, 1877-03-17

in belief of all that its attainment i'm
plies, all so.caled party in terests lose
their Importance, and party lines may all
be permitted to fade into insigniticance.
The question we have to consider for the
Immediate welfare OF those States of the
Union is the question Of government or
no government; of the social order and
the peaceful industries and all the hap
piness that belong to it, or a return to
harbarism. 1t is question in which
every citizen OF the nation is deeply in
tercstcd, and with respect to which we
ought not to be in a partisan sense either
Republicans or Democrats, hut fellow
citizens and fellow-men, to whom the in
terests OF a common country and com
mon humanity are near. The sweeping
revolution of the entire labor system of
a portion of our country, and the ad
vance Of four millions of people from u
condition of servitude tn that of citizen.
ship, upon an eqoal footing with their
former masters, could not occur without
presenting problem OF the gravest mo-
ment to be dealt with by the emanci-
patel race, by their former masters, and
by the general government, the author
of the act of emancipation. That it was
a wise, just and providen,ial act, taught
with good to all concerned, is now gen.
orally conceded throughout the country.
That the moral obligation rests upon the
National Government to employ Its con-
stitutional powers and influence to es-
tablish the rights of the people it has
emancipated, and to protect them in the
enjoyment of those rights, when they
are iniringed or assailed, is also gener-
ally admitted. The evils which afflict
the Southern States can only be removed
or remedied by the, united and harmo
nious
EFFORTasoF BOTH RACES,
Actuated by motives of mutual sympaq
thy and regard; and while IN duty bound
and fully determined 10 protect the
rights of all by every constitutional means
at the disposal Of my administration, I
am sincerely anxious to use every legit
innate influence in favor of an honest and
efficient local government as the true
resources OF those States for the promo
ton of 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 country,
trusting that party ties and the preju-
dice of race will be freely surrendered in
behalf of the great purpose to be accom-
plished. In the important work of the
restoration of the South, it Is not the
political situation alone that merits at
tention. The material development of
that section of the country has been ar
rested by the social and political revolu-
ton through which it has passed, and
now needs and deserves the considerste
care of the National Government within
the Just limits prescribed by the Con-
stitution and a wise public economy.
But at the basis of all prosperity--for
that as we'll as for every other part of
the country-this improvement OF the
intellectual and moral condition of the
people
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE SHOULD REsT UP
ON UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.
To this end liberal and permanent pro-
vision should be made for the support
of free schools by State governments,
and, if need be, supplemented by legiti-
mate aid from national authority. Let
me assure my countrymen of the South
crn States that it is my earnest desire
and regard to promote their true inter
ests-the interests OF the white and Of
the colored people, both equally-and
to put forth my best efforts in behalf OF
civil policy which will forever wipe
out OF our political affairs the color line
and the distinction between North anti
South, to the end that we may have not
merely united North and united
South, but united country.