Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

tinped disorganized condition under the
various laws which have been passed upon
the subject Of Reconstruction.
II may be safely assumed as an axiom
in the Government of States, that the
greatest wrongs inflicted upon people
are caused by an unjust and arbitrary leg
islation, or by the unrelentipg DEGREES Of
despOtic rulers and that the timely revo-
cation of injurious and oppressive meas
ures is the greatest good that be conferred
upon a nation. The legislator or ruler
who has the wisdom and insgnanimity to
retrace his steps when convinced of error
will sooner or later be regarded
with the respect and gratitude of
an intelligent and patriotic people Our
own history, although embracing period
less tkan century, affords abundant
proof that most, if not all, OF
our domestic troubles are directly
traceable to violations of the Or
ganic law and excessive legislation.
Most striking illustrations of this fact
are furnished by the enactment OF the past
three years upon the question of recon-
struction. After fair trial, they have
substantially failed and proved perni-
cious 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 a re-
publican form of government have been
reduced to military dependence, and in
each of which the people have been made
subject to the arbitrary will of the Com
manding General Although the Consti-
tuition requires that each State shall be
represented in Congress, Virginia, Missis-
sippi, and Texas are yet excluded from the
two Houses, and, contrary to the express
.ss,l
participation in the recent election for q
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 inn
paired, If not destroyed, the kindly rela-
tions that had previously existed between
them, and mutual distrust has engendered
feeling OF animosity " hich, leading in
some instances to collision and bloodshed,
has prevented that cooperation between
the two races so essential TO the success of
industrial enterprises in the Southern
States.
Nor have the inhabitants of those
States alone suffered from the disturbed
condition of affairs growing out of the
Congressional enactments. The entire
Union has been agitated by grave appre-
tensions of troubles which might again
involve the peace Of the Nation. Its in.
terests have been injuriously affected by
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 and salutary provisions we have sue
cessfully conducted all our domestic and
foreign affairs, sustained ourselves in
peace and in war, and become great ma
ton among the powers of the earth, must
assuredly be now adequate to the settle
ment of the questions growing out of 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 De-
cember, 1866, civil strife had ceased; the
spirit of rebellion had spent its entire
force, and in the Southern States the peo-
pie had warmed into national life; and,
throughout the whole country, healthy
reaction in public sentiment had taken
place. By the application of the sim
pie, yet effective, provisions of the Con-
stitution, the Executive Department, with
the voluntary aid of the States, had brought
the work Of restoration as near completion
as was within the scope of its authority,
and the nation was encouraged by
the prospect of an early and
satisfactory adjustment of ell its diff,
culties. Congress, however, intervened,
and refusing TO perfect the work so nearly
consummated, declined to admit members
from the represented States adopted a
series of measures which arrested the pro.
gress Of restoration, frustrated all that had
been so successfully accomplished, and,
after three years of agitation and strife,
has left the country farther from the at
tainment Of union and fraternal feeling
than at the inception of the Congressional
plan of reconstruction. Itneeds no argu-
ment to show that the legislation which
has produced such baneful consequences
should be abrogated, or else made to con-
form to the genuine principles of a re-
publican government.
Under the influences of party passions
and sectional prejudices, other acts have
been passed, not warranted by the Consti-
tuition.
Congress has already been made IA
miliar with my views respecting the ten
ure Ofoffice bill. Experience has proved
that its repeal is demanded by the best in
terests of the country; and that, while it
remains in force, the President cannot en-
join that rigid accountability of public
officers so essential to an honest and eff.
cient execution of the laws. Its revoca-
tion would enable the executive depart
ment to exercise the power of appointment
and removal in accordance with the origi.
nal design Of the Federal Constitution.
The act of March 2, 1867, making ap-
preparations for the support of the army
tor the year ending June 80, 1868, and for
other purposes, contains provisions which
interfere with the Presidents constitu-
tional functions as Commander-in-C Chief
OF the army, and deny to the States of the
Union the right to protect themselves by
means OF their own militia.
These provisions should be at once an
nulled for, while the first might, in times
of great emergency, seriously embarrass
the Executive in his efforts to employ and
direct the common strength of the nation
Of the United States for its protection and
preservation, the other is contrary to
the express declaration of the Consti-
tuition, that wellregulated militia
being necessary to the security
of free State, the right Of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
1t is believed that the repeal of all such
laws would be accepted by the American
people as at least a partial return to the
fundamental principles of the Govern
ment and an indication that hereafter the
Constitution is to be made the nations
safe and unerring guide. They can be
productive of no permanent benefit to the
country, and should not be permitted to
stand on as so many monuments of the
deficient wisdom which has characterized
our recent legislation.
The condition Of our finances demand
the early and earnest consideration of
Congress. Compared with the bulk of
our population, the public expenditures
have reached an amount unprecedented
in our history The population of the
United States in 1850 was nearly 100000
OF people. Increasing each year, about
~ per cent,7-it reached, in 1860, l,000,-
000-An increase of 700 per cent of the
population in 1890. In 1869 II is esti.
mated that It win reach 9s, 600 900, or an
increase OF S6S per cent In seyenty.nine
years. The annual expenditures Of tbe
Eederal Covarnment in i7oJ ,s,a.. a s.0