The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-04-10
Message from the President.

The President sent his first message
to Congress on Wednesday afternoon,
asking that body to take some action
on the States of Virginia and Missis.
sippi:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
While am aware that the time in which
Congress proposes now to remain in session
is very brief, and that it is its desire as far
as consistent with the public interest to
avoid entering upon the general business of
legislation, there is one subject which con-
Germs so deeply the welfare of the country
that deem it my duty to bring it before
you.
Ihave no doubt that you will concur with
me in the opinion that it is desirable to re-
store the States which were engaged in the
Rebellion to their proper relations to the
Government and the country at as early a
period as the people of those States shall
be found willing to become peaceful and
orderly communities. and to adopt and
maintain such constitutions and laws as
will e7ectually secure the civil and political
rights of all persons within their borders.
The authority of the United States, which
has been indicated and established by its
serted for the absolute protection of all its
citizens in the full enjoyment of the free
dom and security which is the object of the
republican government. But whenever the
people of a rebellious State are ready to
enter in good faith upon the accomplish
ment Of this object, in entire conformity
with the constitutional authority of Con-
gress. it is certainly desirable that all causes
of irritation should be removed as promptly
as possible, that a more perfect union may
be established, and the country restored to
peace and prosperity. The Convention of
the people of Virginia. which met in Rich
mond, on Tuesday. Dec. 8, 81, framed Con-
stitution for that State, which was adopted
by the Convention on the 18th of April,
1868, and desire respectfully to call the
attention of Congress to the prepriety of
providing by the law for the holding of an
election in that State ut sometime during
the months af May and June next. under
the direction of the Military Commander
of the District at which the question of
the adoption of that Constitution shall be
submitted to the citizens of the State. and
if this should seem desirable, / would rec
ommend that a separate vote be taken upon
such parts as may be thought expedient,
and that at the same time, and under the
same authority. there shall be an election
for the officers provided under such Consti-
tuition, and that the Constitution, or such
parts thereof as shall have been adopted by
the people. be submitted to Congress on the
first Monday of December next, for its
consideration, SO that, if the same is then
| approved, the necessary steps will have
been taken for the restoration of the State
of Virginia to its proper relations to the
| Union. am led to make this recommen-
dation from the confident hope and belief
that the people of that State are new ready
to cooperate with the National Govern
ment in bringing it again into such rcla-
! lions to the Union as it ought as soon as
| possible to establish and maintain. and to
give to all its people these equal rights I'M
der the law. which are asserted in the Dec
laration of Independence in the words of
one of the most iliustrious Of its sons.
desire also to ask the consideration Of Con-
gress to the question whether there is not
just ground for believing that the Constitu-
ton framed by Convention of the people
of Mississippi for that State, and once re-
,jected, might not be again submitted to the
people of that State in like manner, and
with the probility of the same result.
L. S. GRANT.
Washington, D. C., AprI :, 1869.