The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-12-25
Annual Message Of the
President.
Reconstruction, the FL
nances, Foreign Rela-
lions, Department
Reports, sc.
Fdlop Citizens Of ne Senate and House Of
Reu.cgpufuNgeg.

auafn becomes my duty TO call your attention
TO the state Of the Union, and its disorF9u-
hnvp been PASSED. upon the subject OF re-
construction. II NAV be safely assumed az an
axiom IN the government Of the states that
the greatest wrongs inflicted upon, q people
arc caused by unjust and arbitrary lcglsla'luu
or by tho uurclcuting DEGREES ut dosnuuc
rnlo,s and that the timely revocation of inlurl-
ous and oppressive measures 10 the greatest
good that can be conferred upon u natluh'
The legislator or tho ruler who has tue Wis
dom aud maguanimity to retraco ms HtvPs
when convinced of error, viii sooner or latSr
be rewarded with the respect aud grattuuo
of intelligent aud patriotic people Out pNh
history, although embracing. q ncriod lC9s
than o century, Affords abundant pryor
that most, II not all OF our G3-
10 violations OF the organic law aud excessive
LEGISLATION. The most striking illustrations
ofthis fact are furnished by the chactthohts
Of the past three years upon the, qucstl9l Oh
reconsideration. After q fair trial they nave
sub.tantially failed. aul proved pornicious in
tEr.r results. aud there seems 20
10 10 gcol reason why they should
longer remain upon inc sta!u'u
hooks. States to which the constitution
guarantees u republican form oi goNrlhnlvh,'
hnyc been reduced 20 military dependencies
i'm each of which the pcoplo have been maze
subject to The arbitrary will OF the comman-
ding General. Although the constitution t
uuires tuat each state shall be- represented III
tpuprrs-. Virginia, Mississippi aud Texas
o," cycindc i from the House. ana
contrary to the express provisions
of that instrument were denied
participation IN the recent election Tor lresl-
dent end Nicc-pr,sidcnt OF the Ihlted 0talcH'
The attempt To place the Nht PolHlalro.
under the domination Of pcrHuiis OIL Color w
tho South has impaired, II not destroyed, thg
kindly relations That have previously eNlstcd
between them, aud mutual %distrust has en-
q, ndurcd feeling Of luminosity, Wnigh lSaulhg
In somp instances to collisions aud bloodShCd'
Ia. u1ryrutel that cooperation between the
two races 80 essential to the success oil IN
dnstrill enterprises in the Southern States,
nor have tho inhabitants OF those states
alone putIcrcd from the disturbed condllun
II affairs growing ont OF tue c3nETosssl"ns
The entire Union has been ,aEl-
tltcd by grave apprChcnsions OF troubles
which might again Involve inc
peace OF the nation; it's interests have Dccll
in,uriousiy affected by the arrangement on
bI-iup-s 1uJ labor: the consequent want OF
prosperity throughout that portion OF INC
country. The Federal Constitution, TIC
,'mapna charta' of American rights, I'M
dor whose wise and salutary, proNls-
ions We have successfully con-
dlctpd all our domestic and foreign. al
fairs, sustained ourselves in peace and IN
war, and become a great nation among the
powers of the earth, must aasuredly now DC
adequate to he settlement OF the ,qucstlch5
growing out Of the civil war, wageu alone T..
Ia yiudicatiou. This fact IL made most
manifest bv the condition Of tine country.
Mhcn Congress assembled in the month ut
, December, 1865, the civil war had ceased;
the spirit Of Tcb llinu had spent us thtlIS
force: in the southern states the peuple h1u
warmed into national life aud throughout The
whole country a healthy reaction IN pubic
sentiment had taken place. ,By the simple yel
effective provisions Of the Constitutions
the Executive Department, with me
voluntary aid uf the states had
brought the work OF rCstOratOn as near COM
uleuon IA was within the scope Of its author
ity. aud the nation was encouraged by the
prospect Of an early and satisfactory ADJUST
ment of all its difficulties. Congress, now
ever. intcrfcrcd and refused 10 peritct the
work, declined to admit the mem,
bers from the states, ana adopted
a source Of measures which arrested the
progress OF restoration, frustrated AL llal
had been successfully accomplished aitcl
three years Oi agitation aud hltlle, anu mas
left the country farther from the attainment
81 union and f~ratcrual feeling thar
nj the inception Of the Congressional plan %
reconstruction. II needs no argumtn
20 show that legislation which has produced
such consequences should DC abfOSatedi W
else made to conform to the enuin prlnci
pics OF the republican government. Undei
tha influence OF party passion ana %sectlona
prejudice, other acts have been passed IN
warranted by the Constitution. Congress
has already been made tamilar with IN,
Vows respecting the Tenure OF Ohlcc blll
Experience has proved that its repeal
demanded by the best interests 81 the com
try, and that while il remains IN force IN
President cOnnOt cujoiu thai riSid accounia
bility Of public officers 40 essential 20 IN
honest aud efficient execution Of the laws. IL
revocation would enable the executive depart
mcnt to exercise the power disappointment an
removal in accordance with the original dc
sign Of the Federal Constitution.
The act Of March ., 1867, making appropri
atoms for the support of the army for tn
year ending june Both, 1868, IL Tor other puI
poses, and contains provisions when lhtel
fcrc with the Presidents Constitutional iunc
lions az COmmundCr-iu-ChicG Of the army
and denies TO states OF tho Unlo
the right to project themselves D.
These provisions should be at once an
nulled, for while the first might, IN times 0
great emergency, seriously cmbarfasH IN
Executive in his efforts tO employ aud dircc
the common strength ofthe nation FOR II
protection and preservation, the othef, con
trary % the express declaration OF the Cor
Btitution, that a well regulated militia beini
necessary to the security OF a troc state, I'll
wight of tho poople 70 keep and bepE, aFN
shall not be mtringed. It's beheNed that u
repeal OF all such laws would DO acccptt
by theAmerican pCOplc,as at least o partial =
turn to the fundamental principles OF III
government, aud an indication that horcait'
the Constitution IL To DO made tho nation
safe and u]nCrring guide. They can be PR
ductiyo OF no permanent bcueit 10 u
country, aud should not be permitted
stand az so many monuments Of tho dctciol
wisdom which has characterized our Toeei
Legislation
The condition OF our finances demands Il
carly and earnest conslderation OF Congress
Compared with tie growth Of our popul
ton, tho expenditures have reached
amount unprecedented IN our e hlatoI
The population OF the United states IN ~
was nearly fOur millions OF people lncreaaii
each decade about thirty-throe per cent,
reached in 1860 thirty-One millions, an
l-uase OF seven hundred por cent. on I
IOpulation in 1880. In 1863 il is estimated
will reach thirty-eight millions, or an
crease of eight hundred and slXty-eight I
cent In seycnty-nine years. Inc annual
penditures of the Federal Government
i70O were four million two hundred thonsa
dollars; IN 1920, eighteen million two hui
rod thousand dollars; in 1850, tOrty-One II
lion dollars; in 1860, sixty-threo million d
Lars; in 1865, nearly thirteen hundred II
lion dollars, and in 1869 II 10 ostlmai
by tho Secretary Of tho Treasury,
his last annual ronOrt, that Il
will DO three hundred and seyenty-two n
lion dollars. by comparing tho public d
bursements OF 1867, as estimated with th'
Of 1871. IL will be seen that tho increase
expenditures since tho beginning OF the g
eminent has been eight thousand six hun
red aud eighteen per centum, Whlle the
crease of the population for the same per
was only eight hundred and sixty,eight
centum. Again, the expenses Of the COVE
ment in 1860, the year OF peace immedlat
preceding the war, were only s~ixty-three n
lion dollars, while in 1869, the year OF pea
three years after the war, it is estimated Il
will be three hundred and soventy-two II
lions, an increase offour hundred and eigh
nine per centum, willie the increase of poi
latiOn was only twcnty-one per eentum for I
same period. These statistics further sh
that in 1891 the annual national expeni
compared with the population we're a lit
moro than one dollar per capita; a
in 1860 but two dollars per capita, VIII