The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
TO the Senate and House of Repre-.
SentGticeS

TO the Senate and House of Repre-
SentGtIceS:
THE POLICY
FELLOW CITIZENS with great graf.
itude TO the bOuntiful Giver OF all good
| congratulate you ut the beginning Oi
your first regular session. You find
! our country blessed with health and
peace and abundant harvests, and with
encouraging prospects of an early re-
turn of the general prosperity. To
complete and make permanent the pac.
ification Of the country, continues to
be, and until it is fully accomp iished
must remain, the most important OF all
our national interests. The earnest
purpose of good citizens generally to
unite their efforts in these endeavors
is evident. 1t found decided express
sion in the resolutions aOnouhced in
1876 by the national conventions of
the leading political parties OF the
country. There was widespread ap.
prehensiOn that the momentOus results
in our progress as nation worked by
the recent amendments to the consti-
tuition were in imminent jeopardy !;
that the good understanding which
prompted their adoption in the inter-
est of loya! devotion to the general
welfare might prove q barren truce,
and that. the sections of country once
engaged in civil strife might be again
almost as widely severed and dlsunited
as they were when arrayed in arms
against each other.
The course to be pursued, which, in
my judgment, seemed wisest in the
presence OF this emergency, was plain
ly indicated in my inaugural address.
1t pointed to the time, which all our
people desire to see, when = genuine
love of our whole country and all tn 1t
concerns its true welfare shall supplaut
the destructive forces of mutual ami
mostly of races, and OF sectional hos
lility. Opinions have differed widely
as TO the measures best calculated to
secure this great end. This was to be
expected the measures adopted by the
administration have been subjected to
severe criticism. sa4a.
Any course whatever which might
have been entered upon would cer-
tainIy have encountered distrust and
opposition. These measures were, in
my judgment, such as were most in
harmony with the constitution aud
with the genius of our people, and
the beet adapted under all circumstan-
ces TO attain the end in view. Bcniii-
cent results already apparent prove
that these endeavOrs are not to be re,
garded as q mere experiment, and
should 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 course pursued, is demonstrated
and have ali abiding faith that time
will furnish its ample vindicaliOn in
the minds of the great majority of my
fellow citizens. The discontinuance
of the use of the army Tor the purpose
of upholding local governments in two
states of the Union was no less con-
stiiutional duty and re quirement under
the circumstances existing at the time
than it was much needed measure
tor the restoration of local self govern
ment and the promotion of national
harmony. The Withdrawal of the
troops from such employment was ef-
fected diligently and with sOlicitous
care for the peace and good order OF
society and the protection of property
and persOns, of every right of all class
es OF citizens. The results that have
iollo W ed are indeed significant and en-
couraging. All apprehensions of dam
ger from renting those states to local
self-government is dispelled and a
most salutary change in the minds OF
the people has begun and is IN pro-
gress in every part of that section OF
country once the theater of unhappy
civil strife, substituting for suspicion,
distrust and aversion, concord, TREND
ship aud patriotic attachment to the
Union. No unprejudicet mind will
deny that the often fatal collisions
which for several years have been OF
frequent occurrence and have alarmed
the public mind have almost entirely
ceased, and that q spirit OF mutual tor
has succeeded. There has been a gen.
eral re-establishment OF order, and OF
the orderly administration OF justice.
Instances of remaining lawlessness
haye become of rare occurrence. Po-
itical turmoil and turbulence, have
disappeared, useful industries have
been revived. public credit in the
Southern States has been greatly
strengthened. and the encouraging
benefits of revival OF commerce be-
tween sections of the country lately
embroiled in civil war, are fully en-
iOyed. Such are some of the results
already attained, upon which the
country is to be congratulated. They
are OF such importance that we with
confidence patiently await the desired
cOnsunnmatiOu that will surely come
with the natural progress of events.
1t may not bc improper here to say
\
terable determi nation to protect by all
available and proper means under the
Constitution and the laws, the lately
emancipaicd race in the experiment OF
their rights aud privileges, and urge
upon those TO whom heretofore the
cOlOred people have sustained the re-
lation of bondsmcn, the wisdom and
Justice OF humane and liberal locAi
legislation, with respect to their cuu
cation aud general welfare, firm ad-
herence to the laws, both national and
state, as 10 their civil and political
rights OF the colored people, now ad
vanccd 10 full and equal citizenship.
The Immediate repression and sure
punishment by the national and local
authorities, within thtir respective ju.
risdictions, OF every Instance OF law
lessncss aud violence towaI d them, is
require for the security alike OF both
races 81 d Is justly demanded by the
public opinion OF the country and OF
the age. In this way the restoration
of harmony and good will and The
complete protection OF every citizen i'll
the full enjoyment of every constitu-
tional right will surely be attained !;
whatever authority rests with me to
this end l shall not hesitate to put
forth ; whatever belongs to the power
of Congress and the jurisdiction OF the
courts OF the Union they may be con-
fiden,ly relied upon to provide and
perform, aud to the legislatures. the
courts, and the executive authorities
OF the several states, l earnestly APP
peal, 10 secure by the adequate, appor-
pirate aud reasonable means, within
their hOrderR these common and mi :.