Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-12-31
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

,
attention to the state of the Union
and to its continued disorganized con.
dition under the various laws which
have been passed upon the subject Of
reconstruction.
IL may be safely assumed as an AK.
ION in the government of States that
the greatest wrongs inflicted upon q
people are caused by unjust aud arbi-
trary legislation, or by the unrelent-
ing DEGREES of despotic rulers, and
that the timely revocation of injurious
ard oppressive measures is the great
est good that can be conferred upon a
nation. The legislator who has the
wisdom and magnanimity TO retrace
his steps when cognizant of errors will
sooner or later be rewarded with the
respect and gratitude Of an intelligent
and patriotic people. Our own histo-
ry, although embracing a period less
than century affords abundant proof
that'uiost il not all our domestic troubles
are directly trdeeable 10 the uiOldti0n Of
the organic ldw and erceSsiUe legislation.
The most striking illustration of
this fact is furnished by the enact
ments of the past three years upon
the question of reconstruction. After
fair trial they have substantially failed
and proved pernicious in their results,
and there seems 10 be no good reason
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 dependencies, in each OF
which the people have been made sub
ject TO the arbitrary will OF the com
manding general Although the Con-
siitution requires that each State shall
be represented in Congress, Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas are yet excluded
from the two Houses and, contrary
TO the express provisions of that in.
strument, were denied participation
in the recent election for President
and Vice President Of the United
States. The attempt TO place the
white population under the domina.
tion Of persons Of color in the South
has impaired if not destroyed the kind
" relations that had previously exist.
cd between them, and mutual distrusi
has ongendered a feeling of animosity
which, leading, in some instances, TO
collision and bloOdshed, has prevented
that cooperation between the two
races so essential to the success Of in
dustrial enterprises in tho Southern
States Nor have the inhabitants oi
those States alone suffered from The
disturbed condition of affairs growing
out OF these congressional onaotments
The entire Union has been agitateC
by grave apprehensions Of troubles
which might again involve the peac,
OF the nation. Its interests have beer
iniuriously affected by the dorange
ment of business and laborand the con
sequent want ofprosperity throughout
that portion of the country. The Fed
oral Constitution-the Magma Charts
Of American rights, under whose wis,
and salutary provisions we have sue
cessfully conducted all our domestic
and foreign affairs, sustained ourselves
in peace and in war, and become I
great nation among the powers Of tn,
earth-must assuredly be now ade
ouate TO the settlement of the question:
growing out of the civil war wage,
alone for its vindication. This grea
fact is made most manifest by the con
dition of the country when Congress
assembled in the month Of December
/ 1865. Civil strife had ceased. Tn
spirit of rebellion had spent its entir
force. In the Southern States tn
people had warmed into national life
and 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 executive dc
partment, with the voluntary aid q
the States, had brought the work {
restoration as near completion as wa
within the scope Of its authority, an
the nation was encouraged by Oh
prospect Of an early and satisiactor
adjustment Of all its difficulties, Cor
gress, however, interviewed, and, refJ
sing TO perfect the work so noarl
consummated, declined TO admit men
bers from the unrepresented Stato
adopted a series of measures whic
arrested the progress Of restoration
frustrated all that had been so success
fully accomplished and, after thre
years of agitation and strife, has Lei
the country farther from the attain
mont of Union and fraternal feelin
than at the inception Of the congre
sinnnl plan nf Reconstruction. Itneec
! no argument TO show that legislntiu
which has produced such baneful COZ
sequences should be abrogatcd, or els
made to conform TO the genuine pril
ciples OF republican government.
a Under the influence fparty passiO
2 and sectional prejudice, other acts ha1
Y been passed not warranted by the Coz
: stituton Congress has already bee
made familiar with my views rcspoc
ing the tenure of Office bill. Bxpcr
ence has proved that n repeal is d
T. mandcd by the best interests Of Il
{, country, and that while il remains
K force the President cannot cnioin thl
rigid accountability of public Office
4 so essential to an honest and efliciel
execution of the laws. Its rovocatiC
would enable the executive depar
ment to exercise the power Of appoin
ment and removal in accordance vii
I! tho original design of the Fedor
Constitution. The act Of March .
1867, making appropriations for Il
support of the array for the year en-
Z ing June 30, 1865, and for other pu
At poses contains provisions which into
ID lere with the Presidents constitutio
g al functions as Commandcr-in-Chiof
the Army, and deny 60 the States
tho Union the right TO project thol
?, solves by moans OF their own militia
- These provisions should be at on
p annulled for, while the first might
h. times Of great emergency serious
p embarrass the Executive 10 his eifor