The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-12-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 9th, 1868.

AGAIN becomes my duty la call your atten-
ton to the state of the Uaioa and to its con-
tinued disorganized condition under the
various laws whiek lave iseen passed upon
the subject of Eccaastructi.u. 1t may he
safely assumed as an axiom in the govern
,nent of States that the greatest wrongs in
ticted upon peoph. are caused Ivy unjust
and arbitrary Legislation, s,y tie uurclentin%
DEGREES of dcspotic rulcrs, and that tue time
IL revocation of injpri"as, OF oppressive
measures is the greatest good that can he
conferred upon a nation The Legislature
or ruler who has the wisdom and magma
uinty to retraee his steps. when convinced
OF error, viii soaner a later nc rewarded
with the respect and gratitude of an intelli
gent and patriotic people. Our own history,
although embracing paiod less than Il
century, affords abundant proof that most,
ifnot all, of our domestic troubles are di-
rectV traceaIie to yi<.i4tians of the organic
law and excessive legislation. The most
striking llgstratinas af this fact are fur
nished by the easctlneats of the past three
years upon the question at reconstruction.
After fair triad tlsey have substantially
failed and prsSed pelncious in their results,
and there seems to I've no good reason why
they should longer remain upon the stat
ate books. States ia which the Constitution
guarantees nepaiAicsn form of government
have been aettlced to military dependencies,
in each of sgiiieh the people have been made
subject to tlG arlsitISrv will of the Com
mantiug General Although the Constitu-
lion requires that each State shall he repre-
scn,ea in Cmsnss, Virginia. Mississippi and
Texas are yet eycin<ied from the two HOUSES
and contrary to the express provisions ct
that Instrument, and were denied participa-
ton in the recent election for a President
and Vice President of the United States
The attempt Ia place the white people under
the domiaioa al persons of color in the South,
has impaired, If not destroyed, the kindly
relations that had previously existed be-
Z tween then, and mutual distrust has cngen-
4lcrcd i,<.iing of luminosity which, leading
in some instances to collision and bloodshed.
las prevented that cooperation between the
twn races so essential to the success of indus
I trial enterprises in the Southern States. Nor
/ have the inhabitants of those States alone
suffered iroaa the disturbed condition of at
fairs growing out OF these Congressional
cnactmeats- The entire Union has been
agltated 10y grave aPprchcnsions of troubles
which mipht again disturb the peace of the
nation. Its interests have been injuriously
affected 10y the arrangement of business and
labor. and the consequent want of prosperity
throughout that portion of the country.
The Federal Constitution, the Magma
Charta of American rights-under whose
wise aud salutary provisions we have sue
Il cessfully conducted all our domestic and
iurcign affairs, sustained ourselves in peace
and in war, and become ii great nation
among the powers OF the earth, must assu-
redly I've now adequate to the settlement of
questions growing out of the civil war waged
alone for its vindication. This great fact is
made most manifest by the condition of the
country when Congress assembled in the
month of December, 1865. Civil strife has
ceased-the spirit of rebellion had spent its
entire force in the Southern States-tl,e PEG
pie had warmed into national life and
throughout the whole country healthy re-
action in public sentiment had taken place.
b. the application of the simple, yet effec-
tive provisions of the Constitution, the exec
utive department with the voluntary aid of
the States, had brought the work of resto-
ution as near completion as was within the
scope OF its authority, and the nation was
tercouraged by the prospect of an cally antl
satisfactory adjustment of all its difficulties.
Congress however, interfcred and refusing
i to perfect the work so nearly accomplished
1 declined to admit members from the unrep-
resented States; adopted series of meas
urcs which arrested the progress OF restora-
ton; frustrated all that had been so success,
fully accomplished, and after three years of
agitation and strife, has left the country
farther from the attainment of union and
Maternal feeling than at the inception of the
Congressional plan of reconstruction 1t
needs no argument to show that legislation
which has produced such bancful conse-
quences should lie abrogated or else made to
conform to the genuine principles of repub
lcan government.
Under the influence of party passion and
sectional prejudice other acts have been
passed not warranted by the constitution
Congress has already i,een made familiar
with my views respecting the tenure-o of office
bill. Experience has proved that its repeal
Is demanded by the best interests nf the
country, and that while 1t remains in force
the President cannot enjoin that rigid ac
eountabiiity of officers 81 essential to an
honest and efficient execution of the laws
Its repeal would enable the executive depart
nett to exercise the power OF appointment
and removal in accordance with the origina
design of the federal constitution.
The act of March Cd, 1866, making ap
aspirations for the support of the army f0l
Tie year ending June 30th. 1868, and fol
Cher purposes, contains provision which
htrrteres with the Presidents constitutional
lunction as COMMANDMENTS chief of the army
"' L.. S.-.---- Il 49, U:- 49, -. L.
"protect themselves by means of their owr
militia These provisions should be at once
'enuIIcd, for while the first might, in time.
great emergency, seriously embarrass thu
1Aecutive in efforts to employ and direc
nc common strength of the nation for it.
E"tection and preservation, the other is con
.aFy to the express declaration of the con
sHution, that "a well regulated militia he
@E necessary to the security of free State
"e right OF the people to keep and heal
ms shall not le infringed." 1t is believed
1at the repeal at all such laws would be &C
FPted 10y the American peaplc as at least a
prnal return Ia the fundamental princi
reS OF the government, and an Indication
I"I hereafter the constitution is to be made
NY nations safe and unswervinp guide
"gy can he productive of no permanen,
ent to the country, and should not be
fSmte'l to stand as so many monuments
Ne deficient wisdom which has charac
'n1ed our recent legislation.
'ue condition of our finances demands
~rly and earnest consideration of Con.
I, ms Compared with the gGowt of our DOB.
"'I"n thepuhlic expenditures have reached
amount unprecedented in our history
population of the United States in 1880
nearly four millions of people, increas.
each decade about thirty. three per cent
reached in 1860 tl,irtv-ono n;lons n, i,