Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1868-12-19
Presidents Message.
Fcllow-citiSens cfMc Senate
and House Of Represc

anu 1IOUSe " AGeF|eSe"S"fOes'
Upon the reasscmbling Of Congress it
again becomes my duty to call your atten.
ton to the state Of the Union and to its con.
tinucd dsorganized condition. Under the
various laws which have been passed upon
the subject of reconstruction, it may be
safely assumed as an axiom for the Govern
mcnt of States that the greatest wrongs in-
flictcd on people are caused by an unjust
and arbitrary legislation, or by the unrelent-
ing DEGREES of despotic rulers, and that the
timely reparation Of unwise and oppressive
measures is the greatest good that can be
conferred upon nation. The legislator or
ruler who has the wisdom and magnanimi.
ty to rctrace 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 Of less than a
century, affords abundant proof that most,
if not all, the State troubles are directly
traceablc to violations of the organic law
and oppressive legislation. The most strik-
ing illustrations of this fact are furnished
by the cnactments of the past three years
upon the subject Of reconstruction. After
a fair trial, they have substantially failed
and proved pernicious in their results, and
there seems to be no good reason why they
to which the Constitution guarantees a re-
publican form Of government have been
reduced to dependencies, in each Of which
the people have been made subject to tho
arbitrary will of a commanding General,
although the Constitution requires that
each State shall be rcprescntcdin Congress-
Virginia, Mississippi and Texas are yet cx-
cluded from both Houses, and, contrary to
the express provisions Of that instrument,
have been denied participation in the re-.
cent election for President and Vice Prcsi.
dent Of the United States. The attempt
to place the white population Of the South
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 dstrust
has ongendcrcd a feeling of animosity
which, leading in some instance to collision
and blOOdshed, has prevented that co-opera-
ton between the two races so essential to
the industrial enterprise in the Southern
States; nor have the inhabitants Of those
States alone suffered from the disturbed
condition Of affairs growing ont of Oon-
gressiOnal enactments. The entire Union
has been agitated by grave sppreheusions
Of troubles which might again involvs the
peace Of the nation; its interests have been
iijuriously affected BY. the drought Of bisi-
hess and labor and consequent want OF
prosperity throughout that portion Of tho
country. The Federal Constitution, the
magma charter Of American rights, under
whose salutary provisions We have sdccess-
fully conducted al our domestic and for
eign affairs, sustained ourselves in peace
and in war, and become great nation
afnong the powers Of the Garth, must d.
snredly be now adequate to the settlement
OF questions growing out Of the civil war,
wagcd alone fof its vindicatiou. This
great fact is mado more manifest by the
condition of the country. When Congress
assembled in the month of ofDccembcr, 1865,
civil strife had ceased the spirit of frcbcl-
lion had spent its entire force in all the
southern States, the people had warmed
into national life, and throughout the whole
country healthy reaction in public senti-
%cnt had taken place by the application Of
the simple yet effective provisions Of the
Constitution: Tho Executive Department,
with the voluntary aid of the States, had
brought the work Of restoration ~ near
completion as was within tho scope Of it,
authority and tho nation was encouraged
by the prospect Of an early and satisfactory
adjustment Ofall its difficulties. Congress-.
however. intcrfcred, aud refusing to per-
feet the work so nearly consummated, and
tn admit members from the unrcprescnted
States, and adopting series Of measures
which arrested the progress Of re toratiou