The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-12-07
Ghr 8ulletin.
CYRUS 3. oBERLY. Editor.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Grants Address To
Congress.
Opening With Matter Of a Per-
sonal Nature,
And Gliding Into Subjects of
More Interest.
The Indian War Referred To At
Some Length.
And the Executives Views on
Reconstruction Given.
Comments on Congressional Re-
duction Of Appropriations.
The Mooted School Question
Again Considered.
And a Scholarly Qualification for
Voters Advocated.
The San Domingo Idea Once
More Broached.
Present Complications Not Treat
ed With Much Regard.
The Eaas Jcsties-Other Topics Dis
cusSed-A Document in the
UsWal style OF the
President.
The Mooted School Question
Again Considered.
And a Scholarly Qualification for
Voters Advocated.
The San Domingo Idea Once
More Broached.
Present Complications Not Treat
ed With Much Regard.
The Eaas Jcsties-Other Topics Dis
cussed-A Document in the
UsWRl style OF the
President

10 the senate and house of representatives
In submitting my eighth and last an
Hual message to congress, i. seems
proper that | should refer to and in some
degree recapiluate the events and Off
cial acts Of the past eight years. 1t was
my fortune or misfortune TO be called to
the office of chief executive. without any
previous political training from the age
of seventeen. had never even Wit
messed the excitement attending pres-
dental campaign but twice antecedent 10
nv own candidacy. ami at but one of
them was eligible as voter. Under
such circumstances it is but reasonable
to suppose that errors of Judgment must
have occurred. Even had there been
ecutive, bound by an oath to the strict
performance of his duties, and writers
and debaters they must have arisen.
1t is not necessarily an evidence of
blunder on the part OF the executive be-
cause there are these differences OF
views. Mistakes have been made, as all
can see, and | admit; but it seems to me
oftener in the selections made OF assis-
tants appointed to aid in carrying out
the various duties of administering the
vnvernmnnt - ->na~i,r a--s"y oaSa Solac-
ted without personal anquain.s"eo
with the appointee, but upon the recon-
lot
chosen by the people. 1t is i'm
possible. where so many trusts are to be
allotted, .i,at the 1gnt parties shonld be
chosen In every instance. History
shows that the administration, from the
time of Washington to the present, has
not been free from Mistakes but
leave comparisons to history, claim
ing only that have acted in
every instance from a conscientious de.
sire to do what was right and constitu.
tional, within the law and for the very
best interests Of the whole people. Fail
ures have been errors OF judgment, not OF
intent.
MY CIVIL CAREER
Commenced at most critical and diff
cult time. Less than four years before the
county had emerged from conflict sucl
as no other nation had ever survived
Nearly one-hali Of the states had reyolted
against the government, and OF those re-
naming faithful to the Union, large
percentage Of the population sympa-
ttfZa1 with lao rx.l.allsnn Ia
envy in the rear, almost as dangerous as
the more horrible enemy In the front
The latter committed errors OF judgment
but they maintained them openly and
courageously. The former received the
protection of the government they would
see destroyed, and reaped all the pecuni
airy advantage TO be gained on. OF tn,
then existing state of affairs, many o
them by obtaining contracts and by
swindling the government in the DELIVER!
OF their goods. Immediately on the ces
sation Of hostilities the then noble presi
dent, who had carried the country so "a
through it perils, fell Il martyr TO his pa
triotism, at the hands Of an assassin. Tn
intervening time 10 my first Inaugural
ton was filled up with wranglings be
tween congress and the new executive a
TO The best mode Of reconstruction, Z
speak plainly, "a TO whether the contro
OF the government should be thrown im
mediately into the hands Of those who Ia
recently and persistently tried TO destro
IL, or whether the victor should continu
To have AL equal voice with them in thi
control.
REcoSsTRUCIIoS,
As finally agreed upon, means this, an
only this, except that the late slave W;
ehtranchised, giving an increase, as WI
supposed, to the Union-loying and l.
transporting votes Of the free. In II
full sense OF the word, they would II
disappoint this expectation; hence, at d
beginning OF my first administrati,
the work Of reconstruction was much G
barrassed by the long delay. Virtual
commenced, IL was work of the legis
tive branch OF government My PR
ince was wholly in approving their &C
which did most heartily, urging
legislatures Of the states that had 4
done SO, to ratiiy the fifteenth amer
nent Of the constitution.
The country was laboring under
enormous debt. contracted Ia the 81
preston Of the rebellion, and taxatl
was 50 oppressive as TO discourage p