Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-12-14
Tuesday II Morning. reccnbcr IA, 1870.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

was read to the two Houses of Congress on
Monday week. 1t is much more lengthy than
We had anticipated, and is, for the most part,
an exceedingly commons place document. We
append such portions of it, as relates to qucs-
tions in which the people and the country
generally, are most direc iy interested, with
out indulging in further COMMENT
TIE LATE REBELLION AND IT'S EFFECTS.
Emerging from a rebellion Of gigantic mag
nitude, aided, as it was, by the sympathies and
assistance of nations with which We were at
peace, eleven States of the Union werc four
years ago, left without legal State govern
ments national debt had been contracted
American commerce was almost driven from
the seas the industry of one half Of the coun-
try had been taken from the control of the
capitalists. and placed where all labor rights
fully belongs-in the keeping of the laborer
Tho work of restoring. Stnf" govern lo,..l
TO the Union of protecting and fostering free
labor and providing means for paying the
interest on the public debt, has received ample
attention from Congress. Although your eff
forts have not met with the success in all par
ticuars that might have been desired, yet on
the whole they have been more successful
than could have been reasonably anticipated.
Seven States whivh passed ordinances of Sc
ccssion have been fully restored to their places
in the Uuiou. The eighth. Georgia. held an
election. at which she ratified her Constitu.
ton, republican i'll 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
performed all the acts then required of them
by tie reconstruction acts Of Congress. Sub
scqucntlY, however i'll violation of the Con-
stitution which they had iust ratified, as since
decided by the Supreme Court of the State,
they unseatcd the colsred members of the
Legislature and admitted to seats some mcln.
b-rs who are disqualified by the third clause
of the Fourtcenth Amendment to The C0nsti-
tuition. an article which they themselves had
contributed to ratify. Under these circum-
stances l would submit to you whether it
would not he wise, without delay, to enact
law authorizing" the Governor of Georgia to
convene the members originally elected to the
Legislature, requiring each member to take
tho cath prescribed i,y the reconstruction acts.
and none 10 be admitted who are Ineligible
under the third clause Of the Fourteenth
Amendment. The freedmen, under the pro-
lection which they have received, are making
rapid progress in learning, and no complaints
are heard of lack of industry on their part
labor. The means provided for paying the
interest on the public debt, with all other
expenses Of Government, are more than ample.
The loss Of 0ur commerce is the only result
Of the late rebellion which has rot received
sufficient attention from you. To this subject
| call your earnest attention. | will not nov
suggest plans by which this chjcct may be
effected, but will. if necessary, make it the
subject of special message during tho session
Of Congress. At the March term Congress
ly ipint resolution authorized the Executive
tn order elections in the States of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas, to submit to them the
constitutions which each had previously, in
convention, framed, and submit the cOnstitu>
tions, either entire or in separate parts, to be
voted upon at the discretion of the Executive.
Under this authority elections were called
Tn Virginia the election took place on Tic 9th
rf July, 1863. The Governor and Lieutenant
Governor elected have been Installed. The
Legislature met and did all required by this
resolution, and by all the reconstruction acts
of Congress. and abstaircd from all doubtful
authority. | recommend that her Senators
and Representatives and that State be fully
restored to It's place in the family of States.
Elections were called in Mississippi and
Texas to commence on the 30th Of November.
1850 and TO last two days in Mississippi and
four days in Texas. The elections have taken
place, but the result is not known. 1t is to
be hoped that the acts of the Legislatures of
these States, when they meet, will be such as
to receive your approval and thus close the
work of reconstruction.
THE CrRzrNCY