Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-12-13
THE MESSAGE.
A President who
has Opinions
and States
Them
Boldly and Freely
and Without Fear
or Favor.
The Last Annual Message
Of President Grant,
Which He Makes Shorter
Than Usual,
But Goes Over all Matters
Of Importance,
In a Thoroughly Clear
and Comprehensive
Manner.
Plain, Honest and Pat
riotic Words by n
Plain, Honest and
Patriotic Man.

tnligsG--In submitting my eighth
and last annual message to Congress,
It seems proper that should refer TO,
and In some degree recapitulate, the
events and official acts Of the past
eight years. 1t was my fortune, or
misfortune, to be called to the office
of Chief Executive without any pre-
yious political training. From the
age OF II ! had never even witnessed
the excitement attending Presiden-
tial campaign but twice antecedent
70 my own candidacy, and at but
one OF them was eligible rs a voter.
Under such circumstances il Is but
reasonable TO suppose that errors Of
Judgment must have occurred.
Even had they not, differences OF
opinion between the Executive
bound by an oath to the strict per-
Torrance OF his duties, and writers
and debatcrs must have arisen. 1t
il not necessarily evidence Of blunder
on the part OF tho Executive because
there are these differences Of views
Mistakes have been made, as all can
see, and i admit, but 1t seems to me
Oftenest la selections made Of assis-
tants appointed to aid in carrying
out the various duties OF administer
ing the government, in nearly every
case selected without personal ac-
quaintance with the appointee, but
upon recommendation of the Rep
resentatives chosen directly by the
people. 1t Is impossible, where so
many trusts are TO be allotted, that
the right parties should be chosen in
every instance. History shows that
NO administration, from the time Of
Washington to the present, has been
free from these mistakes; but leave
comparisons to history, claiming that
have only acted in every instance
from q conscientious desire to do
what was right, constitutionally,
within the law and for tho best In
terest OF the people. Failures have |
been an error Of judgment,
NOT OF INTENT.
My civil career commenced, too,
ct most critical and difficult time,
less than four years before the coun-
try had emerged from conflict such |
as no other nation had ever survived.
Nearly one-half Of the States had re.
VOTED against the Government, and
OF those remaining faithful to the
Union, large percentage Of the pop
ulation sympatlized with the rebel
lion, and made an enemy in the
rear almost as dangerous as the more
honorable enemy in the front. The
latter committed errors Of judgment,
but they maintained them openly
aud courageously. The former re-
,eiyed the protection OF the Govern.
Inent they would see destroyed and
reaped all the pecuniary advantages
10 be gained OF then existing state
pf affairs, many Of these obtainind
contracts, and by swindling the
in the delivery of their
goods. Immediately on the cessa-
lion OF hostilities the then noble
who had carried the coun-
Try so far through Its perils, fell
martyr to his patriotism at the
hands OF an assassin. The interven-
ny time to my first Inauguration
vas filed up with wranglings be-
tween Congress and the new Execu-
i've Departments AS to the best
modes Of Reconstruction or, TO speak
as 10 whether the control OF |
The Government should be thrown
into the hands OF those
who had 80 recently and persistently |
tried to destroy IL, or whether the |
yIctors should continue to have an
Bquai voice with them In this COM
troll.
RECONSTRUCTION
y finally agreed upon means this
md only this, except that the late
lave was enfranchised, giving an
increase, as WAS supposed, to the
Union.loving and Union.snpporting
votss. III free In tho full sense
IL the word, they would not dIsap-
point this expectation. Hence, at
Ibs beginning Of my first adminis-
ration the work Of reconstruction,
nuch embarrassed by the long delay,
vfrfhaIiy commenced. II was the
IForiI Or the Legislative branch Of tho
|aoYernment. Ny provinces was