Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-12-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Feliow-citizens of the Senate, and oJ
the House of Representatives: y

IL nShiu uecoiuco NY uuty 10 Cht
your attention TO the state Of the I'm
Ion and its 'disorganized condition
under the various laws which hav,
been passed upon the subject sof re
constitution. II may be safely assumet
AS an axiom in the Government o
the States that the greatest wrong In.
flicted upon a people Is caused by un,
Just and arbitrary legislation, or By
unrelenting DEGREES OF tespotic rules
and that the end of injurious and op.
pressive measures n the greatest goot
that can be conferred on n nation
The legislator or the ruler who has
the wisdom and magnanlmity to re
trace his steps when convinced of er.
ror, will, sooner or later, be rewarded
with the respect and gratitude Of M
Intelligent and patriotic people.
Our own history, although embrac.
ing period Of less than q century
affords abundant proof that most, ii
not all, our domestic troubles are Ill
rectly traceable to violations Of the
organic laws and excessive legislation
The most striking illustrationsof this
fact are furnished by the enactments
Of the last three years on the ques-
tion of reconstruction. After o fail
trial, they have substantially failed,
and proved perniciops IN the results,
and there seems to be no good reason
why they should longer remain upon
the statute book. States to which
the Constitution guarantees republi-
can form OF Government have been
reduced to military dependencies, in
each of which the people have been
made subject to the arbitrary will OF
the commanding General. l' ~
Although the Constitution requires
that each State shall be represented
In Congress, Virginia, Mississippi
and Texas are yet excluded from the
Houses; and contrary to the expressed
provisions of that Instrument, were
denied participation in the recent
election for President and Vice Pres
ident of the United States. The at
tempt to place the whole population
under the dominion of persons of col
or in the South, has impaired, If not
destroyed, the kindly relations that
had previously existed between them,
and mutual distrust has rendered the
feeling of animOsity which, leading,
In some instances to collision and
bloodshed, has prevented that CO. o.op-
Grafton between the two races so es-
sential to the success Of industrial en-
terprises in the Southern States.
Nor have the inhabitants of these
States alone suffered from the dis
turbed condition of affairs, growing
out Of Congressional enactments.- -
The entire Union has been agitated
by grave apprehensions of troubles,
which might involve the peace of the
nation. Its interests have been inju-
riously affected by the arrangements
of business and labor, and the conse-
quent want of prosperity throughout
the country. The Federal Constitu-
ton, the magma charter of American
rights, under whose wise and salutary
provisions we have successfully con-
I ducted all our domestic ana 6reign
affairs ourselves, In peace aud In war,
and become great nation among the
powers of the earth, most assuredly
can now be adequate TO the settle
ment, of the questions growing out OF
the civil war waged for its vindica-
ton. This great fact Is made most
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 the Southern
States; the people had warmed into
National life and throughout the
whole country healthy reaction in
public sentiment had taken place.
By the application Of the terrible yet
effective provisions Of the Constitu-
ton, the Executive Department with
the voluntary aid of the States had
brought the work of restoration RS
near completion as was within the
scope of authority, and the nation
was encouraged by the prospect of an
early and satisfactory adjustment OF
all its difficulties. Congress, how
ever, interfered, and refusing to per-
feet the work 50 nearly done, declined
to admit members from certain States,
adopted course of measures which
arrested the progress of restoration,
frustrated what had been done, and
after three years of agitation and strife
has left the country further from the
attainment of union and fratcrnal
feeling than at the inception of the
Congressional plan Of reconstruction.
1t needs no argument to show that
Legislation which has produced such
consequences should be abrogated, oil
else made to conform to the genuine
principles Of Republican Govern
ment. Under the influence of marty
passion and sectional prejudice. Other
acts have been passed not Warranted
by the Constitution.
Congress has already bcen made
familiar with NV views resnectino
the tenure of office bill. Exnerience
has nroycd that IFS roneal js denand.
ed nv the hest Interests of tho conntry
and that while II remains i'm force he
President can not enjoln the rigid ac-
Icountability of public officers so es-
santial N an hnnoat and aaioioot o.,