Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

FeHon Citisens If tie lSenate and House 81
Representatives. Our heartfelt gratitude is
due to the Divine Being, who holds in His
hands the destinies of nations for the contin-
ued bestowal during the past year of count
less 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
harvests have rewarded the labors of those
who till the soil, our manufacturing indus
tries are reyiving, and it is believed that gem
eral prosperity, which has been so long anx-
iously looked for is at last within our reach.
THE YELLOW FEVER.
The enjoyment of health by our people
generally has however, been interrupted,
during the past season, by the prevalence of
a fatal pestilence, the yellow fever. in some
portions of the Southern States, creating an
emergency which called for prompt and ex-
traordinary measures of relief. The disease
appeared as an epidemic at New Orleans and
mt other places on the lower Mississippi soon
after midsummer. 1t was rapidly spread by
hgitivcs from the infected cities and towns,
and did not disappear until early in Novem-
Der. The States of Louisiana, Mississippi
and Tennessee have suffered severely. About
one hundred thousand cases are believed to
have occurred, of which about twenty thous-
ana, W llpNNh
fatal II is impossible to estimate with any
degree of accuracy the loss to the country
occasoned by this epidemic 1t is to be
reckoned by the hundred millions of dollars
The suffering and restitution that resulted
excited the deepest sympathy in all parts of
the Union. Physicians and nurses fastened
from every quarter to the assistance of the
afflicted communities Voluntary contribu-
tons of money and supplies, in every need
ed form, were speedily and generously fur
nished. The government was able to re-
spond in some measure 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
expectation that this action of thu Executive
would receive the sanction of Congress-
About eighteen hundred tents, and rations of
the value of about twenty-five thousand dol
lars, were sent to cities and towns which APP
piled for them, full details of which will be
furnished to Congress by the proper depart
ment.
The fearful spread of this posticnce has
awakened very general public sentiment
in favor of national sanitary administration
which shall not only control quarantine, but
have the sanitary supervision of internal COM
merce in time of epidemics, and hold IN nd
Nisory relation to the State and municipal
health authorities, with power to deal with
whatever endangers the public health, and
which the municipal and State authorities are
unable TO regulate. The national quarantine
act approved April -, 1878, which was passed
too late in the last session of Congress to pro-
vide the means for carrying it into practical
operation, during the past season, is a step
in the direction here indicated. In view of
the necessity for the most effective measures
10y quarantine and otherwise, for the protec-
ton Of our seaports, and the country gener-
ally from this and other epidemics, it is rec
commended that Congress give to the whole
subject early and careful consideration.
THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.
The permanent pacifcation of the country
by the complete protection of all citizens in
every civil and political right continues to be
of paramount interest with the great body of
our people. Every step in this direction is
welcomed with public approval and every
interruption of steady and uniform progress
TO the desired contamination awakens gener-
al uneasiness and widespread condemnation
The recent congressional elections have fur
nished u direct and trustworthy test of the
advance thus far made in the practical estab-
Gshment of the rights of suffrage, secured by
the constitution to the liberated race in the
Southern States. All disturbing influences,
real or imaginary, had been removed from all
of these States.
The three constitutional amendments,
which conferred freedom and equality of civ
il and political rights upon the colored peo-
pie of the South, were adopted by the con-
current action of the great body of good citi-
Zens who maintained the authority of the ma
1ional government and the integrity and per-
petuity of the Union at such a cost of treas
ure and life, as a wise and necessary embodi-
ment i'll the organic law of the just results of
al. nl,, L., Of fl, ola
holding States accepted these results, and
gave, in every practicable form, assurances
that the thirteenth. fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments, and laws passed in pursuance
thereof, should, in good faith, be enforced,
rigidly and inpartially, in letter and spirit,
10 the end that the humblest citizen, 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 constitutionalamend-
lnents, the southern section of the Union Oh
tanned large increase of political power in
Congress and in the electoral college, and the
country Justly expected that the elections
would proceed M to the eufranchsed 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, Offering
10 the general judgment of the country an
important opportunity to measure the degree
III which the right of suffrage could be exer-
cised by the colored people, and would be re-
spect d by their fellow citizens; but n more
general enjoyment of freedom of suffrage by
the cOlored people, and more just and gem
erous protection of that freedom by the COM
munities of which they form IA part, were
generally anticipated than the record of the
elections discloses In some of those States,
IN which the colored people have been una
Die to make their opinions felt in the cleo
tions, the result is mainly due to influences
not easily measured or remeded by legal pro-
lection; but in the States of Louisiana and
South Carolina ut large, and in some particu-
lar congressional districts 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 general or free.
II will be for the Congress for which
these elections were held, to make such ex-
aminations into their conduct as may be APP
prOpriate to determine the validity of the
claims of members to their seats. In the
meanwhile it becomes the duty of the eXecu-
five and judicial departments Of the govern
ment, each in its province to inquire into
and punish violations of the laws of the Uni
ted States which have occurred. / can but
repeat what said in this connection in my
last message, that whatever authority
rests with me TO this end shall not hesitate
to put forth, and am unwilling TO forego a
renewed appeal to the legislatures the courts,
the executive authorities, and the people of
the States where these wrongs have been
perpetrated, to give their assistance towards
bringing to justice the offenders and prevent
ing n repetition of the crimes. No means
within INV power will be spared to obtain "A
full and 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 APP
preparation made for the department of jus
tice at the last session, contained the follow
ing clause And for defraying the expenses
which may be incurred in the enforcement of
the act approved February twenty eighth,
eighteen hundred and seyenty-one, entitled