The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-12-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

llilG dS CllGI NdRlSlIdlB Oh LOlS great
nation, it is with great gratitude to the
Giver of all good for the many bene-
fits we enjoy. We are blessed with
peace at home, and are without en-
tangling alliances abroad to fOrebOde
trouble; with a territory unsurpassed
in fertility. of an area equal to the
abundant support of five hundred mill
lions of people, and abOunding in ev-
cry variety of useful mineral, in guam
tity sufficient to supply the world for
generations; with exuberant crops;
with variety of climate adapted to
the production of every species of
earth's riches, and suited to the habits,
tastes and requirements of every liv-
ing thing; with a population of forty
millions of free people, all speaking
one language; with facilities for every
mortal to acquire an education; with
institutions closing to none the av-
enues TO fame or any blessing of for
tune that may be coveted; with free
dom of pulpit, the press and the school;
with a revenue flowing into the Ma
tiOnal Treasury beyond the require
ments of government supply. Har-
mOny is being rapidly restored within
our own borders; manufactures hith-
ertO unknown in our country are
: springing up in all directions, prOduc-
ing a degree of national independence
uhequaled by any other Power.
These blessings and countless others
are committed 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 confer
red upon us our hOnOrs, and account
to them for our Stewardship. 1 earn
estly desire that neither you nor I
may be condemned by a free and en-
lightened constituency, nor by our
own conscience.
Emerging from a rebellion of gigan- |
tic magnitude, aided, as it was, by the
sympathy and assistance of nations
with which we We're at peace, eleven
states of the Union were four years
left without legal state government. /
A debt had been contracted, Ameri- /
can commerce was almost driven from .
the seas, the industry of one half of .
the country had been taken from the .
control of the capitalists, and placed
where all labor rightfuIly belUngs-in
the keeping of the labUrer.
The work of restoring State Gov
ernments loyal 10 the Union, of pro-
tecting and fostering free labor, and
providing for paying the interest on
the public debt, has received ample at
tentiOn of Congress Although these
measures have not met with the sue
cess in all particulars that ought to
have been deserved, yet on the whole
they have been more successful than
could have been reasonably antici-
pated.
Seven States which passed ordin-
.ances of secession have been fully re-
stored to their places in the Union.
The eighth, Georgia, held an election
at which she ratified her Constitution,
Republican in form, elected a Gov
ernor, members of Congress, a State
Legislature, and all other officers re-
quired. The Governor was duly in
stalled, and the Legislature met and
performed ali the acts then required of
them by the Reconstruction Act of
Congress.
Subsequently,, however, in violation
of the Constitution which they had
just ratified, as since decided by the
Supreme Court of the State, they un-
seated the cOlored members of the Leg
iSIature, and admitted to seats some
members who are disqualiSed by the
third clause of the fourteenth amend
ment to the Constitution, an article
which they themselves had cOntribu-
ted to ratify.
Under these circumstances, I would
submit to you whether il would not y
be wise, without delay, to enact law
authorizing the Governor of Georgia
to convene the members originally
elected to the Legislature, requiring
each member to take the oath present
cd by the Reconstruction Act, and
none to be admitted who are ineligible
under the third clause of the Four {
teenth Amendment. Is
The freedmen, under the protection
which they have received, are making
rapid progress in learning, and no
complaints are heard of lack of indus
try on their part, when they receive
fair remuneration for their labor. {
The means provided for paying the
interest on the public debt, with all
other expenses Of the Government, are s
more than ample.
The loss of our commerce is the 5
only result of the late rebellion which {
has not received sufficient attention {
from you. To this subject 1 call your
attention. I will not now suggest
plans by which this object may be ef- =
fected, but will, if necessary, make it
the subject of special message during
the session of Congress. :
AT the March term, Congress, by a
joint resolution, athOrized the Execu- :
tive to order elections in the States of il
Virginia, Mississippi and Texas, to 6
submit to them the Constitutions {
which each had previously in Conven- i
tiOn framed, and submit the COnstitu- t
ton, either entire or in separate parts, {
to be voted on at the direction of the s
Executive.
Under this authority, elections were
called. In Virginia the election took =
place on the 9th of July, 1869. The {
Governor and Lieutenant Governor {
elected have been installed; the Leg t
islature met and did all required by
this resolution, and by all the recon- |
structiOn acts of Congress, and abstain l
ed from all doubtful authority. I rec =
Ommend that her Senators and Repre- :
sentatives be admitted to seats, and |
that the State be fully restored to its s
place in the family of States. t
Elections were called in Mississippi
and Texas, to commence on the Both !
of November, 1869, and to last two /
days in Mississippi and four days in i
Texas The elections have taken
place, but the result is not known. 1t {
is to he hoped that the acts of the Leg
islatures Of these States, when they [
meet, will be such as to receive your (