Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-03-13
THE SWEEPING REVOLUTION
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"llIlOul presenting prODIemS OF the
Cravest moment to be dealt with by
the emancipaled race, by their former
masters, and by the General Govern
ment, the author Of the act of eman-
Clpation. That it was wise, Just and
providential act, fraught with good
Tor all concerned, is now generally
conceded throughout the country -
That n moral obligation rests uDon
the National Government to employ
its constitutional power and influence
to establish the rights Of the people it
has emanCipated, and TO protect them
in the enjoyment Of those rights when
they are infringed or assailed, ia also
generally admitted.
The evils which afflict the Southern
STATES can only be removed or RENE
died by the united aud harmonious
efforts Of both races, actuated by mo-
tjveS of mutual sympathy and regard.
And while in duty bound and fully
determined to protect the rights of all
10y all constitutional means at the dis
pOsal Of my administration, | am sin
C9rely anxious to use every legitimate
Influence in favor of honest and eff
Gent local self government as the true
recourse of those States for the pro-
motion Of the cnntentment and pros
p"ritY of their citizens. In the effort
| shall make 10 accomplish this rur-
pose | ask the cordial cooperation Of
all who cherish an interest in the wei
fare of the country, trusting that par
~ ties and the prejudice Of race will
Ha freely surrendered in behalf of the
great purpose to be accomplished.
In the important work of
RESTORING THE SOUTH,
il is not the political situation alone
that merits attention. The material
development of that section OF the
country has been arrested by the social
and political revolution through which
it has passed and now needs and lie
serves the cOnsderate care of the Ma
tional Government within the just
limits prescribed by the Constitution
and wise public economy but the ba-
sis of all prosperity for that as well as
for every other part of the country
lies in the improvement Of the intel
lectual and moral condition of the
PEOPLE.
Universal suffrage should rest upon
universal education. TO this end lihe.
raj and permanent provision should
he made for the support of free schools
by the State governments, and, if
need he, supplemented by Legitimate
aid from national authority.
Let me assure my countrymen of the
Southern States that it is my earnest
desire to regard and promote their
trueIt interest the interest of the
white and of the cOlored people both
and equally-and to put forth my best
efforts in behalf of civil policy which
f.,
affairs the COlOr-liue and the distnc-
ton between North and South, to the
end that we may have. not only q
quilted North and n united South but
y united country.
ask the attention OF the public to
the paramount necessity of reform
in our civil sorvice-a reform not
merely to ascertain abuses and
practices Of sO.Calied official pa
tronage which have come to have the
sanction of usage in the several de-
partments Of our Government, but a
change in the system OF appointment
itself; reform that shall be tho
rough, radical, and complete IA return
to the principles and practices of the
founders OF the Government. They
neither expected nor desired that pub
lie officers should owe their whole
service to the Government and to the
people. They meant that the officer
shall be secure in his Office as long as
his personal character remains unfair
nished and the performance of duties
satisfactory. They held that appoint
ments to office were not to be made
nor held as
REWARDS FOR PARTISAN SERVICE.
nor merely on the nomination of
members Of Congress as being entitled
in any respect to the control Of such
appointments.
The fact that the country in declaring
their principles prior TO the subject Of
reform of our civil service, recognizing
md strongly urging its necessity in
terms almost identical in their specific
import with those have here employ
ed, must be accepted as a conclusive
argument in behalf Of these measures.
II must he regarded rs the expression
Of the united voice and will of the
whole country upon this subject, and
both political parties are virtually
pledged to give it their uUreserved
support.
The President of the United States
of necessity owes his election to office
TO the suffrage and Jealous labors of
political party the members of which
cherish with ard0r and regard as of
essential importance the principles of
the party organization, but he should
strive to be always mindful Of the fact
hat he should serves his party best
who serves his country best.
In furthcrance of the reform we
seek, and in other important respects
n change of great importance. | re-
commend an amendment to the Con-
stitution prescribing a term of six
years for the presidential Office, and
iOrhidding reelection.
With respect To the financial cOndi-
ton of h. country | shall not attempt
an extended history Of the embarraSS-
ment aud prostratiOn which we have
suffered during the past three years
The depression in all our varied
commercial and manufacturing inter
ests throughout the country which
began i'm September, 1873, still contin-
ues. IL is very gratifying, however
10 he able to say that there are indica-
lions all around us of il coming change
20 prosperous times.
Upou the currency question, init
maielV connected us il Is with tins
tonic, | may he permitted to repeat
here the statement made in my letter
of acceptance that in my Judgement
the feeling of uncertainty inseparaoie
rom an
$500, -. ~ n, D.pup CIrRRENCY