The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1868-12-26
Presidents Message,
THE STATE OF THE UNION.

1t again becomes my duty to call
your attention to the State of the
Union, and its continued disorgan-
lied condition under the various
laws which have been passed upon
the subject of reconstruction. 1t
may be safely assumed as an axiom
in the government of States that the
greatest wrongs inflicted upon a
people are caused by unjust or arbi-
trary legislation, or by the unrelept-
ing DEGREES Of despotic rulers, and
that the timely revocation Of injuri-
Gus and oppressive measures is the
greatest good that can he conferred
upon nation. The legislator or
ruler who has the magnanimity to
retrace his steps when convinced of
an error, WILL sooner or later, be re-
warded with the respect and gFat-
| tllde,0f an intelligent and patriotic
people.
REVIEW OF THE SOUTHERN SITUA-
TION.
Our own history, although en-
bracing q period less than a century,
affords abundant proof that most if
not all our domestic troubles are di-
rectly traceable to violations of the
organic law and excessive legisla-
ton. Themost striking illustrations
of this fact are furnished by the
enactments of the past three years
upon the question of reconstruction.
After fair triaf'they have substan-
tally failed and proved pernicious
in their results, and there can be no
good reason why they should longer
remain upon the statute book.
States which the constitution guar
antees a republican form of govern
ment have been reduced to military
dependencies, 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
in Congress, Virginia, Mississippi,
and Texas are yet excluded from the
two houses, and contrary to the ex-
press provisions of that instrument,
were denied participation in the re-
cent election for President and Vice
President of the United States. The
attempt to place the white popula-
ton under the domination of persons
of color in the South, has impaired,
if not destroyed, the kindly relations
that had previously existed between
them, and mutual distrust has en-
gendered a feeling of animosity,
which, leading in some instances to
collision and bloodshed, has prevent
ed that cooperation between the
two races so essential to the success
Of industrial enterprises in the South
ern States. Nor have the inhabi-
tants of these States alone suffered
from the disturbed condition of af-
fairs growing out of these congress
sional enactments. The entire Union
! has been agitated by grave appre-
tensions of trouble, which might
again involve the peace of the ma
ton. It's interests have been in
juriously, affected by the. derange-
ment of business and labor, and the
consequent want of prosperity thro'-
out that portion of the country. The
Federal Constitution, the Magma
Charta of American rights, under
whose wise and salutary provisions
we have successfully conducted all
our domestic and foreign affairs, sus-
tanned ourselves in peace and in war,
and become a great Power of the
earth, must assuredly be now ade-
! quate to the settlement of the ques-
tions growing out of the civil war
waged alone for its vindication.
This great fact is made most man
ifest by the condition of the country.
When Congress assembled in the
month of December, 1865, civil strife
, had ceased the spirit of the rebell-
ion had spent its entire force, and in
the Southern States the people had
warmed into national life; and,
throughout the whole country, a
t healthy reaction in public sentiment
had taken place. BY the application
of the simple, yet effective, provis-
ions of the Constitution, the EXecu-
tive Department, with the voluntary
aid of the States, had brought the
work of restoration as near compile
ton as was within the scope of its
authority, and the nation was en-
couraged by the prospect of an early
and satisfactory adjustment of all its
difficulties. Congress, however, in
tervened, and, refusing to perfect the
: work so nearly Consumnated, de-
clined to admit members from the
unrepresented States; adopted a Sc
ries Of measures which arrested the
progress of restoration, frustrated all
that had been so successfully accom-
! plished, and, after three years of ag-
itation and strife, has left the coun-
try farther from the attainment of
; union and fraternal feeling than at
the inception of the. Congressional
plan of reconstruction. 1t needs no
argument to show that the legisla-
tion which has produced such baneful
consequences shoTld be abrogated,
or else made to conform to the genu-
inc principles Of republican gov
ernment.
OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL ACTS.
Under the influences of party pas
siens and sectional preiudiees, other
acts have been passed not warranted
by the Constitution.
The act Of March 2, 1867, contains
provisions which interfere with the
Presidents constitutional functions
! as Commander-in-C Chief of the army,
and deny to the States Of the Union
the right to protect themselves by
t means of their own militia.
These provisions should be at once
annulIed; for, while the first might,
in times of great emergency, serious
ly embarrass the Executive in his
: efforts to employ and direct the COM
mon strength of the nation of the
United States for its protection and
d preservation, the other is contrary to
the express declaration of the Con-
: stitution, that well-regulated mill
+ tia being necessary to the security OF
a free State, the right Of the people
4 to keep and bear arms shall not be
n infringed. 1t is believed that the
repeal of all such laws would be ac-
4 cepted by the American people as al
e least partial return to the funda-
mental principles of the Govern.
Z ment, and an indication that hereaf.
ter the Constitution is to be made
the nations safe and unerring guide
They can be productive of no perma,
: nent benefit to the country, and
should not be permitted to stand on
as many monuments Of the deficient
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