Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-12-15
PRESIDENTS AINSSAGE,
WASHINGTON, Dec, G


TO he Senate and House of Representatives.
In coming before you for the first time
rs Chief Magistrate of this great nation, it
is with gratitude to the Giver of all good
for the many benefits We enjoy We are
blessed with peace at home, and are without
entangling alliances abroad to forebode
trouble, with territory unsurpassed In fer
tility of an area equal to the abundant sup
port of five hundred millions of people,
and abounding in every variety OF use
full mineral in quantity sufficient to
supply the world for generations, with
exuberant crops and with a variety
of climate adapted to the production Of
every specie of earth's riches, and suited
to the habits, tastes and requirements OF
every living thing; with population OF
, forty millions of free people, all speaking
one language; with facilities for every NOR
tal to acquire an education; with institu'
tions closing to none the avenues to fame,
or any blessing or fortune that may be cov-
eted; with freedom of the pulpit, the press,
and the school; with q revenue flowing into
the national treasury beyond the
requirements of Government sup.
ply. Harmony is being rapidly
restored within our own borders. Manu-
factures hitherto unknown in our country
are springing up in all directions, producing
degree of national independence une-
qualed by tAat of any other power These
blessings, and countless others, are IN
trusted to your care, and more 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 upon us our honors, aud
account to them for our stewardship.
earnestly desire that neither you ncr l may
be condemned by q free and enlightened
constituency, nor by our own con-
science. Emerging from re.
bellion OF gigantic magnitude, aided
as it was by the sympathy and as
sistance of nations with which we were at
peace, eleven States OF the Union were
four years ago left without legal state
governments; debt had been contracted;
American commerce was almost driven
from the seas; the industry of one-half
the country had been taken from the con-
troll 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 payiRg interest on the
public debt has reed ample attention from
Congress; although your efforts have not
met with the success, mall 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 ar
election, at which she ratified her consti-
tuition, republican in form, elected gov.
ernor, members of Congress, q state legis
lature and all other officers required. The
governor was duly installed and the legis.
lature met and performed all the acts
therein required of them by the
reconstruction acts Of Congress. Subse.
quently, however, in violation of the con
stitution which they had just ratified, a
since decided by the Supreme Court OF tn
state, they unseated TIE colored member
of the legislature, and admitted to seat
some members who are disqualified by tn
third clause of the fourteenth amendmen
to the constitution, an article which the.
themselves had contributed to ratiiy. Un
der these circumstances, would submit t.
you whether it would not be wise withou
delay to enact law authorizing the COVER
ner OF Georgia to convene the member
originally elected, requiring eacl
member to take the oath prescribed by tn
reconstruction act, and none TO be admitted
who are ineligible under the third clause o
the fourteenth amendment. The freedmen
under the protection which they have re
ceived are making rapid progress in learn
ing, and no complaints are heard for lacl
of industry on their part, when they re
ceive fair remuneration for their labor.
The means provided for paying the in
terest on the public debt with all othel
expenses OF the Government ar,
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 | call
your earnest attention. will not now sug
gest plans by which this object may be eff.
fected, but will, if necessary, make it tht
subject of n special message during the
session of Congress.
At the March term Congress, by join
resolution, authorized the executive to or
der an election in the states of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas, to submit to them
the constitutions which each had previous
ly in convention framed and submitted,
the Constitution, either entire or in separate
parts to be voted upon, at the discretion
of the Executive. Under this authority,
elections were called. In Virginia the cleo
tion took place on the 9th of July, 1869
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor
elected have been installed. The Legisla
ture met and did all required by this reso
luton and by all the reconstruction acts o.
Congress, and abstained from all doubtful
authority. I recommend that her Senators
and Representatives be recognized, an6
that the state be fully restored to it's place
in the family of states. Electionswere called
in Mississippi and Texas, to comnenc.
on the 30th of November, 1869, and to last
two days In Mississippi and four days il
Texas. The elections have taken place, bu
the result is not known. 1t is TO be hoped
that the acts of the Legislatures Of thesC
states, when they meet will be such as K
receive your approval, and thus close thu
work of reconstruction
Among the evils growing out of the re
bellion, and not yet referred to- is that o
an irredeemable currency. 1t is an evi
which, / hope, will receive your mos
earnest attention. 1t is duty, and one o
the highest duties, Of the Government tt
secure to the citizens medium o
exchange of fixed, unvarying val
ne. This implies return to 9
specie basis, and no substitute for it car
be devised 1t should be commenced now
and reached at the earliest practicable mo.
ment, consistent with fair regard to the
interest of the debtor class Immediate re-
sumption. if practicable would not be de-
sirable. 1t would compel the debtor class
to pay beyond their contracts the premium
OF 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 in
terests of trade; it makes man of bust
ness an involuntary gambler, for in all
sales when future payment is to be made,
both parties speculate as to what will be
the value of the currency TO be paid and