The Van Buren press., 1878-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Delivered to the Two Houses of the
National Cong ress, Oh Monday,
the I'd of December, 1873.


National Cong ress, Oh Monday,
the I'd Of December, 1873.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE,
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
YELLOW FEVER.
Our heartfelt gratitude is due to the
Divine Being, who holds in HIS hands the
destinies of Nations, for the continued
bestowal, during the past year, Of count.
less blessings upon our country. We are
at peace with all Nations. Our public
credit has greatly improved, aud is, per
haps, now stronger than ever before
| Abundant harvests have rewarded the la
bors OF those who till the soil. Our
manufacturing interests are resivins, and
| 1t Is believed tnat the general prosperity
which has been SO long anxiously looked
| for, is, at last, within our reach. The en-
joyment of health by our people, gener-
ally, has, however. been interrupted, du-
ring the past season, by the prevalence
Of fatal pestlence--ycllow fever--in
acme part Of the Southern States, Great
ing an emergency which called for prompt
measures Of relief. The disease appear.
ed as an epidemic at New Orleans, and
other places on the lower Mississippi tiv-
or, soon after midsummer. II was rapid
ly spread by fugitivss from infected cities
and WINS, and did not disappear until
early in November. The States of Loui.
siana, Mississippi and Tennessee have
suffered severely. About one hundred
thousand cases are believed to have &C.
CURED, of which about twenty thousand
according to intelligent estimates, proved
fatal. It 10 impossible to estimate, with
any approach to accuracy. the loss to the
country ocoasioned by the epidemic. 1t
is to be reckonsd by hundred million oil
dollars. The suffering and restitution
that resulted, excited the deepest sympa.
thy in all parts of the Union. Physi
clans and nurses fastened from every
quarter to the assistance Of the afflicted
Contributions Of money and needed sup
plies, in every form, we're speedily and
generously furnished. The government
was able to respond, in come measure, te
the call for help, by providing tents, med
icines and food for the sick and desolate
Requisite directions for the purpose be-
ing given in confident expectation tina,
this action of the Executive would re
ceve the sanction OF Congress. About
eighteen hundred tents and "a ions of ths
value of $4,000 were sent to cities and
towns which applied for them, full de-
tails OF which will be furnished to Con.
gless by the proper department. The
fearful spread of this pestlence has ava
/ kouoI <va,,nro1 v,nfito in fo
/ .o~ At national sanitary 90 IN an iss;oss
which shall not only control the quaran.
tine, but have sanitary supervision oil
national commerce in times Of the cpl
dcmc. and have an advisory relation to
the state and municipal authorities, with
power to deal with whatever endanagers
the public health, and which municipal
and state authorities are unable to regu.
late The national quarantine act, ap
proved April 20, 1878, which was passed
too late in the last session Of Congress
TO provide necessary means for carrying
it into practical operation during the
past season, is step in the direction here
indicated In view of the necessity tor
the most effectual measures, by quaran.
tine, and otherwise, for the protection oi
our seaboard, and the country generally
this and other epidemics, it is recon
mended that Congress give to the whole
subject early, careful attention.
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
The permanent prosperity OF the
country, by complete protection of all
citizens, in every civil and political right,
continues to be Of paramount interest
| with the great body Of our people. Eve
~ step in this direction is welcomed with
public approval, and every interruption
of steady and uniform progress to the
desired contamination awakens general
uneasiness and widespread condemnation.
The recent Congressional elections have
! furnished direct and trustworthy test of
of advance thus far made in the practi
cal establishment OF the right Of suffrage,
secured by the Constitution to the liber-
ated race in the Southern States. All
disturbing influences, real or imaginary,
had been removed from all of these
States The three Constitutional amend.
ments, which conferred freedom and
equality OF civil and political rights up
on the colored people of the South, were
adopted by the concurrent action Of the
great authority of tue National Govern.
ment; AMI the integrity and perpetuity
of the Union, purchased at auch cost
of life and treasure were necessary EN-.
bodiment in the organic law, and just re.
suits Of war. The people, in former
slave.holdng States, accepted these re-
suits. They gave, in every practicable
form. assurances that the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments
and laws passed in pursuance thereof.
should in good faith be enforced rigid
ly, and impartially, in letter and impair,
TALLY, in letter and spirit, to the end that
the humblest citizen, without distinction
of race or color. should under them re.
ceive full aud equal protection in person,
property, and in political rights and priv.
ileges. BY these constitutional amend.
ments the Southern section of the Union
obtained large increase OF political
power in Congress in the electoral col
lege, and the country justly expected that
the elections would proceed as to The en-
franchised race upon the same conditions
of legal constitutional freedom and pro.
lection which they obtained in all other
States of the Union. The friends of law
and order looked forward to the conduct
of these elections as offering To the gen
arnl iu1umant pf tho rouptrv on iu,nnr