Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

upon our country.
We are at peace with all other nations
Our public credit has greatly improved, ant
is, perhaps, now stronger than ever before
Abundant haryests have rewarded the labor.
of those who till the soil, our manufacturing
industries are reyiying, and it is believed
that general prosperity, which has been SC
anxiously looked for, is at'least within oul
reach.
THE YELLOW FEVER.
The enjoyment of health by our people
generally has, however, been interrupted,
during the past season, by the prevalence OF
a fatal pestilence, the yellow fever, in some
portions of the Southern States, creating an
emergency which called for prompt and ex-
traordinary measures Of relief. The disease
appeared as an epidemic at New Orleans and
at other places on the lower Mississippi, soon
after midsummer. 1t was rapidly spread
ny fugitiyes from the infected cities and
towns, and did not disappear till early in No
yember. The States of Louisiana, Mississ-
ippi and Tennessee, have suffered severely.
About one hundred thousand cases are be-
lieyed to have occurred, of which about
twenty thousand. according to intelligent
estimates, proved fatal. 1t is impossible to
estimate with any approach to accuracy the
loss to the country occasioned by this epidem-
ic 1t is to be reckoned by the hundred mill
ions of dollars. The suffering and destitu-
ton that ensued, excited the deepest sympa-
thy in all parts of the Union. Physicians
and nurses hastened from every quarter to
the assistance of the afflicted communities.
Voluntary contributions of money and sup
plies, 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 re-
quisite directions for the purpose being CIV
en, in the confident expectation that this ac-
ton of the Executive would receive the sane
tion of Congress. About eighteen hundred
tents, and rations of the value of about
twenty-five thousand dollars, were sent to
cities and towns which applied for them. full
details of which will be furnished to Con-
gress 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 control 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
whatever endangers the public health,
and which the municipal and State author
ities are upable to regulate. The ma
tional quarantine act approved April ",
1873, which was passed too late in the last
session of CongIess to provide the means Tor
carrying it into practical operation during
the Iast season. Is step IN the direction
here Indicated In view Of the necessity for
the most effective measures, BY quarantine
and otherwise, for the protection OF our sea-
ports, and the country generally, from this
and other epidemics, 1t l. recommended that
Congress give TO the whole subject early and
careful consideration.
TIRE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
The permanent paci6cation of the country
by the complete protection OF all citizens IN
every civil and political right continues to
heof paramount interest with the great body
of our people. Eyery step in this direction
is welcomed with public approval, and every
interruption Of steady and uniform progress
to the desired consummation awakers gem
eral uneaslness and widespread cOudemna-
ton. The recent Congressional elections
have furnished direct and trustworthy
test Of the advance thus far made in the
practical establishment of the right OF SUI
lrage. secured by the Constitution TO the lib
Grated race in the Southern States. all dis
turbing influences, real or imaginary, had
been removed from all OF the States.
The three constitutional amendments,
which conferred freedom and equality Of civil
and political rights upon the colOred people oi
the South, were adopted bv the concurrent
action of the great body of good citizens
who maintained the authority Of the Nation
al Government and the integrity and perpet-
uity 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-hold-
ing States accepted these results, and gave
in every practicable form assurances that the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments. aud laws passed in pursuance thereof,
should, in good faith, be enforced, rigidly
and impartially, in letter and spirit, to the
end that the humblest citizen. without dis
tincton of race or color, should, under them,
receive full and equal protection in person
and property an in political rights ana
privileges. By these constitutional amend
mients. the Southern section Of the Union ob-
tained large increase of political power IN
Congress and in the Electoral College, and
the country justly expected that elections
would proceed, as TO the enfranehised 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
l., 81 tboCo a1antinpa OfiprInp
to the general judgment of the country an
important opportunity to measure the degree
IN which the right OF suffrage could be ex-
ercised by the colored people, and would be
respected by their fellow citizens; but
more general enjoyment OF freedom oi sui
frage by the colored people, and more Just
and generous protection of that freedom by
the communities OF which they form part,
were generally anticipated than the record
of the elections discloses. In some Of those
States in which the colOred people have been
unable to make their opinions felt in the
elections, the result is mainly due to inhu'
ences not easily measured or remedied By le'
gal protection but in the States OF Louisiana
and South Carolina at large. and in some
particular Congressional districts outside oil
those States, the records of the elections
seem to compel the conclusion that the rights
of the cOlOred voters have been oyer-ridden
and their participation in the elections moi
permitted to be either general or free.
Ii will be for the Congress for which theSG
elections were held, to make such examina'
tions into their conduct as may be appro
pirate to determine the validity Of the
claims of members to their seats. In the
meanwhile it becomes the duty Of the Exc
cutiye and Judicial Departments of the
Governments, each in its province, to inquire
into and punish violations OF the laws OF The
United States which have occurred. car
but repeat what ! said in this connection il
ny last message, that whatever authority
tests with me to this end | shall not hesitate
to put forth, and am unwilling to forego 4
renewed appeal to the legislatures, the courts
the executive authorities, and the people o
the States where these wrongs have beer
perpe;rated, to give their assistance toward
bringing to justice the offenders and prevent
ing a repetition of the crimes. No mean
within my power will be spared to obtain 1
iul and fair investigation of the allegeC
crimes. and to secure the conviction and jus
punishment Of the guilty
IL Is to be observed that Il e principal ap
propriation made for the Department Q
Justice at the last session contained the fol
lowing clause "And for deiraying the ey
penses which may be incurred in the enforce
ment Of the act approved February twenty
eighth, eighteen hundred and sevcnty-one
entitled An act to amend an act approved
May thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seven
ty, entitled An act to enforce the rights o
citizens of the United States to vote in th'
several States Of the Union, and for othel
purposes, or any acts amendatory thereof ol
supplementary thereto"
II is the opinion Of the Attorney Genera
that the expenses Of these proceedings vii
largely exceed the amount which was thu
provided, and rely confidently upon Con
grcss to make adequate appropriations tt
enable the Executive Department to eniorc,
the laws.
| respectfully urge upon your attention
that the t'ongrpsSional elpctiopc IN avar,