The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-03
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The following is the Presidents Message to
Congress In Washington yesterday:

TeSentGtiUeS:
Our heartfelt gratitude is due to the Divine
Being who holds in his hands the destinles OF
nations, for the continued bestowal during the
last year of countless blessings upon our coun-
try. We are at peace with all other nations,
our public credit has greatly improved AID is
perhaps now stronger than ever before, sbun-
dant harvests have rewarded the labors Of
those who till the soil, our manufacturing in
dustries are reviving and it is believed that
general prosperity, which has been so long and
anxiously looked for,is at last within our reach.
The Southern Epidemic.
The enjoyment of health by our people gen.
orally 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 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 mid
summer. 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 100 900 cases are be-
beved to have occurred, of which about q, 900,
according to intelligent estimates, proved fatal
1t is impossible to estimate with an approach
to accuracy the loss to the country occAsioned
by this epidemic. 1t is to be reckoued by the
hundred millions of dollars. The suffering
and destitution that resulted excited the
the deepest sympathy IN all parts of the Union
Doctors and nurses fastened from every quar-
ter to the assistance of the afa cted communi-
ties. 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 sick and destitute, the requisite
directions for the purpose being given 10 the
confident expectation that this action of the
Executive would receive the sanction Of Con-
gress. About 1900 tents, and rations to the
amount OF S25, 900 were sent to cities and towns
tails of which will be furnished to
Congress by the proper departments.
The fearful spread of this pestlence 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 ia
times OF epdemics and hold an advisory rela-
ti0n to the state and municipal health authori-
ties, with power to deal with whatever endar-
gers the public health, and which the municip-
al and state authorities are unable to regulate.
The national quarantine act approved April
18th, 1878, which was passed too late in the
last session OF Congress to provide the means
for carrying 1t into practical operation during
the past season, is step in the direction here
indicated. In view of the necessity for the
most effective measures by quarantine and 9TH
erwise for the protection Of our seaports and
the country generally from this and other cpl
denies, it is recommended that Congress give
to the whole subject early and careful consider
alton.
The Publication of the South.
The permanent pacifcation Of the coun.
4ry BY the complete protection of all citi-
zens in every civil and political right con tiuues
to be OF permanent interest with the great
body OF our people. Every step in this direc-
ton is welcomed with public approval and
every Interruption of steady and uniform pro-
80 eh<~ A.
general uneasiness and wide spread condemna-
tion. The recent Congressional elections have
furnished q direct and Trustworthy test of the
advance thus far made In the practical estab-
lishDent of the right of suffrage secuered by
the constitution to the liberated race in the
southern states. All disturbing Influences,
local or imaginary, had been removed
from all OF these states. The three constitu-
tional amendments which conferred free--
dom and equality of civil and political
rights upon the colored people of the South
were adopted by the concurrent action of tbs
great body of good citizens who maintained the
authority of the national government and tn 9
integrity and perpetuity of the U MON at such q
cost Of treasure and life as a wise and neces
sary embodiment in organic law of the just re-
suits of the war.
The people of the slave holding states &C.
cepted these results and gave 10 every practical
Bile form, assurances that the thirteenth,
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments and laws
passed in pursuance thereof, should, in good
faith be enforced, rigidly and impartially In
letter and spirit, to the end that the humD Dlest
citizen, without distinction of race or color
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 increase Of political power in
Congress and In the Electoral College and the
country justly expected that elections would
proceed as to the enfrsnchised race upon the
same circumstances of legal and constitu-
tional 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 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 which
they form fart 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 opin-
ions felt in the elections, the result ia mainly
due to influences not easily measured or rene
died By legal protection; but in the states of
Louisiana and South Carolina at large, aud in
some particular Congressional districts outside
OF those states the records of the elections
OF the c0lorrd voters have been over-ridden aud
their particp patton in the elections not permit
ted to be either general or free. 1t will be for
the Congress for which these elections were
held to make such examination into their col-
duct as may be apprLprate to determine the
validity of the claims of members to their seats.
10 the meanwhile it becomes the duty of the
Executive aud JUDICIAL departments Of the gov
ernment, each in its province t0inquire. into and
puoish violations of the laws of the United
States which have occurred.
l can but repeat what 1 said in this connec-
tion in my last message, that whatever authori-
ty rests with me to this end 1 shall not hesi-
tats to put forth, and am unwilling to forego
renewed appealto the legislature and the
courts, the executive authority and the people
of the states where these wrongs have been
perpetrated, to give their assistance towards
bringing to Justice tie offenders aud ven'ing
repetition of the crimes. No meaDs within
my power will be spared to obtain full and
fair investigation of the alleged crimes a3d to
secure the conviction and just punishment of
the guilty. 1t is to be observed that
the principal appropriation made for
the department of justice at the last session
contained the following clause: "And for de-
frayicg the expenses which may be incurred in
the enforcement of the act approved Feb. 2Slh,
1871, entitled, AN act to amend an act approved
May 80, 1870, entitled an act to enforcs the
rights of cltzens of the United States to vote 10
purposes, or any acts amendatory thereof OF
supplementary thereto" 1t is the opinion of the
attorney-general that the expenses OF these
proceedings will largely exceed the amou ut
which was thus provided, and [ rely confidently
upon Congress to make adequate appropriations
to enable the executive department to enforce
the laws.
l respectfully urge upon your attention that
the congressional elections in every district, in
a very important sense, are justly matter of
political interest and concern throughout the
whole country. Each state, every political
party is entitled to the share Of power which
is conferred by the legal and constitutional
suffrage. 1t is the right OF every citizen, pos
sessing the qualifications prescribed by law,
to cast one unimtimidated ballot, and to have
his ballot honestly counted. So long as the
exercise of this power aud the enjoyment of
this right are Common and equal, practically as
we'll as formally, submission to the results of
the suffrage will bs accorded Loyalty and cheer
fully, aud all the departments of the gov
ernment will feel the true vigor OF the pop
ulsr will thus expressed. No temporary or
administrative interests of the government,
however urgent or weighty, will ever dis
place the zeal of our people in defence
of the primary rights of citizenship.
They understand that the protection of liberty
requires the maintenance, in full vigor, of the
many 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 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 pegcs and