Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-03-07

which exist in those states il mus, bd ,,osnr,
ment which guards the interests Of both race.
vaIel'ilN Hhu equally II must he government
which submits Loyalty and heartily 10 the cnnsti
tuition and the laws Of the nation and tho tnvs of
the states themselves accepting and ohovin.
faithfully the whole constitution M II il RESTING
upon .ills sure ana substantial foundation the SUI
perstructure Of beneficent local government can
be built up and not otherwise In fufthernnee M
such obedience to the letter and the spirit of tho
constitution, and In behalf Of all that its attain
men, meht implies an so-caled party interests lose
thelr apparent Importance aud party lines may
well be permitted to fade into insfgni6cance.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
The question we have to consider for the inn
mediate welfare Of those states of the Union il
the question Of government or no government
oi general order and all the ueaceful industries
ana inc happiness that belong to it, or n return to
barbaiism It is question In which every citi-
zen OF the nation is deeply interested, and with
respect to which we ought not TO be In partisan
sense either Republicans or democrats but fellow
men To whom the interests of common country
and common humanity are dear The sweep
ing revolution of the entire labor system of n
large portion of our country and the advance of
tour millions Of people from n condition Of servi-
.uue 70 that OF citizenship upon an equal footing
WIN their former masters, could not occur with
out presenting problems Of the gravest moment
70 De dealt With by the enancipated race, by their
former masters and by the general government
thc autlor OF the act OF emancipation That it
good for all concerned is now conceded throuuh-
out the country. That u moral obligation rests
upon the national government to employ It's con-
stutional power and influence Ia establish tho
rights OF the people it has emancpated and to
protect them In the enjoyment Of those rights
when they are iniringed or assaed is also zen
orally admitted
HONEST LOCAL sELF-GovERNMENT.
The evils which anlict the Southern states can
only be removed or remcded bv the united and
nf ht.flt .t.II
tives OF mutual sympathy and regard and Will.
IN duty bound and fully determined to protect
the rights OF all by every constitutional means AT
tne disposal OF my administration, am sincerely
anxious to use every legitimate influence in favor
81 honest and efficient local self-goyernment ns
the true resource of those states for the promo-
tion oil the cuntentment and prosperity Of their
citizens. In the effort shall make to nccomnlish
TINS purpose, ask the cordial cu-uperation Of all
VINO cherish an interest in the welfare of the
country trusting that party ties and the preu-
dlces OF race will be freely surrendered in behalf
of the great purpose to be ACCOMPLISHED i'm the
important work OF restoration of the south. It is
not the political situation alone that merits at
tention
MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT OF 1nE SOUTH.
Inc material development Of that section of
the country has been arrested by the social and
pun''a revolution through which 1t has passed
ana now needs and deserves the considpr;ite care
OF the national government within the inst limits
prescribed by the constitution and wise publi,.
economy but at the basis Of all prosperity for
that as well as for every other mart nf tho conn
tfyi lies the Improvement Of the Intellectual and
moral condition of the people Universal suf-
lfilge should rest upon universal education To
TINS end liberal and permanent provision should
ue maze lor the support of free schools by the
state government, and it need be supllemeuted
by legitimate aid from national authority.
AUNTED COUNTRY.
Let me assure my countrymen of the Southern
states lilI IL IL INV earnest desire ri uI
promote their truest interests the interests of the
white and of the colored people both and eoually
ana put iofth my best efforts in behalf of civil
policy which will forever wipe out i'm orr politicn
ailals the color line and the distinction between
North and south, to the end that we NAV have
not merely united North or a united south bat
n united country.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
ask the attention of the public to the para
mount necessity OF reform in our civil seryire--a
reform not merely H. to certain abuses and mac
tees OF so-called official patronage which have
come to have the sanction of the several deuart-
h!ehts OF our government but change in the sys-
TEN of appointment itself: a reform that shall he
thorough radical and complete-a return to the
principles and practices OF the founders of the
government They neither expected nor desired
from pubic officers any partisan service They
meant that public Officers should owe their whole
service to the government and to the people
lheN meant that the officer should be secure in
ms tenure As long rs his personal character re-
manned nnarnished and the performance of his
duties satisfactory. They held that amendments
u once were not to be made OF expected merely
AS rewards Tor partisan services, nor merely on
the nomination of members OF Congress AS being
entitled III any respect To the control of such al
pOntinents. The fact that both the great politica
parties OF the country, in declaring their pru-
cpes prior To the election. gave "a monument nlnce
To the subject of reform of our civil service recop
nizlng and strongly urging its necessity in terms
almost Identical in their specific import with those
II Inc "a ufaI
elusive argument in behalf OF these measures IL
must be regarded as the expression OF the united
voice ana VIII OF the whole country upon this sub
Iect, and both political parties are virtually
pledged to give it their unreserved support.
The President of the United States OF necessity
owes MS election to office to the suffrage and the
nca i hpors OF political party the members of
winch cherish with ardor and regard as Of essential
Importance the principles Of their party organiza-
uohi but he should strive to be always mindful of
we laet mat he serves his party best who serves
the country best
SIN YEARS FOR 4 PRESIDENTIAL TERM
In furthennce Of the reform We seek and in
other important respects "A change of great imuor-
unce, recommend an amendment OF the coisti-
tuition prescribing term OF siN years for the
Presidential office aud forbidding "a reelection.
OUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS
With respect to the financial condition of the
country shall not attempt an extended history Of
the embarrassment and piostrHtion which we have
HNhNlNh uHilHE lut past tllltt wears. lie de-
preston in all our varied commercial and mann
featuring Interests Throughout the country which
began in September, 1873 still continues II IL
very gratifying, however To be able to say that
there are Indications all around us of coming
change to prosperous times. Upon the currepcS
question, intimately connected as it is with the
topic, may be permitted 10 repeat here the state
ment made in my letter of acceptance that in my
judgment the feeling of uncertainty insepaiable
from an irredeemable paper currency with its
fluctuations of values is one of the greatest OBJ
stacles To return 10 prosperous times The only
safe paper currency is one which rests uilon n
com basis, and is at all times and promptly con-
vertible into coin. adhere to the views hereto
loie expressed by me, in favor of Congressional
legislation IN behalf OF an early resumption OF
specie payment, and am satisfied not only that
this is sure, but that the interests as well as the
public sentiment Of the country, imperatively de-
mand it,
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
Passing from these remarks upon the condition
Of our own country to consider our relations with
other lands, we are reminded by the international
complications abroad, threatening the peace of
Europe, that our traditional rule OF non-nterfer-
ence in the affairs OF foreign nations has proved
OF great value in past times and ought to be
strictly observed.
THE POLICY OF ARBITRATION.
The policy inaugumted by my honored pre-
decessor, President Grant, OF submitting to arbi-
tratOn grave questions in dispute between our
selves and foreign powers points to new and in
compafhOlN the Dest fundamentally Tor the pres
eryation of peace, and will, AS ! believe become
u beneficent example of the course To be pursued
in similar emergencies by other nations. II I'M
happy questions Of difference should at any time,
during the period of my administration arise be.
tween the United States and any foreign govern
ment, il will certainly he my disposition and my
hope To aid in their settlement in the peace
full and honorable way, thus securing To our coun-
try the great blessings of peace aud mutual good
offices with all the nations of the world
THE LATE POLITICAL CONTEST.
Feow-citizens: We have reached the close Of n
political contest marked by the excitement which
usually attends the contests between great pOti-
cal parties whose members espouse aud advocate
with earnest faith their respective crceds
Circumstances were perhaps In no respect extra
ordinary save in the closent and the consequent
uncertainty of the result For the frst time In the
history Of the country ii has been deemed best In
view of the peculiar circumstances of the case,
that the objections aud questions in dispute with
reference to the counting of the electoral votes
should be referred 10 the decision OF tribunal al-
pointed for this puilnse That tribunal, estab-
fish by law for this sole purpose It's members all
of them men of long established reputation for
integrity and intelligence, and with the exception
OF those who are also members of the supreme
judiciary, chosen equally from both political par
ties its deliberations enlightened by the research
and the arguments Of able counsel, was entitled
to the fullest confidence of the American people
Its decisions have been patiently waited for and
accepted ms legally conclusive by the general iudg-
ment Of the public, For the present. opinion will
widely vary as to the wisdom of the several CON
illusions announced by that tribunal. This is TO
he anticipated in every instance where matters of
"A do La af arbitration