Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-03

CHICAGO, Dec. 3.-The Presidents mes
(which will be read to-day.to Congress,
is published in full in the Chicago papers of
this morning
The President opens with discussion Of
the reconstruction question. lie says on
tits momen.ous question and some Of the
measures growing out Of it:
had the misfortune to differ from Con
gress and have expressed my conviction
without reserve. though with due Difference
to the opinion Of the Legislative Depart
mont. Those convictions were not only un-
changed but strengthened by subsequent
events and future reflections. The trans
cendent Importance Of the subject will be Q
sufficient excuse for calling your attention
I" some OF the reasons which have strongly
influenced ny own judgment The hope
that We may all finally concur in mode Of
settlement consistent al once With ocr true
Interests and with our sworn duties TO the
Constitution is too natura. and too lust to
De readily relinquished.
After reviewing his own plan Of recon
stTuction. he adds Being sincerely con-
WINGED that these views are correct, | would
be untati.ful to n y deity if did no, recon-
mend the repeal Of the acts of Congress
which pace ten Of the Southern States un-
der the domination Of military masters. II
calm reflection shall satisfy majority Of
your honorable body that the acts referred
to are not only violation of national faith
but in direct conflict with the Constitution.
dare not permit myself to doubt that YOU
will immediately strike them from the stat.
te-book. TO demonstrate the unconstitu-
tionAl character nj thaca
more than to refer to their general provia.
ions. 1t muss be seen at once that they are
not authorized TO dictate what alterations
shall be made in the constitutions Of the
several States, to control the elections of
State Legislators and State officers, men,
bers Of Congress and electors Of President
and Vice President, by arbitrarily declar-
ing who shall vote and who shall be exclud-
ed from that privilege, to dissolve State
Legislatures or prevent them from assem-
bling, 10 dismiss judges and other civil
functIonaries OF States aud appoint others
without regard to State laws, to organize
and operate al political machinery Of States.
to regulate the whole administration Of their
domestic and local atf .irs according to the
mere will Of strange and irresponsible
agents sent among them for that purpose.
These are powers not granted to the Fed.
erai government or any Of ito brsnches.
On the question Of negro suffrage he SAYS
the plan of putting the Southern States
wholly and the Federal Government partial
" into the hands Of negroes 70 proposed Ct
. time peculiarly inappropriate. The
foundations Of society have been broken up
BY civil war. Industry must be re organ
lied, justice establi shed, public credit main
tanned, aud order brought out of confusion.
To accomplish these ends would require ali
the wisdom and virtues Of the great men
who formed our institutions originally. l
confidently believe that their design will be
equal 70 their afduous task before them, but
Il is more than madness to expect that ne
groes will perform it for "; certainly we
ought not to ask their assistance until We
dcspair Of our own competency. The great
difference between the two races in physi-
cal, mental and moral characteristics will
prevent an Indignation and fusion OF I ZEN
together in one homogeneous mass. If
the inferior obtain the ascendepcy
over the Other will govern with Surveillance
entirely to its own interest, for il will recop-
nize no common interests, and create such
. tyranny Is this continent has never vet
witnessed Already the negroes are in
nuenced BY promises of contiscatiou and
piunder they are taught to regard a. su
enemy every white man who has any re-
epsct for the rights Of his own race II mi.
continues il mus, become worse and wer.e
until al order will be subverted. all inlm,.
Try cease, and the fertile fields Of the Souah
grown up into . wilderness. VI Ill the
dangers which our nation has voA enenuc-
tered, none ere equal to those whish must
rsssls from the success Of the effort nov
making to Afrieanise hall our country.
The President refers TO the executive
only - follows: How fas The duty Of the
President to preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution requires him to 70 in op-
posing any unconstitutional oct OF Con-
gress, il very serious and important qucs-
ton, on which have del.berated
much and fett extremely anxious to
reach proper conclusion. Where an
acs has been passed according 10
the forms OF the Consultation. by the SUI
preme legislative authority Of the country.
Executive resistance TO il. especially IN
times Of high party excitement. would he
likely to provoke violent collision between
The respective sdhercnts Of the two branch
es Of The Government. This would be Sim
ply civil war; and civil war must be resort |
ca to only as the last remedy for the werst
OF evils. Whatever might tend to prov Oh . |
= should be ,nest carefully avoided. A
'"'0n'as a"i Conscientious magistrate viii
con'eae very much to honest order. and
some.niog even to pesvsrse malice. befose
% ~" enasnees the public psses and Be