Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-15
GRANTS FIRST MESSAGE.

We annex Gen. Grants first message to Con-
gress. 1t was called forth by the anxiety Of Con-
gress to adjourn until December. The President
thinks this ought not to be done until some provi-
sion has been made to restore to the Union such
unreconstrncted States as are still ont in the cold
The message stirred up some bile in the grave and
reverend assembly to which it was addressed. But
it has had its effect Congress has passed just
such bill as he desired. The message is as fol-
lows:
To the Senate and House of Representatives -
While am aware that the time in which Congress
proposes now to remain in session is very brief,
and that it is its DESIRE as far as is consistent with
the public interest, to avoid entering upon the
general business oflegislation, there is one subject
which concerns 80 deeply the welfare Of the coun-
try, that deem it my duty to bring it before you.
have no doubt that you viii concur with me in
the opinion that it is desirable to restore the States
which were engaged in the rebellion to their pro-
per relations to the Government and the country,
at as early period as the people Of those States
shall become willing to become peaceful and order
ly communities, and to adopt and maintain such
constitutions and laws as will eAectualy secure the
civic and political rights of all persons within their
borders. The authority of the United States
which has been vindicated and established by its
military power, must undoubtedly be asserted for
the absolute protection Of ell it's citizens in the full
enjoyment of freedom and security, which is
the object of Republican Government But
whenever the people Of rebelious State are ready
to enter in good faith upon the accomplishment of
this object in entire conformity with the constiu-
tiona authority of Congress, it is certainly desra
bic that all causes of limitation should be removed
as promptly as possible, that more perfect union
may be established and the country be restored to
peaee and prosperity The convention of the peo-
pie of Virginia, which met in Richmond, on Tues
day, December Sd, 1867, framed a Constitution for
that State, which was adopted BY the Convention
on the 18th of April, 1868, and desire respectfully
to call the attention Of Congress to the proprety
OF providing by law, for the holding of an election
in that State, at some time during the months OF
May and June next, under the direction Of the
question of the adoption of that Constitution shall
be submitted to the citizens of the State. And if
this should seem desirable, L would recommend
that separate vote be taken upon such parts Us
may be thought expedient and that at the same
time and under the same authority, there shall be
an election held for officers provided under such
Constitution, and that the Constitution or such
parts thereof as shall have been adopted by the
people, be submitted to Congress on the first Mon
day of December next, for its consideration 30 that
if the same is then approved, the necessary steps
will have been taken for the restoration Of the
State of Virginia to the Union.
am led to make this recommendation from the
confident hope and belief that the people Of that
State are now ready to cooperate with the Nation
al Government in bringing it again into such re!a-
tions to the Union as it ought as soon as possible
to establish and maintain and to give to all its peo-
pie those equal rights under the law which were
asserted in the Declaration ofIndependence, in the
words of one of the most illustrious of her sons.
DESIRE also, to ask the consideration Of Congress
to the question, whether there is not just ground
for believing that the Constitution framed by q
Convention Of the people of Mississippi for that
State, might not be again submitted to the people
of that State in like manner, and with the proba-
biity of the same result.
(Signed) I. S. GRANT.
Washington, D. c., April 7, 1869. -. -s