Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Fellow citizens of the Senate and House Of
Representatives
Upon the reassembling OF Congress, it
again becomes my duty to call your at
tention to the state Of the Union, and the
disorganized condition, under the various
laws which have been passed upon the
subject of reconstruction. 1t may safely
be assumed as an axiom, that in the gov
ernmeht of the States, the greatest wrong
inflicted on people was caused by IN
Just and arbitrary legislation. or by the
unrelenting DEGREES of despotie rule, and
that in the lime of injurious and oppres.
sive measures, the greatest good that can
be conferred on nation is the legisla-
tor or ruler who has the wisdom and mag
nanimity to retrece his steps when con-
WINGED of error, and be will sooner or
later be rewarded with the respect and
gratitude of an intelligent and patriotic
people Our own people--eur own his
tory, although embracing period of less
than century, affords abundant proofs
that most, if not all, of our domestic
troubles are directly traceable to direct
violations of the organic laws and exces-
siye legislation, The most striking illus
trations Of this fact are furnished by the
enaetments of the past three years on the
question of reconstruction and after a
fair trial they have substantially failed,
and proved pernicious in their results;
and there seems to be no good reason why
they should longer remain on the statute
books. States to which the Constitution
guarantees a republican form Of govern
ment have been reduced tc military de-
Tendencies, in each af which the people
have been made subject to the arbitrary
will of the commanding General; and
although the Constitution requires that
each State shall be represented in Cor
gress, Mississippi, Virginia end Texas
are yet excluded from the House, and
contrary to the express provisions of
that instrument we're denied participa-
ton in the recent election for President
and Vice President Of the United States.
The attempt to place the whole popula-
ton under the domination Of persons of
color in the South, has impaired, if not
destroyed, the kiRdly relations that had
previously existed between them, and
mutual dislrust has engendered a feeling
of luminosity, which, leading in some in
stances to collision and bloodshed, has
preyented the cooperation between TIE
two races so essential TO the success OF
industrial enterprises in the Southern
States nor have the inhabitants of those
States alone suffered from the disturbed
condition Of affairs growing out Of these
Congressional snactmenis, but the entire
onion has been sgitated by grave appre-
tensions Of trophies, which might again
involve the safety OF the nation. It's in
terests have been irjuriously affected by
the arrangement Of business and labor,
and the consequent want Of prosperity.
Throughout that portion Of the Federal
ConstiiOtion-ihs Magma ChaFls Of COM
mon rights-under whose wise aud sslu.
tary provisions we have successfully COL
Quoted our domestic and foreign STAIRS,
ourselves, in peace aad war to become a
gress la,ion among the powers Of The
earth, mist sEsussGly npw be adequate
10 the settlement Of 3 question growing
cut Of civil war waFed for its vindica.
ton. This great fact is made most nan
ifes: bv the condition Of the country
when congssgs assembled on the 9th Of
December, 1865; eiFil strife had ceased
and the spirit Of rebellion hsl spent lie
entire force. In the Southern States the
people had warmed into national life,
and throughout The whole country q
heslihy reaction in public sentiment had