Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-04-09
THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION.

THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION. !
Washington, D. G., April THE
following message of the President was
received by Congress at four o'clock
Wednesday afternoon as
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives:
While I am aware that the time in
which Congress proposes now to remain
in session is very brief, and that it is
its desire, as far as is consistent with the
public int rest, to avoid entering upon
the general business of legislation, there
is one subject which concerns so deeply
the welfare Of the country that l deem
it my duty to bring it before you.
| have no doubt that you will concur
with me in the opinion that it is desira-
BILE to restore the States W hich were en-
gagged in the rebellion to their proper
relations to the government aud the
country at as early period as the peo-
pie of those States shall be found will
ing to become peaceful and orderly COM
munities, and to adopt and maintain
such constitutions and laws as will eff
fectually secure the civic and political
rights of all persons within their bor-
ders. The authority of the United
States, which has been vindicated and
established by its military power, must
undoubtedly be asserted for the absolute
protection of all its citizens in the full
enjoyment of the freedom and security
which is the object of a republican gov
eminent
But whenever the people of a rebell-
ioue State are ready to enter in good
faith upon the accomplishment of this
object in entire conformity with the
constitutional authority of Congress, it
is certainly desirable that all causes of
irritation should be removed as prompt
| ~ as possible, that more perfect I'm
ion may be established and the country
be restored to peace and prosperity.
The Convention of the people of Vir-
ginia, which met in Richmond, on Tues
day, December Sd, 1867, framed con-
stitution for that State which was adop-
ted by the Convention on the 7th of
April, 1868, and desire respectfully to
call the attention Of Congress to the pro-
priety of providing by law for the hold
ing of an election in that State at some
time during the months Of May and
June next, under the direction of the
military commander of the District, at
which the question of the adoption of
that constitution shall be submitted to
the citizens of the State. And if this
should seem desirable, | would recon-
men! that separate vote be taken upon
such parts as may be thought expedient,
and that at the same time, and under
the same authority, there shall be an
election for the officers provided under
such constitution and that the consti-
tuition, or such parts thereof as shall
have been adopted by the people, be
submitted to Congress on the first Mon
day of December next for its considera-
ton, so that if the same is then approved
the necessary steps will have been taken
for the restoration of the State of Vir-
ginia to its proper relations to the IN
ion. rse
| am led to make this recommended
ton from the confident hope and be-
lief that the people of that State are
now ready to cooperate with the ma
tioual government in bringing it again
in such relations to the Union as it
ought, and, as soon as possible, to es-
tablish and maintain and give to all its
people those equal rights under the law,
which were asserted in the Declaration
of Independence in the words above of
the ,nost illustrious of its sons.
! desire also to ask the consideration
of Congress to the question whether
there is not just ground for believing
that the Constitut ton framed by con-
vention of the people of Mississippi for
that State, and once rejected, might not
be again submitted to the people of that
State in like manner and with the pro-
liability of the same result.
U. s. GRANT.