South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-01-19
GOV. JACOBS MEssA0E.
ExEcrrrvE DEpARrxEsr.
wuEELTSo. January 10. 1877.

In my last genetai message, 10 speak Of
returning prosperity. and OF the final
settlement OF irritating questions that
have 80 long ngitated the country. Int
the present condition OF affairs will not
justify INC in doing 80. Financial de.
preston still continues: labor seeks
employment withou. finding il, and re-
muneratives investments do not offer
themselves to capitalists. A merciful
Providence has been pleased 10 grant US
abundant crops, yet this abundance has
failed toproduce that volume of business
which has heretofore resulted from tho
same cause. No evidence OF decided
Improvement In financial measures Is
yet apparent. will not attempt to
trace out all OF the causes OF this state
OF affairs. ms you. doubtless. are famil.
lar with the salient points Of the various
theories presented to the public One
influential cause can certainly be found
in the political situation of the country
"a situation that inspires doubt and
uncertainty about tho future 10 such an
extent rs to paralyzc enterprise among
the people. l cannot. therefore. faith.
fuliy discharge my present constitutions
al duty without referring to it.
The canvass that preceded the late
Presidential election was unusually an.
mated. yet tho great body OF the PEG.
pie, in spirit of obedience to the pro.
nounced will of majority, looked for.
ward to the election as conclusion OF
political excitement, with the determi-.
nation to accep. the result, whatever il
should be. Unfortunately, hoTevcr, a
doubt has been thrown over this result
and tho country witnesses to-day an an
CRY and excited contest as TO the per-
son chosen to he President of the Uni.
ted States. Patriotism forbearance and
! firm adherence 10 wcll-settled principles,
arc necessary elements in the solution
OF this question; party success is OF lit.
tie weight when far greater interests are
at stake.
Tho uncertainty about the result OF
this election, and the anxiety Of the PEG.
pie naturally flowing thereirom. have
| arisen from recent extraordinary pro.
ceedings in certain Southern States
The governments in these States are
the legitimate offspring of the socalled
reconstruction policy--a policy potent
for evil only. separating and dividing
voters into two classes-white and col.
ored. cxasperating tho one class by OPP
! preston and misrule. and arousing and
stimulating the fears OF the other to
morbid degree. If the people OF these
States had been left TO themselves, and
had been permitted TO manage their own
affairs unmoiestcd. these evils would
quickly have disappearel through the
silent but powerful agency OF the ballot.
box. The Federal Government has.
however, constantly and actively inter.
fercd In their affairs, and its influence
and power have been cxertcd to sustain
in Office persons who bad not been fairly
elected. Under these circumstances all
efforts ut reform have been defeated by
methods and practices unknown in other
States. Elections are held in these
States under the surveula OF United
States deputy marsials, and United
states troops are stationed ut the polls
the returns Of election are counted un-
der the protection or United States SOL
/ diers, and men are indicted into Office.
and Legislatures organized under the
shadow OF the Federal bayonet; a cor.
poral OF the army examines the creden.
tials OF members OF a legislature. and
either admits or excludes them accord.
ing TO tho orders OF his superiors the
supreme court Of State makes n dis.
Hateful order. and Judge OF the United
I States circuit court IL conveniently at
/ hand to annul it everywhere the power
( OF the central government is felt; mill.
tary rule in the time OF peace Is the su.
| preme law; Federal force leaves no room
/ for State authority. and the laws are 81.
lent. do not stop 20 comment on these
unconstitutional proceedings, further
i than 10 say, that the governments Of
States in which these things are done.
must Of necessity lac nero creatures of
/ the executive branch OF the general
government; all OF the vitality or force
! which they possess arc derived rom IL
! without its sustaining aid, they would
I fall TO pieces from inherent weakness
( they exist only by the sufIcrance Of the
I central government, and cannot, In the
I nature o:thiDgs, have that independence
Of action which Of right belongs % all Of
/ the States Of the Union. Elections held
under such auspices as these, must he
I wanting in that moral force which at.
taches TO them elsewhere, especially II
they IN accordance with the wishes
OF those who call 20 their assistance
these unconstitutional methods.
in some OF these States. however. the
popular vote was cast contrary 70 the
wishes OF the party in power. and Re-
turning Boards. whose duty it was TO
count up the vote. and ascertain the re-.
suit OF the election, resorted TO the very
dangerous plan Of excluding the com.
putation Of votes, a sufficient number 20
reverse the popular verdict This nc.
ton Of these Returning Boards. has
brought about the uncertainty AZ 20 the
result Of the Presidential election OF
which have spoken, AMI has given ma.
tional Importance TO their action. Such
an attempt to change the result Of an
election, in 50 utterly subversive Of the
whole theory Of popular government.