St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-12-06

and the country justly expected that
elections would proceed, as to the en-
franchised race, upon the same circum-
stances of legal and constitutional free
dom 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 Of
fering 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 a more
general enjoyment of freedom of suf-
frage by the colOred people, and a more
just and generous protection of that
freedom by the communities of which
they form a part, were generally antici-
pated than the record of the elections
discloses. In some of those states in
which the colored people have been I'M
able to make their opinions felt in the
elections, the result is mainly due to in
fuences not easily measured or RENE
died by legal protection but in the
states of Louisiana and South Carolina
at large, and in some particular con-
gressional districts outside of those
| SOdtOS, bilC lCCOlu VI lHC CiCCUlobo oSOih
to compel the conclusion that the rights
of the colOred voters have been over
ridden, and their participation in the
elections not permitted to be either gen
eral or free.
1t will be for the Congress for which
these elections were held, to make such
examinations into theiI conduct as may
be appropriate to determine the validi-
ty of the claims of members to their
seats. In the meanwhile it becomes the
duty of the executive and judicial de-
partments of the government, each in
its province, to inquire into and punish
violations of the laws of the United
States which have occurred. L can but
repeat what | said in this connection in
my last message, that whatever authori-
ty rests with me to this end | shall not
hesitate to put forth, and l am unwill-
ing to foregO renewed appeal to the
legislatures, the courts, the executive
authorities, and the people of the states
where these wrongs have been perpe-
trated, to give their assistance toward
bringing to justice the offenders, and
preventing a repetition of the crimes.
No means within my power will be
spared to obtain fair investigation of
the alleged crimes, and 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 defray
ing the expenses which may be incurred
in the endorsements of the act approved
February twenty eight, eighteen hun
dred and seventy-One, entitled An act
to amend an act approved May Thrift
eth, eighteen hundred and seventy, en-
| titled An 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 amendatOry
thereof or supplementary 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 rely confident
ly upon Congress to make adequate APP
preparations to enable the executive de-
partment to enforce the laws.
| respectfully urge upon your atten-
ton that the congressional elections, in
every district, in very important
sense, are justly matter of political
| ilitItSl anu CouCtIu luIOlSnOub iut
whole country. Each state, every politi-
cal party Is entitled to the share of pow
er which is conferred by the legal and
constitutional suffrage. 1t is the right
of every citizen, possessing the quaifi-
cations prescribed by law, to cast one
unintimidated ballot, and to have his
ballot honestly counted. So long as the
exercise of this power and the enjoy
ment of this right are common and
equal, practically as well as formally,
submission to the results of the suffrage
will be accorded loyalty and cheerfully,
and all the departments of government
will feel the true vig0r of the popular
will thus expressed. No temporary or
administrative interests of government,
however urgent or weighty, will ever
displace the zeal of our people in defense
of the primary rights of citizenship.
They understand that the protection of
liberty requires the maintenance, in full
vigOr, of the manly methods of free
speech, free suffrage, and will sustain
the full authority of government to en-
force the laws which are framed to pre-
serve these inestimable rights. The
material progress and welfare of the
state depend on the protection afforded
their citizens. There can be no peace
without such protection, no prosperity
without peace, and the whole country
is deeply interested in the growth and
prosperity of all its parts.
While the country has not reached
complete unity of feeling and reciprocal
confidence between the communities so
lately and so seriously estranged, feel
an absolute assurance that the tenden-
cies are in that direction, and with in
creasing force. The power of public
opinion will override all political preju-
dices, and all sectional or state attach
ments, in demanding that ali over our
wide territory the name and character
of citizen of the United States shall
mean one and the same thing, and carry
with them unchallenged security and
respect.
RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.
Our relations with other countries
continue peaceful. Our neutrality in
contests between foreign powers has
been maintained and respected.
The Universal Exposition held at
Paris during the past summer has been
attended by large numbers of our citi-
zens. The brief period allowed for the
preparation and arrangement of the con-
tributiOns of our citizens to this great
Exposition was well employed in ener-
getic and judiciOus efforts to overcome
this disadvantage. These efforts, led
and directed by the cOmmissioner-gen-
eral, were remarkably successful, and
the exhibition of the products of Amer-
i