The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-17
Presidents Message.
WAsHrNeroN, December

1 w
The following is the Message of the
President of the United States, delivered
to Congress at noon to-day:
/ To the Senate and House Of Representatives
In coming before you for the first time
as Chief Magistrate of this nation, it is
with gratitude to the Giyer Of AL Good
for the many benefits we enjoy. We are
blessed with peace at home, and are with
out entangling alliances abroad to forbode
trouble. With territory unsurpassed in
fertility, of an area equal to the abundant
support of i've hundred millions of peo-
ole. and Astounding in every variety of use
full minerals. in quantity sufficient to sup
DIV the world for generations; with luxu-
RANT crops, with a variety of climate
adapted to the production of every species
of earth's riches, and suited to the habits,
tastes and requirements of every living
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 avenues to fame or any blessing
of fortune that may be coveted; with free
dom of the pulpit, the press and the schools;
with q revenue flowing into the national
Treasury beyond the requirements of the
Government supply; harmony is being
rapidly restored within our own borders.
Manufactures hitherto unknown in our
country are springing up in all directions,
producing degree of national independ-
ence unequaled by that of any other
power. These blessings and countless
others are entrusted to your care, and
mine, and for safe keeping for the
brief period of our tenure of-offlce. In
| 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. earnestly desire
that neither you nor may be condemned
by a free and enlightened constituency,
nor by our own consciences
Emerging from q rebellion of gigantic
magnitude, aided, as it was, by the sympa
thy and assistance of nations with whom
we were at peace, eleven States of the
Union were four years ago left without
legal State Governments; a debt had been
contracted; American commerce was al
most driven from the seas; the industry
of one half the country had been taken
from the control of the capitalist, and
placed where all labor rightfully belongs,
in the keeping of the laborer. The work
of restoring the State Governments loyal
to the Union, of protecting and fostering
free labor and providing means for paying
the interest on the public debt, has re-
ceived ample attention from Congress
Although your efforts have not met with
the success in all particulars that might
have been desired, yet on the whole, they
have been more successful than could have
been reasonably anticipated. Seven 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 Constl-
tuition republican in form, elected Gov
ernor, members of Congress, State Leg
islature, and all other officers required.
The Governor was duly installed, and the
Legislature met and performed all the acts
required of them by the reconstruction
acts of Congress. Subsequently, howev-
they had Just ratified, as since decided by
the Supreme Court of the State, they un-
seated the colored members of the Legis-
| lature and admitted to seats some men,
bers who are disqualified by the third
clause of the Fourteenth Amendment OF
the Constitution-an article which they
| themselves had contributed to ratify.
Under these circumstances would submit
to you whether it would not be wise, with
out delay, to enact a law authorising the
Governor of Georgia to convene the
members originally elected to the Legis-
lature requiring each member to take the
oath prescribed by the Reconstruction
act, and none to be admitted who are in
eligible under the third clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment.
The freedmen, under the protection
which they have received, are making
rapid progress in learning, and no COM
plants are heard of lack of industry on
their part when they receive fair remuner-
alton for their labor.
The means provided for paying the in
terest on the public debt, with all the
other expenses, of the Government, are
more than ample. The loss of our COM
merce is the only result of the late rebel
lion which has not received sufficient at
tention from you. To this subject l call
your earnest attention. will not now
suggest plans by which this object may be
effected, but will, if necessary, make it
the subject ofa special message during the
session of Congress.
At the March term, Congress, by joint
resolution, authorized the Executive to or
der an election in the States of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas, submitting the con-
stituions, (which each had previously, in
| Convention, framed and submitted, the
constitutions, either entire or in separate
parts, to be voted upon at the discretion
of the Executive. Under this authority
the elections we're called. In Virginia the
election took place on the 9Th of July,
| 1859. The Governor and Lieutenant
| Governor elected have been installed. The
| Legislature met and did all required by
this resolution and by all the reconstruc-
ton acts of Congress, and abstained from
all doubtful authority. recommend that
her Senators and Representatives be ad
mitted, and that the State be fully
restored to its place in the family of
States. Elections were called in Missis-
slppi and Texas, to commence on the Both
ofNovember, 1869, and to last two days in
Mississippi and four days in Texas The
elections have taken place, but the result
is not known 1t is to be hoped that the
acts of the Legislatures of these States,
| when they meet, will be such as to receive
your appreciation, and thus close the
work of reconstruction.
Among the evils growing out of the re-
bellion, and not yet referred to, is that OF
an irredeemable currency. 1t is an
evil which l hope will receive your
most earnest attention. 1t is duty, and
one of the highest duties OF the Govern
meht, to secure to the citizens medium
I
This implies its return to a specie basis,
and no substitute for it can be devised. 1t
should be commenced now and reached at
the earliest practicable moment consistent
with fair regard to the interest of the
debtor class. Immediate resumption, If
practicable, would not be desirable. 1t
would compel the debtor class to pay be-
yond their contracts, the premium on gold
at the date of their purchase, and would
bring bankruptcy and ruin to thousands.
! Fluctuations, however, in the paper value
of the measure of all values-gold-is
detrimental to the interests Of trade. 1t
makes the man of business an involuntary
gambler, for in all sales when the future
payment is to be made, both parties specu-
late as to what will be the value of the
currency to be paid and received. earn
estly recommend to you, then, such legis-
lstion as will insure gradual return to
specie payments, and put an immediate
stop to fluctuations in the value OF the
currency. The methods to secure either
of these results are as numerous as are the
spectators on political economy. To Sc
cure the latter, see but one way, and that
is to authorize the Treasury to redeem its
own paper at q fixed price whenever pre-
sented; to withhold from circulation all
such currency redeemed until sold again
for gold. The vast resources of the ma
ton, both developed and undeveloped,
ought to make our credit the best on
earth. With less burden of taxa
ton than the citizen has endured
for SIX years past the entire pub
lie debt could be paid in ter
+ L.