The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-12-18
PREoa1ENT,S MESSAGE.

UPON tie rea>semtiIng OF CGngrcss. II
aga becomes my duty tocaii your attention
to The States OF the Union, and IFS disor-
ranized condition under he various law
whch have been passed, mon the subject
of recorstruc,Ion 1t may be safely assum
ed rs all axiom IN the government of the
states that the greatest wrongs Inflicted
upon Lconle are caused - unjust and
blrary icgIs:aiiou or BY the unreleBting
de rees of aceroric rulers, and that the
Timely revocation Of injurious ard oppres-
sive ncasarts Is The greatest good that can
lie conferred upon nation The Legislator
or the rr.er who has the wisdon and mag
Dauinliy 10 Fttrace is st, ps " hen cOuvin-
CID Of error, viii sooner or later be reward
ed with the respect and gratitude OF in,clh-
gent anu patriotic people. Our own his.
tory. although embracing period les, th an
q century. affords abundant proof that
most, if not all. Of our donies,ic troubles
are directly traeealiic 10 violations of the
organic law and excessive legislation. The
mort striking illustrations OF tfiis fact are
furnished by the enactuents of tile ia [
three years upon the question OF recon
struetlun. After fair trial they have aub
stantlaiy failed. and proved pernicluus in
their results, and thcre seems TO be no good
reason Why they should longer Iem1in upon
the statute books. States to which the
Constitution guarantees publican form
of government, have been reduced TO mill
tgry fepe ntIeHcIea, in eucn of which the
people have been made subject to the arb
trary will Of tie commanding General
Although the Constitution requires that
each state shall he represented In Congress,
Frgin!a, Mississippi ami T"xas are exciud
cd from The House, and contrary 10 the ex
press PROVISION Of that instrument were
denied participation i'll tie rcce ut election
for President and Vice President Of the
United States. The stternpt TO place the
white population under 'hc domiustion Of
persons Of coior in the South has impaired.
If not destroyed, the kindly feeling of ami
mostly, which leading in somc ir..ranc-. 10
coi!lslSns and blood.hea, ha, prevented
that co operation between The tso races so
ssssentlsl 10 the success Of industrial enter.
prIses ID he Souta fern Sta,s-. nor have the
inhabitants Of those states a!ous suffered
frem the disturbed condition of affairs
growing out Of the congressional enact
nen's. The entire Union has been agitat
ed Is grave approximations Of troubles
which might again involve the peace OF the
nation, Its interests have been irjuriously
Affected Icy the arrangement OF tusiDes,
and labor; the consequent want OF pros
rcrliy throughout that portion Of rho conn
iry. The Federal Constitution, the mag
la chsrta" Of American rights, under
rho-c wise aud salutary provisions We have
successfully conducted oil our domestic and
foreign alialr., sustained ourselves in peace
and III war, aud become great nation
among the powers Of the earth, must as
suredy BOW be adequate TO the settlement
of the questions growing out Of the civil
war, w-ged alone for 1t, yindieaiion. This
fact IS made most manifest iy The cCndl
ton oi the country. When Congress as
-slnLIod IN lie month Of December, 1865
the civil war had ceased the spirit of ie-
bellion bad spent It's entire force; in the
southern states the people had warmed into
national life and throughout the whole
county healthy reaction IN pubic scntI-
n.ent had taken pace. BY the simple yet
effective provisions Of the Constitution !;
the Executive Department, with the vols
untary aid OF the states had brought the
work OF restoration a. near completion As
was within the scope OF its author lty, and
tie nation was encouraged by the prospect
OF all early ani satisfactory adjustment Of
all its difficulties. Congress, however, in
terfcred and refused to perfect the work
declined 10 admit the members from the
States, AMI adopted source Of measure.
which arrested the progress of restoration,
frustrated all that had been success fully &C
compilshed after three years OF agitation
and strife, and has lett the country farther
from the attainment of union ard fratcrual
feeling than at the inception OF the Con
gresSlonal plan Of recOn,tructipn. LII needs
l. ! 4 4
has produced such Consequences should he
abrogatcd, or else made to conform to the
genuine principles Of the reIu Lean GOV
ernment. Under the influence of party
passion and sectional pref ndce, other acts
have been passed unwarrante1 by the Con
1tltution. Congress has already been ma lie
familiar with my views Tcsrcc;iny the Ten
ure of Ofi,e bill. Experience has proved
that ITS repeal Is demanded 10y the best in
terests OF the COUNTY,. AMI that whii. II rt-
mains in force the President ran O. enjoin
the rigid Accountability of pabl,c oiacor, %
essential to the honest and rinc cut execp-
ton OF the laws. Its revocation soli ca
able tie executive department 10 exercise
the power OF appointment and reuoysl In
accordance with the original design Of the
Federal Constitution
HS NS' " -iuiNh ftIOf uiHk INK dIIto>
prlatlons for the support of the army for
the year ending Janc S,nh. 1868, Is .,,r
other purposes, and conta AIMS provisions
which interfere with the I're.ia,nl's C..n
stitutional functlcss As Co.nl,se.ler m.
Chief OF the army, aid d n,es 20 s,a e. a
tho Union the risht e. pro sct tlenstive,
by means of their own militia
These provisions st,-uil1 be ut noca IN
nullej, for while the 6r.t u.irl., il uaes
of great emergency seriously su.hafrs<s the
Executive in his efforts 10 ean ;toy and III
rect the common strength o the psti..4 tsr
its protection aud n, yer, ation, tae other
contrary to the express d cIsr.'i-n q. tie
Constitution, that q we'll regu ed militia
beng necessary 10 The security Of free
state, the right of the p.o, l. to keep ana
bear arms shall lot IL ittrtnsci Ii Is b.,
levcd that the repeal 1T eli ,aeh LAYS va d
be accepted by the An.iitsn people, ~ nj
least partial return 10 the fandaIen' i;
principles OF The government, A1l su inai
cation that hereafter the Constr u i.,a H. e
be made H., Dstion's safe ard un-rrial
guide. They can he productive ot no PER
nancnt benefit TO the coautry and ,hoa 1
not be permitted TO stand =. 10 many ,aoa.
umeuts OF the Efficient wisdom winch hs,