Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-12-13
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Representatives.
With great gratitude to the bountiful giver
of all good | congratulate you. At the be-
ginning of your first regular session you fiud
our country blessed with health and peace, an
abundant harvest and with encouraging pros
poets of an early return of general prosperity.
CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
To complete and make permanent the pac-
ification of the country continues to be, and
until it is fully accomplished, must remain the
most important of all our national interests
The earnest purpose of good citizens generally
TO unite their efforts in those endeavors is
evident. It found decided expression in the
resolutions announced in 1876 by the National
conventions of the leading political parties Of
the country. There was widespread appre-
hension that the momentous results in our
progress as a nation, marked by recent amend
ments to the constitution, were in imminent
jeopardy; that the good understanding which
prompted their adoption in the interest of a
loyal devotion to the general welfare might
prove a barren truce and that the sections of
the country once engaged in strife might be
again almost as widely severed and disunited as
they were when arrayed in arms against each
other
THE COURSE TO De PURSUED
which in my judgment seemed wisest ia the
presence of the emergency was plainly indi-
Gated in my inaugural address It pointed to
the time which our people desire to see; when
genuine love of our whole country and of all
that concerns its true welfare shall supplant
the destructive forces of the mutual luminosity
of the races and of sectional hostility. Opin-
ions have differed widely as to the measures
best calculated to secure this great end. This
was to be expected. The measures adopted by
the administration have been subjected to se-
we're and varied criticisms. ANY course what
ever that might have been entered upon would
certainly have encountered distrust and oppo-
sition. These measures were in my Judgment
, most in harmony with the constitution and
with the genius of our people and best adap-
ted under all circumstances to attain the end
in view. The benefcent results already appar-
ent prove that these endeavors are not to be
regarded as a mere experiment. and should
sustain and encourage us in our efforts. AL
ready in the brief time that has elapsed the
immediate effectiveness no less than the justice
of the course pursued is demonstrated and
have an abiding faith that time will furnish its
ample vindicaton in the minds of the great
majority of my fellow citizens. The discon-
tinuance of the use of the army for the pr-
pose of EN
UNFOLDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Is
in two States of the Union was no less cOn-
stitutional duty and requirement under the
circumstances existing at the time than it was
a much needed measure for the restoration of
local self government and the promotion of
national harmony. The withdrawal of the
troops from such employment was effected de-
iiberstey and with solicitous care for the peace
and good order of society, and the protection
of property and persons, and every right of all
classes Of citizens. The results that have fol-
lowed are indeed significant and encouraging.
Ia,
those States to local self-government is dis
PEELED, and most salutary change in the minds
of the people has begun and is in progression.
Every part of that section of the country, once
the theatre of unhappy civil strife, is substitute
ting for suspicion, distrust and aversion, con-
cord, friendship and patience, and attachment
to the Union. No unprejudiced mind will deny
that the fatal collisions which for several years
have been of frequent occurrence, and have
alarmed the public mind, have almost entirely
ceased, and that spirit of mutual forbearancc
and interest has succeeded. There has been
general re-establishment of order and of the
orderly administration of justice. Instances of
remaining lawlessness have become of rare
occurrence. Political turmoil and disturbance
have disappeared useful industries have been
resumed public credit in the Southern States
has been greatly strengthened, and the encour-
aging benefits of a revival of commerce between
the sections of the country lately embroiled in
civil war are fully enjoyed. Such are some
of the results already attained upon which the
country is to be regulated. They are Of such
Importance that we have to await the desired
communication that will surely come with the
natural progress of events.
1t may not be improper here to say that it
should be our fixed and unalterable determi-
nation to protect by all available and proper
- \ ~, l..
the
LATELY EMAECIPATED RACE
in the exercise of their rights and privileges,
and urge upon those, to whom heretofore the
colored people have sustained the relation of
bondmen, the wisdom and justice of humane
and liberal legislation with respect to their ed
ucation and general welfare, firm adherence
to the laws both national and State as to the
civil and political rights of the colored people,
now advanced to full and equal citizenship. The
Immediate repression and sure punishment by
the national authorities within'their respective
Jurisdictions, of every instance of lawlessness
and violence towards them, is required for the
security alike of both races, and should be
Justly branded by the public opinion if the
country and the age. In this way the restor-
alton of harmony and good will and the COM
plete protection of every citizen in the pos
session of ever constitutional right, will surely
be attained. Whatever authority rests with
me to this end shall not hesitate to put forth.
Whatever belongs to the power of Congress,
and the custodian of the courts of the Union,
they may be confidently relied upon to perform
and to the Legislatures, the courts and the
executive authorities of the eyeral States |
appeal to secure, by adequate, appropriate and
all reasonable means within their borders
these common and uniform rights of united
| people who love liberty, abhor oppression and
revere Justice. These objects are very dear to
| my heart | shall continue most earnestly to
strive for their attainment. The cordial Co
operation Of all classes ofcitizens of the coun-
try and of both races is required for this pur-
| pose, otherwise, we may safely hope to hand
down our fee institutions of government I'M
impaired TO the generations that will succeed
US.
THE FINANCES.
Among other subjects of great and general
Importance to the people of this country
and cannot be mistaken.I think, in regarding
it as prominently the true policy--are
measures which are designed to secure the
restoration of the currency to that normal and
healthful condition in which by the resumption
of specie payments our internal trade and for
eign commerce may be brought into harmony
with the system of exchanges which is based
] uDOn precious uebaiS as the lntFinStc UoneyOt
the world In the public Judgment that this
end should be sought and composed as speed
ily and as securely as the resources of the peo-
ME and the wisdom of their government can
accomplish, there is much greater degree of
unamity than is found in the specific measures
which will bring the country to this desired
end, or the rapidity of steps by which II can
| be safely reached. Upon a most anxious and
deliberate examination, which l have felt 1t
nv duty to give to the subject, am but the
more confirmed in the opinion which ex-
pressed in accepting the nomination for the
Presidency, and again upon my inauguration,
that the policy of resumption should be pur-
sued by every suitable means, and that no leg
islation would be wise that should disparsge
the importance or retard the attainment of that
result have no disposition and certainly no
right to question the sincerity or the intelli-
gence of opposing opinions, and would neither
4 conceal nor undertake. the considerable diff
culties and even occasional distresses which
NAV attend the progress of the nation toward
| this primary condition to its general and per,
manent prosperity. l must, however, adhere
| to NV most earnest conviction that any waver-
ing in purpose or unsteaiiness in methods. so
far from avoiding or reducing the inconven>
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