The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-03
TELEGRsAPHIC.
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-Fellow citizens,
and members of the senate aud house of
representatives. With great gratitude to
the bountiful giver of all good, | congratu
late you at the beginning of your first
regular session. You fnd our country
blessed with health and peace, and
abundant haIvests. and with encouraging
prospects of an early return to general
prosperity. To complete and make
permanent the paci6cation of the country
continues to be, and until it is fully accom-
plished, must remain the most important
OF all our national interests, and the earnest
purpose OF good citizens generally to unite
their efforts In those endeaYors is evident.
1t found decided expression in the reso-
luton announced in 1876 by the national
convention OF the two political parties of
the country. There was a widespread
apprehension that the momentous results
10 our progress as a nation, marked by
the recent amendments to the constitution.
were in imminent jeopardy, that the good
understanding which prompted their adop-
| ton in the interest of loyal devotion to
| the general welfare might preve a barren
| truce, and that the sections of the country
| once engaged in civil strife might be again
| almost as widely severed aud disunited as
they were when arrayed in arms against
each other.
The course to be pursued whish in my
Judgment seemed wlsest in the presence of
| such an emergency was plainly indicated
| ln my inaugural address; it pointed to The
time which all 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
mutual animosity OF races, of sectional
hostility. Opinions have differed widely
as to the measures best calculated to ST.
cure this great end; this was to be ex-
Ipected; the measures adopted by the ad-
ministration have been subjected to severe
and varied criticisms.
Any course whatever which might have
been entered upon would certainly have
encouDteree distrust and opposition These
measures were in my judgement, such as
were most in harmony with the constitu.
ZION and with the genius Of our people,
and best adopted under all circumstances
to attain the end in view. The beni6cient
results already apparent prove that these
Il endeavors are not to be regarded as mere
Iexperiment and should sustain and encoul
age us in our efforts. Already In the brie
! period which has elapsed the immediate
Effectiveness no less than the justice OF the
icourse pursued, is demonstrated, and
lhave an abiding faith that time will furnish
its ample viudication in the minds of the
great majority OF my fellow citizens. The
+ ldiscontlnuance Of the use OF the army for
; he purpose of upholding local govern.
: ments in two states of the Union was nc
ess constitutional duty and requirement,
iunder the circumstances existing at the
time than it was much needed meas UT,
for the restoration of local self government
| and the promotion OF national harmony.
The withdrew Of the troops from such
employments was effected dehberatt ly, anC
d with solicitous care for the peace and guoC
IJrder OF the south generally aud the pro.
d lection OF the prosperity of persons ant
! every right or all classes OF citizens; tbt
: tresults that have followed are indeed
significant and encouraging; all apprehen
sion OF danger from remittlng those states
TO local sell government Is dispe.led, ant
a most salutary change III the minds %
the people has begun and is in progress
Hin every part OF that section o
e county once the theatre Of unhappy
civil strife, substituting toi
lsuspicion, distrust. and aversion. con
F cord, friendship. and patriotic attachmen
to the union. No unpTejudiced mind vii
e deny, that, after the fatal collisions, whicl
ID tef several yeats haye been OF freQuen
occurrence, and have alarmed the publ
y mind, have almost entirely ceased and tha
a spirit OF mutual iorbearance and heart,
iy aationaI interest has succeeded, there ha
ls been a general reestablishment Of orde
md of the orderly administration of jus
p tice, instances of remaining Law
q / essness have been of rare occurrence
5. political turmoi! and turbulence have dis
n. appeared, useful industries have been re
,e sumed, public credit in the southern state
al has been greatly strengthened, and th
n encouraging benefits of a revival Of com
in merce between the sections OF the countr
lately embroied in civil war are fully Ell
70 loved. Such are some of the result
d. already attained. upon which the countr
lis to be congratulated, they are OF sue
importance that we may with confdent
lpatiently await the desired consnmmatie
( that will surely come with the natural pr
: gress OF events.
ed It may not be improper here to say tn
6n il should be our fixed aud unalterable dt
'm termination to protect by all available al
proper means under the constitution al
ro- the laws the la, ely emancipated race in Il
experiment of their rights aud privilege
and l urge upon those to whom heretofo
the colored people have sustained the +
lation of bondmen the wisdom and JUST
of humane and liberal local leg
to lation WITH respect TO their educ
lii ric' ton and general welfare. A FL
me- adherence to the laws, both national al
snd IND state, as to the civil and politie
sss, rights Of the solored people, Low advanc
kIin, to full equal citizenship, the immedia
''' repression and sure punishment by t
- national and local authorities within tht
respective jurisdiction OF every instance
"a lawlessness and violence toward them
E required for the security alike OF bo
~ races, an1 is justly demanded by the pu
81 lie opinion OF the country aud the al
yM In this way the restoration of eve
citizen in the full enjoyment of eve
~ constitutional right will surely be attains
Whatever authority rests with me to Il
end / shall not hesitate to put fort
). whatever belongs TO the po
a. er of congress aud
.bo. jurisdiction of the several courts OF
-cat union they may confidently be relied
nth to provide and perform; and to the legis
the ture the courts and the executive authe
,pse ties of the several states | earnestly