The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1869-04-14
MESSAGE sHoH sI,EslD ~Sr GRANT.

WASHINGTON, April THE fol
lowing message was received from the
President by Congress ut hour o'clock
this afternoon
1ohs Senote and House Of Represent
atires:
While | am awar rthat the time in
which Congress prS poses now to re
main in session is very brief, and that
it is its desire as f,fas consistent with
the public interest 10 avoid entering
upon the general business of lcsisla-
ton, there is one subject which con
Germs so deeply ~ welfare of the
country, that | deem it my duty to
bring it before you. | have no doub,
You will concur will me in the opin-
ion that it is desirable to restore the
States which were engaged ia the re
bellion TO their re atpns to the Govern
mcnt and the country at as early a
period as the peope Of those States
shall be found willing to become
peaceful and ORDERLY communities, and
to adopt aud maiotiin snch constitu-
tions and laws as will ctftctually secure
the civil and political rights of all
persons within their borders The
authority of the United States, which
has been vindicaqIl and established
10y its military powei4must un,lonbted
ly he asserted for the absolute protcc-
tion of all its citizens in the iill eniov-
ment of the freedom and security
which is the o!jec,of repub lean gov
ernment; bnt wherever the people of
n rebel ious State are ready to enter
in good faith upon the accomplish
m mt Of this object, in entire coniormi
ty with the constitutional authority of
Congress, it is certain y desirable that
all causes Of irritation should BE- rcniov-
ed MS promptlyps possib c, that a more
perfect Union maybe cstab ished and
the country be restored TO peace and
prosperity.
The Convcntonof the people Of
Virginia, whicl, met in Richmond, on
Tuesday, DeccmbT 3, 1867, framed II
constitution for that State, which was
adopted by he Convention on the l7th
of April, lS6s,anl ldr.ir' respectful
" to call the attention oI' Congress to
the propriety of prEi,ling by law for
the holding oi IN election in that
State at some time during the months
of May or june next, under direction
of the military commander ot the dis
trict, at which the question of the aaop-
tion of that Constitution shall be sun.
mite to the ci izuls of the State and
If this should seem desirable, would
recommend that separate vote b'
taken upon such parts as may he
thought cypclicnt, and that ut the
same time anl under the sanic author
iiy there shall b. an c.ecton for the
officers provided under snch cnn,itu.
ton, or such parts Ihereoias shal have
been adopted by the people he submit
tel to Congress on the frs. Monday oI
December next for lis consideration
80 that if the same is then approved
the necessary steps will have been ta'
|, Lsalug-ihAsa1ssVitIiua, " Nuglnia q.
\ its proper relations To The Union.
nm led to make this recomnIcndatiol
from the confident hope and belle
that the people OF that State are nov
rca 'y to cooperate with the nationn
, government in bringing it into sucl
: relations to the Union as it ought u,
soon as possible Ia establish and main
tain, to give to all its peope thcs,
. equal rights under the law which ar'
asserted in the Declaration of indie
pcndencc, in the wor,lS,of the mos
luslrious of It's sons. | desire ais,
to ask the consideration of Congress
to the question whether there IS no
Just ground for believing the cons'iIn
tion framed BY the convention of tn
people Of Mississippi for tint S ate
and once rejected, might not be agail
submitted to the people of that Stat,
in like manner, and with til. probabil
ity of Il different result.
[;igned] U. S. GRANT.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April I, 1869.