Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

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bepinninp of your first regular session you
find our country blessed with health and peace
and abundant harvests and with encouraging
prospects of an early. return of general pros
perity.
THE pAc1F1cAr1oN OF TIE COUNTRY.
To complete and make permanent the
modification of the country continues to be-
and until il is fully accomplished, must remain
the most important Of all our national inter-
ests The earnest purpose OF good cltzehs
generally TO unite their efforts in this endeav-
or il evident II found expression i'll the res
olutions announced in 1876 by the national
conventions of the leading political parties OF
the country There was widespread appre-
henson that the momcntous results IN our
progress MS a nation, marked by the recent
amendments TO the constitution, were in i'm
mincnt jeopardy that the good understand
inc which prompted their adoption III the IN
terest of n ioyal devotion TO the general vel
fare might prove n barren truce, ana that tne
two sections of the country once engaged IN
civil strife might he again almost as widely
severed and disunited rs they were when ar
rayed in arms against each other.
The course TO he pursued, which, Ill my
Judgment, seemed wisest in the presence OIL
this emergency, was plainly indicated IN my
inaugural address, 1t pointed to the time
which all our people desire to see when
genuine love of our whole country and OF all
TINT concerns its true welfare shall supplhnt
the destructive forces of mutual amnesty OF
races and of sectional hostility. opinions
have differed widely as to the measures best
calculated to secure this great end. Tins was
TO be expected. The measures adopted ny
the administration have been subjected TO Sc
we're and varied criticism. Any course What-
ever which might have been entered upon
l.. 1 ..,,,st t.4ra1
opposition These measures were, IN my
Judgment, such as were most in harmony with
The constitution and with the genius of our
people and best adapted, under all the CIR
Cumstances, to attain the end IN view pc
inefficient results, already apparent prove tli't
these endeavors are not to be regarded rs a
mere experiment, and should sustain and en-
courage us in our efforts. Already, i'll the
brief period which has elapsed, the immediate
effectiveness, no less than the justice, OF the
course pursued is demonstrated, and | have
an abiding faith that time will furnish its am
ple vindcation in the minds of the great ma
iority of my fellow citizens
The discontinuance of the use of the army
for the purpose of upholding the local gov
ernments in two States of the Union, was no
less II constitutional duty and requirement. UNI
der the circumstances existing Mt the time
than il was a much needed measure for the
restoration of the local self government and
the promotion of national harmony. The
withdrawal of the troops from such employ
ment was effected deliberately and with sole
itous care for the peace and good order OF
society and the protection of property and
persons, and every right of all classes of citi-
zens The results that have followed are ill.,
deed significant and encouraging. All appre-
hension of danger from renting those States
to local self government Is dspelled, ana q
most salutary change in the minds of the peo-
pie has begun and is in progress in every part
of that section of the country, once the thea
tire of unhappy civil strife substituting fol
suspicion, distrust and aversion, concord
friendship and patriotic attachment to the
Union. No unprejudiced mind will deny that
the terrible and often fatal collisions which
for several years, have been of frequent oc-
currence and have agitated and alarmed The
public mind have almost entirely ceased, anG
that n spirit of mutual forbearance and hearty
national interest has succeeded. There hai
been n general re-establishment of order anC
of the orderly administration of justice. In
stances of remaining lawlessness have becom
of rare occurrence; political turmoil and tur
bulence have disappeared; useful lndustrle
have been resumed; public credit in tn
Southern States has been greatly strengthened
and the encouraging benefits of revival o
commerce between the sections of the coun
try lately embroiletf in civil war are fully Ell
loved. Such are some of the results alread
attained, upon which the country is to be con
graduated. They are of such importanc
that we may, with confidence patiently avail
the desired contamination that will surel
come with the natural progress of events.
1t may not be improper here to say, that
should be our fixed and unalterable determiI
alton to protect by all available and prope
L l., t,t,,t, aud fla lnK
the lately emancipated race in the enjoymeI
of their rights and privileges, and urge NJ
on those to whom heretofore the colored pee
pie have sustained the relation of bondme
the wisdom and justice of humane and hberi
local legislation with respect to their educ'
ton and general welfare a firm adherence
the laws, both national and State rs to ii
civil and political rights of the colored peopl
now advanced to full and equal citizenship
The immediate repression and sure punlsl
ment by the national and local authorize
within their respective jurisdictions of even
instance of lawlessness and violence toward
them is required for the security alike of bot
races, and is justly demanded by the publ
opinion of the country and the age. In tn
way the restoration of harmony and good W
and the complete protection of every citizt
in the full enjoyment of every constitution
right will surely be attained
Whatever authority rests with me TO tn
end shall not hesitate to put forth. VIVA
ever belongs to the power OF Congress al
the jurisdiction of the courts of the Unio
they may confidently be relied upon to pr
vide and perform. And to the Legislature
the courts and the executive authorities of Il
several States, earnestly appeal to secure
adequate, appropriate and seasonable mea
within their borders these common and III
form rights of II united people which Low
liberty. abhors oppression and reyeres justic
These objects are very dear to my heart and
shall continue most earnestly to strive +
their attainment. The cordial cooperation
all classes of all sections of the country and
both races is required for this purpose a
with these blessings assured, and not otht
wise, We may safely hope to hand down o
free institutions, unimpaired to the genel
tions that will succeed us.
RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS.
Among the other subjects of great and &c
eral Importance to the people of this count
/ cannot be mistaken, | think i'll regarding
pre-eminent the policy and measures viii
are designed TO secure the restoration of I
currency to that normal and healthful CON
ton in which by the resumption of spe
payments our internal trade and foreign co
nerce may be brought into harmony with I
system of exchanges which is based upon t
precious metals as the intrinsic money OF
world. In the public judgment that this c
should be sought and compassed as speed
and securely as the resources of the peol
and the wisdom of their government can
complish, there is much greater degree
unRnimity than is found to concur III the 81
cifc measures which will bring the country
this desired end or the rapidity of the SIT
by which it can be safely reached. Upoi
most anxious and deliberate eXaminat
which have felt it my duty to give to
subject, am but the more confirmed in
opinion which | expressed in accepting
nomination for the Presidency and again NJ
my Inauguration, that the policy of rcsun
ton should be pursued by every suita