Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-03
The Presidents Message.

u
felt gratitude is due 10 the Divine Be
ing Who holds IN His hands the desti-
nice of nations, for the continued be
sioWal, during the last year, Of count
less blessings aPon our country.
We are ~ peace with oil other "a
tons. Our public credit has gyesiiy
improved, and is, perhaps, now stronger
than ever before. Abundant hsrvests
have rewarded the lsbCrs Of those Sbo
sal the soil. cur manufacturing indus
tree Sre rsviving, and /. Is believe !
that general prosperity, which has been
80 long anTiouSly looked for, IL az les
within our resch.
The enjoyment of health by our peo-
pie generally has, however, been inter-
rupted during the past season 10y the
prevalence Of q fatal pestilenCe-the vel
low feyer-in some portions OF the
Southern : ates. creating an emergency
which ealled for prompt and e1traorol-
nary measures Of relief. The
disease appeared Hs AZ epidemic
81 Se~ Orleans and 80 other places
on tie lower Mississippi soon a.
tsr midsummer. Ii Was rapidly
spreoS by fugitjves from the infected
cities and towns, and 70 did not DIS
appear until early IN November. Tie
States Of Louis Sua, Mississippi and
Tennessee have suffered severely.
About one hundred thousand cases are
believed 70 have occurred, 81 which
aboat twenty thousand. according To-
Intelligent estimates. proved fstal. DC
ls impossible g estimate with aDy sp
proach 10 accuracy the loss b the c0un-
try occaspued by TINS epidemic. IL Is
o. be reckoned bv the hundred millions
Of dollars. TIE suffering and desttu-
ECn that resulted excited the deepest
symYa.uy in al paris OF the Union.
Physicians AMI nurses fastened from
every quarter o. the assistance OF the
afflicted communities. Voluntary con-
,r51ti0ns Of money and supplies, IN
ever needed form, were speedily and
generously furnished. L government
Wss able 50 respond IN some measure 90
the call Tor help by providing tents,
med iciues sld food for the SICK and
destitute; the requisite directions ia
Size purpose being gwen, IA the coru-
dent expectation thSt this sCtlcn OF the
executive y1UIi receive the sanction oi
Crurrs-s About eirl cen hundred
,.-t>. aud rrvcus q. yhe value oi shout
$4,000 vere sent Co CITIES snd towns
s-cl applied fCr item, iuil details Of
which W. be furnished 90 Congress by
ne prop department.
Tae fearful spread % tins pestleuce
4 a.
sentiment ir favor % usuouL sanitary
tir..v streton. which shall uct oily
cr-t-., quarantine, but hSve the sur.. a.
~ supervision q ,utsrI& commerce IA
tines oi eui3suics. and hold an adv So
~ re.B-iJ- e. the State ans municipal
c-s.th authorities. with powc- On d ll
with vlat,vsr euln- gers tle lC.Ec
.-l,tl. E-i which tie munic.pA. AMI
$. ate .-taar. -ies are unable O. reE-. s-c.
The national quarantine Ect, approved
April - ISIS which waS passed too
-a.e il the lass ssS,i1l o. Congress g.
provide the nesns i-r carrying II into
practical operation duTirg the past sea
-11. is step II the direction here ind
sstei. IT, ylew o. the neces ity iyr me
most effective 20 easnres, by q 7arsntue
end otherwise, FOR 'he protection IF ou-
-sDo-ts aud the country generally.
rom trls and other epIdeuics. u "a 1e-
com ceulCd that Congress give 90 tle
whole sub.e early and care Vi cc-s.i-
ration.
ruE S UrHEEN QUESTION.
The permanent pac;dcauou Of the
cc-n.-v bv tie complete protection OF
all citizens U every civil AMI political
-ielt continues 60 be OF paramount M
.arsst s.th the great body of our people
Every step 10 this direction IS welcomed
@i.l public approval, srd every utter
r1pr.u % steady AID uniform progress
I tie desired contamination swsSeLs
general uueas.usss SLl w,ie-spresG
s-r-urs..u The recent c0GgreS>iOn-
I'll election, have furnished 5 dlyecg and
trustworthy test Of yhe advance thus far
made "a the practical establishment %
Ls ri-Lt q s-ffrace, secured bv the
3stlJr:.on 20 the liberated race III tie
southern States. All disturbing iuhB-
-ces, real or imaginary, bsd teen re-
owed from Al OF these States.
LLethree constitutional amendments
vh.,a conferred freedom and equal ~
@, c,.' ard po,tcsl rights upon the
co.0re5 PEOPLE Of the South, were ad0p-
tei bv tie concurrent action Of the great
o.4y oi good citizens who maintained
..e authority 81 tie national govern
usut s-t tie integrity and perpetuity
u @ e IliOn az such a cost Of treasure
ocl l;fe. a. a wise and necessary en-
u.1imeut IN the organic Law Of the inst
-.sI.;s OF the wa The people Of tie
srner slsve-ho.6iug States accepted
q. ese results, aud gave, ~ every p-sc-
.-able foru. assurances that tue tb.r-
.-ar-h. fourteenth sa1 fifteenth amend
urnts aaj laws passed IN p7rsusLce
thereof. should. IN goci faith be en-
force. -ici5ly AMI umVsrtlaiv, y -et.ei
49, .a spirit. 20 ,he end that the hum
t'--. @ zen. without distinction Of race
.- color. snou under tLe,l. receive
flIa.i e4a-. pro eet'ou N person and
property ADD IN political rights SUI
V-ig.l. yes By these c1nsttrtoua
-r 'uents the Sluihern section C.
t. ~licr O1-.Iusd a large increase Oi
political power ~ Congress and Ia the
2 ectorai college, and the country Just
T. expected that elections would pro
c-s6. as 90 the eLfrsuct.sed race. upon
the same c. .cumstarces et legal AM
caoe.i.alouol freedom and protection
va.l obtained il all the other States
o. the union The friends o. law AM
Ter looked forward 20 'hs conduct
Cftbsse elections, as offering TO the gen
ssl Judgment Of the country 81
I-1+ 81. opportunity 20 measure tire
degree il which tie right q su1taEe
-.r.l be exercised By the colOred pec-
rs, ll would be respected by d Y
citizens bat a more general
e-,ey-snt Of freedom q suffrage b
nj -e00'e. nd r-r-a Irsr s-r