Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-12-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

In coming DeIOfe you lOr Tue HfsG
time as Chief Magistrate Of this
Great nation, it is with great graf
itude to the Giver Of all good for
the many benefits we enjoy. We
are blessed with peace at home,
and are without entangling ALLAN
ces abroad to forebode trouble !;
with territory unsurpassed in fer
tility, of an area equal to the abund-
ant support Of five hundred mil
lions of people, and abounding in
every variety of useful mineral, in
quantity sufficient to supply the
world for generations; with exu-
berant 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 bless
ing of fortune that may be coveted
with freedom of pulpit, the press
and the school; with a revenue
flowing into the National Treasury
beyond the requirements Of Gov
ernment supply. Harmony is be-
ing rapidly restored within our
own borders; manufactures hith-
erto unknown in our country are
springing up in all directions, pro
ducing a degree of national indie
pendence unequaled by that Of any
other Power.
These blessings, and countless
others, are submitted to your care,
and mine, for safe keeping for the
brief period 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, and account TO them for
our stewardship. l earnestly de
sire that neither you nor I may be
condemned by a free and enlight-
ened constituency, nor by our own
conscience
Emerging from rebellion of
gigantic magnitude; aided, as it
was, by the sympathy and assist
ance of nations with which we were
at peace, eleven States Of the I'm
ion were four years left without
legal State government. A debt
had been contracted, American com
merce was almost driven from the
seas the industry of one-half of the
country had been taken from the
control of the capitalists, and placed
where all labor rightfully belongs
in the keeping of the laborer.
The work of restoring State Gov
ernments loyal to the Union, OF
protecting and fostering free labor,
and providing for paying the inter
est on the public debt, has receiv-
ed ample attention from Congress,
Although these measures have not
met with the success in all partic-
ulars that ought to have been de-
served, yet on the whole they have
been more successful than could
have been reasonably anticipated.
Seven States which passed ordi-
nances of secession have been fully
restored to their places in the I'm
ion. The eighth, Georgia, held an
election at which she ratified her
Constitution, republican in form,
elected a Governor, members of
Congress, a State Legislature, and
all other officers required. The
Governor was duly installed, and
the Legislature met and formed all
the acts then required of them by
the Reconstruction Act Congress,
Subsequently, however, in viola
ton ofthe Constitution which they
had lust ratified, as since decided
by the Supreme Court of the State,
they unseated the colored members
of fhe LEGISLATURE, and admitted tC
seats some members who are dis
qualified by the third clause of tho
fourteenth amendment to the Con,
stitution, an article which they
| themselves had contributed to rat
ify.
Under these circumstances,
would submit to you whether j
would. not be wise without delay
to enact law authorizing the Gov
ernor of Georgia to convene th'
=, members originally elected to th'
, Legislature, requiring each membe
to take the oath presented by tn
Reconstruction Act, and none tc
: be admitted who are ineligible un
: der the third clause of the -Four
e teenth Amendment.
The freedmen, under the protec
: ton which they have received, ar
making rapid progress in learning
e and no complaints are heard of lacI
! of industry on their part, whel
!; they receive fair remuneration TO
e their labor
n n The means provided for payin!
P the interest on the public debt, wit
, all other expenses Of the Govern
ment, are more than ample.
The loss of our commerce is tn
only result of the late rebellion
which has not received suflicien
attention from you. To this sui
iect l call your earnest attention
i | will not now suggest plans b
" which this object may be eflecteC
d but will, if necessary, make it tn
subject off special message durin
the session Of Congress.
At the March term, Congress, b
a joint resolution, authorized tn
7. Executive to order elections l