The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-12-09

| In coming before you for the first
time as Chief Magistrate of this ma
ton, 1t is with gratitude % the Oliver
of all good for the many benefits W,
enjoy, We are blessed with peace
at home, and are without entanglins
alliances abroad, to forbode trouble
With q territory unsurpassed in fer
Utility; with an area equal to tho sup
port of five hundred millions OF peo
pie and abounding in every variety
of useful mineral in a quantity suffic
lent to supply the world for genera
tons; with exuberant crops; with Il
varie y of climate adapted to the
production of every species Of earth's
riches, and suited to the habits, tastes
and requirements of every living
thing; with population of forty
millions of free people, all speaking
onelang uage; with facilities for every
mortal to acquire an education; with
institutions closing to none the ave-
nues to fame, or any blessings Of for.
tune that may BIO coveted; with free.
dom of pulpit, the press and the
fschool; with revenue pouring into
the Treasury beyond the require.
ments of Government supply; har.
irony is being rapidly restored with
in our own borders; manufactures
hitherto unknown in our country are
springing up in all directions produ,
cling degree of National independ-
ence unequalled by any other power.
These blessings and countless others
are entrusted to your care, and mine
for safe keeping for the brief period
of our tenure of office. In a short
time We must each of us return to
the ranks of the people who have
conferred upon us our honors, and
account to them for our Stewardship
earnestly desire that neither you OF
| may DO condemned by a free and
enlightened constituency, nor by our
own consciences.!
| Emerging from a rebellion of gi.
gantic magnitude, aided as it was by
the sympathy and assistance of ma.
lions with which we were at peace
eleven States of tho Union were four
years ago left without legal govern.
ments, debt had been contracted
American commerce was almost
driven from the seas, the industry OF
one half of our country had been ia
ken from the control Of the capitalists
and placed where all labor rightfully
belongs-in the keeping of the labor
or. Tho work of restoring State
governments to the Unlen, Of pro
tecting and fostering free labor, and
providing means for paying the in
terest on the public debt has receiv.
ed ample attention from Congress,
although your efforts have not met
with the success in all particulars
that might h ave been desired, yet on
the whole they have been more sue.
cessful than could have been reason.
ably anticipated. Seven States
which passed the ordinance of seces
sion have been fully restored to pla
ces in the Union.
The eighth, Georgia, held am election il
III,
can in form, electinga Governor, Members o
Congress, State Legislature and all othe
officers required. The Governor was duly in
stalled and the Legislature met and perform
ed all the acts then required of them by tn,
reconstruction acts of Congress. Subsequent
ly, however, in the violation of the constitu
ton which they had ratified, as since decided
by the supreme Court of the State, they un
seated the colored members Of the Iepislatur.
and admitted to seats some members who ar,
disqualified by the Sd clause of the I;tl
Amendment to the constitutions an articl,
which they themselves had contributed I,
ratify.
Under these circumstances, ] would submit,
| 10 you whether 1t would not be wise wlthou,
delay, to enact a law authorizing tho Govern
nor of Georgia to convene the members oriei
naliy elected to the Legislature. requiring
| each member to take the oath prescribed by
the reconstr1ction act, and none to be admit.
| yea VINO are Ineligible under the Sd clause of
| lith Amendment.
During the session of Congress, at
the March term, Congress, by a Joint
resolution, authorized the executive
to order elections in the States OF
Virginia, Mississippi and Texas, sub
hitting the Constitution, which eac h
had previously in connection framed
| and submitted the Constitution eth
er entire or in separate parts to be
voted upon at the discretion of the
Executive. Under this authority cleo
tions were called in Virginia. The
| election took place on the 9th ofJuly,
1869. The Governor and Lieutenant
Governor elected havebeen installed,
The Legislature met and did all re-
quired by this resolution and.by all
the reconstruction acts of Congress
and abstained from all doubtful au-
thority. l recommend that her Sem
ators and Representatives., and that
the State be fully restored to its place
IN the family ofStates.
Elections were called in Mississip.
pi and Texas to commence on tho
3Oth OF November, 1860, and to last
two days in Mississippi andfour days
in Texas. The elections have taken
place, but the result is not known
1t is to be hoped that the acts of the
Legislature Of these States when they
meet will be such as to receive your
appreciation, and thus close the work
Of reconstruction.
The freedmen under the protection
which they have received are making
rapid progress in learning, and no
complaints are heard of lack of in
dustry on their part where they re-
ccive fair remuneration for their la
Dor.
The means provided for paying the
interest on the public debt with all
other expenses of the Government
are moro than ample. The loss of
our commerce is the only result of
the late rebellion which has not re-
ceived sufficient attention from you.
TO this subject invite your early at
tention. l will not now suggest
plans by which this object may be
effected, but will, if necessary, make
it the subject Of a special message.
Among the evils growing out Of the
rebellion and not yet referred to, is
that Of our irredeemable currency.
1t is an evil which l hope Will receive
your most earnest attention. 1t is o
duty, and one ofthe highest duties of
the Government, to secure to the cit
liens medium of exchange and of
fixed unvarying value. This implies
it's return to a specie basis 1t should
be commenced now, and reached at
Al