Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Delivered to the Last Session of the
45th CONGRESS; Dec. 2, 1B7B ...e r..

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE. |
Delivered to the Last Session Of the
- 45th Congress, Dec. 3,
W${ - r. -
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE 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 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
rewarded the hbors of those who till the soil. Our
manufacturing industries are reviving and it is be-
heved that the 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 sea-
son by the prevalence Of fatal pestence the yellow
fever, in some portions of the Southern ststes Gre
ating an emergency which called for prompt and ex-
traordnary measures of relief. The disease appeared
at New Orleans and other places the lower Mssis
sippi soon after midsummer twas rapidly spread by
fuGves from the infected towns and Cities and did
not disappear until early in November. The States
Of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have suffer-
ed severely. About one hundred thousand cases are
believed to have occurred, Of which about 1900,
according to intelligent estimates, proved fatal 1t
is impossible to estimate with any proximate to acc
deic. II is to- be reokoned by the hundred millions
of dollars The suffering and restitution that resulted
Union. Physicians and nurses fastened from every
kquarter to the assistance of the afflicted commune
ties. Voluntary contributions Of money and sup
plies in every needed form were speedily and gener
ously furnished. The government was able to re-
spond In some measure to the call for help by pro-
y1ding tents medicines and food for the sick and
ing given in the confident expectation that
this action Of the executive would receive
e Tents sanction snd p,o o O. Value @
$25 900 were sent to cities and towns which applied
for them, full details of which will be furnished to
$se
eral public sentiment in favor Of national sanitary
administration, which shall not only control quaran-
commerce in times of epidemcs, and hold an advi-
sorry relation to the State and municipal health au-
thorites, with powers to deal with whatever endan-
gers the public health, and which the municipal and
State authorities are unable to regulate. The national
quarantine act, approved April 20, 1873, which was
too late in the last hours Of Congress to pro-
vide the means for carrying it into practical operation
during the past season. is step tn the direction here
indicated. In view Of the necessity for the most ef
fectve measures by quarantine and otherwise for the
protection of seaports and the country generally
from this and other epidemics, it is recommended
that Congress give to the whole subject early and
careful consideration.
THE COLOR LINE. ri.
The permanent pacifcation of the country by the
Official 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 awAkens general un
easiness and widespread condemnation. The recent
Congressional elections have furnished direct and
Trustworthy test of the advance thus far made in the
practical establishment of the right of suffrage Sc
Southern States. AL disturbing influences, real or
imaginary, had been removed from all of these States
The constitutional amendments which conferred
eSs u aS@ the colored '' a people Of
the South were adopted by the concurrent
action Of the great body Of good citizens who main
the integrity and perpetuity Of the Union at such
cost of treasure and life wise and necessary en-
bodiment in the organic law Of the just results of
| the war. The people Of the former slsve-holding
States accepted these results and gave in every prac
ticable form assurances that the thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth amendments and laws passed in
pursuance thereof should in good faith be enforced
rigidy and imparaly In letter and spirit to the end
that the humbest citizen without distinction of
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 OBJ
tanned large Of political power in Congress
and in the electoral college, and the country justly
expected that elections would proceed, rs to the en-
| franchised race, upon the same circumstances of
! which obtained in all the other States of the
Union. The friends of law and order looked forward
to the conduct Of these elections, Offering to the
portnty measure the degree in which the right Of
| suffrage could be exercised by the coored people,
and would be respected by their felowcitizens. But
| the colored people, and more just and generous
protection Of that freedom, by the communities Of
which they form part, were generally anticipated,
those States in which colored people have been unable
to make their opinions felt in the election the result
is mainly due to influences not easily measured or
I,ovp RI hx' "1oero1 inn hI1f ~
tSe States 0S of 1oussDs and 0 South
Carolina at large, and in some particular
Congressional districts outside of these States, the
records of the election seem to compel the conc]u
sion that the rights of coored voters have been over
rden and their participation in the elections not per-
mitted to be either general free. 1t will be for the
Congress for which these elections were had to make
such examination into their conduct as may be ap-
propriate to determine the validity of the claims of
members to the seats. In the meanwhile it becomes
Of the government each in it's province, to inquire
into and punish violations Of the laws
of the United States n which shnos have S Ss
I said, in this connection, in my last MESSAGE that
whatever authority rests with me, to this end, shall
60 renewed appeal to the legislatures, the courts,
the executive authorities, and the people Of the States
where the wrongs have been penetrated to give their
and preventing repetision Of the crime. No means
within my power will be spared to obtain 8 fun and
fair investigation of the alleged crimes, and to So
It is to be observed that the principal appropria.
ton made for the department of justice at the last
session contained the following clause: Sand for
defraying the expenses which may be incurred in the
act approved Feb. g, 1871 entitled act to amend
act approved May &c. 1870 entitled an act to 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 supple.
general that the expenses Of these proceedings vii
largely exceed the amount which was thus provided,
and rely confidently upon Congress- to make ade-
Quate appropriations to enable the executive depart
ment to enforce the laws.
respectfully urge upon your attention that the
Congressional elections in every district, in very
concern throughout the whole country. Each State
and every political party is entitled to q share OF
power which is conferred by the legal and eonstitu-
onal suffrage. 1t is the right Of every citizen pos.
sessing the qualifications prescribed by law to cast
one ntmidated ballot and to have his ballot honest
ly counted: So long as the exercise Of this
and equal practically well formally, submission
to the results Of the suffrage will be accorded Loyalty
and cheerfuly and all the departments OF the GOV,
eminent will feel the true vjgor OF the popular will
thus expressed. No temporary or administrative in
terests of government, however urgent or we1ghty,
will dspace the zeal Of our people in defense OF
the primary rights of citizenship. They understand
that the protection Of liberty requires the mainte
nance in full yigor Of the manly methods OF free
Speech free press and free suffrage, and will sustain
the full authority of the government to enforce the
laws which are framed to preserve these inestmable
rights. s,a@
The material progress and welfare of the States
depend the protection afforded to their citizens.
| There can be no peace without such protection, no
prosperity without peace and the whole country Is
deeply interested in the growth and prosperity OF all
its parts. While the country has not yet reached
complete amiy of feeling and reciprocal confidence
between the communities SO lately and 50 seriously
estranged feel absolute assurance that the ten
denotes are in that direction and with increasing
force, the power Of public opinion will override
all political prejudices and all sectional Or Estate at
tachments in demanding that al over our wide ter
ritory the name and character OF citizens of the
United States shall mean one and the same thing
and carry with them unchallenged security and re.
spect. - .,-.t -
Il 49, -, PARIS ExPos1TIoN.asa - q,
Our relations with other countries continue peace
full Our neutrality in contests between foreign pow
ers has been maintained and respected. The uni
vereal exposition held at Paris during the past sum-
mer has been attended by large numbers of our cit
Gems. The brief period allowed for the preparation
and arrangement of the contributions Of our citizens
to this great exposition well employed in ener
getic and judcious efforts to overcome this disad-
vantage. These efforts led and directed by the COM
missioner general, were remarkably successful, and
the exhibition Of the products of American industry
was creditabe and gratifying in scope and character
The reports Of the United States commissioners,