Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-04-15
RECONSTRUCTION.

Il
The President of the United
States, on the TIN instant, sent the
following important message, on
Reconstruction to the two Houses
of Congress
To the Senate and House of
REPRESENTATIVES:
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 consist
tent with pul lie interest to avoid
entering upon the general business
Of legislation, there is one subject
which concerns so deeply the well
fare of the country, that I deem it
my duty to bring it before you. /
have no doubt YOU will concur with
me in the opinion that it is desira-
BILE to restore the States which were
engaged in the rebellion TO their
relations to the Government and the
country at rs early period as the
people of those States shall he found
willing to become peaceful and or
derlv communities. and to adopt
and maintain snch constitutions and
laws as will effectuallv secure the
civil and political reehts of all per
sons within their borders. The All
tboritv of tho United States. which
has been vindicated and established
hv its military power must undonlt
edlv he assorted for the absolute
protection of all its citizens in tie
full endowment of freedom and Sc
cnritv. which is the object of the
Republican Government. hnt when
ever the people OF a rebellious State
are ready to enter in good faith
upon the accomplishment of this
object in entire conformity with the
constitutional authority of on
gress. it is certainly desirable that
all canses of imitation should I've
removed as promptly as possible.
that q more perfect union NAV he
established. and the country he re-
stored to peace and prosperity The
convention of the people of Virgin
ia which met in Richmond Dec. Sd
1867. framed n constitution for that
State which was adorted by the
convention on the 18th of April.
1868. and / desire respectfully to
call the attention of Congress to the
proprietv of providing by the law
for the holding of an election in
that State. at some time during the
months of Nav and June next. un-
der the direction of the military
commander Of the district at which
the question of the adoption Of that
constitution shall be snhmi,ted to
the citizens of the State. and if this
should seem desirable. l would
recommend that a separate vote be
taken on such parts as may he
thought cxpedient. and that at the
same time. and nndnr the same au-
thoritv there shall be an election
for the officers provided under such
constitution. and that the constitu-
ton. or such parts thereof as shall
have been adopted by the people.
he submitted to Congress on the
first Monday of December next, for
its consideration, so that if the
same is then approved, the necessa-
rv steps will then have been taken
for the restoration of Virginia to
its proper relations to the Union.
/ am led to make this recommends
ton from the confident hope and
belief that the people of that State
are now ready to cooperate with
the national government, or bring
ing it into such relations to the
Union as it ought as soon as posi-
bile to establish and maintain, or to
give to all its people these equal
rights under the law. which are as
serted in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. In the words Of one of
the most illustrious fits sons. !
desire also to ask the consideration
Of Congress to the question. wheth-
er there is not just ground for be-
lieving the constitution framed hv a
convention Of the people of Mis-
sissippi for that State, and once re-
iected. might not be again submit
ted to the people Of that State in
like manner, and with the proba-
bility Of the same result.
U. S. GRANT
Washington, D. c., April I 1869
Congress promptly, wisely and
nobly responded to the above
Message of the President, bv pass
ing a law in accordance with his
suggestions.