The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


last year, of countless blessings upon our coun-
try.
We are at peace with all other nations. Our
public credit has greatly improved, and is, per-
haps, now stronger than ever before. Abundant
harvests have rewarded the labors of those who
till the soil our manufacturing Industries are re-
viving, and it is believed that general prosperity,
which has been SO long anXlously looked for, Is
at last within our reach.
The enjoyment of health by our people gener-
ally has, however, been interrupted during the
past season by the prevalence of fatal pesti-
lence, the yellow fever, IN some portions OF the
Southern States creating an emergency which
called for prompt and extraordinary measures of
relief. The disease appeared as an epidemic at
New Orleans and at other places on the lower
Mississippi soon after midsummer. 1t was rap
idly 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
10000 cases are believed to have occurred OF
which about 10000 according to intelligent esti-
mates, proved fatal. 1t ID impossible to estimate
with any approach to accuracy the loss to the
country occasioned by this epidemic. 1t is to be
reckoned by the hundred millions of dollars
The suffering and restitution that resulted ex-
cited the deepest sympathy in all parts of the
Union. Physicians and nurses fastened from
every quarter to the assistance of the afflicted
communities. Voluntary contributions of mon
ey and supplies IN every needed form, were
speedily and generously furnished. The Govern
ment was able to respond in some measure to
the call for help, by providing tents, medicines
and food for the sick and destitute, the requisite
directions for the purpose beng given in the con-
tident expectation that this action of the EXecu-
tive would receive the sanction of Congress-
About 1850 tents and rations of the value of
about S25'90, were sent to cities and towns
which applied for them, full details of which
will be furnished to Congress by the proper De-
partment.
The fearful spread of this pestilence 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 epidemics, and hold an advisory rela-
ton to the State and municipal health authorities
with power to deal with whatever endangers the
public health. and which the municipal and
State authorities unable to regulate. The Ma
tional Quarantine Act approved April 20, 1878,
which was passed too late in the last session of
Congress to provide the means for carrying it into
practical operation, during the past season. is a
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 seapOrts, and the country generally, from
this and other epidemics, 1T is recommended that
Congress give to the whole subject early and
careful consideration,
The permanent paclhcatlon of the country by
the complete protection of all citizens in every
civil and political right continues to be of para
mount interest with the great body OF our peO-
pie. Every step in this direction is welcomed
with public approval, and every interruption of
steady and uniform progress to the desired con-
summation awakens general uneasiness and
widespread Inflammation. The recent Congress
siOnal elections have furnished direct and trust
worthy test of the advance thus far made in the
practical establishment of the right of suffrage.
secured by the Constitution to the liberated race
in the Southern States. All disturbing intiu-
ences, real or imaginary, had been removed from
all of these States.
The three constitutional amendments which
confe rred freedom and equality of civil and po-
litical rights upon the colored people of the
South. were adopted by the concurrent action of
the great body of good citizens who maintained
the authority of the National Government and
the integrity and perpetuity of the Union at
n Is and
necessary embodiment in the organic law of the
Just results of the war. The people of the former
slave-holdlng States accepted these results, and
gave, in every practicable form, assurances that
the thirteenth fourteenth, and fifteenth amend
ments, and laws passed in pursuance thereof,
should in good faith, be enforced, rgdly and i'm
partially in letter and spirit, to the end that the
humblest citizen, 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
amendments, the southern section of the Union
obtained a large increase of political power in
Congress and in the Electoral College and the
proceed as to the enfranchised race, upon the
same circumstances of legal and constitutional
freedom and protection which obtained in all the
other States in 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 citizens: but more
general enjoyment of freedom of suffrage by
the colored people, and more Just and generous
protection of that freedom by the communities
of W hich they form part. were generally antici-
pated than the record of the election 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
and South Carolina at large, and in some Con-
gressional Districts outside of those States, the
records of the elections seem to compel the con-
clusion that the rights of the colored voters
have been overriden, and their participation in
the elections not permitted to be either general
or free.
1t will be for the Congress for which these
elections were held, to make such examinations
into their conduct as may be appropriate to de-
termine 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 Government, each in its province, to in
quire into and punish viol ations of the laws OF
the United States which have occurred. | can
but repeat what have said in this connection in
my last message, that whatever authority rests
with me to this end shall not hesitate to put
forth, and am unwilling to fOrego a renewed
appeal to the legislatures, the courts the execu.
tive 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 repetition of the
crimes. No means within my power will be-
spared to obtain full and fair investigation OF
the alleged crimes, and to secure the conviction
and just punishment of the guilty.
1t is to be observed that the principal appro
priation made for the Department of Justice al
the last session contained the following clause
And for defraying the expenses which may be-
incurred in the enforcement of the act approved
February twenty eighth, eighteen hundred and
seventy-one, entitled, An act to amend an ac
approved NAV thirtieth, eighteen hundred anC
seventy, entitled An act to enforce the rights Of
citizens of the United States to vote in the sew
eral States of the Union and for other purposes,
or any acts amendatory thereof or supplement
airy thereto"
1t is the opinion of the Attorney General tina
the expenses of these proceedings will largely eX
coed the amount which was thus provided, and
rely confidently upon Congress to make adequate
appropriations to enable the Executive Depart
ment to enforce the laws.
l respectfully urge upon your attention tina
the Congressional elections, in every District, il
a very important sense, are justly matter o
political interest and concern throughout tn
whole country. Each State, every political party
is entitled to the share of power which is confer
red by the legal and Constitutional suffrage. L
is the right of every citizen, possessing the quail
ihcations prescribed by law, to cast one unin
undated ballot and to have his ballot honestl,
counted. So long the exercise of this powe
and the enjoyment of this right are common AM
equal, practically az well formally, submis
sion to the results of the suffrage will be &C
partments of Government will feel tn
true vigor of the popular will thus ex
pressed. No temporary or administrative in
terests of Government, however urgent o
weighty, will ever displace the zeal of our pee
pie in defense of the primary rights of citizen
ship. They understand that the protection o
liberty requires the maintenance in full vigoI
of the manly methods of free speech, free press
and free suffrage. and will sustain the full au
thority of Government to enforce the laws whic