The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-04-15
ANDERSON S. c.. THURSDAY, APRIL 15 1859.
Message from President Grant.

The following message OF The President
WAS received by Congress, on the 7th
instant:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
While [ am aware that the time in
which Congress proposes now to remain
in session is very brief, and that il is its
desire. rs far rs is consistent with the
public interest, to avoid entering upon the
general business Of legislation, there is
one subject which concerns no deeply the
welfare of the country, that deem it my
duty to bring it before yeu.
have no doubt that you will concur
with me in the opinion that it is desirable
to restore the States which were engaged
in the rebellion to their proper relations
to the Government and the country at as
early a period as the people of these
States shall be found willing to become
peaceable and orderly communities, and
to adopt and maintain such constitutions
and laws ~ will etfectually secure the
civic and political rights of all persons
within their borders.
The authority of the United States,
which has been vindcated aud established
by it's military power, must undoubtedly
be asserted for the absolute protection of
all it's citizens in the full enjoyment of the
freedom and security which is the object
of republican government. But when
ever the people OF a,rcbellieus State are
ready to entor in good faith upon the ac-
com plishment of this object, in entire
conformity with the constitutional au-
thority of Congress- it is certainly dcsra-
BILE that NIL causes of irritation should be
removed as promptly as possible, that Il
more perfect Union 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 I'd, 1867, framed u const
tuition for that State which was adopted
by the Convention on the 18th of April,
1868, and desire respectfully to call the
attention of Congress to the propriety OF
providing by law for the holding of an
election for that State at some time be-
tween the months of May and June next,
under the direction of the military COM
mander of the district, at which the adop-
ton OF that constitution shall be submit
ted to the citizens OF the States. And il
this should seem desirable would recon-
mend that u separate vote he taken upon
such parts as may be ahought cxpedicnt,
and that ut the same time, and under the
same authority there shall be an election
for the officers provided under such con-
stitution, and that the constitution, or
such parts thereof: as shall have been
adopted by the people be submitted to
Congress on the first Monday of Decem-
bcr next for it's consideration: so that if
the same be then approved the necessary
steps will have been taken for the resto-
ration of the State of Virginia to it's
proper relations to the Union.
am led to make this recommendation
from the confident hope and belief that the
people Of that State are DOW ready TO CO.
operate with the national government in
bringing it again into 81 ch relations to
the Union as it ought, rs soon as possible,
to establish and maintain, and to give to
all it's people those equal rights under the
law, which were asserted in the declara-
ton of independence in the words of one
Of the most ilustrious of it's sons.
desire, also, to ask the consideration
of Congress to hequestlnn whether there
is not just ground for believing that the
Constitution framed by Convention 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 probability of
the same result.
(Signcd) US. GRANT.
Washington, D. c., april I, 1869.