Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-12-19
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

u In this weeks Issue we publish the full
Il text of the Presidents Message In point
: of strength or originality. we do not con
slider it very remarkable State paper.
most of it, in our opinion, being quitetam
and commonplace. The most important
portions of the Message are those i'm refer
enre 10 the Indian problem. and the alleged
interferpnccs with the right of suffrage in
some of the Southern States. and the sO!u-
lion to the one (if. indeed. a solution is Of
fered) and the proposed remedy for the
other are far from being as definite and
clear rs we should wish and expect from
the chief magistrate @. the nation. 1t would
seem. however that the Presidents views
on what might be termed his Southern
policy have become somewhat modified
during the past year. and now fears that
all ct the Southern States cannot be wholly
relied upon to carry ont in GOOD faith the
spirit and letter f those constitutional
amendments which guarantee impartial
suf:agrand equal rights without regard to
race color or previons condition of servi-
tudr. There is really no Disgusting the
:
in some Ofthose STATES have not fully met
the anticipations Of the President yet. he
hopes. not very conii,lrn.ly. to be sure. |
that The remedy 10 any AMI al irrc gulaiiiies |
Of this nature may be found through the /
civil courts and iniH4icS that offenders |
shall be brought to justice through the es-
tahliShed forms Of civil law. He does not /
add int he re yrcts the passage of the posse
coD,it1tus restriction OF the army BILL pass
ed at the last session of Congress. but we
are led to infer That lie regards il in the
light of IN unusual. if not needless. restric-
ton and calculated only to embarrass the
Executive in enforcing Il due respect fer
and Obedience 10 law.
There is little doubt hut the posse com
itatus clalIsc was an tlnMse one in tiat it
deprived the President Of the moral intill-
enre OF apower which he might never i
have had occasion or disposition to use. :
A llwless element in any commun v is
held in restraint more by a knowledge Of
the existence Of authority and power than ,
snch power. In the case of President {
Hayes. with his well-known disposition ,
and most charitable views toward the pco- I
pie OF the South. there was apparently lit J
tie grounds for experimenting that he 9
would Chad he not been restritted) have
used the army for political or other purpose a
except in strict accordance with the Con- (,
stintion and in enforcement OF the laws. Ii
During the recent election in the South Il
'rn States if is possible fiat the forms of b
NV were strictly observed. but the result.
o say the least. leaves ground for some S
l"ubt. True. i! is tie .-oii' year. of great t,
political issues and everybody may have a
concluded TO belong 70 the dominant party II
IN its polite invitation. but such proceed +,
ngs are so unusual and. we might saw. T
nhuman that they leave room for the Ie
suspicion that such invitation must have C,
,een accompanied with intimidation and fl
treats. Such doubts and suspicious. be- II
ne strengthened by representations of nu- fl
nerous and prominent parties in Interest. O
ender it a fit subject for Congressional in ..
estgation. fc
Indian affairs are discussed. in the Mes ii
age. from Il fair and humane standpoint OF
nd. although the President does not enter "
lto the discussion. now agitating some II
oriI0ns OF the country. of the proposed l,l
ranster OF the Indian Bureau to the War in
department. he is evidently opposed to the ii
roposi,ion and will aal'!ere to the main IN
:atures OF the present peace policy fo