Indiana American., 1868-12-18
TERMS or SUBSCRIPTION,
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fsiiow- Cifisess ef Me .Ssnate and Hoas'
Of Representatives. is4i iie. eii q,
Upon the rssssembling Of Con eress, l
again becomes my duty 10 call your at
tsntion TO the state Of tho Union aud IL
disorganifed condition under the varioul
laws which have been passed upon the sub
ject Of reconstruetion.a i'a.' Isf
CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION DEMANDED
II may be safely assumed, as an axiom
In the government OF the States, that th'
greatest wrong inflicted upon people u
caused by unjust aud arbitrary legislation
or by the unrelenting deerees Of despotls
rulers, aud that the Withdrawal OF injur.
ious and oppressive measures 10 the great
est good that can be confsrred upon na.
ton. The legislator or the ruler who has
the wisdom aud magnanimity TO retrace
his steps. when convinced OF error, will
sooner or later, be rewarded with tho res
pect aud gratitude Of an intelligent aud
patriotic people.
Our own history, although embracing .
period Of less than century, affords abun,
dant proof that most, II not all, our do
mesiis troubles are directly traeeable "a
the violations Of the organic laws and ex
.eessive legislation. The most striking H.
lpstralons Of this fact, are furnished by
the enaetmenss OF the past three years up.
on the question OF reconstruction. AtteI
fair trial. they have substantially failed
aud proved pernioious 10 their results, aud
there seems to be no good reason why they
should longer remain upon the statute
book.
States TO which the Constitution guar
raatees a republican form OF governmep'
have been reduced TO military indepen.
denotes, in each Of which the people have
been made subject to the arbitrary will Of
the commanding general, although the
Constitution requires that each State shall
be represented Ia Congress, Virginia, Miss
issippi aud Texas are yet excluded from
the Houses, aud contrary TO the express
provisions cf that instrument. were de-
MED participation in the recent election
for President aud Vice President OF the
United States.
The attempt TO place the whole ropula'
ton under the domi nations OF perscns OF
color Ia the South, has impaired, IL mol
destroyed, the kindly relations which had
previously existed between them. and niu
iual dslrust has aroused feeling Of au-
imosity which, leading Ia some instances
70 collision aud bloodshed, has prevented
that cooperation belwcen the two races
30 essential to the success OF industrial en-
terprises In the Southern States. Nor
hsvs the Inhabitants Of those States alone
suffered from the disturbed coalition Of
Affairs growing OF Congressional enact
meuis The. entire Uniop has been agi
sascd by grave apprchensions Of troubles
which might again involve the peace Of
the nation. It's interests have been in.
juriously affected by the arrangement oi
business and labor, aud the consequent
want Of prosperity throughout that por
tion Of the country.
MY POLICY REAssERTEp.
The Federal Constitution, the Magma
Chsria of American rights, under whose
wise aud salutary provisions We have sue
cessfully conducted all our domestic and
foreign affairs In peace aud Ia war, aud
become great nation among the powers
OF the earth, must assuredly now be ad-
equato TO the settlement Of questions
growing out OF the civil war waged for Ii
vindica,ion. This great fact is made mos
manifest by The condition Of the country
When Congress assembled in the monti
OF December, 1868. civil strife bad ceased
the spirit of rebellion had spent i's enlil'
ioroe In the Southern States; tho peopl,
had warmed into national life, aud through
out the whole country a healthy reaction il
public sentiment had taken place by the
application OF the simple, yet effective
provisions OF the Constitution. The Ex-
eeutise Department, with the voluntary
sid OF the States; had brought the work
OF restoration as near completion ss wa
within the scopa OF its authority, aud th'
nation was encouraged by the prospect o.
au early aud satisfactory adjustment OF al
the difficulties. Congress, however, inter
fered, aud refusing 10 perfect the work 81
nearly consummaled, declined TO admi
members from Southern States, aud adopt
ed course OF measures which arreste,
the progress of restoration, frustrated al
that bad been successfully accomplished
and after three years of agitation aud strif'
has left the country further from the al
tsipnent Of Union and iraternal feelinI
than at the inception Of the Congression
al plan OF reconstruction.
IL needs no argument TO show that th
legislation which has produced such con
sequences should be abrogated, or els
made TO conform TO the genuine princi
Piles of government. Under the ipfiuen
of party passions and sectional prejudic
other acts have been passed, not warrant
ed by the Constitutions. 81 ia ~
REsTRAISTs ON TUE EXECUTIVE COM
PLANNED OF.
Congress has already been made famil
lar with my views respecting the Tenure
ofOffice bill. Experience has proved tina
its repeal is demanded by the best inter
ests OF the country, aud that while it re
maiEs in force the President can DOT en-
join that rigid accountability Of public ol
ficers so. essential to an honest and eff
cient execution Of the laws. Its repeI
would enable the Executive Departmer
to exercise the power of appointment an
removal In accordance with the origina
design of the Federal Constitution. TIL
act Of March I'd, 1867, making appropri
atoms for the support OF the army for th
year ending June 30th, 1868, and fc
other purposes, contains provisions whic
interfere withthe Presidents constitution
al functions as COMMANDMENTS. Chief {