The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-12-16
Presidents Message.

| with gratitude to TIE Giver of all good for
| me many benefits we enjoy. We are blessed
| with peace at home, without entangling al
/ iances abroad TO forDode trouble, with ter
| -tory unsurpassed iii fertility of area and
| quail to the abundant support of five hun
| lred millions of people, 3boHuding in every
| variety OF useful mineral in quantity suffi-
| lent to supply the world for generations
! exuberant crops and variety of climate
idapIed to the production of every specie>
| f the earth's riches and suited to the hab-
| its. tastes, aud requirements of every living
| hing; population Of 4O.000OOO free peopl.
| peaking one language; facilities for every
| mortal TO acquire an education; institutions
| losing TO none the avenues 70 fame or any
| blessing or fortune that may be coveted .
| freedom OF pulpit, press and school; reven
re flowing into the National Treasury be-
| fOnd the requirements OF the government
| Happily, harmony is being rapidly restored
within our own borders. Manu- fiCtorite
| hitherto unknown in our country are spring
| .ng up in all sections producing degree %
| ational independence unequal, d by any
| ther power. These blessings and counties
others, are entrusted TO your care and min'
'or safe keeping for the brief period of our
rerm of office. In short time We must eacI
| # US return to the ranks of the people wh'
ave conferred our honOrs, aud account u
| chem for our stew ardship. j earnestly de
| ire that neither you nor may be condemn
by a free enlightened constituency, no
)y our own consciences.
Eleven States of the Union were fOui
ears ago left without legal government
md national debt had been contracted
american commerce was almost driven from
he seas. The industry oi one half til.
.ountry had teen taken from the control
capitalists anL placed where all labor right
'ully belongs in the keeping of the laboreI
lhe work of restoring the State Govern
nents To a union of protecting. fostering
rec labor and providing means for pawn.
he interest Oh the public debt has receive
,mple attention from Congress. Althoug
our efforts have not met with success II
II the particulars that might have been de,
ired yet on the whole they have been NOR
uccessful than could have been reasonabI,
anticipated. OF The eleven States whic
passed ordinances of secession. seven hay
'een fully restored to their places in TIA
Jnion, The eighth (CIeorgia) held an elec
ion at which she ratified ii Constitution. re
,ublican in form elected Governor. mem
'ers OF Congress. a state Legislature All,
he other officers required. The Governo
vas Installed, the Legislature met and pass
d all the acts then required OF them by til.
construction acts of Congress. SubSt
Iuently, however, in violation OF the Con
cituJion which they had just ratified. -.
,ince decided by the Supreme Court of tn,
,tate, they uuseated colured members of til,
Legislature, aud admitted TO seats som.
members who are disqualified by the 3r
lause of the nth amendment. an articl
,hich they themselves had contributed {.
ratity. Under these circumstances | wouIt
ubmit to you whether it would not be wis
Without delay to enact a law authorizius
he Governor of Georgia to convene tn
MEMBERS originally elected to the Legisla-
ure, requiring each To take the oath pre-
vribed by the reconstruction acts. and non
De admitted VINO are ineligible under the 8
;Isuse of the 18th amendment.
The freedmen, under protection which
hey have received, are making rapid pro
sress in learning, and no com plants ar.
| ieard of a lack of industry on their part
where they receive fair remuneration fo
heir labor.
The means provided for paving the inter
st on the public debt with all other expen
ses of the government are more than ample
The lots of our commerce is only the re-
.ult of the late rebellion, which has not re-
.eived sufficient attention from you. I,
| his subject call your earnest attention.
will not now suggest the plans by whicl
his object may be effected. but viii, if ne
essary, make it the subject of a special mes
! sage during the session of Congress
At the March term. Congress by joint res
llution authorized the executive to ordeI
| elections in the States of Virginia Missis
| Sippi and Texas, and to submit to them tn =
| Constitution which each had previously
| framed, either entire or in separate parts I,
| be voted upon at the discretion of the Elk
| ecutive. Under this author ty election,
| we're called in Virginia. The election took
|
| Lieutenant Governor were elected and hav.
| Deen installed. The Legislature met and
lid all required of them by this resolution
| md by all the reconstruction acts of Con
! sress. They abstained from all doubtful
| authority. / recommend that her Senator
| md Representatives be promptly admitted
| q their seats, and the State te fully restored
| 20 its place in the family OF States.
| Elections were called in Mississippi anC
| Texas to commence on the 30th of NOVcm
i
| Texas. The elections have taken place
| but the result is not known. 1t is hope,
| chat the acts of the Legislatures of thes,
state. when they meet, will be such as to re-
.eive your approval and thus close the worl
| # reconstruction.
Among the evils growing out of the re-
0ellion and not yet referred TO. is that of al
| Inredeemable currency. IJ is an evil which
! hope will receive your most earnest atteu
| lion. Its duty, and one OF the highes
| Iuties of the government, to secure 10 tn
| .itiZens a medium of exchange of fixed am
| lnvarying value. This implies return t.
| A specie basis. and no substitute for it can b.
| Ievised. 1t should be commenced now. an,
cached at the earliest practicable moment
| consistent with fair regard TO the inter
| aStS of the debtor class. Immediate reSump
ion. if practicable, would not be desirable
| lt would compel the debtor class to pay be-
| tond their contracts and the premium OF
rold at date of their purchase, and woul
| ring bankruptcy and ruin to thousands
fluctuations in the paper value of gold
| detrimental TO the interests OF trade.
| makes the man of business an invOluntar
rambler for in all sales where future pay
| nent is to be made both parties speculate a
| O what will be the value of the currency {
| 10 maid and received / earnestly recon-
| mend to YOU then such legislation as vii
insure a gradual return to specie payments
| md put an immediate stop to fuctuation i
| he value of the Gu -rency. The methods {
secure the former of these results are as nj
| nervous as Spectators on political economy
| TO secure tbe latter. see but one way. tina
| to authorize the Treasury to redeem it
| own paper at a fixed price whenever pre-
.enteti. and TO withhold from circulation al
currency so redeemed until sold again fo
| ,rold The vast resources OF the nation, bot
| developed and undevelOped, ought to max
mr. credit the best on earth. With less bur
| len of taxation than the citizen has indure
| ior six wears past, the entire pubic deb
| could be paid in ten years. But ii is not de
,irable that the people should be taxed
| oav il in that time. Year by year our abtl
ty to paw increases in rapid ratio. But tn
burden of interest ought TO be reduced a
rapidly as can be without violation of con
ract with the public. The debt is represent
a i'm great part by bonds having from {
40 and from 10 to 40 years to run, bearin
interest at the rate of 6 aud per cent. re
| uectiVeiV. 1t is optional with the govern
nent to pay these bonds at any period afte
the expiration of the least time mentlone
upon their face. The time has already eS
oired when the great part may be taken al
, md is rapidly approaching when. we o.
> lieye. that all which are now due may he RI
pIaced BIZ bonds bearing a rate of intere:
| not exceeding AZ per cent, and as rapid
= as the remainder becomes due they may
: reduced in the same way. To accomplis
: this it may be necessary to authorize On
= | interest to be held at either of three or fOU
I If money centres of Europe or by any Al
: .istant Treasurer of the United States |
J. the option of the holder of the bonds
I suggest this subject for the consideration |
Congress, and also simultaneously win tni