Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-13
MESSAGE of the President

On Wednesday last, the It'll inst, the Pres-
dent sent the following message into Congress ::
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
is consistent with the public interest, to avoid
entering upon the general business of legisla-
ton, there is one subject which concerns SO
deeply the welfare of the country that l deem
it my duty to bring it before you [ have no
doubt that you will concur with me in the opin-
ion that it is desirable to restore the States
which were engaged in the rebellion to their
proper relations to the Government and the
country at as early 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 effectually 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 military pow
er, must undoubtedly be asserted for the abso-
lutte protection Of all its citizens in the full en-
joyment Of the freedom and security which is
the object of Republican Government. But
whenever the people Of rebellious State are
ready to enter in good faith upon the accom-
pishment Of this object in entire conformity
with the constitutional authority of Congress,
it is certainly desirable that all causes of irri
tation should be removed as promptly as pos
sible, that a more perfect Union may be estab-
lished and the country be restored to peace and
prosperity.
The Convention of the people of Virginia,
which met in Richmond on Tuesday, Deem
Der 3, 1867, framed a Constitution for that
State which was adopted by the Convention on
the 18th of April, 1868, and | desire respect
fully to call the attention of Congress to the
propriety Of providing by law for the holding
of an election in that State at some time du-
ring the months of May and June next under
the direction of the military commander of
that district at which the question of the adop-
ton of that Constitution shall be submitted to
the citizens of the State and if this should
seem desirable, | would recommend that sep
arate vote be taken upon such part 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
such parts thereof as shall have been adopted
by the people, be submitted to Congress on the
first Monday in December next, for its consid-
Grafton, 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 prop
er relations to the Union. | am led to make
this recommendation from the confident hope
and belief that the people of that State are
now ready to cooperate with the National Gov
eminent in bringing it again into such relations
to the Union as it ought, as soon as possible,
to establish and maintain, and to give to all its
people those equal rights under the law which
were asserted in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence in the words Of one of the most illus
trious of its sons.
[ desire, also, to ask the consideration of
Congress to the question whether there is not
just ground for believing that the Constitution
framed by Convention of the people of Mis-
sissippi for that State, and once rejected, might
not be again submitted to the people of that
State, in like manner, and with the probability
of the same result.
u. S. GRANT.
Washington, d. c., Apfil 7, 1889.