Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-12-06
President Hayes Second An
nual Message.

FE1Low-cruzESs OF THE SENATE AND HoUsE OF
REPRESENTATIVES,;
Our heartfelt gratitude Is due to the Divine Be-
ing who holds In His hands the destinlcs Of Ma
tions, for the continued bestowal, ring the last
year, OF countless blessings upon our country.
PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
We are at peace with all other Nations. Our
public credit has greatly improved, and is, per
haps, now stronger than ever before Abundant
hnrvests have rewarded the labors OF those who
vlying and II IL believed that general prosperity,
which has been 70 long enxiously looked for, is at
last within our reach.
THE YE1Low.FKyER scouRoE.
The enjoyment of health by our people general.
ly has however, been interrupted, during the paat
season oy the prevalence OF a'al pestisnce; the
States, creating an emergency which called for
prompt and extraordinary measures Of relief. The
and at other places on the Lower Mississippi soon
alter midsummer. twas rapidly spread by fugi-
tiyes from the injected cities and towns, and did
Of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have snf-
fered severely. About 100000 cases are believed
to have occurred, ST which about 10000 accord
ing toinellgent estimates, proved fatal. II Ia i'm
possible to estimate with any approach to ac-
ourecy the loss to the country oceasioned by this
epidemic. II is to be rcckoned by the hundred
millions Of dollars. The suffering and desti-
tuition that resulted excited the deepest sympathy
in all parts Of the Union Physieians and nurses
hastened ffom every quarter to the assistance OF
the afflicted communities. Voluntary contribu.
tions of money and supplies, in every needed
The Government was able to respond in some
meas'e to the call for help, by providing tents
medicines and food for the sick aud destitute, the
requisite directions for the purpose being given, in
the confident expectation that this action of the
Executive would receive the sanction Of Congress-
About 800 tents, and ratons Of the value OF
about S25,000 were sent to cities and towns which
applied for them, full details Of which will be fur
nished to Congress by the proper department.
NATIONAL SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
The fearful spread OF this pestence has
awakened very general public sentiment In favor
of National sanitary administration, which shall
not only control quarantine but have the sanitary
supervision of internal commerce in times Of cpl
and municipal health authorities with power to
deal with whatever endangers the public health,
and which the municipal aud State authorities are
unable TO regulate. The National Quarantine act,
approved April 30, 1878, which was passed too
late In the last session of Congress to provide the
means for carrying II into practical operation dur
ing the past season, is step in the direction here
indicated. In view of the necessity for the most
effective measures, by quarantine and otherwise,
for the protection Of our scapOrts and the country
generally, from this and other epidemics 1t is rec
commended that Congress give to the whole sub
lect early and careful consideration.
CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AT THE SOUTH.
The permanent pacifcation Of the country by
the complete protection of all citizens In every
civil and political right continues to be of para
m Junt interest with the great body OF our people,
Every 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 con-
demnation The recent Congressional elections
have furnished direct and trustworthy test Of the
advance thus far made in the practical establish
ment OF the right Of suffrage, secured by the Con-
stitution TO the liberated race in the Southern
States. All disturbing influences, real or imag-
mary, had been removed from all OF these States.
The three Constitutional amendments, which
conferred freedom and equality OF civil and pOliti-
cal rights upon the colored people Of the South,
were adopted by the concurrent action Of
the great body of good citizens who main
tained the authority of the National Govern
ment and the integrity and perpetuity of the
Union at such a cost of treasure and life a wise
and necessary embodiment in the organic law OF
the just results Of the war The people of the form
er save-holding States accepted these results, and
gave, in every practical FORM assurances that the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
and laws passed in pursuance thereof, should, In
good faith be enforced, rigidly and partially, in
letter and spirit to the end that the humblest citl
zen, without distinction Of race or color, should,
under them, receive full and equal protection in
person and property and In political rights and
privileges. BY these Constitutional amend.
ments, the Southern section of the Union
obtained large increase of political power in
Congress and in the Electoral College, and the
country justly expected that elections would pro-
ceed, as to the enfranchised race upon the same
circumstances Of legal and Constitutional freedom
and protection which obtained in all the other
States of the Union. The friends of law and order
looked forward to the conduct of these elections,
as offering to the general judgment Of the country
an important opportunity to measure the degree In
which the right of suffrage could be exercised by
the colored people and would be respected by their
fellow-citizeDs; but more general enjoyment ID
freedom OF suffrage by the coored people and a
more just and generous protection of that freedom
by the communities of which they form a part
were generally anticipated than the record Of the
elections discloses. In some of those States in
which the colored people have been unable to
make their opinions felt in the elections, the
result Is mainly due to influences not easily
measured or remedied by legal protection; but in
the States of Louisiana aud South Carolina OF large,
and in some particular Congressional Districts out
side OF those States, the records of the elections
seem TO compel the conclusion that the rights Of
the colored voters have been overriddcn and their
participation in the elections not permitted TO be
either general or free.
1t will be for the Congress for which these cleo
tOns were held to make such examinations into
the validity of the claims of members to their seats
In the meanwhile 1t becomes the duty of the
Executive and Judicial Departments of The Gov.
eminent; each in Its province, TO inquire into and
punish violations Of the laws Of the United States
which have occurred. |, can but repeat what
said in this connection in my last
with me to this end l shall not hesitate
to pnt forth, and am unwilling TO forego a re-
newed appeal to the Legislatures, the courts, the
Executive authorities, and the people OF the States
where these wrongs have been perpetrated, to
give their assistance toward bringing to justice the
offenders and preventing arepetitlon of the crimes.
No means within my power will be spared TO OBJ
tain full and fair investigation Of the alleged
crimes, and to secure the conviction and just pun
1t is to be observed that the principal appropria
ton made for the Department OF Justice at the last
session contained the following clause: And for
defraying the expenses which may be incurred in
the enforcement of the act approved Feb. %, |
j,
May 80, 1870, entitled An act 10 en-
force the rights of citizens of the United States to
vote In the several States Of the Union, and for
other purposes, or any acts amendatory thereof or
supplementary thereto"
II il the opinion of the Attorney General that the
expenses of these proceedings will largely exceed
the amount which was thus provided, and reiy
confidently upon Congress TO make adequate ap-
propriatons to enable the Executive Department
TO enforce the laws.
respectfully urge upon your attention that the
Congressional elections, in every district in very
important sense, are justly matter of political |
interest and concern throughout the whole coun- |
try Each State, every political party, ia entitled
TO the share OF power which is conferred by the |
legal and Constitutional suffrage. 1t is the right
OF every citizen, possessing the qualifications pre-
scribed by law, TO cast one unntimidaled ballot |
and to have his ballot honestly counted |
20 long as the exercise OF this power and the en-
toyment of this right are common and equal |
practically as well as formally submission to the
results oi the suffrage will be accorded Loyalty and
cheerfully, and all the departments of Government
will feel the true vigor Of the popular will thus ex
pressed. No temporary administrative interests
OIL Government, however urgent or weighty will |
the primary rights Of citizenship. They under |
stand that the protection Of liberty requires the
maintenance, in full vigor, OF the manly methods |
OF Tree speech, free press, and free suffrage and
Will sustain the full authority of Government 10 |
enforce the laws which are framed to preserve |
these inestimable rights. The material progress |
and welfare Of the States depend on the protection
afforded TO their citizens. There can be no peace |
without such protection, no prosperity without |
In the growth and prosperity Of all its parts.
While the country has not yet reached complete |
unity OF feeling and reciprocal confidence between
the communities SO lately and so seriously es- |
tranged, feel an absolute assurance that the ten
dencies are In that direction, and with increasing
force The power Of public opinion will override |
al political preJudices, and all sectional State
attachments, In demanding that oil over our wide |
territory the name and character Of citizen of the
United States shall mean one and the same thing |
and carry with them unchalenged security and re-
epact.
PEACEFUL RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.
Our relations with other countries continue |
peaceful. Our neutrality In contests between for
eign powers has been maintained and respected
THE UNITED STATES AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
The Universal Exposition held at Paris during |
the past summer has been attended by large |
numbers Of our citizens. The brief period |
SLOWED FOR the preparation and arrangement OF |
the contributions Of our citizens to this great Rx
position was well employed in energetic and ju. |
dlcious efforts 70 overcome this disadvantage |
These efforts, led and directed by the Commissioner |
General, were remarkably successful and the ex- |
hlbition Of the products Of American industry was
al.l