Nebraska advertiser., 1869-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentdtiUes I'm coming before you TO
the first time as the Chief Magistrate
Of this great nation, it is with grea
gratitude to the Giver Of all good for the
many benefits we enjoy.
=
Emerging from a rebellion of 81
gantic magnitude, aided as it was by
the sympathy and assistance of ma
tons with which we were at peace
eleven States of the Union were fOul
years ago left without legal State gov
eminent, a debt had been contracted
American Commerce was almost driv
en- from the sea, the industry of ont
half the country had been taken from
the control of the capitalist and placed
where all labor rightfully belonged
ia the keeping of the labOrer. The
work Of restoring State government
loyal to the Union, of protecting anC
fostering free labor and providing
means for paying the interest on the
public debt, has received ample atten.
ton from Congress, although YOU
labors have not met with the sue
cess in all particulars that might have
been deserved; yet on the whole they
have been reasonably anticipated.
Seven States, which passed Ordinan.
ces of secession, have been fully re
stored to their places in the Union
The eighth, Georgia, held an election
at which she ratified her Constitution
republican in form, elected a Cover
nor, Members of Congress, a State
Legislature, and all other officers re-
quired. The Governor was duly in.
stalled and the Legislature met and
performed all the acts then required
of them by the reconstruction acts OF
Congress. Subsequently, however.
in violation of the Constitution which
they had just ratified, as since decided
by the Supreme Court of the State,
they unseated the colored members OF
the Legislature and admitted to seats
some members who are disqualified
by the third clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Constitution, an
which they themselves had
contributed to ratify. Under these
circumstances l would submit to you
whether it would not be wise, without
to enact law authorizing the
of Georgia to convene the
members originally elected to the
Legislature, requiring each member
10 take the oath prescribed by the re-
construction act, and none to be adj
who r ineligible under the
,hird clause Of the Fourteenth
Amendment.
= x
Among the evils growing out of the
'ebelliOn and not yet referred to, is
hat of an irredeemable currency; it
5 an evil which 1 hope will receive
your most earnest attention. It is a
and one of the highest duties,
If the Government to secure to the
;itizens a medium of exchange Of
liked, INV arying value. This implies
|! return to a specie basis, and no sub
fOrit can be devised. It should
De commenced now and reached at the
practical moment consistent
With a fair regard to the interests of
he debtor class, immediate resump-
ion, if practicable; it would compel
he debtor class to pay beyond their
contracts the premium on gold at the
late OF their purchase, and would
bankruptcy and ruin to thou
ands. Fluctuations, however, in the
value of the measure of gold, is
detrimental to the interests of trade.
t makes the man of business an in
gambler, for in all sales,
when future payment is to be made,
10Th parties speculate. AS to what
will be the value of the currency to
'e paid and received, I earnestly rec
Immend to you such legislation as
will insure a gradual return to specie
'ayment, Ond put an immediate stop
o ductuatiOn in the valu of currency.
'he methods to secure the results are
s numerous as are the spectators in
economy. To secure the lat
er, L see but one way, and that is
o authorize the Treasury TO redeem its
wn paper at a fixed price when
yer presented, to withhold from
REGULATION all such currency redeemed
Intil sold again for gold.
X X X X X
The Freedmen, under the protec-
which they have received, are
making rapid progress in learning,
no complaints are heard of the
lck of industry on their part when
hey receive fair remuneration for
heir labor.
X X X X X
AS the United States is the freest of
nations, so, too, its people sympa-
hize with all people struggling for
and self-gOvernment; but,
sympathizing, it is due to our
OnOr that we should abstain from en-
our views upon unwilling ma
ions, and from taking an interested
art, without invitation, in the quar-
els between different nations or be-
ween governments and their sub
,cts. Our course should always be in
Uniformity with strict justice and
wv, international and local. Such
as been the policy of the admins
in dealing with these ques-
ons for more than a year. A valua-
lie Province of Spain, and a near
eighbOr of ours in whom all our peo-
lie cannot but feel a deep interest,
as been struggling for independence
nd freedom. The people and the
of the United States en-
ertain the same warm feelings and
ympathies for the PEOPLE of Cuba in
leir pending struggle that they man
ested throughout the previous strug-
lie between Spain and performer col
MES in behalf of the latter, but the
ATTEST at no time assumed the condi-
lOns which amount to a wal i'm the
ense of international law or which
TOuld show the existence of a de-
lctO political organization of the in
lrgents sufficient to justify a recog-
ition of beligerency. The principle
maintained, however, that this ma
on is its own judge when to accord
ne rights of billigerency, either to
struggling to free them
elves from a government they
to be oppressive or to indie
endent nations at war with each
ther. The United States have no dis
ositiOn to interfere with the existing
Of Spain 70 her colonial pos
essiOns on this continent. They be.
eve that in due time Spain and 9TH
r European powers will find their in
erests in terminating these relations,
nd establishing the present depen-
les as independent powers and MEM
ers of the family nations, the depen-
encies are no longer regarded as sub