The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-12-16
Presidents Messsg,.
EnNna o. clL
.Gand AoasosdfRspS1senatiue$

tN@ e~"'" 1NV"'oA " 1FSscPFeoeHuttUeS
Upon the assembling Of Congress, it
again becomes my duty to call your
attention to the state Of tho Union, and
TO its continued disorganlzed condition,
guLdsr0thelvarious laws whichjhave been
passed uron the subject Of reconstruc-
tion. 1t may be safely assumed rs an
axiom ~ the government Of States, that
the greatest wrongs inflicted upon a
people arc caused by unjust and arbtra-
ry legislation, or by the unrelenting
DEGREES OF dospoic rulers, and that the
timelyreyoca,lon s6fiEjatioGa and op.
pressive measures is the greatest good
that can be conferred upon nation.
Tho Legislator or ru,&r who has the wis.
dom and luagnaminity to retrace his
steps when convintea Of error. will
sooner or later be rewarded with tho
respect and gratitude Of M intelligent
and patriotic people. Our own country,
though embracing period loss than a
century, affords st1N6g proof that most,
It not all, our domestic troubles are d..
yreoll!Y traceable Ito yiolhhoni Of the or
ganic laws and excessive legislation.
The striking illustrations of this fact'are
furnished by the enactments Of tho past
threetyears upon the question Of recon-
struction. After sore trial. they sig
nallys failed and proved ahortive, ,giprnci.
pa'y IN their results, and there seems to
be no good. reason why they should
l,nger remain upon the statute book
Statestotwhich tho Constitution dguars
antees republican form of Government t
3hayeibsen reduced tomilitaryl aepon.
dences' in each Of which the people
have lbeen made subjectnto tho arbitrary
will of the commanding general, al
though the Constitution REQUIRES, that
that each State shall DO represented in
Congress. h Virginia, Misslssippit and
Texas are yet excluded from the two
Houses, aRd,, contrary itointle express
provision in that instrument, were de.
hied participation in tho recent election
for President and Fico- President of the
United, Ssetesop Tho attempt to place
the white people under the domination o
PERSONS Of color which has impaired
II not destroyed, The kindly relations
that had previously. existed among them
and mutual dis'rust has engcndered a
feeling Of animosIty, which, leading in
some instances to collision and blood.
shed, has prevented that cooperation
between The two races, 80 essential to
the success Of industrial enterprises oI
theSSonthern tS,atesa sHavealie iHliabI
tants ofthose States alone suffered from
tho disturbed condition ofaffairs, grow
ing cut OF these Congressional enact.
ments? Tho entire Union has boen
agtated by grave apprehends oftroublcs,
which might again Involve the peace,ol
the nation. It's interests have been
injurionsly affected BY the arrangement
OF business and labor and the aconse.
quent want of PROSPERITY throughout
that portion of.he country. The Fede
raj Constitution, ithss mayaaz chqrta Of
Americanrights, under whose Wiisoo and
snlutary provisions we have successfully
conducted all our domestic and foreign
affairs sustained ourselves in peace and
inHwaT and become q great nation
among the powers ofthe earth. must
sssarsalysbs now adequatooiS TO tositiiflsseeto TIC SET
,lement ofqnes,ions growing out OF the
civil war waged at one time for
vlndication. This great fact is made
most manifest blythe condition OF the
country.
When Congress assembled in tho
month OF December, 1896, civil strife
eeaaed, the spirit Of rebellion had spcnt
Hs entire force ,ih tho Southern States
the people il,ad warmed sinto: national
lite, and throughout the whole country
9ahselshy reaction in public sentiment
had taken place. BY The tappljca.,oa a, ,sf
Of The simpler, yet effective, provisions
ottheF Constitution, the qESacntive SDe.
partmenhi ,withahoavolanta tary uid of ,h4
States,had brought tho work OF, ses,ora.
ton as sgesr completion sns was within
tho scope ofits authority. The nation
@asosneodtaged by the ,prospec. Of. an
early and ;sa,isfaetoryyad adjastmsnt OF MI
,ts difficult 8; Congress however
interyeneaEand refisiag TO StpefSeeeH Hthe
work % nearly ,consammated, stleclued
~ admit members from the unrepresent-
ed States, aaoEeaoaeseriss' of m ca sures
which arrested l1es progresses restorasI
non. frustrated all that jbeeliso fsuccess.
fully accomplished, and after three ,yenrs
ofaEitatiohahd atfife las LEFT ,tha q, conn;
tfya larlher nom The a. tainnaonts Of nalo,,
apa irsternal feeling, sl,anb;at the ,;ncep.
t.ou'osstlles congressional sflahnof fetoiis
sstncssioii. ss s,ls, Y. heed o fgSmSnt IA