The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-04-15
MISCELLANY.
GRANTS FIRST MESSAGE.

WASHINGTON, April 7.-The follow
ing message Of the President was re-
eeiyed by Congtsss, at S o'clock, this
afternoon:
70 the Senate a"d House Of Represen-
tatives: While I am aware that the
time in which Congress proposes now
10 remain IN session is very brief, and
that i. is its desire, as far as is consist
ens with the public interest, to avoid
entering upon the general business of
legislation, there is one subject which
concers SO deeply the welfare of the
country, that deem it my duty to bring
it before you.
/ have no doubt that you will concur
with me in the opinion that it is desira'
bic TO restore the Stntes which were en-
gagged in the rebellion to their proper
relations to the Government and the
country at as early period as the peo-
pls of these States shall be found will
ling to become peaceable and orderly
communities, and to adopt and main
tain such constitutions and laws as will
effectually secure the civic and political
rights Of all persons within their bord.:
ers.
The authority Of the United States,
which has been vindicated and estab-
lishcd by its military power, must un'
doubted!y be asserted for the absolute
protesaion of all its citizens in the full
endowment of the freedom and security
which is the object of a republican
government. But whenever the people
Of . rcbcllious State arc ready to cnter
in good faith upon the accomplishment
of this object, in entire conformity with
the constitutional authority of Congress
1t is certainly desirable that all causes
of irritation should be removed as
promptly as possible, that more Fer
feet Union may be established, and tue
10o9nEFy Be restored to peace and pros-
perity.
The convention Of the people of Vir-
einia which met iii Richmond on Tues
day, December Sd, 1867, framed con-
s,itution for that State which was adopt
cd by the Convention on the 18th of
April, 1868, and desire respectfully
to call the attention of Congress to the
propriety of providing by law for. lie
holding of an election for that State
at, some time between the months of
May and June next, under the d.
rection of the military commander
of the district, at which the adop-
tion Of that constitution shall be sub
mitted to the citizens of the States
And if this should seem desirable /
would recommend that spare vote be
taken upon such parts as may be thought
expedient, and that at the same time
and under the same authority, there
shall be an election for the officers pro-
vided under such constitution, aud that
the constitution, or such parts thereof,
as shall have been adopted by the peo-
pie be submitted to Congress on the
first Monday Of December next for its
consideration, so that if the same be
then approved the necessary steps will
have heen taken for The restoration Of
the State of Virginia 10 its proper rcla
tions to the Union.
I nm led to make this recommends
tion from the confident hope and belief
that the people Of that State, now rea-
dy to cooperate with the NATIONAL gov
ernmcnt in bringing it again into such
relations to the Uuiun as it ought, as
soon as possible to establish and u,ain-
tain, and to give to all its people those
equal rights under the law, which were
asserted Ii the declaration of iudepend-
ence iu the words of one Of the most H.
lustrious Of its sons.
I Idesire, also, to ask the considcra-
lion Of Congress to the question whcth
er there is not just ground for believing
that the Constitution framed BY Con-
tention of the people of Mississippi for
that State, and once rejected might not
be again submitted to the people of that
State in like manner, and with the pro-
liability of the same result.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT.
WASHINGTON, D. G., April Z, 1869.
In Hayti three hundred Ilaytlen dol
lars are now quoted as equivalent to