Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FeAow- Citizens of the Senate and Hoals
Of Representatives:


FezloaO- Citizens of the Senate and House
of Representatives:
With devout gratitude to the Bounti-
fui Giver of all e. cd I congratulate
you that at the beginning of your first
regular session you And our country
blessed with health and peace and abun-
aant harvests, and with encouraging
prospects of an early return of general
prosperity.
PACIFICATION OF THE COUNTRY.
To complete and make permanent the
paoifcation of the country continues to
be and, until it is fully accomplished,
must remain the mesG important of all
our national interests. The earnest pur-
pose of good citizens generally to unite
their efforts in this endeavor is evident.
IT found decided expression in the reso-
lutiOns announced in 1876 by the nation
al conventions of the leading political
parties of the country. There. was a
widespread apprehension that the mo-
mentous results in our progress as & ma
ton, marked by the recent amendments
to the constitution, were in imminent
jeopardy; that the good understanding
which prompted their adoption in the
interest of loyal devotion to the gene
raj welfare might prove barrier truce,
and that the two sections of the country
once engaged in civil strife might be
again almost as widely severed and
disunited as they were when arrayed in
arms against each other.
The course to be pursued which, in
my judgment, seemed wisest in the
presence of this emergency was plainly
indicated in my inaugural address. 1t
pointed to time which all our people
desire to see when genuine love of our
whole country and nf all that concerns
its true welfare shall suppiant the des-
tructive the forces of the mutual ami
mostly of races and of sectional hostility
Opinions have differed widely as to the
measures best calculated to secure this
great end. This was to be expected.
The measures adopted by the admins
tration have been subjected to severe
and varied criticism. Any course what
ever which might have been entered
upon you'd certainly have encountered
distrust and opposition. These meas
ures were IN my judgment such as were
most In harmony with the constitution
and with the genius Of our people, and
best adapted under II circumstances to
attain the end in view. BeIeticent re-
suits already apparent prove that these
endeavors are not to be regarded as a
mere experiment, and should sustain
and encourage us in our efforts. AL
ready An the brisf period which has elaps-
ed, the immediate effect Pr legs
than the justice Of the course pursued,
is demonstrated, and have an abiding
faith that time will furnish its ample
vindication in the minds of the great
, majority of my feIlow-citizens.
RESULTS Or THE PQLICY.
The discontinuante Of the army fof
the purpose of upholding local govern
ments in two States of the Union was
no less constitutional duty and require
ment, under the circumstances existing G
at the time, than it was much needed
measure for the restoration of local self
governmait and the pyompt!0n oT ,na.
tional harmony. The witharaWal o.
the troops from such employment was
effected deliberately and with solie.t ons
care for the peace and good order OF So
ciety and the protection of the property
and persons and every right of all clas'
ses of citizens. The results that have
followed are indeed significant and en-
oourag;pg. Ill apprehension of DANCE.
from renHittifg those statesto local selF