Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-05

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timents In regard 20 several Of the most
important Questions whichthe appeared
TO demand the consideration Of the eoan.
try. Following the example. and IN some
part, adopting the language Of one Of my
predecessors, | wish now, when every
motive for Misrepresentation has passed
away, TO repeat what was said before the
election, trusting that my o0a0lry men
will oandidy weigh aud understand IL
and.thst hey will feel assured that the
sentiments declared in accepting the
nomination Tor the Presidency will be
the standard Of my conduct Ia the path
before me, charged, as | am now, with
the grave cad difficult task Ct carrying
them out Ia the practical administration
OF tho government, 80 tar VA depends, un
der the constitution aud lawson the chief
executive OF the nation, The permanent
paciisaiou OF The country upon such
principles and By such measures IS will
secure the complete protection OF ell is
citiaens in the tree enjoyment Of alltheir
constitutional rights ia the one subject
10 our public affairs which AL thought
ial aud patriotic citizens regatd "a Of
supreme Importance Many Of the ca.
lamitous.efeots OF the tremendous reva.
luton which has passed over the SoNth
eru States still remaia, The immeasar.
able benefits which will surely follow,
so6ner or later, the hearty and generous
acceptance ct the legitimate results ct
thst revolution have not YET been real.
ized. Difficult and embarrassing qaes.
lions meet us at the threshold OF this
suhject The people Of these States arc
sttR impoverished, and the ineStim
able blessing OF wise, honest aud peace.
iul local selt.govecnment is not fully
enjoyed. Whatever difference OF opju,
lou may exist as 10 ct this con'
ditlon OF thugs, the fact is clear thai
in the progress Of eyeats the time has
come when such government is an I'M
pera,ive necessity required by all the
varied interests public and private, OF
these States, bOtlt must eot De forgotten
that only a local government which rec.
ogBized and maintained inviolate the
rights OF all, is u self government,
with respect TO the two distinct races
whose peculiar relations to each other
having brought upon US deplorable com.
plicauons and perplexities which exist
10 these States; it must be a government
who decides the interest OF both races
carefully aud EQUALLY; il must be q gov.
erument when submits loyalty and
heartily to the constitution aud laws
the laws Of the nation and the laws OF
the States themselves - accepting aud
obeyirg faithfully the whole constitution
as is is, Resting upon this sure and sub.
stantial foundation the superstructure OF
bene6cent local governments can be
built up, and not otherwise, in further
ance Of such obedience to the letter aud
the spirit Of the constitution, and in be-
half Of all that its attainment implies.
all so-eslled party interest, lose their sp-
parent importance, and party lines may
we'll be permitted to fall into Insignia.
canoe The question we have to con-
slider for the ia immediate welfare Of these
States Of the Union Is the question Of.
government or no government, OF social
order and all the peaceful Industries aud
the happiness that belong toi it, or a return
to barbarism. 1t is a question in which
every citizen Of the nation is deeply
interested, and with respsot te which we
ought not to be, in a partisan sense,
either Republicans or Democrats, but
fellow-citizens and fellow men, to whom
the interest of the common country and
common humanity are dear. The sweep.
lug revolution of the entire labor system
Of a large portion of our country aud the
advance Of four millions of peoplo from
a condition of ssrVitpde to that of oiti-
zenship upon an equal footing with their
former masters, could not occur without
presenting problems Of the gravest mo.
ment, to be dealt with by an enancipated
race, by their former masters and by the
general government, the author OF the
act of emancipation. That il was a wise,
just and p%rovidential act, fraught with
good for all concerned, is now gen.
orally conceded throughout the whole
country, and that q moral ohliga,
ton rests upon the national gov
eminent to employ its constitutional
power and influence TO establish the
rights Of people it has emancipated; to
protect them in the enjoyment Of those
rights when they are infriDged or assaulted
is also generally admitted. The evils
which aihict the Southern States can
only be removed or remedied by the
united and harmonious efforts OF both
races, adjusted by motives Of mutual
sympathy aud regard; and while in duty
bound aud fully determined to prusaot
tue rights of all by every oeasatational
means at the disposal Of my adminstra.
zion, | am sincerely anxious to use every
legitimate influence in favor of honest
and efficient local government as the true
resource Of those States for the promotion
Of contentment and Rros1eFitY OF their
citizens. In this EFFORT shall make to
accomplish this purpose / ask the cor
dial cooperation OF all who cherish On
interest in the welfare of the country,
trusting that party ties and prejudice of
race will be freely surrendered in behalf
OF the great purpose 10 be accomplished
in the important work Of restoration OF
the South,
II 10 NOT the political situation alone
that merits attention. The material de.
yelopment Of hat section Of the country
has been arrested by the social and DO
litical revclutiou through which it has
passed aud now needs and deserves the
considerate care Of the national govern.
ment within the just limits prescribed by
the constitution and wise public ecou6-
my but al the basis OF all prosperity, for
that as well as for every other part OF the
country, lies the improvement of the in
tellectusl aud moral condition Of the
people, Universal suffrage should rest
upon universal education. To this end
a liberal and permanent provision should
De made for the support OF free schools
by the State goyeEnmsnts, and, if need
be, supplemented by legitimate aid from
the national authority. Let me assure