St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-03-09

At the outset of the discussions which
preceded the recent presidential cleo
ton, it seemed to me fitting that 1
should fully make known my senti-
ments in regard to several of the i'm
portant questions which then appeared
to demand the consideration of the
country. Following the example, and
in 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
countrymen will candidly weigh and
understand it, and that they will feel
assured that the sentiments declared
in accepting the nomination for the
presidency will be the standard of my
conduct in the path before me, charged,
as now am, with the grave and diff
cult task of carrying them out in the
practical administration of the govern
ment, so far as depends, under the
constitution and laws, on the chief ex-
ecutive of the nation.
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
The permanent pacificatiOn of the
country upon such principles and by
such measures as will secure the COM
plete protection of all its citizens in the
free enjoyment of all their constellation
al rights, is now the one subject in our
public affairs which all thoughtful and
patriotic citizens regard as of supreme
Many of the calamitous
effects of the tremendous revolution
which has passed over the southern
states still remain. The unreasonable
benefits which will surely follow, SOON
er or later, the hearty and generous
acceptance of the legitimate results of
that revolution, have not yet been
realized. Difficult and embarrassing
questions meet us at the threshold of
this subject. The people of those states
are still impoverished, and the inesti-
mable blessing of wise, honest and
peaceful local f-government is not
fully enjoyed.
Whatever difference of opinion NAV
exist as to the cause of this condition
of things, the fact is clear that, in the
progress of events, the time has come
when such government is the impera-
tive necessity required by all the vari-
Gus interests, public and private, of
those states. But it must not be for
gotten that only local government
which recognizes and maintains invio-
late the rights of all is a true self-gov-
eminent. With respect to the two
distinct races whose peculiar relations
to each other have brought upon us
the deplOrable complications and per-
plexities which exist in those states, it
must be government which guards the
interests of both races carefully and
equally. 1t must be a government
which submits Loyalty and heartily to
the constitution and the laws-the laws
of the nation and the laws of the states
misunderstanding and obeying
faithfully the whole constitution as it
is. Resting upon this sure and sub
staDtial foundation, the superstructure
of beneticent local governments can be
built up, and not otherwise. In further
ance of such obedience to the letter and
the spirit of the constitution, and in
behalf of all that its attainment implies.
all so-called party interests lose their
apparent Importance, and party lines
may we'll be permitted to fade into in
significance.
The question we have to consider
for the immediate welfare of these
states of the Union is the question of
government or no government; of So
cial order and all the peaceful indus
tries and the happiness that belong to
it, or return to barbarism. 1t is a
question in which every citizen of the
nation is deeply interested, and with
respect to which we ought not to be in
partisan sense either republicans or
democrats, but fellow-citizens and fell
low-men, to whom the interests of a
common country and a common human
ity are dear. The sweeping revolution
of the. entire labor system of "a large
portion of our country, and the advance
of four millions of people from a con-
ditiOn of servitude to that of citizenship
upon an equal footing with their former
masters, could not occur without pre-
senting problems of the gravest mo-
ment to be dealt with by the emanci-
pated race, by their former masters,
and by the general government, the
author of the act of emancipation. That
it was a wise, just and providential act,
fraught with good for all concerned, is
now generally conceded throughout the
country. That a moral obligation
rests upon tie national government to
employ its constitutional power and
influence to establish the rights of the
people it has emancipated, and to pro-
tect them in the enjoyment of those
rights when they are infringed or as
sailed, is also generally admitted.
The evils which afflict the southern
states can only be removed or reme-
died by the united and harmonious eff
forts of both races, actuated by motives
of mutual sympathy and regard and,
while in duty bound and fully deter
mined to protect the rights of all by
every constitutional means at the dis
pOsal of my administration, l am sin
cerely anxious to use every legitimate |
influence in favor of honest and efficient
local self government as the true re-
source of those states for the promo
ton of the cOntentment and prosperity
of their citizens. In the effort | shall |
make to accomplish this purpose, ask |
the cordial cooperation of all who
cherish an interest in the welfare of the
trusting that party ties and
the prejudices of race will be freely
in behalf of the great pur-
pose to be accomplished.
ln the important work of the restora-
lion of the South it is not the political
situation alone that merits attention.
The material development of that sec
ton of the country has been arrested
Dy the social and political revolution
through which it has passed, and now
needs and deserves the considerable
care of the national government, with
N the just limits prescribed by the con-
'titution and wise public economy.
But at the basis of all prosperity for
hat, as well as for every other part of
he country, lies the improvement of
he intellectual and moral condition of