The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-12-05
The pre.ide+,,. Message.

sented to Congress. He thinks the
Divine Being has continued the be-
stowal OF couGtless blessings upon our
country. We are at peace with all ne
thus; our credit is probably stronger
than ever before; ABUNDANT aarvests,
reviying industries and promised pros
periiy.
THE EPIDEMIC.
He reviews the history Of the
yellow fever epidemic, aud saws the
fearful spread of this pestilence has
awakened very general public senti-
| ment IN favor of national sanitary
| administration, which shall not only
control the quarantine question, but
have sanitary supervision of internal
commerce in times of epidemicS. and
hold an advisory relation to State ana
municipal health authorities with
power to deal with whatever endangers
public health, and which municipal
and State authorities are unable to
regulate. The national quarantine act
approved April %, 1875, which was
passed too late in the last session of
Congress To provide means for carving
it into practical operation during the
past season, is s,eD in the direction
here Indicated. In view Of neces-
sity for the most effective measures by
quarantine, aad otherwise, for the pre-
lection of our sea ports and country
generally from this and other epidem-
les, 1T is recommended that Congress
give the whole subject an early and
careful consideration.
pRnTETTIEG THE II aTT ~
The permanent pacitica'i1n OF the
country by the complete protection of
all citizens In every civil and political
right continues to be of paramount in
terest with the great body of our PEG.
PIE. Every step in this direction is
welcomed with public approval and
| every interruption of the steady and
uniform progress to the desired con-
summation awakens general uneasiness
and widespread condemnation. The
recent congressional elections have fur
nished a direct, trustworthy 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 influences, real and
of these States. 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 great body of good citizens,
who maintained the authority of the
national government and the integrity
and perpetuity of the Union at such
cost of treasure and life, as a wise 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 fif-
teenth amendments and laws passed in
pursuance thereof, should IN good faith
be enforced rigidly and inpartially in
letter and spirit to the end that the
humblest citizen, without distinction
of race or color, should undtr them re-
ceive full and equal protection in per-
son and property, and political ri ghts
and privileges. BY these constitution
al amendments the southern portion of
the Union obtained large in crease of
political power in Congress and in the
Electoral College, and the country
justly expected that elections would
proceed, as to the enfranchised race,
upon the same circumstances of legal
and constitutional freedom and pro-
lection which obtained in all other
States of the Union, which the friends
of law and order looked for. The con-
duct of these elections is 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 c0lored
people, and would be protected BIZ
their fellow-citizens, but a more
general enjoyment of freedom of
suffrage by the colored people and a
more just and generous protection of
that freedom by the communities OF
which they form part was generally
anticipated than the record OF cleo
tions disclose. In some of these States
in which the colored people have been
unable to make their opinions felt in
elections, the result is mainly due to
influences not easily measured or rem
edied by legal protection, but in the
States of Louisiana and South CARROLL
ma at large and some particular con-
gressional districts outside OF those
States, the records of elections seem to
compel the conclusion that the rights
of colOred voters have been overridden
and their participation in elections not
permitted to be general or free. 1t will
be for Congress, for which these cleo
tions were held, to make such exami-
nations into their conduct as may be
appropriate 10 determine the validity
of the claims of members TO their seats.
In the meanwhile, IL becomes the duty
of the executive and judicial depart
ments of the government, each in its
province, to inquire into and punish
the violations of laws in the United
States which have occurred.
! can but repeat what said IN this
connection in my last message: That
whatever authority rests with me to
this end l shall not hesitate to
put forth, and l am unwilling to fore
go renewed appeal to the legislatures,
courts, executive authorities and pee
pie of the States where these wrongs
have been perpetrated to give their as
assistance towards bringing to justice
the offenders and preventing a repeti-
ton of these crimes No means within
my power will be spared to obtain a
full and fair investigation of the alleged
crimes and to secure the conviction and
just punishment of the guilty. 1; is
to be observed that the principal apprc-
priation made for the Department of
Justice at the last session contained
the following clause, land for defray-
ing expenses which may be incurred in
the enforcement of the act approved
February %, 1871, entitled An act to
amend an act approved May 30, 1870,
entitled 'aR act to enforce the rights
of citizens of the United States to vote
in the several States of the Union and
for other purposes or any acts amend
tory thereof or supplementary
thereto.'" 1t is the opinion OF
the Attorney General that the ex-
penses OF these proceedings will
largely exceed the amount which was
thus provided, and / rely confidently
upon Congress to make adequate ap-
propriations to enable the Executive
Department to enforce the lava. l res
pectfully urge upon your attention that
the congressional elections in every
district, in a very important sense,
are justly matter OF political inter
est and concern throughout the whole
country. In each State every politI-
cal parry Is entitled to a share OF
power which is conferred by legal
and constitutional suffrage, sud
It is the right of every citizen