The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-12-17
PRESIDENT MESSAGE

PRESIDENT S MESSAGE
Fellow ctlSe"s Of tbs Senate. and House Of
Representatives.: ...
Upon the re assembling Of Con.
gress, it again becomes my duty
10 call Your attention 10 tho state
OF the Union and it's disorgSnizcd
condition under the various laws
which lave 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 arc caused By an un'
Just aud arbitrary legislation, or
by tho unrelenting DEGREES Of des-
potic rulers, and that the timely re.
vocation ofinjurious and oppressive
measures, is the greatest good that
can be conferred upon nation.
The legislator Or the ruler who has
tho wisdom and .lmagnanimity to
rcIrace his steps when convinced
of error, will sooner or later, be re.
warded with the respect and graf.
itudo of an intelligent and patriotic
people. Our own history although
embracing period less than ccntu
ry, affords abundant proof that most
if not all Ofour domestic troubles are
directly traceablc to violations OF
the organic law and.to excessive
legislation. The most striking Illus
trations Of this factarc furnished by
the eractments of the past three
years upon the question ofrecon-
structiou. After tair trial they have
substantially failed, and proved per-
nicious in their results, and there
seems to be 10 good reason why
they should remain longer upon
the statute book. States, TO which
the Constitution guarantees re.
publican form Of government have
been reduced to military depend.
encies, in each of which the pe0.
pic have been made subject to the
arbitrary will OF the commanding
General. ..-..
Although the Constitution re,
quires that each State shall be rep.
resented in Congress-, Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas are yet ex.
cluded from tho two Houses, and
contrary to the express provisions
Of that instrument, were denied
participation in the recent election
for President ana Vice President
of the United States. ....
The attempt to place the white
population under the domination
of persons of color in the South,
has impaired, if not entirely do
stroyed tho kindly relations that
had previously existed between
them, and mutual distrust has en-
gendcred feelings of luminosity,
which, leading in some instances 10
collision and bloodshed, has pre-.
vented that co operation between
tho two races so essential to the
success of industrial enterprises in
the Southern States. Nor havo
the inhabitants ofthose States alone
suffered from the disturbed condi-
tion of affairs growing out OF these
Congressional cnactments. The
entire Union has been agitatod by
grave apprehcnsions of troubles
which might again involve the
peace of tho nation. It's interests
have been injurlously affected by
the arrangement of business and
labor, and the consequent want of
prosperity throughout that portion
Of the country The Federal Con
stitution, the magma 'harta Of Am
crican rights, under whose wise
and ealutary provisions We have
successfully conducted all our do.
mestic and foreign affairs, sustain.
ed ourselves in peace and in war,
and become great nation among
tho powers of the earth, must as
suredly now be adequate TO the set
tlement OF the questions growing
out of tho civil war, which was
waged alone for its vindication.
This great fact is madc NANTES!
by the condition of the country
when Congress assembled in the
month of December, 1865. Civil
strife had ceased, the spirit of re-
bellon had spontits entire force in
the Southern States, the people had
warmed into national lie, aud
throughout tho whole country u
healthy reaction in public senti'
ment had taken place. BY the ap'
plication of the simple, yet effect.
i've provisions Of tho Constitution,
the Executive Department, with
the voluntary aid Of the States,
had brought tho work of rcstora
ton, as near completion as was
within tho scope Of its authority,
and the nation was encouraged by |
the prospect of an early and salts
factory adjustment of all its diff
cllties. Congress, however, inter-
vencd, and refusing TO perfect the
work so nearly consummated, de-
clined to admit members from the
unreprescnted States adopted a
series of measures which arrested
tire progress of restoration, truslra.
ted all that had been 50 success
fully accomplished, and, after three
years of agitation and strife, has
left the country further from the
attainment of union and fraternaI
feeling than at the inception OF the
Congressional plan OF reconstrnc'
ton. 1t needs no argument to show
that legislation which has produ'
ced such baneful consequences
should bo abrogated, or else made
to conform to the genuine prlncl'