The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Delivered to Both Houses Of Congress
on Monday.

DIVINE Being, WIN nOIuo ~ lilo ."h"s'
the destinies of nations, for the continued
bestowal during the last year OF countless
blessings upon our country.
We are at peace with all other nations.
Our public credit has greatly improved,
and is, perhaps, now stronger than ever
before. Abundant harvests have reward
ed the labOrs of those who till the soil,
our manufacturing industries are revlV-
ing, and it is believed that general pros
perity, which has been so long anxiously
looked for, is at last within our reach.
THE YELLOW FEVER.
The enjoyment OF health by cur people
generally has, however, been interrupt
ed, during the past season, by the preva-
lence of Il fatal pestilence, the yellow te-
yer, in some portions Of the southern
States, creating an emergency which call
ed for prompt and extraordinary meas
ures of relief. The disease appeared as
an epidemic at New Orleans and at other
places on the Lower Mississippi soon af.
ter midsummer. 1t was rapidly spread
by fugitives from the infected cities and
towns, and did not disappear until early
in November. The states of Louisiana,
Mississippi and Tennessee have suffered
severely. About 100000 cases are be-
leved to have occurred, of which about
10000, according to intelligent estimates,
proved fatal. 1t is impossible to estimate
with any approach to accuracy the loss
to the country occasioned by this epidem-
ic. 1t is to be reckOned by the hundred
millions of dollars. The suffering and
restitution that resulted excited the deep
est sympathy in all parts of the Union.
Physicians and nurses fastened from ev-
cry quarter to the assistance of the atflict-
ed communities. Voluntary contribu-
tons of money and supplies, in every
needed form, were speedily and gener-
Ously furnished. The Government was
able to respond in some measure to the
call for help, by providing tents, medi-
cine and food for the sick and destitute,
the requisite directions for the purpose
being given in the confident expectation
that the action of the Executive would
receive the sanction of Congress. About
1900 tents. and rationS to the value of
about $4,000, were sent To cities and
towns which applied for them, full de-
tails of which will be furnished to Con-
gress by the proper department.
The fearful spread OF this pestilence
has awakened IL very general public SEN
timent in favor of national sanitary ad-
ministration, which shall not only control
quarantine, but have the sanitary super
vision of internal commerce in times Of
epidemics, and hold an advisory relation
to the state and municipal health authori-
ties, with power to deal with whatever
endangers the public health, and which
the municipal and state authorities are
unable to regulate. The National Quar-
antine act, approved April -, 1878, which
was passed too late in the last session Of
Congress to provide the means for carry
ing it into practical operation during the
past season, is "A step in the direction
here indicated. In view of the necessity
tor the most effective measures, by quar-
antine and otherwise, for the protection
Of our Scaports, and the country general
", from this and other epidemcS, it is
recommended that Congress give to the
whole subject early and careful consider
alton.
THE SOUTH.
The permanent paClication of the
country by the complete protection of all
citizens in every civil and political right
continues to be of paramount 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 aWakeuS general
UneaSneSS and widespread COndemna-
ton. The recent Congressional elections
have furnished Il direct and Trustworthy
test OF the advance thus far made in the
practical establishment OF the right of
suffrage, secured hy the constitution tu
the liberated race III the Southern States
All disturbing influences, real or imagln-
airy, had been removed from ill of these
states
The three constitutional amendments.
which conferred freedom and equality of
civil and political rights upon the colOred
people of the South. were adopted by the
concurrent action of the great body of
good citizens who maintained the author
ity OF the national Government and the
integrity and perpetully of the Union ut
such Il cost Of treasure and life, as II wise
and necessary embodiment in the organic
law Of lhe Just results of the war The
people of the former slave holding states
accepted these results, and gave. ii, ev-
cry practicable form, assurances that the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments, and laws passed in pursu-
ancc hereof, should, in good faith, be
enforced. rigidly and impartially, III let
ter ana spirit, to the end that the hum
blest citizen, without distinction of race
or color, should, under them, receive full
and equal protection in person and prop
erty and III political rights and privileges.
BY these constitutional amendments, 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 proceed. us To the en-
frdnchsed race, upon the same circum-
stances Of legal and constitutional free
dom and protection which was obtained
IN all the other states of the Union. The
friends OF law and order looked forward
To the conduct of these elections, rs of
terlng 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 color
ed people, and would be respected by
then fellow citizens; but a more general
enjoyment of freedom of suffrage by the
colored people, and more just and gen
erous protection of that freedom by the
communities of which they form part,
were generally anticipated than the rec
ord Of the elections disCloSes. In some
OF those states in which the colored pen-
pie have been unable to make their opin-
IONS felt III the elections the result is
mainly due to Influences not easily meas
nred or remedied by legal projection:
but i'm the states of Iouisi,no md Snuth