The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-12-09
7 Presidents Message !
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.

lFcllo,c. citizens Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives,.
In coming before you for the first
limo as Chief Magistrate Of this
great Nation, it is with gratitude
to the Giyer of all good for the
many benefits we enjoy; we are
blessed with peace at home, and
are without entangling alliances
abroad to forebode trouble; with q
territory unsurpassed in fertility,
of an area equal to the abundant
support OF FIVE hundred millions of
people, and aboundiug in every
variety OF useful mineral, in quan.
tity sufficient to supply the world
for generations; with cxuberant
crops; with a variety of climate
adaptea to The ptoduction Of every
species Of earth S riches, and suited
to the habits, tastes and require
ments Of every living thing; with
a population Of forty millions of
free people, all speaking ono
language; with facilities for every
mortal to acquire an education; with
institutions, closing to mono tho av.
enues to fame, or any blessing or
fortune that may be coveted; with
freedom Of the pulpit, the press
and school; with q revenue flowing
into the National Treasury beyond
tho requirements of supply; bar.
mony is being rapidly restored
within our own borders, and man
ufacturcs hitherto unknown in our
country are springing up in all di>
rcctions, producing degree Of n..
tional independence uncqualled BY
that Of any other power. These
blessings and countless others are
cntFusted to our care for safe keep
ing for tho brief period Of our ten
lpo OF Office. In u short time we
must, each of us, return TO the
ranks OF the people who have con-
ferred upon us our bonors, and &C.
count to them for Cur stewardship.
I earnestly desire that neither you
nor j may be condemned by free
and enlightened constituency, nor
by our own consoiences.
Emerging from a rebellion Of gi-
gantic magnitude, aided as it was
BY the sympathy and assistance OF
nations with which wo werc al
peace, eleven States Of tho Union
were four years ago left without To-
gal State Governments, n debt had
been contracted. American com
merce was almost driven from the
seas, the industry Of ono half of the
q country had been taken from the
control Of tho capitalists and placed
where all labor rightfully belongs
in the keeping OF 'aborers.
The work of restoring State
Governments loyal to tho Uniout
Of protecting and fostering FREQ To-
bor, and providing means for pay.
ing tho interest on the public deb.
has received ample attention from
Congress. Although your efforts
have not met with tho success In
all particulars that might have
been Desired, yet, on tho whole,
they have been moro successful
than could lave been reasonably
anticipated. Seven 6tales which
passed ordinaNces of secession have
been fully rostorod TO their places
in the Union, sa'
The eighth, Georcia, hold an
election, at which sho ratified her
Constitution, Republican In form,
elected q Governor, members of
Congress, State Legislature, and
all other officers required. The
Governor was duly installed, and
tho Legislature met and performed
oil tho acts therein required Of
3 them by the reconstruction acts OF
Congress. Subsequently, how.
ever, in violation of tho Constitu
tion which they had just ratified
as since decided by tho Supreme
Court of tho State, they unseatcd
the colorod members of the Lcgis
laturo, and admitted to seats some
members who are disqualified by
the third clause Of tho l4th amend
ment to tho Constitution, an article
which they themselves had cons
tributod TO raIify. .- '
Under these circumstances !
would submit to you, whether II
weuld not bo wiso without delay
10 enact a law authoriz,ngtho Gov.
ernor of Georgia to convene tho
members originally elected to the
LcgiiIa:cre. requiring each mems
bor to take the oath presented by
the reconstruction net und mono to
be admitted who arc ineligible an
der the Sd clause oil tho lIth
amendment.
The freedmen, under tho pro
lection which they have i'eceivcd,
pre- making rapid progress in
learning, and no complaints aro
heard Of lack Of Industry on thor
part whea they receive fair rcmus
nerltion for their labor.
The means provided for paying
tho interest on tho public debt,
with all tho other expenses Of the
Government, are moro than ample.
The loss of our oommsree ia the
only result of the lnte rebellion
which has not received sufficient
attention from you. TO this sub.
ject will call your earnest often
tiOn. / will not no suggest plans
by which this object may bo Of.
iected, but will, If necessary, make
it the subject of special message
during the session Of Congress.
At tho Sarch term, Congress, BY
Joint resolution, authorized the EE
.ecntive to order an election in tb,
States Of Virginia, Mississippi an,
Texas, to submit to them tho Con
slitutions which each had previ