Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-12-08
THE PRE- sIOeNTs MESSAGE.


Representatives.: With dsyout grAtitu 10 to u
boan'iful Giver VI all good, congratulate W
that Ut the beginning Of your hrst regular NJ
sion YOU find our country blessed with heal
aud pcace and abundant harvests, and with y
sonraging prospects OF an carly return Of ge
srsl prosperity.
To complete and make permanent the paci
sstion OF tho country continues TO bs, aud uni
u IL fully accomplished must remain. the mo
Important Of oil our national tnteiests. III
sArnest purpose OF good citizens generally
naite their efforts In this sndeavor Is s.iden
IL found decided expression In the resolution
announced In 1876 by the national convention
of tho leading political parties Of tho country
ihsre was widespread apprehension that III
monen.ous results In our progress o. nstioi
narstd by the Resent amendments 70 tlAs con
stituiion. were In imminent jeopardy that tn
good understanding winch promptod thei
adoption In the interest Of loyal devotion I
the general welfare might prove barren 1ucs
and that the two sections Ut tho country ono
engaged In civil strife might be again al
most ~ widely severed and disunitcd a. the
The course to bs spursued which, in my Judge
msnt seemed wisest In tho presence Of thi
norgency was plainly indicated In my iuAugurs
address. II points to the time which al OIL
people desire TO zee, when . genuine love o
our whole country and Of oil that concerns II
true welfare shall supplant the DESTRUCTIVE
forces OF mutual animosity Of races and OF .ec
tional hostility. Opinions have differed widcl,
as to the measures best calculated to secut,
this great end. This was to be expected. Th
measures adopted by the administration hav,
been subjected to severe and varied criticism
Any course whatever which might have beer
entered upon would certainly have snconn
tered distrust and opposition.
These measures we're, In my Judgment, sucl
as were most In harmony with the oonstitu .ion
and with the genius OF our people and best
~tAI L. ~ A. 10 AA~ts,
end In view Benefcient results attend ap-
parent prove that these endesvors are not to
bo regarded % . mere experiment, and should
sustain and encourage us In our efforts. Al
ready In the brief time which has elapsed, the
immediate effectiveness no less than the justice,
have an abiding faith that time will furnish its
ample vindication In the minds Of the great
majority Of my fellow-ctizens.
THE USE OF TROOPS.
The discontinuance Of the use OF the army
for the purpose Of upholding local government
in two States Of the Union was no less COLI
stitutional duty and requirement, under the
was much needed measure for the restora-
ton Of local self-govsrnmsnt and the promo
ton Of national harmony. The withdrawal of
the troops from such employment was effected
deliberately and with solicitous care for the
peace and good order Of society and the pro-
right Of oil classes Of citizens. The result.
that have followed are indeed significant and
encouraging. All apprehension OF danger from
remitting those States to local self-governmet
is dispelled, and most salutatory change in
the minds Of the people has begun and is in
oountsy once the theatre Of unhapp,
civil strife, substituting for suspicion
distrust and aversion, concord, friendship and
patriotic attachment to the Union. No IN
prejudiced mind will deny that the terrible
and often fatal collisions which for several
have agitated and alarmed the public mind
have almost entirely ceased, and that . spirit
of mutual forbearance and hearty national in-
terest has succeeded. Thore has been gen.
eral lre-establishment of order and of the order
ly administration of Justice. Instances OF re-
naming lawlessness have become OF rare oc.
currance; political turmoil and turbulence
have disappeared; useful Industries have been
resumed public credit IN the Southern States
has been greatly strengthened, and the en-
couraSing. benefits OF revival Of commerce
between the sections of the country lately en-
broiled in civil war fully enjoyed. Such
are some Of the results already attained upon
which the country il to be congratulated.
They are Of such importance that we may with
confidence patiently ava tho desirod con
summation that will surely come with the natu-
raj progress OF events.
II may not be improper here to MY that it
honl be our fixed aud nnalterable determine
ton to protect, by all available and proper
means unde. the constitution and the lava. the
lately EN- lncipated race in the enjoyment OF
their rights and privileges, and l urge upon
those to whom heretofore the colored people
have sustained the relation of bondmsn the
wisdom and justice Of humane and liberal local
legislation with respect to their education and
general welfare. A firm adherence to thSlaws,
both national and State, ,s to the civil and
political rights Of the colored people, now Ad-
vanced TO and equal citizenship tho i'm
mediate repression and sure punishment
their respective jurisdictions, Of every instance
Of lawlessness and violence toward them, IL |
required for the security alike Of both races,
aud is Justly demanded by the public opinion
of the country and the age. III this way the |
restoration Of harmony and good will and the |
complete protection Of every citizen in the tull |
enjoyment Of every constitutional right will |
surely be attained. Whatever authority rests |
with me to this end l shall not hesitate to put !
forth whatever belongs to the power Of Con- |
gress and the jurisdiction of the courts Of the |
Union, they may confidently be relied upon |
to provide and perform. And to the Legisla-
lures, the courts and the executive authorities |
nf the several States l earnestly appeal to |
secure by adequate, appropriate and seAsonable
means within their borders these common and |
uniform rights Of united people which loves
liberty, abhors oppression and reyeres Justice. |
These objects are very dear 10 my heart. l
shall continue most earnestly to strive for their
attainment. The cordial cooperation Of aN
classes, of all sections Of the country and of
both races Is required for this purpose, and
wise, we may safely hope to hand down our
free institutions OF government unimpaired to
the generations that will succeed us.
THE FINANCES
Among the other subjects Of great and gen.
eral importance to the people in this country, |
clinot be mistaken, think, in regarding Is
pre-eminent the policy and measures which are
designed to Secure the restoration of the cur
rency to that normal and healthfu condition in
which. by the resumption Of specie payments
our internal trade and foreign commesce may
be brought into harmony with the system of |
exchanges which is based upon the precious
metals as the intrinsic money of the world. Iu
tn. public Judgment that this end should be
songht and compassed as speedily and as Sc
curely as the resources of the people and the
wisdom OF their government can accomplish,
there is much greater degree OF unaninity |
than is found to concur in the specific measures
which will bring the country to this desire, end,
or the rapidity OF the steps by which it o.n be
safely reached. Upon most anxious md de-
hberate examination, which have felt it my
duty to give to the subject, am but the more |
confirmed in the opinion which expressed in
accepting the n0mlLat1on for the presidency. |
and again upon my inauguration, that tn. poii-
cy Of resumption should be pursued by e,ery
suitable means, and that no legislation would
be wise that should disparage the importance
or retard the attainment u that result.
have no disposition, and certainly no right. to
question the sincerity or the intelligence Of op-
posing opinions, and would neither conceal
nor undervalue the considerable difficulties
and even occasional dstresses which may at
tend the progress Of the nation toward this
primary condition to its general and perma-
nent prosperity. I must. however. adhere to
my most earnest conviction that apy yaye,ing
in purpose or unsteadiness in methods. 10 FAR
from avoiding or reducing the Inconvenience
insepsrable from the transition from an ire
deemable to o redeemahe paper currency.
would only tend to increased aud prolonged
disturbances in values and. unless rtrie,eJ.
must end in serious disorder, dishonor a,d
disaster in the financial affairs of the govern
ment and Of the people.
The mischiefs which l apprehend. AID ur-
gently deprecate, are confined 10 10 class OF
the people indeed, but seem to me most car-
tain1y to threaten the industrious masses.
whether their occupations are Of skilled or
common labor. To them, it seems to me, it is
Of prime importance that their labor sbonld be
compensated in money which is in itself fixed