The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-12-10
srHE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Tho Annual Message Of President
Grant when compared with the vo-
luminous Messages Of some of his pre-
tlcceesors, is n brief document. It
presents n concise review Of tho va
aied domestic interests and foreign
relations which form the subjects Of
congressional legislation, and sets
forth it's conclusions distinctly and
decidedly. It is moderate in tone,
conservative in policy, and will VIC
think be generally acceptable. We an
nox short synopsis Of its }eading po-
sitions:
Tho President congratulatcs the
county upon the enjoyment OF peace
and tho blessings Of freedom, with1a
territory capable of supporting pop
nlatien Of soc: 100000, and rtch in all
tho elements of mineral and agrical-
tural w'ealth-upon abundant har-
vests, and an overfiowing revenue.
On the subject Of reconstruction, he
Rays: "sSeven States which passed or
dinances of secession have been fully
restored to their places in tho Union !;
tho eighth, Georgia, held an election
at which she ratified her constitution,
republican in form, elected a Cover
nor. members of Congress, . State
Legislature, and other officers rcquir-
ed. The Governor was installed the
Legislature met aud performed all the
acts 'thon required of them by the Re
construction acts Of Congress: Sub
ssquently, however; ;ain violation Of the
Sonstitution which t4iey had just rat
flied, as since decided: by tho Supreme
Court of che State; tfey y fnnscated tho
coloscd members OF the Legislature,
and azlhitted TO. seats Some mem bers
whorare, disqualified Iby- the third
elanas Of the, Fourteentll,ancnd nient:
aniArtiele which they themselves hat
tantzibuted to ratify; Under 'tHese
circumstances would :subm ito ,yoh;
whettier itiwould not'be Wise, without
delay, to enact law authorizing the
Governor Of Georgia to convene the
members originally elected to the
Legislature, requiring each, to take
tho oath ptescrfbcd BY tho Heaop-
etruction acts, and mono to be admit
ted who are Ineligible under the third
Clause OF tho Fourteenth amond1
mont" :.
He recommends the admission Of
Virginia into the Union. and express
es the hope that the roccnt ELECTIONS
10 Mississippi and Texas will DO fol-
lowed by much legislative action, ms
will close the work of restoration, by.
the admission of those States. -.
He recommends such Legislation as
will secure q gradual return to specie
payments. and put an immediate stop
to fluctuations in the curreHcy. The
method he says to secure the former
OF theso results are as numerous as
spectators on: political economy. TO
SECURE the latter he sees but one way,
and that is to authorize tho treasury
to redeem its own paper at n fixed
price, wheQeYer. r.spvesented, aud to
withhold from circulation all curren-
cy 50. redeemed until sold again for
gold. @-'' - '.'" .'''. . : .''-.' '''
With regard to the public dobt, the
President suggests the propriety Of
taking up the bonds Of Tho Govern
mcnt, ~healthey become due, and re
placing them with new bonds bearing
an INTEREST not exceeding Al per cent.
.As ssoopauauds the postqnnementI
OF ? reEisien Of the days on thu subj
ject Of III! tNhe tariff and in ternal taxation
uptt thsss next sessions Of Congress ;
bHHt HkHnp IL he Y eFsfipss mesansins spggests THO re-
nswal Of ,th4 tag ,pR9R,, ipeomes. but b. u
a. ~ IIsaacsq tai sRsrifseat i the1 q
so,recdmmthds tfies rieduetabns ( II III tt1hs tt1s
taxes and customs from sS0,SGobJo1
10 ss0,000,ooe at enee, and to be annu-
aAyFsdueeda - ttAsJ RESOURCES nofitAe
ooi,ntyAre.d .dexslopedi .ia4oH xiuod'
Thsa AIessagS '9xbr4sses 4he i~saarHm i~saarHmt T
sStapSth5 tses ,fiissidsbt far, fa5rr, M3ss,,
people. 4asfts asftsu uophba ,ip1i their pending
stpu4qlo. hrk ..ta kes,t 4 ho nh ith, 4.