, 1868-12-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

/
Union, and to its continued disoreauized
condition under the various laws which have
been passed upon the subject Of reconstruction.
1t may be safely assumed as an axiom for
the government of States, that the greatest
wrongs inflicted upon people are caused by
an unjust and arbitrary Legislation, or by the
unrelenting DEGREES of despotic rulers, and
that the timely rcparation of unwise and ops
pressive measures is the greatest good that
can be conferred upon a nation. The Legis-
lature or ruler who has the wisdom and mag
nanimity to retract 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, al
though embracing a period of less than a
century, affords abundant proof that most, if
not all, the state troubles are directly trace
able to violations Of the organic law and op-
pressive legislation. The most striking il
lustrations Of this fact are the eDactments of
the past three years upon the question of
reconstruction. After fair trial they have
substantially failed and proved pernicious in
their results, and there seems to be no good
reason why they should longer remain upon
the statute book States to which the con-
stitutioL guarantees a republican form of
government have been reduced to Dependent
cies, in each of which the people have been
made subject to the arbitrary will of the com
manding general Although the Constitu>
tiUn requires that each State shall be repre-
sented in Congress, Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas are Yet excluded from the Houses,
and contrary to the express provisions Of that
instrument, have been denied participation
in the recent election for President and Vice
President 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 distrust has en-
gendered feeling of animosity which, lead
| ing in some instances to collision and blood
shed, has prevented that co operation between
the two races so essential to the success of
industrial enterprises in the Southern States.
! Nor have the inhabitants of those otates
alone suffered from the disturbed condition
of affairs growing out of Congressional enact>
ments. The entire Union has been agitated
]
might again involve the peace of the nation.
its interests have been injurously affected
| by the drought of business and labor and
consequent Sant of prosperity through that
part OF the country. The Federal Con>titu>
ton, the Magma Charta of American rights,
under whose sautary provisions we have sue
cessfully conducted all our domestic and
| foreign affairs, sustained ourselves in peace
and in war, and become a great Nation
among the Powers of the earth, must assu-
redly be now adequate to the settlement of
questions growing out of the civil war waged
alone for It's vindication. This great fact is
made more manifest by the condition of the
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 States. The people
had warmed into national life, and through
out the whole country healthy reaction in
public sentiment bad taken place. BY the
application of the simple yet effective provi>
sions of the Constitution, the Executive de-
partmeut with the voluntary aid of the States,
had brought the work of restoration as near
completion as was within the scope of its au-
thority, and the nation was encouraged by
the prospect of an early and satisfactory ad-
justment of all our difficulties. Congress,
however, interfered, and refusing to perfect
the work so nearly consummsted, and to ad-
init members FROM the unreconstructed States,
adopted series of measures which arrested
the progress of restoration, frustrated all that
had been so successfully accomplished, and
after three years of agitation and strife has
left the country further from that attainment
of union and fraternal feeling than at the
commencement of the Congressional plan of
reconstruction. 1t is now argued to show
that the legislation which has produced such
baneful consequences should be 'abrogated or
else made to conform with the genuine prin>
ciples of republican government. Under
the influence of party spirit and sectional
prejudice other acts have been passed not
warranted by the Constitution.
TENURE OF OFFICE BILL.
Congress has already been made familiar
with my views respecting the Tenure of Office
bill. Experience has proved that its repeal
is demanded by the best interests of the
country. aOQ Ludb WullS ~ IL AOiCC
the President cannot enjoin that rigid &C.
countability for public officers, so essential to
an honest aud efficient execution of the laws.
Its repeal would enable the Executive De-
partment to exercise the power of appoint
ment and recall, in accordance with the
original design of the Constitution. The act
Of March 2. 1868, making appropriations for
the support of the army for the year ending
June 80. 1868, and for other purposes con-
taius provisions which interfere with the
Presidents functions as Commander-in-Chiei
of the Army, and with his duty to the States
of the Union and their right to protect the
States BY means of their own militia. These
provisions should be at once annulled; iol
while the first might, in times Of great emer'
gency, seriously embarrass the Executive IL
his efforts to employ and direct the common
strength of the nation for its protection ano
preservation, the other is contrary to the ex
pressed declaration of the Constitution that
well regulated militia being necessary to tae
| security Of free State, the right Of the Peo-