River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-05
THE pREsIDFNT's MESSAGE.
Delivered TO the Last Session Of the
10Th Congress, Dee. :, 1878.

REPRESENTATIVES, Our heartfelt gratitude is due
to the Divine Being who holds in His hands
the destiniea of nations for the continued be-
stowal during the last year, of countless
blessings upon our country. We are at peace
with all nations. Our public credit has greatly
improved, and is perhaps now stronger than
ever before. Abundant harvests have rewarded
the labors of those who till the soil. Our man
ufacturing industries are reviying, and it is
believed that the general prosperity, which has
been SO long anxiously looked for, is at last
within our reach.
TIE YELLOW FEVER.
The enjoyment of health by our people gen
orally has, however, been interrupted during
the past season by the prevalence of fatal
pestilence the yellow fever, in some portions
81 the Southern States, creating emergency
which called for prompt and extraordinary
measures of relief. The disease appeared at
New Orleans and other places on the lower Mis-
sissippi soon after midsummer. 1t was rapidly
spread by fugitiyes from the infected towns
aud cities and did not disappear until early in
n lvembcr The States of Louisiana. Missis-
sippi and Tennessee have suffered severely
About 100, 600 cases are believed to have
Cured of which about 2o,000 according to in
tellgent estimates, proved fatal. 1t Is im-
possible TO estimate with any proXimate 10 ac-
curacy, the loss to the country oecasioned by
the epidemic. 1t is to be reckoned by
the hundred millions of dollars. The
suffering and restitution that resulted
excited the deepest sympathy in all parts of
the Union. Physicians and nurses fastened
from every quarter to the assistance of the af-
fiicted communities. Voluntary contributions
of money and supplies in every needed form
were speedily and generously furnished. The
government was able to respond in some meas
ure to the call for help by providing tents
medicine and food for the sick and destitute
the requisite directions for the purpose being
given in the confident expectation that this ac
ton OF the executive would receive the
sanction of Congress. About 1,Se0
tents and rations of the value OF about
525, 600 were sent to cities and towns which APP
piled for them full details of which will be
furnished to Congress by the proper depart
ment The fearful spread Of this pestlence
has awakened very general public sentiment
Ia favor of a national sanitary administration,
which shall not only control quarantine, but
have the sanitary supervision of internal com
merce in times of epidemics, and hold an adj
visoFy relation to the State and municipal
health authorities, with powers to deal with
whatever eudangers the public health and
which the municipal and State authorities
unable to regulate. The national quarantine
act, approved April %, 1878, which passed
too late in the last hours Of Congress to provide
the means for carrying 1t into practical opera
ton during the past season, Is a step III the
direction here indicated. In view of the ne
cessity for the most effective measures by
quarantine and otherwise for the protection of
our seaports and the country generally from
this and other epidemics ii is recommended
that Congress give to the whole subject early
and careful consideration.
THE COLOR LINE.
The permanent pacifcation of the country by
the complete protection of all citizens in every
civil and political right continues to be of par
=, F,.y;4 f,, l,nj Of
people. Every step in this direction is well
coined with public approval. and every inter-
ruption of steady and uniform progress to the
desired consummation awakens general uneas-
mess and widespread condemnation. The re-
cent Congressional elections have furnished
direct and 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 or imaginary,
had been removed from all Of these States.
The constitutional amendments which confer
red freedom and equality Of civil and political
rights upon the colored people of the South
were adopted by the concurrent action of the
great body of good citizens who MAIN
tanned The authority OF the national govern
ment and the integrity and perpetuity of the
Union at such cost of treasure and life as a
aise and necessary embodiment in the organic
law of the Just results of the war. The poo
pie of the former save-holding States accepted
these results and gave, in every practicable
form assurances that the thirteenth four
teenth and fifteenth amendments and laws
passed in pursuance thereof, should, in good
faith be enforced rigidiy and impartially in
letter and spirit. to the end that the humblest
citizen. without distinction of race or color
should, under them, receive full and equal pro-
lection in person and property and IN political
rights and privileges. BY these constitutional
amendments the southern section of the Union
obtained % large increase of political power in
Congress and in the electoral college. and the
country justly expected that elections would
proceed rs to the cnfranchised race, upon the
same circumstances of legal and constitutional
freedom ard 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 impor-
tant opportunity to measure the degree in
,Sbioh 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 coll
ored people and more Just and generous pro-
lection Of that freedom, by the communities
of which they form part, were generally an
tieipated. than the record of the election dis
closes. In some Of those States in which the
colored people have been unable to make their
opinions felt in the election the result is main
ly due to influences not easily measured or
remedied by the legal protection but in
the States Of Louisiana and South Car
DINA at large, and in some particular
Congressional districts outside of these States
the records of the election seem to compel the
conclusion that the rights of colored voters
have been overridden and their participation
in the elections not permitted 70 be either gem
eral or free. 1t will be for the Congress for
which these elections were had 10 make such
examination into their conduct may be APP
propriate to determine the validity of the |
Az.v t,arse
while 1t becomes the duty of the executive and |
judicial departments of the government, each
in its province to inquire into and punish vio- |
lations of the laws of the United States which |
have occurred can but repeat what |
Tsaid in this connection, in my last me seage |
that whatever authority rests with to this |
end shall not hesitate to put forth and | am !
unwilling to foregO renewed appeal to the leg |
lslatures, the courts, the executive authorities
and the people of the States where the |
wrongs have been perpstrated, to give their as
sistance towards bringing to justice the offend
ers and preventing repetition of the crime. |
No means within my power will be spared to |
obtain full and fair investigation of the al |
legged crimes, and to secure the conviction and |
just punishment of the guilty.
1t is to be observed that the principal appro-
prlation made for the department of justice at |
the last session contained the following clause;
And for defraying the expenses which may be |
incurred in the act approved Feb. IS, lS7
titled act to amend act approved May 30 |
1870, entitled an act to enforce the rights of |
citizens of the United States TO vote in the
several States of the Union and for other pur-
poses, or any acts amendatory thereof, or sup
thereto. 1t is the opinion of the |
attorney general that the expenses of these
proceedings Will largely exceed the amount /
which was thus provided and I rely confidently |
upon Congress to make adequate appropriations /
to enable the executive department to enforce
the laws.
respectfully urge upon your attention that |
the Congressional elections in every district in
a very Important sense, are justly matter of |
interest and concern throughout the whole |
Each State and every political party
is entitled to a share of power which is con-
ferred by the legal and constitutional suffrage
IT is the right of every citizen possessing the
qualifications prescribed by law to cast one un-
ballot, and to have his ballot hos
estly counted. So long as the exercise
of this power and the enjoyment of
this right are common and equal prac-
tcaliy we'll as formally, submission
to the results Of the suffrage will be accorded
loyalty and cheerfully, and all the departments |
of the government will feel the true viQor of
the popular will thus expressed. No tempo
rary or administrative interests Of government |
however urgent or weighty, will ever displaee
the zeal of out people in defense of the pri-
mary rights of citizenship. They understand
that the protection OF liberty requires the
in full vigor of the manly meth
DDS of free speech, free press and free suffrage.
and will sustain the fall authority OF the gov
eminent to enforce the laws which are framed
30 preserve these inestimable rights.