Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate and
House of REPRESENTATIVES:

| fkESlUEN . MEOSAUE.
To the Senate and
House of Representatives.:
In coming before you for the first time as tn
Chief Magistrate of great nation, it is will
gratitude to the Giver of all good for the man.
benefits that We enjoy We are blessed with
peace, without entangling alliances abroad t.
forebode trouble, with territory unsurpassed il
fertility. of an area equal to an abundant sup
port of 50000O,000 of people, abounding in
every variety OF useful mineral in quantities
sufficient to supply the world for generations.
Exuberant crops in variety, climate adapted to
the production OF every species Of the earth S
riches, suired to thehabits, tastes, and require
ments of every ladpg thing, with population
Of 40 OO0, 600 of free people, speaking one Ian
guage, with. facilities for every mortal to acquire
education; institutions closing to none the av-
enues to fame, Or any blessing of fortune that
may be coveted with freedom Of pulpit, press
and school. A revenue flowing into the Ma
tional Treasury beyond the requirements of the
Government. Happily, harmony is being re-
stored within our own borders Manufactures
| hitherto unknown in our country are sprlnglng
up in all sections, producing degree OF nation
al independence unequalled by any other power.
These blessings and countless others are en-
trusted to your clre and mine for safe-keeping
| for the brief period of our tenure of Office. In
short time we must EACH of US return to the
ranks of the people who have conferred our
| honors, and account to them for our steward
ship. l earnestly desire that neither you nor I
| may be condemned by free and enlightened
constituency, nor by our own conscences.
Emerging from rebellion Of gigantic mag
nitude, aided as it was by the sympathies and
assistance of nations with which we were at
peace, eleven States Of the Union were four
years ago left without legal State governments
A national debt had been contracted COM
merce was almost driven from the seas the in
dustry of one-half of the country had been ia
ken from the capitalists and placed where all
labor rightfnlly helongs-in the keeping of the
laborer. The work Of restoring State govern
ments loyal to the Union, protecting and fos-
ing the interest on the public debt, have re-
ceived ample attention from Congress Al
though your efforts have not met with success
in all the particulars that might have been de-
sired, yet on the whole they have been more
successful than could reasonably have been an
| tcipated.
GEORGIA TO BE RECONSTRUCTED.
Seven of the States which passed ordinances
Of secession have been fully restored to their
places in the Union The eighth-Georgia
held an election at which she ratified her Con-
| stitution, republican 10 form, elected Govern
or, members Of Congress, State Legislature, and
| the other officers required The Governor was
| installed the Legislature met and performed
all the acts then required of them by the recon
| structon acts Of Congress. Subsequently, how
ever, in violation of the Constitution which they
had just ratified, as since decided by the Su-
preme Court of that State, they unseated the
colored members of the Legislature aud admit
o1 hair yuho
qualified by the third clause of the fourteenth
amendment. an article which they themselves
had contributed to ratify. Under these cir
cumstances, would submit to you whether it
would not be wise without delay to enact law
authorizing the Governor of Georgia to convene
the members originally elected to the Legisla-
ture, requiring each to take the oath prescribed
by the reconstruction acts, and none to be ad-
mitted who are ineligible under the third clause
of the fourteenth amendment.
THE FREEDMEN.
The freedmen, under the protection which
they have received, are making rapid progress
| lu learning, and no complaints are heard of
lack of industry on their part when they receive
| fair remuneration for their labor.
THE GOVERNMENT INCOME
The means provided for paying the interest
on the public debt, with all other expenses OF
| Government, are more than ample.
| THE LOSS OF OUR COMMERCE
| The loss Of our commerce is the only result
| Of the late rebellion which has not received
sufficient attention from you. To this subject
[ call your earnest attention. [ will not now
suggest plans by which this object may be ef-
tected, but will, if necessary, make it the sub
ject of special message during the session.
THE ELECTIONS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION IN THE
| SOUTH
Congress, by joint resolution, authorized the
| Executive to order elections In the States oi
| Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, to submit to
| them the Constitutions which each had pre-.
| viously framed and to submit the Constitutions
| either entire or in separate parts to be voted
upon at the discretion of the Executive. Under
this authority elections were called. In Vir-
ginia the election took place on the 9th of July
| The Governor and dLieutenant-Goyernore elected
have been installed. The Legislature met anC
did all required by this resolution and by all the
reconstruction acts of Congress, and abstaineo
| from all doubtful authority. recommend tha
her senators and representatives be promptly
admitted to their seats, and that the State bt
fully restored to its place in the family of States
Elections were called in Mississippi anG
Texas, to commence November 30th-two day!
in Mississippi and four in Texas The elec
tions have taken place, but the result is no
known. 1t is hoped that the acts of the Leg
islature Of these States, when they meet, viii
be such as to receive your approval, and thu
close the work of reconstruction.
THE RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENT.
Among the evils growing out of the rebelli,
and not yet referred to, is that of an rredeem
able currency. 1t is an evil which [ hope viii
receive your most earnest attention. 1t Is
duty, and one of the highest duties Of Govern
ment. to secure to the citizen a medium of ixet
and unvarying value. This implies return Il
} a specie basis, and no substitute for it can b.
devised 1t should be commenced now, ant
reached at the earliest practicable moment con
sstent with fair regard to the interest of th'
debtor class. Immediate resumption, if prac
tcable would not be desirable 1t would com
pei the debtor class to pay beyond their con
tracts the premium on gold at the date Of thei
, purchase, and would bring bankruptcy and ru
; in to thousands Fluctuations, however, in III
paper value Of the measure of all values-gold
is detrimental to the interests of trade.
} makes the man of business an involuntary gam
e bler for in all cases where future payment is t
. be made, both the parties speculate as to wha
will be the value of the currency paid and re
ceIved ] earnestly recommend to you, then
! such legislation as will insure gradual retur
to specie payments, and put an immediate sto
TO the fluctuations in the value of currency
The methods to secure the former of these re
suits are as numerous as spectators on politics
economy To secure the latter, see but on
way; and that is to authorize the Treasury t
: redeem its own paper at fixed value wheney
: er presented and withhold from circulation a
currency SO redeemed until sold again for golc
| Tho ,oct raoonroas Of tho both dopo