Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-12-14
THE PREsIDENT,s mESsAGE.


THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
On our first page, we lay before oul
readers, extracts from the President:
Message which comprehend its material
and important parts. AS a sensible man,
without the presumption that the people
are ignorant of the Constitution, after hav.
ing had it expoundcd by Andrew John.
son during his whole Presidential term,
President Grant lets the sacred instru-
meut' speak for itself, nor does he dis.
turb a single fold of the beautiful banner
that he planted in the Wilderness and over
the wreck of the Richmond dcspotism.
As will be seen, the intelligence of all
classes can penetrate and fully understand
the Message Ia all its bearings. 1t is a
plain, common-sensed, practical State pa
per, written for the masses, and not alone
for the erudition and astu teness which ex-
hibit their warrant of official power and
distinction in the halls of Congress. 1t is
not embarrassed with heavy English, nor
beclouded by a multitude of words
Webster's Dictionary was not ransacked
from cover to cover nor has its massive
unabridgement been levied upon the pa
tience of the reader.
The school boy, the mechanic, the Ia
borer, the owner of the humblest home,
can read it with the same understanding
as the profound lawyer, the learned pro-
lessor and the mar. of the most extensive
literary accomplishments. 1t is an cpl
tome Of the history of the country for the
last year, both in regard to its domestic
affairs and foreign relations, showing the
real condition of our governmental con-
Germs, what we need and the proper poll
cy of procuring the same. Whilst all
these are set forth, the temptation to
glittering elaboration is witlstood, and the
Message, a letter ofthe President to every
household in the land, is a model of brew
ty and plain speaking. The President, in
this respect, has ignored, with a manly
contempt, the precedent set by his last
''illustrious predecessor" the s~elf-consti-
tuted Constitution-expounde for the pres
ent century.
The Message exhibits the action of the
Administration in controlling the affairs
Of the government in all its departments,
gratifying the country that the laws have
been faithfully executed, the public mo-
hey honestly disposed of, and all default
srs rigidly punished.
We refer to one portion of the Message,
aot to be found in our extracts, which is
oolygamy in Utah. The President is de-
lermined that this foul blot of iniquity
hall no longer disgrace American civili-
alton. He thus defines his Mormon pol
cy:
Neither polygamy nor any violation
f existing statutes will be permitted
Eithin the territory of the United States.
t is not with the religion of the self-styl-
d Saints that we are now dealing, but
nth their practices. They will be pro-
in the worship of God according to
he dictates of their conscience but they
i not be permitted to violate the laws I
nder the cloak of religion" c
This is certainly explicit. AS many t
formons have been arrested and some I
led and convicted, and as their leader, t
Young has fed before tho terrors I
'svenging justice, and with this assur- T
Zoe from the Chief Magistrate that poly s
my shall be suppressed, the moral and t
sentiment of the country will re- t
ice with hope. that our national name t.
I'd character are no longer to remain a c
ponym of infamy for fostering and pro- d
citing such q crime. \
With an cxcusable pride and self-con- =
atulation, the President refers to the u
adjustment of our difficulties =
tn England. The threatenings of war =
til that Power were more decided when Ii
proposition for a settlement of the Ala !"
ma claims and the Fishery question
Is made, than were signs of the interne- I
ice conflict in our own land up to Presi-
Mt Lincoln's Election. The Admins pl
'tion was equalto the emergency, and, &c
its skill and diplomacy averted a con- SO
It, which obStinacy on England's part p;
uld have provoked. The bloodless la
Element of those differences distinguish fir
= grand achievement in the history of VI
ice, and sheds immortal glory upon the an
umbency of the President. CT
In a word, the Message is an embodi-- SCI
mt o fclear and distinct views upon all all
tiers of domestic and foreign policy, lit
a most hopeful earnest of a de- at
mination to promote the material great pr
s and moral Advancement of the coun-
!. Distinguished by such a prominent ful
rit, it can not fail to commend itself to Ike
patriotism, intelligence and upright tw
. of the people. pei
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