Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

10 the DOulIlIul OlNeG Vi all SOOu, con-
gratulate you at the beginning of your
first session. You find your country
blessed with health and peace and an
abundant harvest, and with encourag-
ing prospects of an early return of
general prosperity To complete and
make permanent the pacification of
the country continues t5 be and must
remain until it is fully accomplished,
the most important Of all our national
interests. The earnest purpose of good
citizens generally to unite their efforts
in these endeavors, is evident. 1t is
found in decided expressions in those
resolutions announced in 1876 by the ma
tional conventions of the leading politi-
cal parties of the country.
THE SOUTHERN POLICY.
There was widespread apprehen-
sion that momentuous results in
our progress as a nation-marked by
the recent amendment to the consti-
tuition : were in imminent jeopardy !;
that the good understanding which
prompted their adoption in the inter-
est of loyal devotion to the general well
fare might prove barren truce, and
that the sections of the country once
engaged in civil strife might be again,
at most as widely severed and dis
united as they were when arrayed in
arms against each other. The course
to be pursued which, in my judgm ent,
seemed wisest in the presence of emer-
gency, was plainly indicated in my in
augural address 1t pointed to the
time which all our people desire
to see; when a genuine love for
the whole country and of all
that concerns its true welfare shall sup
plant the destructive forces Of the mu-
tual animosity of the races, and of sec
tional hostility. Opinions have differed
widely as to the measures best calcu-
lated 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 whatever which
might have been entered upon would
certainly have encountered distrust and
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 circumstances,
to attain the end in view Beneficial
results already apparent prove that
these endeavOrs are not to be regarded
as q mere experiment, and should sus-
tain and encourage us ia our efforts.
Already in this brief period the effect
iH1naSsm "sS less than justice Of 6,,b the
have All li19at66fftff1 a6fftHfff11Igi is Idftn mat time VIII
furnish It's ample vindication in the
minds of the great majority of my fel-
low citizens.
The discOntinuance of the use of the
army for the purpose Of upholding To-
cal governments in two states of the
! Union, was no less q constitutional
duty and requirement, under the Cir
cumstances existing at the time, than it
was a much needed measure, for the
restoration of local self government
and the promotion of national harmo-
ny. The withdrawal of the troops
! from such employment was effected
deliberately and with sOlictous care for
the peace and good order of society
and the protection of the property and
persons and every right of all classes
of citizens The results that have fol-
lowed are indeed significant and en-
couraging; all apprehension of danger
from remitting those states to local self
government is dispellet, and a most
salutary change in the minds of the
people has begun and isin progress in
every part of the section of country
once the theatre of unhappy civil
strife; substituting for suspicion, dis
trust and aversion, conord, friendship
and patriotic attachment to the Union
No unprejudiced mind will deny that
the often fatal collisions Which for sew
eral wears have been of frquent occur
renee. and have alarmd the public
, mind, have almost entirel, ceased, and
that a spirit Of mutual forearance and
, hearty national interest ha succeeded.
l There has been a ablish-
ment of order and of the orderly ad-
l ministration of justice. instances of
remaining lawlessness have become of
: rare occurrence; political urmoil and
turbulence have disappeard; useful in
!. dustries have been resumed, public
1 credit IN the southern stats has been
greatly strengthened, andthe encour-
: aging benefits of a revivabf commerce
between the sections of ountry lately
|. embroiled in civil war aJeully enjoyed.
|, Such are some of the results already
;, attained, upon which tb country is to
l. be congratulated; They're of such i'm
e portance that we may 18th confidence
patiently await the desed consumma-
}, ton that will surely cole with the nat
J. ural progress Of events 1t may not be
y improper here to say tit it should be
d our fixed and unaltelble determina-
ton to protect By all a9lable and prop
n er means under the institution and
(, the laws,
r THE LATELY ENIANcATED RACE
i in the experiment, in leir rights and
privileges, and I urge lpon those to
It whom heretofore thecolored people
% have sustained the ration of bond
2 men, the wisdom and jtice of humane
and liberal local legislDn with respect
to their education and neral welfare;
firm adherence to Il laws, both ma
IS tional and state, as to civil and po-
or litical rights of the coled people, now
I'd advanced to full equahtizenship; the
u immediate repression d sure punish
ment by the national q local authori-
ties within their respece Jurisdictions,
IS of every instance of.wlessness and
of violence toward thems required for
4 the security alike of hh races, and is
Justly demanded by tfpublic opinion
of the country and IL age. In this
way, restoration, harony and good
ks will and the security every citizen
ut in the full enjoyment every consti-
d. tutional right will srdy be attained.
he Whatever authority It's with me to
n this end I shall not heste to mt forth