The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-04
Presidents MESSAGE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The Presi-
dents message is as follows:
Fellow citizens and members of the
Senate and House Of Representatives
With great gratitude to the bonnti-
full giyer of all good, l congratulate you,
st the beginning of your first regular
session, that you find our country blessed
with health and peace and abundant
harvests and with encouraging pros
poets of an early return of general pros
perity. To complete and make perma-
nent the
PACIFIcATIoN OF THE COUNTRY,
it is fully accomplished the most i'm
portant of all our national interests.
The earnest purpose of good citizens
generally to unite their efforts
in these endeayors is evident.
It found decided expression in the reso-
fltion announced in 1875 by the nation
al conventions of the two political par
ties of the country. There was wide
spread apprehension that the momentous
results in our progress as a nation,
marked by the recent amendment to the
constitution, were in imminent jeopardy;
that the good understanding which
prompted their adoption in the inter-
est of loyal devotion to the general
welfare might prove barren truce, and
that the sections of the country once
engaged in civil strife might be again
almost as widely severed, and
disunited as they we're when arrayed in
arms against each other. The course to
be pursued, which in my Judgment
seemed wisest in the presence of the
emergency, was plainly indicated in my
inaugural address. 1t pointed to the
time which all our people desire to see,
when a genuine love of our whole coun-
try and of all that concerns its true well
fare shall supplant the destructive forces
of mutual animosity of races and of
sectional hostility. Opinions have diff
fered widely as to the measures
best calculated to secure this great end.
This was to be expected. The meas
ures adopted by the administration
have been subjected to severe and va
RED criticisms as would have been any
course whatever which trusted the OPP
position. The measures were, in my
Judgment, most in harmony with the
constitution and with the genius of our
people, and best adapted all cireum-
stances to attain the end in view. The
benefeent results already apparent
proves that these endeavors are not to
be regarded as mere experiment and
should sustain aud encourage rs
10 our Efforts. Already in the briet
time which has elapsed the Immediate
effectiveness no less than the justice of
the course pursued is demonstrated and
1 have an abiding faith that time will
furnish it's ample vindication in the
minds of the great majority of my fellow
citizens. The discontinuance of the use
of the army for the purpose of uphold
ing local governments in two States OF
the Union was no less a constitutional
duty and requirement. under the circum'
stances existing at the time, than it was
a much needed measure for the restora'
ton of local self-government and the
promotion of national harmony.
THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE TROOPS
from such employment was effected de-
hberately and with solicitous care for
the peace and good order of the South
generally, and the protection of the
prosperity of persons, and every right OF
all classes of citizens. The results that
have followed are indeed significant and
encouraging. All apprehension of dan
ger from renting those States to local
self government is dispelled, and most
salutary change in the minds of the peo-
pie has begun, and is in progress in
every part of that section of the coun-
try, once the theatre of unhappy civil
strife, substituting for suspicion, dis
trust and aversion, concord, friendship
and patriotic attachment TO the Union
No unprecedented mind will deny that
the often fatal collisions which for sew
eral years have been of frequent occur
renee, and have alarmed the public
mind, have almost entirely ceased, anC
that spirit of mutual forbearance ant
hearty national interest has succeeded
There has been a general re-establish
ment of order and of the orderl.
administration of justice. In
stances of remaining lawlessnes
become of rare occurrence. Po
litical turmoil and turbulence hav
disappeared. Useful industries hav
been resumed. Public credit IN tn
Southern States has been greatl
strengthened and the encouraging ben
Gifts of revival of commerce betweel
the sections of the country lately EN-
broiled in civil war are fully enjoyed
Such are some of the results already al
tanned upon which the country is to b
congratulated. Theyare of such impol
lance that we have with confidence ps
tiently waited the desired consummt
ton that will surely come with the ma
ural progress of events.
1t may not be improper here to say
that it should be our fixed and unalter'
BILE determination to protect by all avail
able and proper means under the col
stitution and the laws, the lately email
cipated race in the experiment of the
rights and privileges, and I urge upo
those to whom heretofore the colore
people have sustained the relation
bondmen, the wisdom and justice
humane and liberal local legislation vii
respect to their education and gener
welfare. A firm adherence to the Law
both national and State, as
the civil and political rights
the colored people now advanc,
to full equal citizenship, the immedia
repression and sure punishment by t
national and local authorities with
their respective jurisdiction of eve
instance of lawlessness and violen
toward them, is required for the securi
alike OF both races and is justly {
manded by the public opinion of t