The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1868-12-19
ppEszDENT-s MESSAGE.
FeUose Citizens of the Semcte and House
of Representatives.:

ton to the state VI tnS CuIol auu " us
continued d;sorganized condition. I'm
der the various views which have been
passed upon the subject Of reconstruction,
it may be safely assumed as an axiom f. r
the government of States that the great
est wrongs inflicted ON people are caused
by an unjust and arbitrary legislation, or
by the unrelenting decrees of despotic
rulers, and that the timely reparation of
injuries oppressive measures is the great
est good that can be conferred upon a
nation. The legislator cr ruler who has
the wisdom and magnanimity to retrace
his steps when convinced of error will
soon>r or later be regarded with the re-
spect and gratitude of an intelligent and
patriotic people. Our own history, al
though embracing period of less than
century, affords abun iant proof that most,
if not all, the state troubles are directly |
traceable to violations Of the organic law
and oppressive legislation. The most |
striking illustrations Of this fact are fur |
nished by the enaciments of the past three |
years upon the subject Of reconstruction. |
After fair trial, they have substantially |
failed and proved pernicious in their re-
| suits, and there seems to be no good rca
son why they should longer remain on
the statute book. States to which the
Constitution guarantees z republican form
of government have been reduced to de-
Tendencies, in each of which the people
have been made subject to the arbitrary
will of commanding General, although
| the Constitution requires that each State
shall be represented in Congress. Vir-
| ginia, Mississippi and Texas are yet ex-
cluded from both Houses, and, contrary
| to the express provisions of that instru-
ment, have beendenied participation in
| the recent election for President and
| Vice President Of the United States.-
The attempt to place the white popula-
tion of the South under the domination
of persons of color in the South has i'm
paired it not destroyed the kindly relations
that had previously existed between
them, and mutual distrust has engendered
a feeling of animosity which, leading in
some instances to collision and blooashsed,
has prevented that cooperation between
the two racas so essential to the success of
indstrial enterprise in the Southern States;
nor have the inhabitants Of those States
alone suffered from the disturbed condi-
ton of affairs growing out of Congress
ional enactments. The entire Union has
been agitated by grave apprehensions
of troubles which mi ght again involve
the peace of the nation !; its Interests have
. been injuriously affected by the drought
of business and labor and consequent
: want of prosperity throughout that por-
ton of the country. The Federal Con-
stitution5 the magra chartor American
rights, under whose salutary provisions
we have successfully conducted all our do
nestic and foreign affairs, sustained our
5 selves in peace and in war, and become a
e great nation among the powers of the
: earth, must assuredly be now adequate
: to the settlement of questions growing
out of the civil war, waged alone for its
E vindication. This great fact is made
3 more manifest by the condition of the
d country. When Congress assembled in
the month of December, 1865, civil strife
had ceased the spirit of rebellion had
spent its entire force in all the Southern
z z States; the people had warmed into ma
. tional life, and throughout the whole
country healthy reaction in public sen
l. timent had taken place by the application
Of the simple yet effective provisions o.
the Constitution. The Executive Depart
= ment, with the voluntary aid of the States
had brought the work of restoration a
" near completion as was within the scop'
:, of its authority and the nation was en-
couraged by the prospect of an early ant
: satisfactory adjustment of all its Difficult
ties. Congress, however, 1nter1ereo, an
IS refusing to perfect the work SO nearl
ct consummated, and to admit member
from the unrepresented States, and ad
opted a series of measures which arreste
the progress of restoration and frustrate
all that had been SO successfully accom-
plished, and after three years of agitatio
and strife has left the country fhrthe
from that attainment of Union and frs
ternal feeling than at the commencement
OF the Congressional plan of reconstru.
ton. 1t is now argued to show that th
Legislation which has produced SO BAN
1. ful consequences should be abolished
else made to confirm with the genuir
principles of a republican government
Under the influences of party spirit an
nal sectional pref udice, other acts have bee
'ss passed not warranted by the Constit
ton.
TENURE OF oFFfcE BILL.
- Congress has already been made
miliar with my views respecting the Tenu
of Office Bill. Experience has prov
that its repeal is demanded by the bt
interests of the country, and that while
remains in force of the President cam
enjoin that rigid accountability for pub
officers, SO essential to an honest al
efficient execution of the laws It's
peal would enable the Executive Depa
o1s ment to exercise the power of appoi
ment and recall, in accordance with t
original design Of the Constitution.
The acts of March 2, 1868 making
soou nominations for tho wear ending II