Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-04-09
Restoration Of tie Rebei GtalcH.
MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT CRANE.

WASHINGTON, April Z. The follow
ing message was received by Congress
from the President q four O'Clock Thu
afternoon:
To tie Senate ond House Of Repre-
seatdticcS::
While | am aware that tha time
which Congress proposes now to re-
main it, session is very brief, and that
it is its desire, rs far as consistent with
the public interest, TO avoid entering
upon gen eral business of legislation,
| there is one subject which concerns so
deeply the welfare of the country that |
deem ii my duty to bring il before YOU.
| have no doubt that you will concur
with me in the opinion that it is dcsir-
able to restore the States which We're
engaged in rebellion to their proper r.
lations to the Government and The
country at AS early a period as the peo-
pie of those tates shall be found will
ing to become peaceful and orderly
communities, and to adopt and maintain
such constitutions and laws as will efiec-
tually secure the civil and political
rights of all persons within their bor-
bers. The authority CT the United
States, which has been vindicated and
established by its military power, must
be asserted for the absolute pro ,ection
OF all its citizans in the full enjoyment
of their freedom and security, which
is the object OF Il republican govern
ment. But whenever the people of re-
belious States are ready to entcrin good
faith upon the accomplishment Of this
object, in conformity with the cOnsti-
tutional authority OF Congress, it is GER
| tainly desirable that all causes of irrita-
| ton should be removed as promptly as
possible, that & more perfect Union may
| be established and the country restored
to peace and prosperity.
| 4 Convention of the people of Virgin
ia, which met in Richmond Dec.3 1868,
teamed constitution for that state
which was adopted by the Convention
April H. 1868, and / desire respectfully
to call the attention of Congress to the
propriety of providing by law for hol-
ding an election in that State sometime
during the months OF May and June
next, under direction of the Military
| the question shall be submitted to the
citizens of the state and if this should
seem desirable | would reccOmend that
a seperate vote be taken upon such parts
as may thought eXpedient, and that at
| the same time, and under the same lu-
| thOrity, there shall be an election fOl
provided under such constitution, and
that the constitution, or such parts
thereof as shall have been iOpted by
the eoplc, be submitted to Congress
the first Monday of December u ,xt
for consideration, SO that if the same is
then approved the necessary steps have
been taken for the restoration of the
State to its former relations to the
! Union.
| am led to make this recommended
ton from the confident hope and belief
that the people of the state are now ready
to cooperate with the National Govern
ment in bringing it into such relations
with the Union as it ought, az soon as
possible, to establish and maintain and
give to all its people equal rights under
the laws which are asserted in the Dec
laration of Independence in the words
of one of the most illustrious of its son.
| desire also to ask the consideration
of the Congress to the question whether
there is not a just ground for believing
| that the constitution framed by a con-
vention of the people Of Mississippi for
that State, and once rejected, might not
be submitted othe people ina like man
ner, and with probability of the same
| result.
(Signed) u. 5. GRANT.
Washington, d. c., April 7, 1869.