The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-12-07
GheQntelIiqettrt1:
Presidents Message.
foMr Senate and
House Of Representatives:
SOURCES OF GRADUATION.

SOURCES OF GRADUATION.
In coming before you for the first time
A, Chief Magistrate Of this great nation,
/, is with gratitude 10 tho giver Of all
GOOD for the many benefits VIC enjoy. We
nre blessed with peace ut home and arc
without entangling alliances abroad 10 pro
,lucr trouble. With q territory unSurnnss.
ed in fertility, Of an area equal 10 the
abundant support Of Two hundred mil.
lions Of people, and Astounding in every
variety OF useful mineral in quantity sui.
acicnt to supply the world for generations
TO come: with exubGrant crops; with q
yaricty Of climate adapted to tho prodnc,
ton OF every species OF cNrth's riches and
suited TO the habits, taste md requirements
Of every livingthing; with q population Of
forty millions Of FREQ people, oil speaking
one language; with facilities for every NOR
tai to acquire nn education; with inStitu-
tons closing to mono tho avenues TO fame
or my blessing Of fortune that mny bo
coveted; with freedom OF tho pulpit, the
press, and the school; with o revenue
lowing into tho National Treasury be.
yond tho requirements Of Government
supply; harmony is being rapidly re.
stored within our own borders; manufac.
lures hitherto unknown in our country
are Swinging up in oil directions, pro-
dncing degree Of National independence
ancuualCd by that Of any other powOr.
REMINDER OF RESPONSIBILITY.
These blessings, and countless others,
arc intrustcd to your caro- md minc for
sale keeping, for the brief periods Of our
tenure Of Office. In q short time we
must each of us return To the ranks OF
the people who have conferred upon us
our honors, md account to them for our
stewardship. l earnestly desire that
neither YOU nor may be condemned by
Tree md enlightened constituency, nor
by our own COnsCiences'
RECONSTRUCTION.
Emerging from n rebellion Of gigantic
magnitude, aided rs it was by tho sympa.
thy and assistance Of nations with which
We were NJ 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 tho seas; the in
dustry Of onc.half Of tho country had
been taken from the control Of the CAPT.
ialst and placed where labor rightlally
brIongs-in tho keeping of the laborer.
The work Of restoring StategovernmGnts
loyal to the Union, OF protecting and Cos'
tcring free labor, and providing means
for paying the interest on the public debt,
Inns received ample attention from Con.
gress, though your efforts have not met
with tho success in these particulars that
might have been desired. Yet, on the
whole, they have been more successful
than could have been reasonably anticipa'
ted.
GEORGIA.
Seven States which passed ordinances
of secession have been fully restored
to their places in the Union. The
eighth Georgia. held M election ut
which she ratified her Constitution, re.
publican in form, elected Governor,
members Of Congress, State l4egisla.
turc, and the other officers required. The
Governor was duly installed, and the
Legislature met and performed all the
acts therein required of them by the re
construction acts Of Congress. Subse.
quently, however, in violation Of the
Constitution which they had just ratified,
rs since decided by the Supreme Court
of the State, they unseated the colored
members Of tho Legislature, and admit.
ted To seats some members who nre dis
qualified by tho third clause o. the four.
tcenth amendment to the Constitution;
an article which they themselves had
contributed to ratily.
Under these circumstances | would
submit 10 you whether it would not be
wise without delay to enact n law authoriz'
ing the Governor of GeorgiA TO convene
the members originally elected 10 the
legislature, requiring each member to
take the oath prescribed by the recon:
StrHctiOn act, and none to be admitted
who are not cntitledundcrth tho third clause
Of the fourteenth amendment.
THE FREEDMEN.
The freedmen, under the protection
which they have received, are making
rapid progress in learning, and no com.
plants arc heard Of lick Of industry on
their part, when they receive fair remune.
ration for their labor.
INTEREST.
The means provided for paying the in-
terest on tho public debt, with all the
other expenses Of the Government, arc
more than ample.
DECLINE OF COMMERCE.
The loss Of our commerce is tho only
result Of the late rebellion which has not
received sufficient attention from you.
To this subject l call your earliest Atten>
ton. l will not now suggest plans by
which this object may DO effected, but
will, il necessary, make it tho subject Of
n special message during the session of
Congress.
MISSISSIPPI AND TEXAS.
At the March term, Congress, by joint
resolution, authorized the Executive to
order elections in the States Of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas, to submit to them
the constitutions which each had pro.
viousIy, intervention, framed, and sub
nit the constitutions, either entiro or in
separate parts, to be voted upon ut tho
discretion Of tho Executive. Under this
authority elections were called.
In Virginia tho election took place on
the 9th Of July, 1862 The Governor and
Lieut.. Gov. elected have been installed.
The Legislature met and did all required
by this resolution, and by oil the recon:
struction acts Of Congress-, and abstnined
from all Of doubtful authority. l recon-.
mend that her Senators and representa-
tives be admitted, and that tho State be
fully restored to its place in the family OF
States.
Elections wcrc called in Mississippi
and Texas TO commence on the aOth Of
November, 1869, and TO last two days in
Mississippi and four days in Texas, The
elections have taken place, but tho result
is not known. 1t is TO be hoped that the
acts of the Legislatures Of these States,
when they mect, will be such rs TO meet
your approval, and thus close tho work
Of reconstruction.
FINANCES.
Among tho evils growing out Of the
49, .oforrnI ~, 20 Tint