American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-04-10
Special Message Of the President
VIRGINIA AND MISSISSIPPI.

Special Message Of the President.
VIRGINIA AND MISSISSIPPI
- WASHINGTON, April F.-The toll
lowing message OF the Prcsilen; WAS
received 10y Congress at fonr o'clock
this afternoon:
To the ScKatc d3td .. rr. ... .
House If Representatives.:
While | am aware that the fine
which Congress proposes now to re,
main in session is very brief, and
that lis desire, as far as is consistent
with the public interest, is to avoid
entering upon the general business
of legislation, there IS one subject
which concerns so deeply the welfare
of the country, that deem it my
.duty TO bring it beiore you.
have no doubt that You will coli
eur with me in the opinion that it is
desirable to restore the States which
were engaged III 7the rebellion to
their proper relations to the Govern
ineut and the country, at as early a
period as the people of those States
shall he found willing to become
ipeacefnl and orde5ly com muni;ies,
and to adopt and manltaiH sncll con
situations and laws as will ctfpctually
secure the civil and political rights
of all persons within their borders.
The authori y OF the nitedStateS,
. ,,-I.;ah l,,., x-i,,.ltA,4,l ,,p,l
tablished by its military bower, mast
undoubtedly be asserted for the all
solute protection Of all its citizens in
the full enjoyment Of the freedom
and security which is the object of Il
I Republican government but when
ever the people Of a rehrlious State
are ready to enter in good faith upon
the accomplishment of this object, in
entire conformity with the cOnStitU-
/ tIonal authority of Congress, 1t is
certainly desirable that all causes OF
irritation be reneEed as promptly as
possible, that Il more perfect Union
may be established, and the cornlry
restored to peace and prosperity.
The convention of the people OF
Virginia, which met in Richmond on
Tuesday. December 3ll, 1861, framed
a constitution fol that State, which
was adopted by the convention OF
the 18th Of April 1868, and | desire
respectfully TO c;.ll the attention CT
Congress to the pfopriety Of proNid
ing by law for the holding of an eiec
lion in that State at SONG time dur
ing the months of May and June
next, under the direction of the mill
tary commander of the dis rict, al
which the question of the adoption o.
that constitution shall be submitted
to the citizens of the State; and i
this should seem desirable, | woult
recommend that separate vote ht
taken upon such part as may bt
thought eXpcdiel t, and at the SAINT
time and under the same authority
there shall be an election for the OH
GERS provided under such constitu
ton, and that the constitution, OF
such parts thereof as shall have beer
adopted by the people, be Submitted
to Congress on the first Monday 0
December next for its consideration
so that, if the SAME is then approved
the necessary steps will have b, q
taken for the restoration OF the Stat
of Virginia to its PROF er relations t.
the Union.
| am led TO make this recon- menda
ton from the confident hope and be
lief that the people Of that State ar
now ready TO cooperate with the ma
tional Government i'll bringing i
; again into such relations to tho Uni
Oh as it 0nght, as soomaS possible. t,
establish and maintain, and to Civ
, TO all its people those equal right
IN er1h3 law which ere asserted il
the Declaration of Independence, i
the words of the most iilustrious Q
its SONS
, ! desire, also to ask the consi!erL
ton Of Congress to the question
whether there is not Just grounds 70
believing hat the constitution frame
by a convention of the people {
Mississippi for that State, and one
? rejected, might no: again be submit
I ted to the people of that State j
like manner, and with the PROBABLE
~ of the same result.
L. S. GRANT.