Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-12-09
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.


1t may be safely assumed, as an axiom IL
the government of States, that the greatest
wrongs inflicted upon people are caused by
unjust and arbitrary legislation. or by the un'
relenting DEGREES of despoc rulers, and that
the timely revocation OF Injurious and oppre'.
siye measures IS the greatest good that can DC
conferred upon a nation. The legislator or
ruler who has the wisdom and magnauimity to
retrace his steps, when convinced OF error, vii
sooner or later be rewarded with the respect
and gratitude of an intelligent and patriotic
people.
Our own although embracing pc
riod less than q century-atfords abundant
proof that most, if not all of our domestic
troubles are directly traceabe to violations OF
the organic law and excessive legislation The
most striking illustrations of this fact are fur
nished by the enactments OF the past three
years upon tho question OF reconstruction;
After fair trial. they have substantially tailed
and proved perniciOuS IN their results, ana
there seems to be no good reason why they
should longer remain upon the statute DooS'
States to which the Constitution guarantees
republican form OF government have been re,
dueed to military dependencies, 10 each OF
which the people have been made subject to
the arbitrary will of the commanding general.
Although the Constitution requires that each
State shall be represented in Congress. Viz
ginia. Mississippi, and Texas are yet excluded
from the two Houses, and, contrary to the ex-
press provisions Of that instrument, were de-
MED participation in the recent election tor Q
President and Vice President of the United
States The attempt to place the white popu-
lation under the domination OF persons OF color
in the South has impaired, If not destroyed,
the kindly relations that had previously existed
between them; and mutual dlstrust has en-
gendered feeling Of luminosity which, leading
in some Instances to collision and bloodshed,
has prevented that co operation between the
two races so essential to the success OF indus
trial enterprises in the Southern States Nor
have the inhabitants of those States alone sui
tered from the disturbed condition OF affairs
growing out of these Congressional enactments.
The entire Union has been agitated by grave
apprehensions of troubles which might again
Involve the peace of the nation; It's interests
have been injurously affected by the derange-
ment of business and labor, and the consequent
want Of prosperity throughout that portion OF
the country.
The Federal Constitution the magma charta
of American rights, under whose wise and sal
utary provisions we have successfully conducted
all our domestic and foreign affairs sustained
ourselves in peace and in war, and become a
great nation among the Powers OF the earth
must assuredly be now adequate to the settle
ment of questions growing out OF the CIVIL war
waged alone for its vlndlcation. This great tact
is made most menifest by the condition. OF the
country when Congress assembled IN the month
of December, 1865. Civil strife had ceased !;
the spirit of rebellion had spent its entire force;
in the Southern States the people had warmed
into national life, and throughout the whole
country healthy reaction in public sentiment
had taken place By the application of the
simple yet effective provisions OF the ConStitu-
ton, the Executive Department, with the vol
untary aid of the States, had brought the work
of restoration as near completion as was within
the scope of its authority, and the nation was en-
couraged by the aspect of an early and sa It's
factory adjustment of all its difficulties. Con
gress however, interviewed, and, refusing TO
perfeot the work so nearly cOnSummated, de-
clined to admit members from the unrcpresented
States, adopted a series OF measures which ar
rested the progress OF restoration, frustrated
all that had been so successfully accomplished,
and, after three years of agitation and STRIFE has
lett the country farther from the attainment OF
union and fraternal feeling than at the inception
of The Congressional plan of reconstruction. 1T
needs no argument to show that legislation
which has produced such baneful consequences
should be abrogated, or else made to conform
to the genuine principles of republican gov
eminent.
Under the influence of party passion and sec
tiOnal prejudice, other acts have been passed
not warranted by the Constitution. Congress
has already been made familiar with my views
respecting the tenure of office bill. Experience
has proved that its repeal Is demanded by the
best interests OF the country, and that while 1t
remains in force the President cannot cnJoln
that rigid accountability OF public officers so
essential to an honest and efficient execution OF
the laws Its revocation would enable the Ex-
ecutive Department to exercise the power OF
appointment and removal In accordance with
the original design of the Federal Constitution.
The act Of March, 2. 1861, making appropr-
atoms for the support Of the army tor the year
ending June 80, 1868, and for other purposes,
contains provisions which interfere with the
Presidents constitutional functions as COM
mandel -n-ehiet of the army, and deny to
States OF the Union the right to protect them
selves by means of their own militia: These
provisions should be at once annulled tor
while the first might, in times OF great emer-
gency, seriously embarraSs the Executive in
efforts to employ and direct the common
strength of the nation for its protection and
preservation, the other is contrary to the ex'
press declaration of the Constitution, that "a
wellregulated militia being necessary to the
security Of free State, the right OF the people
to keep and bear arms shall not be lnIrlnged.
1t is believed that the repeal OF all such laws
would be accepted by the American People as
at least a partial return to the fundamental
principles Of the Government, and an indica-
ton that hereafter the Constitution is to be
made the nations safe and unerring guide.
They can be productive of no permanent bene.
fit to the country, and should not be permitted
to stand as so many monuments OF the dehclent
wisdom which has characterized our recent
legislation.
The condition of our finances demands the
early and earnest consideration Of Congress-
Compared with the growth Of our population,
the public expenditures have reached an
amount unprecedented in our history.
The population of the United States IN 100
was nearly four millions of people. Increasing
each decade about thirty-three per cent, 1t