Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-04-13
WAsHINeroN, April Z.

WASHINGTON, April I.
The President sent the following message
into Congress this afternoon:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
While am aware that the time in which
Congress proposes now to remain in session Is
very brief, and that it is its desire, as far as
is consistent with the public interest, to avoid
entering upon the general business of leSisla-
ton, there is one subject which concerns so
deeply the welfare of the country that |
deem it my duty to bring it before you. l
have no doubt that you will concur with me
in the opinion that it is desirable to restore
the States which were engaged in the rebel
lion to their proper relations to the Govern
ment and the country at as early period as
the people of those States shall be found will
ing to become peaceful and orderly communi-
ties and to adopt and maintain such COnstitu-
tons and laws as will effectually secure the
civil and political rights of all persons within
their borders. The authority of the United
States which has been indicated and estab-
lished by its military power, must undoubted-
" be asserted for the absolute protection of
all its citizens in the full enjoyment of the
freedom and security which is the object of
Republican Government But whenever the
people of rebellious 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, should
be removed as promptly as possible, that
more perfect Union may be established and
the country be restored to peace and pros
perity.
The Convention of the people of Virginia,
] M
cember Sd, 1867, formed Constitution
for that State, which was adopted by the
Convention Cd the 18th of April, 1868, and
I desire respectfully to call the attention Of
Congress to tho propriety of providing by law
for the holding of an election in that State
at some tune during the months of May and
june next, under the direction of the mill
tary commander of that district at which the
question of the adoption of the Constitution
shall be submitted to the citizens of the State;
and if this should seem desirable, l would
recommend that separate vote be taken upon
such part as may be thought exEedicnt, and
that at the same time and under the
same authority there shall be an election for
the officers provided under such Constitution;
and that the Constitution, or such parts there
of as shall have been adopted by the people,
be submitted to Congress on the first Monday
in December next, for its consideration, so
that if the same is then approved the neces>
sary steps will have been taken for the res
toratiOn of the State of Virginia TO its proper
relations to the Union. l am led to make
this recommendation from the confident hope
and belief that the people of that State are
now ready to cooperate with the National
Government in bringing it again into such
relations to the Union it ought, as soon as
possible, to establish and maintain, and to give
to all its people those equal rights under the
law which were asserted in the Declaration
of Independence in the words of one Of the
most illustrious of its sons
I desire. also, to ask the consideration Of
Congress to the question whether there is not
just ground for believing that the Constitu
ton framed by Convention of the people Of
Mississippi for that State, and once rejected,
might not be again submitted to the people
of that State in like manner, and with the
probability of the same result.
u. S. GRANT.
Washington, D. c., April I, 1869,