The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-12-07
PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE

Chief Magistrate of this great nation, 1t 10
with gratitude to the Giver OF all good fol-
the many benefits we enjoy VIC are blessed
with peace at home, and are without cntang-
ling alliances abroad to forbode trouble; with
o territory unsurpassed In fertility, OF an
AGRA equal to the abundant support Of i've
hundred millions of people, and Astounding
in every variety Of useful mineral In guam.
tity sufficient to supply the world for gener-
ations; with exuberant crops; with variety
Of climate adapted to the production OF every
species OF carth's riches, and suited TO the
habits, tastes, and requirements Of every
living thing; with population Of forty mil
lions OF free people, all speaking one Ian
guagc; with facilities for every mortal TO
acquire an educatlonl with Institutions clos
Ing to none the avenues TO fame or any bless.
Ing Of fortune that may be coveted; with
freedom Of the pulpit, the press, and the
school; with q revenue flowing into the
National Treasury beyond the requirements
| OF the Government.
Happily harmony Is being rapidly restored
within our own borders. Manufactures
| hitherto unknown in our country are spring
ing up In all sections, producing degree OF
| national independence unequaled by that OF
| any other Power.
These blessings, and countless others, arc
entrusted TO your care and mine fer sefe
keeping for the brief period Of our term Of
office. In short time we must, each OF us,
return to the ranks Of the people who have
conferred upon us our honors, and account
to them for our stewardship. l earnestly
desire that neither you nor l may be con-
demncd by a free and enlightened constit-
uCncy, nor by our own conscieuccs.
Emerging from a rebellion of gigantic
magnitude, aided as 1t was by the sympa-
thies and assistance of nations with which
we were at peace, eleven States OF the Union
were, four years ago, left without legal State
governments. A national debt had been con-
tracted American COMMERCE was almost
driven from the seas the industry of one
half of the country had been taken from the
control OF the capitalist and placed where
all labor rightfully belongs-in the keeping
of the laborcr. The work Of restoring
State governments loyal TO the Union, OF pro-
tecting aud fostering free labor, and proyid-
ing means for paying the interest on the
public debt, has received ample attention
from Congress. Although your efforts have
not met with the success, n 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,
| constitution, republican in form, elected q
| Governor, members Of Congress, a State lie.
| gislature, and all other officers required.
The Governor was duly installed, and the
Legislature met aud performed all the acts
then required of them by the reconstruction
| acts of Congress. subsequently, however,
In violation OF the constitution which they
had just ratified, Gas since decided by the
Supreme Court Of the State they unseated
. -. = L.. 4 A
admitted to seats some members who are dis.
qualified by the third clause of the four.
tecutL amendment TO the Constitution, an
article which they themselves had contrib.
| uted to ratify.
Under these circumstances, I would sub
nit to you whether II would not be wise,
without delay, TO enact a law authorizing
the Governor of Georgia to convene the
members originally elected to the Legisla.
turc, requiring each member TO take the
oath prescribed by the reconstruction acts,
| and none TO be admitted who arc ineligible
| under the third clause Of the fourteenth
amendment.
The freedmen, under the protection which
they have received, are making rapid pro.
gress In learning, and no complaints are
heard of lack of industry on their part
where they receive fair remuneration fol
their labor The means provided for paying
the interest on the public debt, with all the
expenses Of the Government, are more than
| ample. The loss of our commerce Is the
only result of the late rebellion which has
not received sufficient attention from you.
To this subject | call your earnest atten.
tion. will not now suggest plans by which
| this object may be effected, but will, IL ne.
cessary, make Il the subject of special
message during the session of Congress.
At the March term, Congress, by joint res
olution, authorized the Executive to orde
elections In the States Of Virginia, Missis
.ippi and Texas, to submit to them the con
situations which each had previously, in con
yeutlon, framed and submit the constitu
lions, either entl'c, or in separate parts, tC
be voted upon, at the discretion Of the Exec
utivei under this authority elections wcr
called.
In Virginia the election took place on the
9Th of July, 1869; the Governor and Lieu
tenant 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 al
doubtful authority. recommend that her
Senators and Representatives be promptly
admitted to their seats, and that the STATE
be fully restored TO It's place In the famil,
Of States. Elections were called In Missis
| slppi and Texas TO commence on the 30th oil
November, 1859, and to last two days IL
Mississippi and four days in Texas. The
elections have taken place, but the result Il
not known. 1t is to be hoped that the acts
of the Legislatures OF these States when thel
meet will be such as to receive your approval
and thus close the work OF reconstruction
Among the evils growing out OF the rebel
lion, aud not yet referred to, Is that OF au ir
rcdCemablC currency. 1t Is au evil which
hope will receive your most earnest atten
ton. 1t Is duty, and one of the highes
duties of government, to secure to the citi
zen medium of exchange Of fixed, un
watering value. This implies return TO
specie basis, aud no substitute for 1t can b.
devised. 1t should be commenced now anC
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. |
would compel the debtor class to pay, be
yond their contracts, the premium on golC
at the date Of their purchase, and would
bring bankruptcy aud ruin to thousands
Fluctuations, however, in the paper valu,
OF the measure of all values, gold, is detri
mental to the interests Of trade. 1t makes
the man Of business an Involuntary gambler
for In all sales where future payment is to
be made both parties speculate as TO what
will he the value Of the currency to be pait
aud received. earnestly recommend to you
then, such legislation as will Insure grad.
| ual return 10 specie payments, and put AT
Immediate stop TO luctuation In the value o
currency.
The methods to secure the former of these
results are as numerous us are the speCu
lators on political economy. To secure the
latter | see but one way, and that Is to au
thOrIIc the Treasury to redeem its own
paper, at Il fixed price, whenever presented
and to Withhold from circulation all cur
rency 30 redeemed until sold again for gold.
The vast resources Of the nation, both de
vclopei and undcyelopcd, ought to make oui
credit the best on earth. With lesi
burden Of taxation than the citizen hal
endured for six year, past, the entire
public debt could be paid in ten years
But It Is not desirable that the people
should be taxed to pay 1t In that time. Yeal
by year the ability to pay increases IN
rapid ratio. But the burden Of interes
ought to be reduced as rapidly as 1t can b.
done without the violation of contract. Tn
public debt is represented, in great part, b,
bonds having from i've to twenty and from
ten To forty years to run, bearing intcrcs
at the rate Of six per cent. and FIVE per cent
respectively. 1t Is optional with tn
Government to pay these bonds at an
period after the expiration Of the leas
time mentioned upon their face. Tn