New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-03
THE TEXT OF THE MESSAGE,
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TIE DEVASTATION OF THE SOUTH BY THE YELLOW


THE DEVASTATION OF THE SOUTH BY THE YELLOW
FEVER.
FRIIOw-CITIZFNs OF TUE SENATE AND HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,: Our heartfelt gratitude is
due to the Divine Being who holds in His hands
the destinies of nations for the continued bestowa
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 haryests
have rewarded the labors of those who till the SOIL
our manufacturing industries reviving, and IL IS
believed that general prosperity, which has been SO
long anxiously looked for, is at last within our
reach.
The enjoyment of health by our people generally
has, however been interrupted, during the past
season. by the prevalence of fatal pestllence the
yellow fever, in some portions OF the southern
States, creating an emergency which called 1Or
prompt and extraordinary measures of relief. The
disease appeared as an epidemic at New-orleahs
and nj other places on the lower Mississippi, soon
after midsummer 1t was rapidly spread by fugl-
tiyes from the infected cities and towns, and did
not disappear until early in November. The States
of Louisiana Mississippi and Tennessee have suf-
fered severely. About 100000 cases are believed
TO have occurred, Of which about 10000
is impossible to estimate with any approach TO accu-
racy the loss to the country occasioned oy this cpl
demic. 1t is to be reckoned by the hundred
millions of dollars The suffering and restitution
that resulted excited the deepest sympathy in all
norts of the Union. Physicians and nurses
hastened from every quarter to the assist
ance of the afflicted communities. Voluntary
contributions of money and supplies IN
every needed form were speedily and generously
furnished. The Government was able to respond
in some measure to the call for help by providing
tents medicines and food for the and 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
ABBOTT 500 tents and rations Of the value of about
S2 600 were sent to cities and towns which applied
for them, full details of which will be furnished to
Congress by The proper department.
The fearful spread of this pestilence has awakened
very general public sentiment in favor OF National
sanitary administration, which shall not only con-
troll quarantine but have the sanitary supervision OF
internal commerce in times OF epidemics, and hold
an advisory relation to the State and municipal
health authorities, with power to deal with what
ever eudangers the public health, and which the
municipal and State authorities are unable to regu-
late. The National Quarantine Act approved April
~.
sion of Congress to provide the means for carrying
it into practical operation during the past season. is
n step in tho direction here indicated. In view of
the necessity for the most effective measures, by
quarantine and otherwise, for the protection of
and the country generally, from this and
other epdemics. 1t is recommended that Congress
give TO the whole subject early and careful consid-
Grafton.
ELECTIONS IN THE SOUTH.
The permanent pacification of the country by the
complete protection of all citizens in every civil and
politcal right continues to be of paramount inter-
est with the great body of our people. Every step
in this direction is welcomed with public approval,
and every interruption of steady and uniform pro-
.ress In the desired contamination awakens general
uneosiness and widespread condemnation. The
recent Congressional elections have furnished di-
rect and trustworthy test of the advance thus far
made in the practical establishment of the right Of
suffrage. secured by the Constitution to the hber
oted race in the Southern States. All disturbing
Influences. real or imaginary, had been removed
from all of these States
The three constitutional amendments, which con-
ferred freedom and equality of civil and political
rights upon the colored people OF the South, were
odopted by the concurrent action of the great body
Of good citizens who maintained the authority of
fine National Government and the integrity and
of the Union ut such q cost of treasure
and life as wise and necessary embodiment in the
organic law of the just results of the war. The peO
ple of the former saveholdIng States accepted
these results aud gave, in every practicable form,
assurances that the thirteenth fourteenth and fif-
teepth amendments, and laws passed In pursuance
thereof should in good faith, be enforced, rigidy
and mpartiay in letter and spirit, to the end that
tho bumblest citizen, without distinction of
roce or color, should, under them, receive
ful and equal protection in person and prop
ertv and in political rights and privileges.
Nv these constitutional amendments. the South
ern section of the Union obtained large increase of
nolitical power in Congress and in the Electoral
and the country justly expected that elections
wonld proceed, 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 cleo
tons as offering to the general Judgment OF the
country an important opportunity to measure the
degree in winch the right OF suffrage could be
exercised by the coored people, and would be
respected by their felOw-citizens; but more gen.
eral enjoyment of freedom of suffrage by the
colored people, and more just and generous pro-
lection of that freedom by the communities OF
which they form part, were generally anticipated
than the record of the elections discoses. In some
of those States in which the colored people have
been unable to make their opinions felt in the cleo
tons, 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 particular Congressional dis
trcts outside of those States, tho records OF the
elections seem to compel the conclusion that the
rights of the colored voters have been overridden,