Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-11
----------- III 81. n Il
TUE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The following is full text Of tie
o-ssident's message read to the two
ponsss of congress in joint session,


,,.,,-,itireus of the Senate and House of Repre-
sh,nasa'rrfelt gratitude is Que to the Supreme
our n xho holds i'm his hands the d stines Of ma
LENS for the continued bestowai during asst year
q countless b ali other nations, our public credit
hhpeereatly improved and IS perhaps now stronger
than eI sors OF those who TIL the soil our m an
artnring Industries are reviving and 1t Is be-
eyed thai the general prphefE ar wne mas been
cur reach xv,,ow prvrr
r, aniov ment of health by our people generally
,.s however, been intel ruptei during the past
i by the prevalence OF fatal pestience, the
! y,aies creating emergency which called for
Sr"mpt and extraordinary measures OF relief. The
eaie oblr paees the ower mississippi
liter mid summer 1t was rapidly spread by fug
ives from the infected cities and towns and did
a9 oasiana Mississippi and Tennessee have suf
rp believed 10 have occurred OF which about 20
sst according to intelligent estimates proved
,,ta IL is impossible to estimate, with any APP
roach TO accuracy the loss to the country occa
Stoned by this epidemic II Is to be reckoned by
sTd esttution that resulted excited the deepest
sympathy IN all parts or the union. Physicians
Sistance of the afflicted communities Contribu-
on Of money and supple; IN ever needed form
rrnment was able to respond in some measure to
hs by and fGS ssms 'eh he
lions for the ParRSose esg gfen IN ae
receive the sanction of congress. About eighteen
hundred tents and rations OF the value of about
aSned for them, full details Of which will be fur
nished to congress by the proper department The
JeTv general public sentiment in favor Of nation
al sanitary commission which shall not only control
@@aana cemmerce in times 81 epdem and hold
an advisory relation to state and municipal health
lawyers ltS.e.. the public health and which the mini
cpal and state authorities are unable 10 regulate
s Mhch was too ' late IN last session OF
congress to provide the means for carrying 1t into
lSe dreeton here ndicated In View Of the
necessity for the most effective measures by quar-
ports and the country generally from this and
other epdemics it Is recommended that congress
give to the whole subject early and careful consd-
Grafton.
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
The permanent paciication of the country by the
complete protection Of all citizens IN every civil
interest with the great body of our people Every
step this direction is Wslcomsa WITH public az
form progress to the desired contamination
snnatio The recent songressiona elections
have furnished direct and trustworthy test OF the
ent the right of srase secured by the
Nuton to me Liberated race IN the south
or asnary had been removed from ali Of these
states The constitutional amendments, which con.
erred freedom and equality of civil and political
rights upon the coored people OF the South, were
adopted by the action of the great body
good citizen who maintained the authority of
tunai government and the integrity and perpetuity
the union at such cost of treasure and life,
wise and necessary embodiment in the organic law of
the Just results of the war; The people OF the former
saveholding states accepted these results and gave
in every practicable form assurance that the 18th,
lith and 10th amendments and laws passed in pur-
thereof should In good faith, be enforced rig
idly and mparally, in letter and spirit, to the end
that the humblest citizen, without distinction of
a,1a T,,I ay,I
eqm protection in person and property and in po-
lucal rights ard privileges. BY these constitutional
amendments the southern section Of the union OBJ
tanned large increase of political power in congress
auln the electoral college, and the country Justly
pe,ted that elections would proceed as to the en-
franchised upon the conditions Of legal and
Constitutional freedom and protection which obtained
all tne other states of the union. The friends of
law and order looked forward to the conduct of these
elections Offering to the general judgm. mt of the
country important opportunity to measure the de-
which the right OF suffrage could be exercised
blythe colored people and would be respected by
their fellow citizens; but more general enjoy
ofreedom of suffrage by coored people and more
inst and generous protection of that freedom by the
communities of which they form part were general
anticipated than the record Of the elections dis
closes. In some of these states in which the colored
people have been unable to make their opinions felt
10 elections the result is mainly due to influences
easily measured remeded by legal protection, but
N the states Of Louisiana and South Carolina at
large, and in some particular congressional districts
outside OF those states the records of the elections
seem to compel the conclusion that the rights of the
coored voters have been overridden and their parli
cpaton in the elections not permitted to be either
general free. 1t will be for the congress
'F which these elections were had 10
make -ic!s examinations into their conduct
a. may he appropriate TO determine the validity
~ me claims of members to their seats. Mean
Whle II becomes the duty Of the executive and
ladlclal departments of the government, each in
province, TO inquire into ana punish violations
OIL tue laws Of the United States which have oc-
|
nectlon Ill my last message: that whatever au-
IhOrity rests with me to this end shall not hesi
.aN 10 put forth, aud am unwilling to forego
renewed appeal to the legislatures, the courts,
ue executive authorities. ana the people OF the
sIaes where these wrongs have been perpetrated
.s give their assistance towards bringing to jus
we lhe Offenders. and preventing repetition of
ne crimes No means within my power will be
pared 10 obtain full and fair investigation of
'ne a!Ieged crimes, ana to secure the conviction
anu Just punishment of the guilty.
II is 10 be observed that the principal appropri-
H a,loh mace for the department of justice at the
asl session contained the following clause: land
tU' .peraying The expense which may be incurred
!, tne enforcement of the act approved February
- 1871, entitled an act to amend an act approved
Nay 5oLh, 1870, entitled an act to enforce the
tsnts OF citizens of the United States to vote in
ue several states OF the UNION, and for other pur
poses, or any acts amendatory thereof or supple
a,tttaI! thereto. 1t is the opinion OF the
otoIrney general that the expenses OF these pro.
was ths wls largely exceed the amount which
9e,s 70 make adequate appropriations TO enable
,AttcsutNe department to enforce the laws.
wspectiuly urge upon our attention that the con-
elections in every district is in very i'm
iara',ut sense are Justly matter of political
FacSS ana concern throughout the whole country
sbaT lag ot ana every political party is entitled to
1arsppiar OF the power which Is conferred by the
,ysr ana constitutional suffrage. 1t is the right of
scr;adS hIzen possessing the qualific ations pre-
IN b.u py law to cast one unintmidatcd ballot and
rysr Icy MS ballot honestly counted So long the
rcht,Se % 1hls power and the enjoyment of this
fffmanIe common and equal practically as we'll as
be- aras submission to the results Of suffrage will
parfmrued Loyalty and cheerfully and all the de-
If tba ns OF government VIII feel the true yigor
or al piopular Will thus expressed. NotCmporary
ever nr aistfative interests of government, how
If Gur Sent or weighty: Will ever dispace the zeal
81 civ PEOPLE in the defense of the primary rights
lion ,tnshlp; they understand that the protec-
vIgaru VI ..perty requires the maintenance in full
press al an the manly methods of free speech. free