Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-12-10
pREsrpENTgs NIEssAGE.

IN coming before you for the hrst
lime as Chief Magistrate of this great
Nation, it Is with gratltudeto the dlver
of all Good for the many benefits we
enjoy; we are blessed with peace at
home, and are without entangling al
Iiances abroad to forebode trouble /;
with territory unsurpassed in fertil-
ity, Of an area equal to the abundant
support Of five hundred millions of
people, and abOunding in every va
rfety of useful mineral, in quantity
sufficient to supply the world for gem
erations; with exuberant crops with
variety of climate adapted to the
production of every species of earth's
riches, and suited to the habits, tastes
and requirements Of every living
thing with a population Of forty mil
lions of free people, all speaking the
one Language with facilities for every
mortal to acquire an edueatloni with
institutions, closing to none the ave-
nues to fame, or any blessing or for
tune that may be coveted; with free
dom of the pulpit, the press and
school with a revenue HoW1ng into
the National Treasury beyond the re-
Quirements Of supply; harmony is
being rapidly restored within our own
borders, and manufactures hitherto
unknown in our country are springing
up in all directions, producing degree
of national Independence unequaled
by that of any other power. These
blessings ana countless ObD6rS are en-
trusted to our care for safe keeping for
the brief period of our tenure of office.
In a short time we must, each of us,
return to the ranks of the people who
have conferred upon us our honors,
and account to them for our steward
ship. earnestly desire that neither
You nor I may be condemned by free
and enlightened constituency, nor by
our own consciences.
Emerging from a rebellion of gigan-
tic magnitude, aided as it was by the
sympathy and assistance of nations
with which we were at peace, eleven
States of the Union were four years
ago left without legal State Govern
ments, debt had been contracted,
American commerce was almost driven
from the seas, the industry of one-half
of the country had been taken from
the control of the capitalists and placed
where all labor rightfully belongs, in
the keeping of laborers.
The work Of restoring State Govern
nents loyal to the Union, of protecting
and fostering free labor, and provid-
ing means for paying the interest on
tention from Congress. Although your
efforts have not met with the success
in all particulars that might have been
desired, yet, on the whole, they have
been more successful than could have
been reasonably anticipated. Seven
States which passed ordinances of Sc
cession have been fully restored to
their places in the Union.
On the Sth Of November Georgia held
an election, at which she ratified her
Constitution, Republican in form,
elected q Governor members OF Con-
gress, State Legislature, and all 9TH
er officers required. The Governor was
duly installed, and the Legislature met
and performed all the acts therein re-
quired of thena by the reconstruction
ever, in violation of the Constitution
which they had just ratified, as since
decided by the Supreme Court of the
State, they unseated the colored mem
bers Of the Legislature, and admitted
to seats some members who are dis
qualified by, the third clause of the
14th amendment to the Constitution,
an article which they themselves had
contributed to ratify.
Under these circumstances I would
submit to you, whether it would not
be wise without delay to enact a law
authorizing the Governor of Georgia
to convene the members originally
elected to the Legislature, requiring
each member to take the oath present.
ed by the reconstruction act, and none
TO be admitted who are ineligible un-
der.the Sd clause Cf the 14th Amend
ment. ~
The freedmen. under the protection
which they have received, are making
rapid progress in learning and no
complaints are heard of lack of indus
try on their part when they receive
fair recommendations for their labor.
The means provided for paying the
interest on the public debt with all
the other expenses of the Government,
are more than ample. The loss Of our
commerce is the only result of the late
rebellion, which has not received suffi-
cient attention from you. To this sub
jeet call your earnest attention. I
will not now suggest plans by which
this subject may be effected, but will,
if necessary, make it the subject of a
special message during the session of
Congress.
At the March term, Congress, by
Joint resolution, authorized the EXecu-
tive to order an election in the States
Of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas, to
submit to them the Constitution which
each had previously in convention
formed, and submit the Constitution
either entire or in separate parts, to be
voted upon at the discretion of the
Executive. Under this authority cleo
tions were called. In Virginia the
election took place on the 9th of July,
1869. The Governor and Lieutenant
Governor have been installed. The
Legislature met and did all required
by this resolution, and by all the re-
construction acts of Congress, abstain
ing from all doubtful authority
Representatives be admitted to their
seats, and that the State be fully re-
stored to her place in the family of
States. Elections were called in Mis-
sissippi and Texas. to commence on
the 30th of November, 1869, to last two
days in Mississippi and four days in
Texas. The elections have taken
place, but the result is not known. It
is to be hoped that the acts of the Leg
islatures of these States, when they
h, rTsaNnr to
approval and thus close the work of
reconstruction.
Among the evils growing out of the
rebellion, and not yet referred to, is
that Of an irredeemable currency. 1t
is an evil which / hope viii receive
your most earnest attention. 1t is a
duty, and one Of the highest duties of
Government, to secure to it's citizens a
medium Of exchange of fixed, unvary-
ing value. This implies areturn to
specie basis, and no substitute for 1t
can be- devised. 1t should be COM
menced now, and reached at the earli-
est practicable moment consistent /
with fair regard to the interest of the |
debtor class. Immediate resumption, |
If practicable, would not be desira HE /
It would compel the debtor class to 4
pay beyond their contracts the premi- /
um on gold at the date of their pur- |
chase, and would bring bankruptcy
and ruin to thousands. FIuctuatfOus |
measure of all values-of pold-is |
detrimental to the interest Of trade. |
It makes the man of business an in
voluntary gambler, for in all sales |
where future payment is to be made |
both parties speculate as to what will |
be the value Of the currency to be paid |
and received. = earnestly recommend |
80 you, then, such Legislation as viii
insure gradual return to specie pay
ments, and put an immediate stop to
fluctuations in the ryalue of currency.
The methods to secure these results are |
as numerous as are the speculations on
political economy. To secure the for
lner i see but one way, and that is to
authorize the Treasury to redeem its
own paper ct fxed price whenever
presented to withhold from circula-
lion all such currency redeemed until I
sold again for gold. The vast resourc-
es Of the nation, both developed and I
undeveloped, ought to make our credit !
the best on earth. With less burden /
of taxation than the citizen has en-