The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05
Synopsis Of the President, Message


siowal of counties blessings upon our
country. We are at peace with ali ma
tons. Our credit wa, propably never
stronger before. There have been abun-
dant har"ys;, TcyiyiiE vur industries. and
there Is promise of continued pro, pcrty.
lie reviews the history Of the yellow
fever epidemic, and saws: The fearful
spread Of til. pcStllcnce has awakened Il
very general public sentiment iu favor
OF national sanitary administration,
which shall not only control quarantine,
LAT have the sanitary supervision of in
,crnHl commerce in times of cpdemics,
and hold an advisory relation 10 the State
and municipal health authorities. with
power to deal with whatever cndangcrs
the public health. aud VIII the munici-
pal and State authorities are unable to
regulate. The national quarantine act.
approved April 20, 1873, which WAS passed
too late in the last session Of Congress to
provide the means for car. ying it into
practical operation during the past season
IS a step in the direction here indicated.
In view Of the necessity for the most el-
icctivc measures, by quarantine and
otherwise, i"r the protection Of our sea-
ports and ,hc country generally, from
this and other epidrmics, il is recon-
ncnded that Congress give to the whole
subject early and careful consideration.
The permanent pacificalion Of the
country by the complete protection of
all citizens in every civil aud political
right continues To be of paramount in
tcrcst with the great body Of our people.
Every step in thi, direction is welcomed
with public approval, and every inter
ruptipn OF steady and uniform progress
10 the desired consumation awakens gen
cral unca5neSs and Widespread cOndcmna-
ton. The recent Congressional elections
nave furnished Il 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 magn-
AIRY, had been removed from all of these
States.
The three constitutional amendments,
which conferred freedom and equality OF
civil and political riyhts upon the colorcd
people OF the South, were adopted by
the concurrent action OF the great body
OF good citizens who maintained the
authority OF the rational government
and the integrity and pcrpcluity of the
! Union ut such Il cost of treasure and
life, as wise and necessary cmbodi-
ment in the organic law of the Just re-
suits of Tie war. The people Of the for
mer slaye-hoding States accepted these
results, and gave, in every practicable
form, assurances that the thirteenth,
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments,
and laws passed i'll pursuance thereof,
should, in good faith, be enforced, rigid
idly and impartialiy, in letter and spirit,
f.. IL, 81. 4
without distinction OF race or color,
should under them, receive full and
equal protection in person and property
and in political rights and privileges. By
| these constitutional amendments, The
81 large increase Of political power i'm
Congress and in the Electoral College,
and the country justly expected that
elections would proceed, as to the cniran
chiScd 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 to the
conduct of these elections rs offering to
The general judgment of the country an
important opportunity to measure the
degree i'll which the right of suffrage
could be exercised by the colored people,
and would be respected by their fellow
citizens; but Il more general enjoyment
OF freedom Of suffrage by the colored
people, and q more just and generous
protection Of that freedom by the com
munities of which they form n part
were generally anticipated than the
record of the elections discloses. In
some of those States in which the color
| ed people have been unable to make their
opinions felt iii the elections, the result
is mainly due to Influences not easily
measured or rcmedied by legal protection;
| hut in the States Of Louisiana and South
| Carolina ut large, and in some particu-
lar Congressional District outside of
| those States the records of the elections
seem to compel the conclusion that the
rights Of the colored voters have been
overridden, 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 lcid 10 make suri1
| examinations into their conduct rs may
be appropriate to determine the validity
of the claims of members to their seats.
In the meanwhile it becomes the duty of
the Executive and Judicial Departments
OF the Government. each in its province.
to inquire into and punish violations OF
the United States which have occurred
| can but repeat what said in this con-
nection in my last message, that what
ever authority rests with me to this end
| shall not hesitate to put forth, and am
unwilling to forego renewed appeal to
the legislatures, the courts, the executive
authorities, and the people of the States
where these wrongs have been pcrpetrat-
ed, to give their assistance towards bring.
ing to justice the offenders and prevent
ing IL repetition of the crimes. No means
within my power will be spared to obtain
full and fair investigation of the alleg-
ed crimes, and to secure the CON
viction 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 dcfray-
ing the expenses which may be incurred
III the enforcement of the act approved
February twenty eighth, eighteen bund-
red aud seventy onc, entitled "An act to
amend an act approved May thirtieth,
eighteen hundred and seventy, entitled
an act to enforce the right Of citizens of
the United States 10 vote In the several
States of the Union, and for other pur.
poses, or any acts amendatory thereof
or supplementary thereto"
1t is the opinion of the Attorney. Gen.
eral that the expenses OF these proceed.
ings will largely exceed the amount
which was thus provided, and I rely
confidently upon Congress to make ade-
quate appropriations to enable the Exc
cutiye department to enforce the laws.