West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Pacification Meas
ureS Considered.
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN
COUNTRIES.
international Postal Congress.

Fe.o,c- oa'',H' q pe SHG', and o,,ss Of R-5v,esa
Our heartfelt gratitude Is due 10 the Di
VINE Being, who holds in His hands the
destintes OF nations, for the continued be.
stowsl, during the last year, Of countless
blessings upon our country.
We are at peace with all other nations
Our public credit has greatly improved, and
is, perhaps, now stronger than ever before
ABUNDANT harveS's have rewarded the
labors of those who till the soil, our manu-.
featuring industries are reviving, and il h
believed that general prosperity, which has
been so long GnIiously look ed for, Is at last
within our reach.
THE PESTILENCE.
The enjoyment Of health of our peonle
generally has, however been INTERRUPTED.
during the past season by the prevalence
OF fatal pestilence, the yellow fever, in
some portions Of the Southern States
creating an emergency which called for
prompt and extraordinary measures OF re-
lief. The disease appeared as an epidemic
NJ New Orleans and at other places on the
Lower Mississippi, soon after midsummer.
VI was rapidly spread by fugitives from the
injected cities and towns, and did not dis.
appear until early in November. The
States OF Louisiana, Mississippi and Ten.
nessee have suffered severely. About one
hundred thousand cases are believed To
have occurred, in which about twenty thou.
sand, according to intelligent estimates.
proved fatal. IL is impossible TO estimate
with any approach 10 accuracy. the loss 10
the country occasioned by this epidemic.
IL is TO be reckoned Dy the hundred millions
OF dollars. The suffering aud destitution
that resulted, excited the deepest sympathy
in all parts Of the Union. Physicians and
nurses hastened from every quarter TO the
assistance OF the afflicted communities
Ill
supplies, IN every needed form, were
speedily and generously furnished. The
Government was able 10 respond i'm some
measure to to the call for help, by providing
tents, medicines, and food for the sick and
destitute, the requisite directions for the
purpose being given, in the confident ex.
pectation that this action OF the Executive
would receive ths sanction OF Congress
AhOnt eighteen hundred tents, aud 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 Congress by the proper De
partment
The fearful spread OF this pestilenoe has
awakened very general public sentiment
IN favor of national sanitary administra.
tion, which shall not only control Guaran.
tine, but nave the sanitary supervision Of
nttrnal commerce in times OF epidemics,
and hold an advisory relation TO the State
and municipal health authorities, with
power to deal with whatever endapgers the
public health, and which the municipal
S.ate authorities are unable to regulate.
The national quarantine act approved
Aprl ~, 1878, which was passed too late in
the last session of Congress to provide the
means for carrying il into practical opera.
uon, during the past season, is a step i'm the
direction here indicated. In view of the
necessity for the most effective measures
ny quarantine and otherwise, for the protec.
nj UaelH.r 40 q
orally, from this and other epidemics. il i,
recommended that Congress give TO the
whole subject early and careful considera
ton.
PACIFICATIoN OF THE COUNTRY.
The permanent paoihoation of the oountr,
by the complete protection Of all citizen,
IN every civil and political right continue,
70 be OF paramount interest with the greaf
BODY OF our people. Every step in tbi,
direction Is welcomed with public approvoI
and every interruption of steady and mi
form progress 10 the desired consummatior
awakens general uneasiness and wide.spreaT
condemnation. The recent Congressional
elections have furnished direct and trust
worthy test OF the advance thus far made i'm
the practical establishment Of the right oi
suffrage, secured by the Constitution 10 tho
liberated race In the Southern States. All
ulsturDing influences, real or imaginary
had been removed from all these States
Inc three constitutional amendments
which conferred freedom and equality oi
civil and political rights upon the colored
people of the South, were adonted bv 49,
concurrent action Of the greet body Of good
cibzens who maintained the authority al
the National Government, aud the INTEGRITY
ana perpetuity OF the Union at such a cost
OF treasure and life as wise and necessary
embodiment in the organic law Of the Just
results OF the war. The people Of the forme
slaye-holding States accepted these results
and gave, in every practicable form. assur.
anoeB that the thirteenth, fourteenth and
htteenth amendments, and laws passed In
pursuance thereof, should. in good faith. be
enforced rigidly aud impartialy, in letter
ana spint, % the end that the huunblest
citizen, without distinction Of race or color.
shouid, under them, receive full and equal
protection in person aHd property and ma
political rights and privileges. Bv tbese
constitutional amendments, the Southern
secuon on the Union obtain large increase
OF political power in Congress and i'm the
Electoral College, and the country iustly
expected that elections would proceed. ne
TO the eDiranchsed race, upon the same
circumstance or legal and cODsiitutional
freedom and prOtec ion which is obtained
IN ali the other States Of the Union. The
tr1ends Of Law and order looked forward IN
the conduct Of these elections. "a ofrsrino
to the general judgment Of the country aB
important opportunity 10 measure the de.
gree IN which the right Of suffrage could bs
exercised by the colored people. and would
be repeated by their feiow.cidzens. but 4
more general enjoyment Of freedom of
suurage by The colOred people. and a more
Just and generous protection Of that freedom
OY the communities of which they form q
part were generally anticipated than tbo
record Of the elections discloses. I'm Some
OF those States In which the coIored peopIe
have been unable 70 make their opinions
felt IN the elections, the result is mainly due
to Influences not easily measured or rem.
edied BY legal protection but In the states
Of Louisiana and South Carolina nd large
and in some particular Congressional dis
tricts outside Of those States, the records of
the elections seem 90 compel the conclusion
That the rights Of the eolored voters have
Deen overridden, and their participation ip
me elections not permitted to be either
general or free.
~ VIII be for the Congress for which these
eieeuons were held, to make such examina
Hohs INTO their conduct o. may be appro
IF'ae 20 determine the validity of tb,
''''mq Of members 10 their seats I'm IN,