Litchfield enquirer., 1869-04-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

To the Senate and House of Representatives. While am aware that the time in which Congress proposes now to remain in ses- sion is very brief and that it is its desire, as far as consistent with the public inter est, to avoid entering upon the general
 business of legislation, there is one subject
 which concerns 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 i'll the opinion that it is desirable to restore the states
 which were engaged in the rebellion to their proper relations to the government
 and the country. at as early 8 period as the people of these states shall be found will ling to become peaceful and orderly cOm-.
 munities, and to adopt and maintain such constitutions and laws as. will efectually secure the civil and political rights of all
 persons within their borders. The authori-
 ty of the United States, which has been
 yin dicated and established by its military
 power, must undoubtedly be asserted for
 the protection of all it's citizens in the fuli
 enjoyment of the freedom and security
 which is the object of the republican gov
 ernment. But whenever the people of 6
 rebellious state are ready to enter. in good
 faith, upon the accomplishments of this ob-; ject in entire conformity with the consti
 tutional authority of Congress, 1t is cer- tainly desirable that all causes of irrslation should be removed as promptly as possi- ble, that more perfect union may be es-
 tablished and the country restored to peace
 and prosperity. The convention of the
 people of Virginia, which met in Rich mond, on Tuesday, December 3d, 1867,
 framed constitution for that state which
 was adopted by the convention on the 17th of April, 1868; and desire, respectfully.
 to call the attention of Congress to the propriety 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 tho direction of the military of the district, at which the question of the adoption of the adoption of that constitution shall be submitted to to the citizens of the state, and if this should seem desirable, would recommend that separate vote be taken upon such parts as may seem expedient, and that at the same time, and under the same author ity, there shall be an election of the off cers 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 it's considera- tion, so that if the same is approved, the necessary steps will have been taken for the restoration of the state of Virginia to it's proper relations to the Union.a am led to make this recommendation from the confident hope and belief that the people 1 of that state are now ready to cooperate with the national government in bringing it again into such relations to the Union, as it ought, as soon as possible,t to establish and maintain, and give to all it's people all these equal rights under the laws which are asserted in the declaration of indepen- dence in the words of one of the most l- lustrious of its sons. desire also to ask the consideration of Congress to the ques- tion whether there is not just ground for believing that the constitution framed by 2 convention 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 proba- bility of the same result. ,or ;, .e,.,s,.e,,,
 (Signed) .,,'i-,<5 9i ,s1s, U. s, GRANr.l
 Washington. D. O.. April ', 1869 ,Ia ' at