The Portland daily press., 1877-03-06

them out in the practical administration of the
government so far as depends under the consti-
tuition and law on the chief executive OF the
nation.
The Southern Policy.
The permanent pacifcation Of the cauntry
upon such principles andy such measures as
VIII secure Ike complete protection OF all its
citlzens in the free enjoyment of all their con-
stltutional rights is now the one subject in our
public affairs, which all thoughtful and patr-
otto citizens regard as of supreme Importance.
Many of the calamitous effects of the tremend-
GUS revolution which has passed over the
Southern States, still remain. The immeasura-
BILE benefit which will surely follow sooner or
later, the hearty and generous acceptance of the
legitimate results of that revolution, has not
yet been realized. Difficult and embarrassing
questions meet US at the Threshold of this sub
ject The people of those States are still i'm
poverished, and the inestimable blessing of
wise honest and peaceful local self-yovern-
ment is not fully enjoyed Whatever differ
ence of opinion may exist, as to the cause of
this condition of things, the fact is clear that in
the progress of events the time has come when
such government is the imperative necessity
required by all the varied interests, public and
private, of those States. But iHmust not be
forgotten that only q local government which
recognizes and maintains inviolate the rights
of all, is true self-government. With respect
to the two distinct races. whose peculiar rela-
tons to each other have brought upon us the
deplorable complications and perplexities
which exist in those States, it must be gov
eminent which guards the interests of both
races carefully and equally. 1t must be gov
eminent which submits Loyalty and heartily to-.
the constitution and the laws, the laws of the
nation and the laws of the States themselves,
accepting and obeying faithfully the whole con-
StitutiOn as il is Resting upon this sure and
substantial foundation, the superstructure OF
beneticent local governments can be built VI
and not otherwise. In furtherance of such
0hndipnop n the letter and the shirt Of the
stitutIon, and in behalf of all that its attain
ment implies, all so-called party interests lose
their apparent Importance and party lines may
well be permitted to fade into insigni6cance.
The question we have to consider for the imme-
diate welfare of those States of the Union, is
the question of government or no government,
of civil order and all the peaceful industries
and happiness that belongs to it, or a return to
barbarism. 1t is question in which every cit
lien of the nation is deeply interested, and
with respect to which we ought not to be in
partisan sense, either Republicans or Demo-
Gratis, but fellow citizens and fellow men, to
whom the interests of a common country and
| a common humanity are DEAR
The sweeping revolution of the entire labor
system OF large portion of our country, and
tue advance of four millions of people from
condition of servitude to that of citizenship,
upon an equal footing with their former mas
ters could not occur without presenting prob.
lens OF the gravest moment to be dealt with by
the emancipated race, by their former masters,
and by the general government. the author of
the act of emancipation. That it was wise
just and providential act, fraught with good for
all concerned. is now generally conceded
throughout the country. That moral obliga-
ton rests upon the national government to EN-.
ploy its constitutional power and influence to
establish the rights of the people it has eman-
clpated and to protect them in the enjoyment
OF those rights when they are infringed or as
sailed is also generally admitted. The evils
which afflict the Southern states can only be
removed or remedied by the united and harmo-
NOUS efforts of both races, actuated by motives
OF mutual sympathy and regard; and while in
duty bound and fully determined to protect the
rights of all by every constitutional means at
the disposal of my administration. am sim
cerely anxious to use every legitimate influence
| in favor of honest aud efficient local self-gov
eminent as the true resource of those states for
the promotion of the contentment and prosper
ity of their citizens. In the effort shall make
to accomplish this purpose l ask the cordial CO.
operation of all who cherish an iotsrest in the
welfare OF the country, trusting that party ties
| and the prejudice Of race will be freely surren-
dered in behalf of the great purpose to be ac-
complished.
In the important work of restoration of the
South it is not the political situation alone that
merits attention. The material DEVELOPMENT
of that section of the country has been arrest
ed by the social and political revolution through
which 1t has passed, and now needs and de-
serves the considerate care of the national gov
ernment within the just limits prescribed BY
the Constitution and wise public economy But
at the basis of all prosperity for that as we'll as
for every other part of the country, lies the i'm
provement of the intellectual and moral condi-
tion of the people. Universal suffrage should
| rest upon universal education. To this end lib.
| eral and permanent provision should be made
for the support of free schools by the state gov
ernments, and if need be, supplemented by le-
| glttmate aid by the national authority.
Let me assure nv COuQtrVmeQ OF tha SOuth.
ern States that it is my earnest desire to regard
and promote their truest inter SITS, the interests
OF the white and of the colored people both and
to put forth my best efforts in behalf of a civil
policy which will forever wipe out in our politi-
cal affairs the color line and the distinction be-
tween North and South, to the end that we
may have not merely united North or united
South, but a united country.
Civil Service Reform.
ask the attention of the public to the para.
mount necessity of reform in our civil service
a reform not merely as to certain abuses aud
| practices of SO called official patronage, which
have come to have the sanction of usage, in the
several departments of our government, but a
change in the system of appointment itself, o
| reform that shall be thorough, radical and COM
plete, return to the principles and practices
OF the founders of the government. They
neither expected nor desired from public offic-
ers any partisan service. They meant that
public officers should owe their whole service
meant that the officer should be secure in his
tenure as long as his personal character re-
NAMED untarniShed, and the. performance of
his duties satisfactory. They held that appoint
ments to office were not to be made nor expect
ed merely as rewards for partisan services nor
merely on the nomination of members of Con-
gress, as being entitled. in any respect, to the
control of such appointments. The fact that
both of the great political parties of the coun-
try, in declaring their principles prior to the
va q v,1o ,Io
of reform of our civil service, recognizing and
strongly urging its necessity in terms almost
identical in their specific import with those
have here employed, must be accepted as
conclusive argument in behalf of these meas
ures 1t must be regarded as the expression Of
he united voice and will of the whole ountry
upon this subject, and both political parties are
virtually pledged to give it their unreseryed
support.
The President of the United States of neces-
sity owes his election to Office to the suffrage
and Jealous labors of a political party, the
members of which cherish with ardor and re-
gard, as of essential importance, the prin-
clples OF their party organization. But he
should strive to be always mindful OF the fact
that he serves his party best who serves the
country best: In furtherance of the reforms
we seek, and in other respect as a change of
great Importance, recommend ar amend
ment to the constitution, prescribing term of
six years for the Presidential Office and forbid
cling reelection.
The Financial Problem,
With respect to the financial condition of the
country, shall not attempt an extended his
tory of the embarrassment and prostration
which we have suffered during the past three
years. The depression in all our varied COM
mercial and manufacturing interests through
out the country, which hogan in September,
1873, still continues. 1t is very gratifying
however, to be able to say that there are ind.
cations all around US of a coming change to
prosperous times. Upon the currency question,
Intimately connected as it is with this topic, j
may be permitted to repeat here the statement
male IN my letter of acceptance, that in my
Judgment the feeling of uncertainty INSOFAR
able from an irredeemable paper currency, with
Its fluctuations OF value, is one of the greatest
obstacles to return to prosperous times. The
only safe paper currency is one which rests
upon coin basis and is at all times and
promptly convertible into coin. adhere to the
views heretofore expressed by me in favor of
Congressional legislation in behalf of an early
resumption of specie payments, and 1 am
satisfied, not only that this is wise but that the
Interests as well as the public sentiment of the
country imperatively demand it.
Foreign Policy.
Passing from these remarks upon the condi-
ton of our country TO consider our relations
with other lands, we are reminded by the
international complications abroad threaten
ing the peace of Turkey, that our traditional
rue of UOp-interfereOCo in the fairs of faraion