy
of referring it to the several States. He says
it NAV prove that colored men will receive the
kindliest usage from some of those on whom
they have heretofore most closely depended
But while he has no doubt that now, after the
close Of the war, it is not competent forthe gen
eral government to extend the elective franchise
in the several States, it equally clear that good
faith requires the security of the freedmen In
their liberty and their property, their right to
labor and to claim the just return of their labor.
Now that the monopoly of slave labor has been
removed from the States nearest the Gulf OF
Mexico, the influx Of freelabor will people those
regions with numerous and enterprising pop
ulation which will vie with any in the Union
in compactneSs, inventive genius, wealth and
industry. The constitutional freedom of COM
merce between the States is referred to- and the
right of any State to tax the transit between
States denied. 1t constitutes one of the worst
forms of monopoly, and the evil is increased If
coupled with denial of the choice of the route.
Every such obstacle ought 10 be sternly guarded
against by appropriate legislation within the
| limits of the Constitution. These remarks, 1t
will be supposed, have a bearing on such
railroads as are burdened with consolidation
tax, passing from one State to another.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
presents evidence Of the successful operation OF
the homestead act, over one million and half
of acres having been entered the past fiscal year
and occupied by industrious settlers. The busi-
ness Of the PeIs; Bureau has largely increased
the number Of pensioners being now S5.9S6,
requiring for their annual pay over Sc, 900 600.
He says a grateful people will not hesitate to
sanction any measures for the relief of soldiers
for their wives who have assisted to preserve
national existence o
Thereportof the Postmaster General presents
an encouraging exhibit, leaving surplus OF
receipts over expenditures. Progress has been
madein restoring the postal servicein the South
ern States. The President concurs in the views
of the Postmaster General in opposition to the
policy of granting subsidies to steamship lines,