The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-04-15
Message of the President ur-
ging the Immediate Resto-
alton of Virginia and
mississippi.

dC4CA O1 IL s AA4d St&A$A
Mississippi.
The following message was received by
Congress from the President, at o'clock
on the afternoon of the 18th inst:
"T0 the Senate and House Of Representa-
tiUeS
While I am aware that the time which
Congress proposes now to remain in SEES
sion is very brief, and that it is its desire
as far as Is consistent with the public III
terest, to avoid entering into the general
business OF legislation, there is one sub
ject which concerns so deeply the welfare
of the country, that deem it my duty to
bring it before you. have no doubt that
ynu will concur with me that it is desira-
BILE to restore the states that were enga
ged in the rebellion to their relations to
the government and the country, at as ear
ly period as the people Of those states
shall be willine to become peaceful and
orderly communities and to adopt and
maintain such constitutions and laws as
will etfectually secure the civil and polit
ical rights OF ali persons within their Dor
ders. The authority of the United States
which has been vindicated and establish
ed by its military power, must undoubted-
ly be asserted for the absolute protection
of all its citiz9ns. in the full enjoyment
of freedom and security, which is the OBJ
ject of republican government but
whenever the people of rebellious state
are ready to enter in good faith upon the
accomplishment of this object, in entire
conformity with Unconstitutional author
ity of Congress, it is desirable that all
causes of irritation should be removed as
promptly as possible, that more perfect
union be esta bllshcd, and the country be
restored to peace and prosperity. The
convention Of the people of Virginia,
which met at Richmond, on Tuesday De
cember Sd, 1867, framed a constitution for
that state, which was adopted by the con
ventlon on the 18th of April, 1868, and |
desire respectfully 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 during the months
of May and June next, under the direc-
ton of the military commander of the
district. at which the question of the
adoption of that constitution shall be sub
mitted to the citizens of the state; and
if it should seem desirable, I should re
commend that a separate vote be taken
upon such parts as may be deemed e8pe-
dent, and that at the same time and IN
der the same authority, there shall be all
election for the officers provided under
such constitution, and that the constiCu
ton or such parts thereof as shall have
been adopted by the people, be submit
TED to Congress on the list Monday OF
December next for its consideration 81,
that If the same is then approved, the
necessary steps will have been taken for
the restoration of Virginia to its proper
relations to the Union
| am led to make this recommendation
from the confident hope and belief tia the
people of that state are now ready to CO.
operate with the National Government
III bringing it 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 are asserted in the Declaration
of Independence In the words of one of
the most illustrious of her 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 Mississippi for that state,
and once rejected, might not be again sub
mltted to the people of that state in like
manner, and with probability of the
same result.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT.
WAsHINroN, D. c., April 18th, 1869
miscellaneous Items