Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-12-18
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Eeuo,c-ciitiizems Of the Senate and

again becomes my duty to call your atten-
ton to the state Of the Union, to its continu
ed disorganized condition under the various
laws which have been passed upon the sub
iect of reconstruction. 1t may be safely as
su,ned as an axiom in the government of
Stutes that the greatest wrongs inflicted up
on people are caused by unjust and arbitra-
nv legislation or by the unrelenting DEGREES
Of despotic rulers, and that the timely revo-
cation Of injurious and oppressive measures
is the greatest good that can be conferred
upon a nation The legislator or ruler who
has the wisdom and magnanimlty to retrace
his steps when convinced of error will sooner
or latter be rewarded with the respect and
gratitude of an intelligent ard patriotic PEG
pie. =
Our own history, although embracing a
period less than aycentury. affords abundant
proof that most if not all Of our domestic
troubles are directly traceable to violations
of the organic law and excessive Legislation.
The most striking illustrations Of this fact
are furnished by the enactments OF the past
three years upon the question ofreconstrue-
ton. Aftera fair trialtbey have substantl-
ally failed. and proved perniclous IN their
results, and there seems to be no good rea-
son why they should longer remain upon
the statute book. States to which the Con.
stitution guarantees republican form OF
government have been reduced to military
dependencies, ia each Of which the people
have been made subject to the arbitrary will
of tho commanding General. Although the
Constitution requires that each State shall
be represented in Congress, Virginia, Mis-
sissipp, and Texas are yet excluded from
the two Houses, and contrary to the express
provisions of that instr lment, were denied
nartcipation in the recent election fer a
| President and Vice President Of the United
1 States. = - - - ~ Il
The attempt to place the white population
under the domination Of persons OF color IL
the South has impaired, ifnot destroyed the
kindly relations that had previously existed
between them, and mutual distrust has en-
rendered feeling Of animosity which, lead
;nr N some instances 10 collision and blood
shed. has prevented that cooperation be-
tween the two races so essential to the sue
cess of industrial enterprise IN the sou'heff
/ States Nor have the inhabitants Of tliosf
States alone suffered from the disturbed con
dition of affairs growing out OF these con
oressional enac,ments. The entire UnloF
| has been aeitated by grave apprchensions o
troubles which might. again involve th'
peace of the nation Its interests have beef
iniuriously affected by the derangemfnt o
business and labor. and the consequent van
Of prosperity throughout that portion OF f p
county The Federal Constitution on 1.fo 10
magma charter of American rights, unde
whose wise and salutary provisions We hav
successfully conducted all our domestic AM
foreign affairs, sustained ourselves in peac
and in war, apd become, a great natter
among the Powers oF The -eaTsh, mRst as
suredIy be now adequate to the settlement @
questions growing out Of the civil war wage
alone for its vindication. This great fact i
made most manifest by the condition Of 'th
country. when Congress assembled in til
month of December, 1865, civil strife ha
ceased, the spirit Of rebellion had spent it
entire force in the southern States, the PEG
pie had warmly entered into the natlona
> life. and throughout the whole country
healthy ret action in public sentiment ha
4 taken place by the application Of the snlpl
yet effective provisions Of the Constitution
The Executive Department, with the volun
, tary aid Of the States, had brought the wol
OF restorationas near completion as was with
in the scope Of its authority, and the natio
was happy in the prospect Of an early an
satisfactory adjustment Of all Its difficulties
Congress, however, interviewed, and re
; fused to perfect the work SO nearly coneum
mated. declined to admit members from tn
unrepresented States, adopted series {
measures which arrested the progress Of re
storation frustrated all that had been so SUE
cegsfulIy accomplished, and after three yea.
! of agitation and strife has left the countr
farther from the attainment of union and fra
! tcrnal feeling than at the inception Of th
t congressional plan of reconstruction
needs no argument to show that leglslatlo
which has produced such baneful conse
auences should be abrogated, or else made
conform to the genuine principles OF repnt
ican government, Under the influence
party nassiop and sectional prejudice othe
3 acts have been passed not warranted by til
Constitution. a4 e '.a
), + Congress has already been made famiiia
, with my views respecting the tenure ot-oiiie
bill. Experience has proved that It's fepei
!. is demanded by the best interests OF tn
country, and that while it remains i'll Fax
the President cannot enjoin that rigid az
countability of public officers 50 essential
an honest and efficient execution of the laws
Its re vocation would enable the Executy
Department to exercise the power oFappoin
! mcnt and removal in accordance with I'll
original design of the Federal Constitution
The act Of March 81. 1867. making Sal
preparations for the support of theaarlny i
the year ending June 30, 1868. and fe
Other purposes, conTaips provisions Whill}ah il
terfere with the Presidents constitution
functions as Communicated chief of the arm,
J and deny to the States of the Union, I'll
right to protect themselves by means OF the
, own militia These provisions should be
i once annulled, for while. the first might
times of great emergency seriously emba bar I
the Executive IL efforts to employ and dire e
the common strength of the nation for j
d protection and preservation, the othef
contrary to the express declaration of tt
Constitution that "a well-regulated mlllt
. being necessary to. the secnri'y of y tr'
J, State, the right of the people 10 keep az
Is bear arms shall not be impaired " Its b
: lievcd that the repeal of all such laws wou
be accepted by the American people as
least a partial return 10 the fupdament
principles Of the Government and auindlc'
d ton that hereafter the Constitution is to
r made the nations safe, unerrng guild
n n They can be productive of no pefmane'
js good to the country, and should not be pc
nlitted TO stand as so many monuments
the deficient wisdom which has characterllz:'
70 our recent legislation. !,
'e The condition Of our finances demands u
early and earnest consideration OF Oongres