Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-09
EVENING STAR.
EXTRA.
Presidents S Message.
E,Nor.C.t.sens Of Me .Senate

oHd Ho"s' cf Repre- riG'rss-
Uron the reassemblng Of Congress, it again
becomes my duty TO call your atteution to the
s;1te OF the Union. and to ats continued disor-
Fanized condition under the various laws
which have been passed upon The SUBJECT Of
reconstruction.
1t may safely be assumed, as an axiom in the
government of States, thar the create I wrongs
rnicted uPon people are caused by unjust
and arbitrary legislation, or b. the unrelent-
Ing DEGREES OF despotlc rulers. and that the
timely revocation OF injuries and Oppressive
measures rs the greatest good that can be con-
ferred upon u nation. The legisl or or ruler
who has the wisdom and magnanimIty to re-
trace his steps, when CONVINCED OF error, Will
sooner or later be rewarded with the Respect
and gratitude of an Intelligent and patriolc
people
Our own history-althougb embracing a
peTiOd less than century-aifords apuniant
proof that most, If not ALL of our domestic trou-
bles are directly traceable to violations of the
organic law and excessive legislation. The
most striking Illustrations OF this fact are fur
nIshed by the enactments of the past three
years upon the question OF reconstruction
Alter fair trial. they have subs taatially failed
and proved pernicious In their results, and
there seems to be NO good reason why they
should longer remain upon the statute
book. States to which the Constitution
guarantees republican form OF gov
taIy dependencies, in each OF which the
p' Ople have been made subject to the AZ nitrary
VIII Of the commanding general. Although
the Constitution requires that each State shall
be- represented in Congress, Virginia, Mississip-
pi, and Texas are yet excluded from the two
Houses, and, contrary to the express proyi-
sions OF that instrument, Were denied partiei-
patton III the recent election for a President
and Vice President of the United States The
attempt TO place the white population
under the domination of persons Of color In the
South has impaired, if not destroyed. the kind
ly relations that had previously existed be-
tween them; and mutual disiruSt has engen-
dcred feeling OF animosity hich, LEADING in
some instances to COLLISION and bioodshed, has
prevented that cooperation between the two
races so essential TO the success of ind ustrial
enterprises IN the Southern States. Nor have
the IL habItants OF those Safes alone suffered
from the disturbed condition of affairs growing
out of these Congressional enactments The
entire Union has been agitated by grave ap.
preLensiOns of troubles which might again in.
yOlye the peace OF the nation its interests have
been inIuriously affected by the derauyament
OF business and labor, andshe consequent want
OF prosperity throughout that portion Of the
country.
The Federal ConstitutIon-the magaa e5qrft
OF American rights, under whose wise aud
sS!utary PROVISIONS We have succe ssfuliy CON-
Quoted ali our domestic and foreign affairs,
sustained ourselves in peace and in war; aud
become a great nation among the Powers ofthe
eaTIh-mUst assuredly be now adequate TO the
settlement OF questions growing out of the civil
waeed alone for it's vndication. This
grt at fact l. made most manifest by the condi-
IIOn of the country when Congress assembled
the month of December, ISIS. Civil strife
had ceased, the spirit OF rebellion had spent its
FL ire force; in the southern States The people
had warmed into national life, and Throughout
The Whole country healthy reaction in puo-
hc sen ntImen, had taken place. BY the appli-
casiOn of the simple yet effective provisions
OF the Consultation, the Executive De-
psTtmeEt, with the voluntary aid of the
S'atts, had brought the work OF reStJratioa
Lear completion as was within the scope of Its
au horny, and the nation was encouraged by
The prospect OF an early and satisfactory adj.
justrnent OF all its difficulties. Congress, how
ever, IEteryeDed. and, refusing to perfect the
work so nearly consumnated, declined 10 ad-
NIT members from the unrepresent-d States,
adopted d series of MEASURES which arrested
the progress of restoration, frustrated all that
had been so successfully accomplished, aud,
after three years OF agitation and strife has lett
the country farther from the attainment OF
Union and fraternal feeling than al the incep-
fiOE OF Congressional plan OF reconstruction.
1t needs NO argument TO show that Legislation
which has produced Uch baneful conseQuen.
ces should be abrogated, or else made TO con.
form TO the genuine principles of republican
government
Under the influence of party passion and
sectional PIE ludice other acts have Deeu passed
not warranted by the Constitution. Congress
has already been made familiar with my views
respecting the 'tenure Of office" bill. Expert
ence has proved that It's repeal IL demanded b Y
the best interests OF the country, and that while
10 remains in force the President cannot Ell ION
that rIgid accountability Of public officers so
essential 10 an honest and efficient execution of
he laws. Its revocation would enable the
Executive Department TO exercise the power Of
appointment and removal in accordance with
the original design of the Federal Constitution.
The act Of March ,, 1867, making appropria.
tions for the support Of the army for the year
ending June 30, 1s6o, and for other purposes,
contains provisions which interfere with the
Presidents constitutional functions com.
mander -in-chief of the army, and deny to
States OF the Union the right TO protect them
selves by means Of their own militia. These
provisions should be at once annulled; for
while the first might, In times of great emery
ency, seriously embarrass the Executive in
efforts 10 employ and direct the common
strength OF the nation for lis protection and
pTesery alton, the other is contrary TO the ex-
press declaration iof the Constitution, that
'swell-regulated militia being necessary to the
secnrity of free State, the right of the peopl q
10 Keep and bear arms shall not be Infringed -
II II believed that the repeal of all such laws
would be accepted by the American People as
at least partial return to the fundamental
principles Of the Government, and an indica.
ZION that hereafter the Constitution is TO be
made the nations safe and unerrIng guide.
They can be productive Of no permanent ben
eft TO the country, and should not be permit.
ted TO stand as SO many monuments OF the de-
ficient wisdom which has characterized our
The condition Of our finances demands the
early and earnest consideration Of Congress.
Compared with the growth OF our population
the public expenditures have reached an
amount unprecedented In our history.
The population Of the United States in 1880
was nearly four millions Of people. Increasing
each decade about thirty-tEree per cent, il
reached IN 1860 thirty zone millions-an increase
of seven hundred per cent. on the population
Of $780, In 1863 1t Is estimated that IL will reach
thirty -eIght millions. or an increase Of eight
hundred and sixty.eight per cent. in seventy
nine years.
The annual expenditures of the Federal Gov.
ernment in 1871 were four million two hun.
dred thousand dollars; In 1880, eighteen mil.
lion two hundred thousaud dollars; in 1850
forty .one millions; in lS60, sixty three mil.
lions In 1865, nearly thirteen hundred mil.
lions: and in 1869 II il e. timated By the Secre.
tary Of the Treasury, in his last annual re-
port, that they viii be three hundred and sew.
enty-two millions.
by comparing the public disbursements OF
1859, rs estimated, with those Of 1871, IL viii
be seen that the increase Of expenditure since
eight thousand six hundred and eighteen per
centum, while the increase of the pop lation
for the same period was only eight hundred
and sixty .eight per centum. Again: the ex-
penses OF the Government in 1880, the year Of
peace Immediately preceding the war, were
only si1ty-three millions; while In Is 60, the
year OF peace three years after the " ar, 1t is
estimated they will be three hundred and
seventy-two minions-an increase Of four
hundred and eighty mine per centum. wh lie
the increase OF population was only twenty
one per centum FOR the same period.
These statistics further show that In 1871 the
annual national expenses, compared with the
population, were little more than one dollar
per capita, and In 1880 but two dollars per
capita: while in 1883 they will reach the ex-