Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-12-17
The Presidents Message.

'"A AHS
,nr readers. 1t would Fill fifteen
,r twenty columns. We must be
therefore, with a brief
though able notice, which we clip
from the Nashville Banner:
The message opens up with the
vexed problem of reconstruction,
the responsibility for the misman-
of which is handled by
the President with that mastery
power and earnestness which is
his prominent characteristic. He
finds abundant proof in the histo-
ry of the country, brief as it Isl
that all our domestic troubles are
traeeable to violations of organic
laws and excessive legislation, es-
pecially illustrated in the recon
struction enactments of the last
three years, and pronounces them,
as history will pronounce them.
the most utter failures that ever
disgraced the statute books. His
charges that the attempt to place
the whole Southern population un-
der the dominion of the blacks, has
impaired the kindly relations pre-
viously existing between the races,
evinces his thorough comprehen-
sion of the actual situation in the
South, and show that he has been
no careless, unrefectiug observer
of passing events. Equally true
are his premises of the possibility
'of such recklessness on the part
of the rulers, involving the whole
nation again in serious troubles,
to say nothing of the immediate
arrangement of the general BUSH
ness and labor of the country at
large.
The President ably and COM
prehensively reviews the unre-
publican legislation of Congress
since 1865, when a healthy reac-
ton in public sentiment had COM
menced. Reiterating his own
previously expressed opinion, the
repeal of the Tenure-oi-office Bill
is demanded by every interest of
the Nation, and the repeal of all
such laws would be accepted by
the people as at least partial
return to the fundamental princi-
Piles of the Government and the
Constitution.
The anomalous condition of our
finances receives the attention
which its vital importance de.
mands. We indulge in no exag-
gerative eulogy when we say that
the complicated questions involved
were never treated with more
force, clearness and appropriate.
ness of suggestion. Even had the
Taxpayers of the nation not here.
tofore demanded immediate and
sweeping legislation as remedy
for the numberless evils entailed
upon us by a deprecated and ir-
redeemable currency, the ir.
REPUTABLE array of facts and fig
ures presented in the message
would be sufficient to convince
the most skeptical. While the
policy recommended by the Presi-
dent can work no actual injustice
to that class of capitalists who
have rcaped such enormous profits
from the necessities of the Gov
eminent, to our commercial and
industrial interests it must speedi-
ly bring that relief which is so
urgently needed. As Congress
will probably proceed at once to
legislate with regard to the dis
ordered finances of the country,
it may now, with perfect safety,
follow the path to prosperity so
clearly indicated by the Execu-
tive, whose "policy" has hitherto
been so remorselessly ridiculed and
frustrated by that body.
He thinks the time has arrived
when the Government and Ma
tional Banks should make an ar
rangement for the resumption of
specie payments. His views with
regard to the convenience of a
gold and silver currency may be
earnest, yet we can not say that
we are prepared just yet to admit
the practicabllity of the methods
by which such consummation may
be reached, with the great search
ty of coin in the country at the
present time.
From the report of the Secre-
tary of War, the President quotes
the strength of the military force
of the Nation. at $4,000 men,
,rb;oJ, roav no diminished without