Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-05


Felow-cjtizens Of the Senate and House Of Rep.
resentdtires; with devout gratitude to the Boun-
tiful Oliver OF all good, congratulate you at the
beginning OF your first regular session. You find
onr country blessed with health and peace and
abundant harvests, and with encouraging pros
poets OF an early return OF general prosperity.
PAoFicATioN or TIE COUNTRY
To complete and make permanent the pacifica.
uOn Of the country continues to be- and until II IL
fully accomplished must remain, the most i'm.
pnrtint OF all our national interests. The earnest
purpose Of good citiz ns generally to unite their
efforts in this endeayor is evident 1t found de-
cided expression in the resolutions announced in
1876 by the National Conventions Of the leading
political parties Of the country. There was wide
spread apprehension that the momentous results
IN our progress as nation, marked by the recent
amendments to the Constitution were in imm.
nent jeopardy that the good understanding which
prompted their adoption in the interest of lOyal
devotion To the general welfare might prove n
barren truce, and that the two sections of the
country once engaged in civil strife might he again
almost as widely severed and disunited as they
were when arrayed in arms against each other
Inc course to he pursued, which in my judgment
seemed wsest in the presence Of this emergency
was plainly indicated In ms inaugural address II
pointed IN the time which all our people desire to
see-when n genuine love Of our whole country
and OF all that concerns its true welfare shall
Supplant the destructive force Of mutual ami
mostly OF races and Of sectional hostility. Opin-
ions have differed widely as TO the measures best
calculated TO secure this. as was to be expected
The measures adopted by the Administration
have been subjected TO severe and varied criti-
cism. Any course whatever which might have
been entered upon would certainly have encoun-
tered dstrust and opposition. These measures
were, In my judgment, such as were most In
harmony with the Constitution and with the
genius Of our people, and best adapted under all
the circumstances, To attain the ends in view
Benehcent results, already apparent prove that
these endeavors are not TO he regarded rs mere
experiment, and shonld sustain and encourage us
in our efforts. Already in the brief period which
has elapsed, the immediate effectiveness no less
than the justice Of the cause pursued IL demon
strated, and have an abiding faith that time will
furnish Its ample vindicatun in the minds Of the
great majority Of my felow-citiZens The discon-
tlnuance Of the OF the army for the purpose Of
npholding local governments In two states Of the
Union was no less II constitutional duty and re-
qutrement, under the circumstances existing Mt
the time than 1t was nuch-needed measure fur
the restoration Of local self-government and the
promotion of national harmony the withdrawal
of the troops from such employment was effected
deliberately and with sOlicitous care for the
peace and good order Of society and the protec-
ton of the property and persons, and every right
Of all classes Of citizens. The results that have
followed are indeed significant and encouraging
All apprthensions OF danger from renting those
states to local self-government is dispelled and
most salutary change in the minds OF the people
has begun and is in progress In every part of that
section OF country once the theatre of unhappy
evil strfes, substituting Tor suspicion distrllst
and aversion, concord friendship and patriotic
attachment to the Union No unprecedented mind
will deny that the terrible and often fatal COLI
sinns which for several years have been of fire.
quent occurrence aud have agitated and alarmed
the public mind, have almost entirely ceased and
that spirit Of mutual forbcamnce and hearty
national interest has succeeded There has been
II general re-establishment OF order and Of the
orderly administration of justice; Instances of re-
naming lawessness have become OF rare occur
renee Political tumoil and turbulence have dis
appeared. Useful industries have been resumed
Public credit in the Southern States has been
greatly strengthened, and the encouraging bene-
fits of II revival of commerce between the sections
uf country lately embruiled in civil war are fully
enjoyed. Such are some of the results already at
tanned, upon which the country is to be congratu-
lated. They are of such Importance that we may
with confidence patiently await the desired con-
summation that will surely come with the natural
progress Of events