The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1868-12-17
Presidents Message.
Esllop Ctileas Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives
TnB RECONSTRUCTION LAWS.

gress, II again becomes my duty to
call your attention to the state of the
Union and its disorganiEed condition
under the various laws which have
been passed upon the subject Of re-
construction. 1t may be safely as
sumed as an axiom in the govern
ment of the States, that the greatest
wrongs inflicted upon people are
caused by unjust and arbitrary legis.
lation or by the unrelenting DEGREES
Of despotic rulers, and that the time.
ly repeal Of injurious and oppressive
measures is the greatest good that
can be conferred upon nation
The legislator or the ruler who has
the wisdom aud magnauimity to re-.
trace his steps when convinced of his
error, will, sooner or later, be re
Warded with the respect and graft
tude of an intelligent and patriotic
people. Our own history, although
embracing a period less than a cen
tury, affords abundant proof that
most, if not all, Of our domestic
troubles are directly troccablc to
violations of the organic law and to
excessive legislation. The most
striking illustrations of this fact are
furnished by the cnactments of the
2 past three years upon the question Of
reconstruction. After a fair trial
they have substantially failed and
proved pernicious 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 constitution guarantees a
republican form of government have
been reduced to military dopenden-
eies, in each of which the people
have been made subject to the arbi-
trary will of the commanding gener-
al. Although the Constitution re-.
quires that each State shall be repre-.
sented in Congress, Virginia, Missis.
sippi aud Texas are yet excluded
from tho two Houses, and contrary
TO the express provisions of that in
strument, they were denied partici-
patton in the recent election for =
President and Vice President of the
United States.
The attempt to place the Who'll >
population under the domination of
persons of color in the South, has
Impaired, if not destroyed, the kind
1y relations that had previously e1-
listed between them, and mutual dis
trust has created Il feeling of ami.
mostly which, leading in some in
stances to collision and bloodshed,
has prevented that cooperation be-
tween the two races so essential to
ahe success of industrial enterprises
in the Southern States. Nor have
the inhabitants of those States alone
suffered from the disturbed condi.
tiou of affairs growing out of these
unconstitutional enactments. The en-
tire Union has been agitatcd by
grave apprehensions of trouble which
might again involve the peace of the
nation. Its interests have been in
juriously affected by the derange-
ment of business and labor, and con.
sequent want of prosperity through
out that portion of the country
The Federal Constitution-the Mag
na Charta of American rights, under
whose wish and salutary provisions
wo have successfully conducted all
our domestic and foreign affairs, sus-
tained ourselves in peace aud in war
and become a great nation among the
powers of the earth-must assuredly
now be adequate to the settlement
Of all questions growing out Of the
civil war waged alone for its vindica
tion.
This great fact is made most mani
fest by the condition of the country
When Congress assembled in thu
month of December, 1865, civil strif,
had ceased, the spirit Of rebellion
had spent its entire force in tn,
Southern States, the people haC
warmed into a national life, anC
throughout the whole country
healthy reaction in public sentimen
had taken place. By the application
of the simple, yet effective provision
of the Constitution the Executiv
Department, with the voluntary ali
of the States, had brought the worI
of restoration as Eear completion n
was within the scope Of its authority
and the nation was encouraged b
the prospect of an early and satisfac
tory adjustment of all its difficulties
Congress, however, intervened, an
refusing to perfect the work so near
ly consummated, declined to adm
members from the States, adoptea
course of measures which arreste
the progress of restoration, and fru'
Arated all that had been successful
accomplished, and after three yeai
of agitation and strife, has left tt
country further from the attainmeI
of union and fraternal feeling tina
at the inception of the Congression
plan of reconstruction. 1t needs n
argument to show that legislatic
which has produced such consequeI
ees should be abrogated or else mac
to conform to the genuine principl
OF republican government. Und
the influence Of party passion al
sectional prejudice, other acts ha
been passed, not warranted by Il
Constitution.
THE TENURE OF OFFICE BILL.
Congress has already been ma
familiar with my views respecting 7
Tenure Of Office Bill. Experience b
proved that its repeal is demanded
the best interests of the country, a
that while it remains in force t
President cannot enjoin that RIG
accountability Of officers so essent
10 all honest aud efficient exeeutl
waunlnffAn Won