New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-02
WASHINGTON.

ETC. =. c.
Tho message of the President to Congress
mill he sent in to-day, promptly. 1t will dis
mss the yellow fever and the Southern cleo
ton outrages, and will assert that the laws
must be vigorously enforced in the South.
II will not ask for any further legis-
lation to aid resumption. An abstract OF
the message is presented in IHE Tribune
special dispatches below. 1t is not expected
that any excitement will attend the opening
proceedings of the session. Senator Blame
will. however, very soon offer resolution IN
regard to the Southern election, which may
nroyoke long and earnest debate. The ke-
pubcans will, for the present, await the ac-
lion of the Democrats on the cipher kilograms.
A meeting of Greenback men was held on
Saturday to discuss plans for the future.
AN OUTLINE OF THE MESSAGE.
THE YELLOW FEVER AND SOUTHERN oUTRAGES
PROMINENT TOPICs-No INDIAN POLICY ADJ
vANCED- BUREAU RECOMMENDATIONS AP-
PROVED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-The President finished the
PREPARATION of his annual message several DAYS ago
md will send it to Congress within an hour after IL
assemblies tomorrow, Printed copies OF the Mes
,ace and of Secretary Sherman's report were sent
ast week TO the Collectors of the Ports III the pTn-
,ipal cities of the United States, and they Will be
delivered to the editors of the different newspa-
oers simultaneously with the transmission OF the
original document to Congress.
The message is not a long one when compared
With those of former Presidents. Several of those
If General Grant more extended, and only
one or two shorter In preparing it, the idea OF the
President was that little legislation is needed
Or possible during the coming Winter and that it is
fov auHa
tons The most striking features of the message
are contained in the opening paragraphs. which
treat of the yellow fever epidemic during the last
Simmer and FALL and of the Southern question,
particularly of events which occurred Just prior to
and during the late elections in South Carolina and
Louisiana.
In treating the first of these subjects the Presi
dent tells briefly the history of the pestllence Its in
PRODUCTION its spread, and the measures taking to
control it and to relieve those who suffered either
directly or indirectly. He believes that this dread
full disease would never be known in this country If
America were to adopt policy of strict nOn-inter-
course with those tropical and semi-tropcal ports
In which the fever is supposed to originate and from
which 1t is always brought into the United States.
The appointment of a commission to consider what
measures are necessary to protect the Republic from
this terrible scourge, and to report to Congress at
subsequent session. has been suggested and this plan
Is noticed in the message, but not recommended.
The general drift of what the President has to say
on this subject is toward the enactment of National
quarantine law but having directed the attention
Df Congress to the subject, and having urged that
Iome action be TAKEN the President leaves Congress
10 devise the of protection or to provide for
such an official inquiry will lead to future legls
ation.
THE SOUTH FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The present political and social condition of the
South is the second topic discussed In the message.
II IS evident that the President has given moro
thought to this than to any other subject of which
he has treated intending apparently to make 1t the
shief feature of his present communication. The
President believes that the whole the condition
Of the South is not worse than it has been in former
gears but that it is better. Peace has prevailed ex
rept in few localities and the result of the late
election has not been affected except in about half
dozen Congre ssiOnal Districts, by anything which
occurred either just before during election day.
The recent events in South Carolina and Louisiana,
as the President has learned them from official and
other sources calmly set forth, and the firm de-
termination of the Executive to enforce the laws OF
the United States in those States is announced No
new legislation on the subject is asked for, but the
opinion is expressed that under present laws and
with the present judicial machinery offenders
against Federal laws can be punished If Congress
expenses of investigation and prosecution The
President believes that the power to take cOgnl-
zance of such frauds and interference with the
exercise of political rights by sll citizens is
ferred upon the General Government by the pro-
visions of the original Constitution and not by the
recent amendments and that that power extends
not only far enough to protect the citizen in the act
of voting for members of Congress, but also to
guarantee him freedom in the exercise OF all other
political rights, such assembling in public and
having the vote that he casts honestly counted and
returned. There is in this part of the message no
attempt to excite party or sectional strlte or TO
States; but there is calm, straightforward recital
of the facts and of what the policy of the Admins
traton will be- vi course there Is no threat OF
military interference. The remedies proposed are
civil and judicial,
Having disposed of this question, the President
takes up in their order the subjects discussed by
the heads of the several departments, beginning.
of course with the foreign relations of the United
States The history of the fisheries award and Of
the diplomatic correspondence which grew out of it
and out of the provision added by Congress tits
last session to the appropriation for the payment
of the award is briefly told. The payment OF the
money to Great Britain is reported. No legislation
on the subject is recommended
The only other specially interesting portion Of
this part of the message that relating to the Mex
lean border troubles. The President cOngratulates
the country upon having escaped from serious trou-
BILE with our Southern neighbors, and reports that
the condition of affairs upon the Rio Grande border
is better than 1t has been for many years. President
Diaz seems to be making honest effort to prevent
the territory of Mexico from being made the base
of operations for thieves and raiders the bor
der and the military force he has there has been
far successful that complaints have been re-
ceived from American residents along the Rio
Grande for more than SIX months.
The Presidents discussion of finance in his mes
sage is chiefly confined to the subject of the