The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-04-15
xECONSTUCMTON az VIRGINIA
AND nHS~HSAIPPI.
MESSAGE ~ rHE rREs1DENr.

The following message was sent to Con-
gress yesterday by the President;
To thc Senate aud House 81 Representatives
while am aware that the time in which
conOress proposes now to remain In session
Il very brief and that IL is Its desire, as far
as il consistent with the public interest 10
avoid entering upon the general business OF
ie0fslation. there Is one subject which con-
Germs so deeply the welfare of the country,
that deem It my duty to bring IL before
you. ..,...,...... t,,.
me I'm the opinion that IL Is desirable 10 re-
store the States which were engaged In re-
hellion to their proper relations 70 the Gov
srnnncnt and the country, at as early period
a. the people OF those States shall be found
s,,iIIing to become peaceful and orderly COM
munities and TO adopt and maintain sdch
Constitutions and laws as Will ehectually
secure the civil and political rights Of all
nersons within their borders.
The authority OF the United states, which
has been yindicated ana established by It's
military power, must undoubtedly be as
serted for the absolute protection OF all It's
citizens Is the full enjoyment Of the freedom
and security which Is the object Of repub-
Iican government. But whenever the peo-
| nile OF a rebellious state are ready 10 enter
| In GOOD faith upon the accomplishment OF
| mis- object. in entire conformity with the
| constitutional authority OF Congress, IL h
certainly desirable that all causes Of irrita-
ZION should be removed as promptly as pos
| sible, that a more perfect Union may be es-
tablished. and the country be restored 70
peace and prosperity.
THE convention OF the people Of Virginia
which met in Richmond on Tuesday, De-
/ cember 3 1867, framed Constitution for
/ that state which was adopted by the Con
vention on the l7th OF April 1865; and /
| desire respectfully TO call the attention OF
! Congress TO the propriety of providing BY
! law for the holding OF an election IN that
state at some time during the months Of
May and June next under the direction OF
| the military commander of the district, at
| which the question OF the adoption Of that
constitution shall be submitted 20 the citi-
zens Of the State. And II this should seem
desirable. I would recommend that a sepa-
/ rate vote be taken upon such parts as may
| be thought eXpedient; and that, nc the same
| time and under the same authority, there
/ shall be an election for the officers provided
| under such constitution; and that the con-
| stitution, or such parts thereof as shall nave
| been adopted by the people, be submitted
to Congress on the first Monday OF Deem
/ Der next, for Its consideration, so that II the
same il then approved. the necessary steps
will have been taken for the restoration OF
the State of Virginia TO its proper relations
/ TO the Union.
| I am led TO make this recommendation
| from the confident hope and belief that the
people of that State are now ready 70 CO.
| operate with the National Government in
! bringing il again into such relations 20 the
| Union as IL ought, as soon as possible, 10
establish and maintain, and TO give % 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.
! desire also 10 ask the consideration OF
Congress 10 the question whether there is
not just ground for believing that the con-
! stttutiou framed by "A convention Of the
people of Mississippi for that state, and
once rejected, might not be again submit
| ted TO the people OF that State, In like man
ner, and with the probability OF the same
| result. L. >. GRANT.
! WASHINGTON, April Z, 1869.