The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1869-12-16
SYNOPSIS OF THE PRESI.
DENTS MESSAGE

house If Representatives.;
SOURCES OF GRADUATION,


SOURCES OF GRADUATION.
in coming before you for the first tim,
Chief Magistrate of this great acton, it al
is with gratitude to the giver of all good
for the many benefits We enjoy. W.
are blessed with pcaca at home and ara
without entangling alliances abroad to
produce trouble. With a territory I'M
surpassed in fertility Of an ca equrI
to the abundant support of figc hundred
millions of people, and aboundng in
every variety of useful mineral il guam.
atty sufficient to supply tho world for
generations to come; with exuberant
crops; with variety Of climate adapted
to the production Of every species Of
earth's riches and suited to the habits,
taste and requirements Of every living
thing; with n population Of forty mil
lions of free people, all speaking one
language; with facilities for every NOR
tai to accqlire an education; with in
s,itu,ions closing tOuone the avenues TO
fame o. any blessjag of fortulc that
may be coveted; with freedom of the
pulpit, the press aud the school with
revenue fOwiOg into the National
Treasury beyond the requirements Of
Government supply; harmony is bong
rapidly restored within our borders;
manufactures hitherto unknown in oar
country are springiag up i, all dirCc-
tons, producing degree Of National
Independence uuequaled by that Of aay
other over.
REMINDER OF RESPONSIBILITY,
These blessings, and countless others,
are intrusted to your care and mine for
safe keeping, for the brief periods of
.um 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 our
stewardship. earnestly desire that
neither you nor may be condemned by
free and enlightened constituency, nor
by our own cOusoiences.
RECONSTRUCTION.
Emerging from rebellion Of gigantic
magnitude, aided as it was by the sympa.
thy and assistance Of nations with which
we are at peace, eleven States of the
Union were four years ago left without
legal State governments; a debt had
been contracted; American commerce
was almost driven from tho seas; the in.
dustry of one half Of the country had
been taken from the control of the CAPT.
taIist and placed whore labor righ,rully
beloUgs-iu the keeping Of the laborer.
The work Of restoring State governments
loyal TO the Union, protecting and fos.
teriug free labor, and providing mea
ior paying the interest on the public
debt, has received ample attention from
Congress, though your efforts have not
met with the success in these particulars
that might have oecn desired. Yet on
the whole, they have been more success
full than could have been reasonably au
ticipated.
GEORGIA.
Seven States which passed ordinances
of secession have been fully restored to
their places iu the union. The eighth
(Georsis) held an election at which she
ratified her Constitution, republican in
form, elected Governor, members of
Congress, State Legislature, and the
other officers required. The Governor
was duly installed, and the Legislature
met ana performed all the acts therein
required Of them by the reconstruction
acts of Congress. Subsequently, how
ever, in violation Of the Constitution
which they had just ratified as since de
cidcd by the Supreme Court of the State
they uuseatei the colorcd members Of
the Legislature, aud admitted to seats
some members who are disqualified by
the third clause of the fourteenth,
amendment to the Constitution; au ar.
ticle which they themselves had contrib.
uteito ratiry.
Under these circumstance. | would
submit to you whether it would not be
wise without delay to enact a lawauthor
izing th> Governor of Georgia to con-
vCnC the members originally elected to
the Legislature, requiring each member
to take the oath prescribed by the re-
construction act, aud none to be admit.
ted who are not entitled under the third
clause Of the fourteeuth amendment.
TIE FREEDMEN,
The freedmen, uaior the protection
which they aave received, are making
rapid progress in learning and No con
plants are heard Of lack ofindusrry on
their part, when they receive tair remu
iteration for their labor.
INTEREST
The means provi led for paying the
interest on the public debt, with all the
other eEpenses of the Government mr.,