San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1877-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Fellom. cit,eus Of the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentative:
With reat gratitude to the bountiful
Giver of n good, congratulate you, at the
beginnin, Of your first regular session, that
you fndlour country blessed with wealth
and peae and abundant harvests, and with
encouraging prospects Of an early return Of
general prosperity.
THE AGGREGATION OF THE COUNTRY
CONTINUES, and, until it is fully accomplish
ed, mus remain the most important Of our
nationaIinterests. The earnest purpose of
good citizens generally to unite their efforts
In thoe endeavOrs Is evident. 1t
found decided expression in the resolutions
announced in 1915 by the national
conventions of the leading political parties
apprehension that the m0mentOus results
in our progress US o nation, marked by the
recent amendmentst to the Constitution were
in imminent jeopardy; that the good under
standing which prompted their adoption IN
interest to q loyal devotion to the general
welfare might prove q barren truce,and that
the 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. The course to be pursued,
as in my Judgment seemed wisest in the
pressure of this emergency, was plainly In
dictated in my inaugural address. 1t point
ed to the time, which all our people desire
to see, when genuine love of our whole
country, and Of all that concerns its true
welfare, shall suppllant the destructive force orc
Of mutual luminosity OF races and OF sec.
tional hostility. Opinions have differed
widely as to the measures best cal
culated to secure this great end. This
was to-, be expected. The measures
adopted by the Administration have been
subjected to severe and varied criticism.
ANY course whateverwh might have been
entered upon would certainly have encoun-
tered distrust and opposition. These meas
most in harmony with the Constitution and
with the genius. of our people, and best
adapted, under all circumstances, to attain
the end in view. Benefcent, results
already apparent prove that these en-
deavors were not to be regarded as
a mere experiment, and should sus-
tain and encourage u.s. in our efforts.
Already in the brief time which has elapsed,
the immediate effectiveness, no less than the
Justice. of the course pursued, is demonstrate
ed, andI have an abiding faith that time
will furnish an ample yindication in the
minds of great majority of my fellow-citi-
Zens.
THE WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM THE
SOUTH.
The discontinuance of the Army for the
purpose of uphOlding local governments in
TWO States OF the Union was no less a con-
stitutional duty and requirement, under
the circumstances existing at the time,
than it was needed measure for restOra-
ton of local self-government and the
promotion of national harmony. The
employment was offered diligently and with
solicitous care for the peace and good order
of society and the protection OF the property
and person and of every right of all classes
of citizens. The results that have followed
are indeed sufficient and encouraging. All
apprehension of danger from remitting
those States to local self-government is dis
PEELED, and most salutary change in the
minds of the people has begun, and is in
progress in every part Of that section of
country once the theater of unhap.:
DIV civil strife; substituting for
suspicion, distrust and aversion, concord,
friendship, and patriotic attachment to the
Union. No unprejudiced mind will deny
that the often fatal collisions which have for
several years been of frequent occurrence,
and alarmed the public mind, have almost
entirely ceased, and that spirit of mutu-
al forbearance and hearty national interest
has succeeded. There has been a
general establishment Of order and of
the orderly administration Of justice;
instances of remaining lawlessness
have become of rare occurrence !;
political turmoil and turbulence have dis
appeared, useful industries have been re-
sumed, public credit in the Southern States
has been greatly strengthened,
and the encouraging benefits Of
a revival of commerce be-
tween sections of the country lately embroil-
ed in civil war are fully enjoyed. Such are
some of the results already attained, upon
which the country is to be congratulated.
They are of such importance that they may,
consummation that will surely come with
the natural progress of events.
1t may not be improper here to say that 1t
should be our fixed and unalterable deter
minatiOn to protect by all available and
proper means, under the Constitution and
the laws,
THE LATELY EMANCIPATED RACE
in the experiment of their rights and privi-
leges, and urge upon those to whom here
tofore the colored people have sustained the
relation of bondmen, the wisdom and JUS
tice of humane and liberal local legisla.
ton with respect to their education and
general welfare, and firm adherence to
the laws both National and State, as to the
civil and political rights of the cOlored peo.
pie, now advanced to full and equal citizen
ship. The immediate repression and sure
punishment by the National and local au-
thorities within their respective jurisdiction
of every instance of .lawnessness
and violence toward them is
required for the security alike of both
races and is justly demanded by the
public opinion Of the country and
Of the age. In this way the restor-
alton of harmony and good will, and the
complete protection of every citizen in the
full enjoyment OF every constitutional right
will surely be attained. Whatever authori-
ty rests with me TO this end, shall not hesi-
tate TO put forth. Whatever belongs to the
power Of Congress and the Jurisdiction OF
the courts OF the Union, they may confident
ly he relied upon TO provide and TO
perform; and TO the Legislatures,
the courts and the executive
authorities of the several States. earnestly