The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-12-12

3
Fellow citizens of the Senate and House
OF Representatives, with great gratitude to
the bountiful giver of all good, / cOngratu-
late on at the beginning of your first regu-
/ lar session. You Il 1d our country blessed
| with wealth and peace and abundant har-
vests and with encouraging prospects of an
early return OF general prosperity.
PAcIFIcATIoN.
The Ipacifiestion of the country contin-
ues and will be until it is fully accomplished
and must remain the most i'm Do rtant of all
our national interests. The earnest pur-
| pose OF good citizens generally to unite their
/ efforts in those endeavors is evident. II
| found decided expression in the resolutions
| announcer IN 1876 by National Conventions
of the leading political parties of the coun-
| try. There WAS q widespread apprehen-
| sion that the mOmentaous results in our
| prorgess as nation marked by a recent
/ amendments to the Constitution were in
imminent jeopardy that the good UNDER
standing which prom pied their adop-
| ton in the Interest OF a loyal devo-
| ton to general welfare must prove
barren truce and that the sections
| of the country once engaged in civil strife
might be again almost as widely severed
and disuniJed as they were when arrayed
| in arms against each other. The course to
be pursued in my judgment which seems
| the wisest in the presence of this emergen-
cy was plainly indicated in my inaugural
| address; it pointed to the time which all
| our people desired to see, when a genuine
| love OF our whole country and of all that
concerns its true welfare shall supplant the
destructive force OF the mutual animosity Of
| sectional hostility. Opinions have differed
widely as TO the measures best calculated TO
| secure this great end. This was to be ex-
| pected; the measures adopted by the Adj
| mlnistratlon have been subjected to severe
and varied criticisms. ANY course what
ever which might have been entered upon
would certainly have encountred distrust
and opposition These measures were,
| in my judgment, such as We're most in
| harmony with the Constitution and with
the genius of our people, and best adapted,
under all circumstances, to attain the end
| in view. The beneficent results already ap-
| parent prove that these endeavors are yet
to be regarded as a mere experiment, and
should sustain and encourage us in our Ell
forts. Already in the the brief period which
has elapsed, the immediate effect happens,
| no less than the justice of the course pur-
sued, is demonstrated and have the abid-
ing faith that time will furnish its ample
vinidication in the minds OF the great major
ity of my fellOw-citizens. The discontinue
ance of the use of the army tor the purpose
of UNFOLDING local governments in two
States of the Union, was no less a Constitu-
tional duty and requirement. under the cir
cumstances existing at the time, than it was
necessary measure for the promotion OF
national harmony.
WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS.
The withdrawal of the troops from such
employment was effected diligently and
with soilcitous care for the peace and good
order of society and the protection of the
pros perity and persons of every right of all
classes of citizens, the results that have fol-
lowed are indeed Significant and encourag-
ing all apprehension of danger from remit
ting those States to local self-gOvernment
is dispelled and most salutary change in the
minds of the people has begun, and is in
F1a RI f1f hslf SNff RI
country. Once the theatre OF unhappy
civil strife substituting for suspicion, dis
trust and aversion, has given place to con-
cord, friendship and patriotic attachment
often fatal commission of crimes, which for
several years h we been of frequent occur
renee, and have alarmed the public mind,
have almost entirely ceased and that a
spirit of mutual forbearance ard hearty
national Interest has succeeded. There
has been a general establishment of or
der, and of the orderly administration of
Justice. Instances oil any remalng lawleSs-
ness have become of rare occurrence, polit-
zeal turmoil and turbulence have disappear
ed and useful industries have been resumed.
and public credit in the Southern States
has been greatly strengthened, and the en-
couraging benefits OF a revival of commerce
between the sections of the country lately
embroiled in the civil war are fully enjoyed.
Such are some of the results already at
tanned, upon which the country is to be
lance that we may with confidence patient
ly await the desired consum nation that
will surely come with the natural progress
of events.
1t maynot be improper here to say that it
should be our fixed and unalterable deter
minatiOn to protect By all the available and
proper means under the constitution and
the laws of the lately emancipated race in
the experiment of their rights and privil-
eyes. and urge upon those 60 whom here
g. h rr1fa Inn kosw ID
the relation OF bondsmeH the wisdom and
justice of human and liberal legal legisla-
ton with respect to their educational and
general welfare a firm adherence to the laws
of both national and state as 10 their civil
and political rights of the colOred people
now advanced to full and equal citizenship
The Immediate repression and sure punish
ment by the national and local authorities
within their respective jurisdictions of
every instance OF lawlessness and violence
toward them is required for the security
alike of both races, and Is justly demanded |
by the public opinion of the country and
the age. In this way the restoration of
harmony and good will and the complete
protection of every citizen in the full en-
joyment of every constitutional right will
surely be attained. Whatever authority
rests with me to this end / shall not hesi-
tate TO put forth: whatever belongs to the
power of Congress and the jurisdiction of
the courts of the Union they may confident
ly be relied upon TO provide and perform
and to the legislatures, the courts and the
executive authorities of the several States /
earnestly appeal to secure by adequate, ap-
prOprlate and Seas0na0le means within their
borders these common and uniform rights
of the united people which love liberty, alb
hOF oppression and revere justice; these OBJ
jects are very dear to my heart aud l shall
most earnestly strive for their attainment.
The cordial cooperation of all classes, of
all sections OF the couHtry and of both races
is required for this purpose, aud with their
blessing assured, and not otherwise, we may
safely hope Co hand down our free insti-
buttons of government unimpaired to the
generations that W i'll succeed
REsUMPTI0R.
Among the other subjects OF great and
general Importance TO the people OF this
country cannot be mistaken, think, in
regarding as pre-eminent the policy and
measures which are designed to secure the
restoration of the currency to that normal
aud healthful condition in which, by the
resumption of specie payments, oar internal
trade and foreign commerce may be brought
into harmony with che systems of exchanges
into which Is based upon precious metals as
the intrinsic money Of che world ia the
public Judgment and that this end should
be sought and com passed as speedily and rs
securely as the resources OF the people and
the wisdom OF their rulers can accom- plish.
There Is a much greater degree oil unanimi-
ty than Is found to concur 10 the specific
measures which viii bring the country 90
this desired end, or the fapldity of the steps
by which it can be safely reached npon q
most anxious and deliberate exam iaation
which have felt my duty TO give the snb-
jeet, am bus more confirmed TO the Opin-
ion which expressed In accepting the
nomination for the Presidency and again
upon my inangurakion that the policy or
resumption ehould b pnrsuRd by every
suitable means and that no legislation would
be wise that should disparage fhe import