The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-08
BY TELEGRAPH.
GRANTS FIRST MES
SAGE.
CONGRESS INVITED TO LEaIsLATE FOR VIRGINIA
AND MISSISSIPPI.

CONGRESS INVITED TO LEaIsLATE FOR VIRGINIA
AND MISSISSIPPI.
WASHINGTON, April THE following mess
age from The President was received by Con-
gress at o'clock 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 aud that it is it's desire, as far as is
consistent with the public interest to avoid en-
tering 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 before you. I have no doubt
that you will concur with me in the opiu-
ion that it is desirable to restore the States
which were engaged in the rebellion to their
proper relations to the government and th Q
country, at as early period as the people Of
those States shall be found willing to
become peaceful and orderly communities,
and to adopt and maintain such constitutions
and laws as will effectually secure the civil
ana ponrrosa rights o. all persons within their
borders. The autholffy urtrc' &ss,suvs1vyg,,
which has been vindicated and established by
its military power, must undoubtedly be as
serted for the absolute protection Of all its
citizens in the full enjoyment of the freedom
and security which is the object of republi-
can government" But whenever the people of
rebellious State are ready to enter, good
faith, upon the accomplishment of this object
In entire conformity with the constitutional
authority of Congress, it is certainly desirable
that all causos of irritation should be removed
as promptly as possible, that q more perfect
union may be established, and that the coun-
try be restored to peace and prosperity.
The convention OF the people of Virginia,
which met in Richmond on Tuesday, Decem-
ber Sd, 1867, framed q constitution for that
State, which was adopted by the c5avention on
the 18th OF April, 1868, and / desire respectful
ly to call the attention of Congress to the pro-
priety Of providing by law for the holding Of
an election in that State at some time during
the months OF May and juno next, under the
direction of the military commander OF
the district, at which the question of
the adoption of that constitution shall
be submitted to the citizens of the
State. Aud if this should seem desirable, I
would recommend that separate vote be
taken upon such parts as may be thought ex-
pedient and that at the same time, and under
the same authority, there shall be an election
AVA
tiOn, and that the constitution, or such parts
thereof as shall have been adopted by the peo-
pie, be submitted to Congress on the first Mon
day of December next for it's con sideration, so
thatif the same is then approved the necessary
steps will have been taken for the restoration
of the State Of Virginia to its proper relations
to the Union.
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, as it ought,
as soon as possible, to establish and maintain,
and to give to oil its people those equal rights
under the law which were asserted in the
Declaration ofIndependenoe in the words of one
OF the most illustrious of it's sons.
desire also to ask the consideration of Con.
gress to the question whether there Is not Just
ground for believing that the constitution
framed by o. 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 proba-
bility Of the same result. 1
(signed) US. GRANT.
Wash ington, D. c., April7, 1869.