Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-12-02
vHE pEsEsRDENT's MESSAGE.

FeLtOU tLt@ChS " t1C 'Se'i"'e "'-'' AA''''0 W
Representatives
Our heartfelt gratitude is due TO tho Divine
Being, who holds ia Ills hands the des!inleS oi
nations. for the Continued 5eStoTa', dut!ng tho
last year, of countless blessings upon cur coun'
try.
We are at peace with all other nations Our
public credit has greatly improved. aod Is, per-
haps, now stronger than ever before. Abundant
haryests have rewarded the isbO1s Of those wbo
till the soil, our manufacturing Industries are
revirirg, aud it is believed thst general pros,
perity, which has been so lopS anS!ous'y looked
! for, is at last within our reach.
The enjoyment Of health by our pcopia gen
eralIv has, however. been Interrupted, duipg
the past season, By tho prevalence OF g fatal
pestilence, tho yellow fever, in somc portions OF
the southern States, orea!og an emergency
which called for prompt and extraordinary
measures of relief. The disease appeared as an
epidemic at New Orleans and at other places
on the lower Mississippi, soon alter mldsunl
mer. 1t was rapidly spread By iuEitives trcG'
he infected Giles and toWns, and did moi dis
appear until early in November. The States
Of Louisiana, Mississippi ard Tennessee haV:
suffered severely. About 100 GOO cases a'e b"
Iieyed to have occurred, Of which about 70 900,
according to intelligent estimates, proved fatal.
1t is impossible to estimate with Any approach
to accuracy the loss to the coaatry ocaasoned
By this epidemic. 1t is to be reci-oneG By the
hundred millions Of dollars. Tho suffering and
destisutiou that resulted. excited the deepest
symystby in all parts 0! the Union. Physicians
and nurses hastcDed from every quarter to tie
assistance cf tho all c;Gd comnuulIlcs. Fc.un
tarV contributions Of money and supplies, IN
every needed form, were speedily aCd gcacr
ousy furnished, The Government was ablo to
respond in some easurc 80 tho call Tor help'
by providing tents, medicines and food tor the
sick and destitute, The requisite directions toI
the purpose being given. 10 tho ooDhdent cx
pcctation hat this action CT the Executive
would receive the sanction Of Congress. Ahou:
1900 tents, aud ratioos of tho value Ct about
s25 600, were sent to ci'its and towos which
applicd for them, full details OF which will be
furnished to Congress By the proper Depart
meat.
The fearful spread Of this rcsiiIcuce has
awakened very general public sentiment ir
favor Of national sanitary administration, which
shall rot only coutro! Gua.anlina, bet have lfc
sanitary supervision of interaa! commerce IL
times of epidcmica, and hold 60 advisory re!a-
ton to he State and ynIG!clpa! hca!tl atlth2!l
ties, with DoEct 10 deal with Whatever caoa1
gers the public health, aaa which tho muciapa
and State authorities arc u9stle to regulate
Tine rational quarantine act approved April -
1878, which Wss passed TOO late 10 the last s@s
siou Of Congress to provide the lneans iog car
ryiuc it iuto practical operation during sio pas
season. IS step 10 tic direction here Indicated
IL view OF the necessity iCr tie most elective
| measures, by qusrartlGe end otaetwl;c, for The
protection OF ouc sea parts AID tie cCuatrg geo
orally, from this aud other eridemics, ii is rec
commended that Congress give to the whole
suti:c! carly and careful consideration.
HE perr1sGcot raoihcati0n ci the country
by the complete protection oil all cltiz.ns IL
every civil aud political right continues TO be O.
paramount interest with The great b0Gy CT cul
people. Every step in this direction is vel
coined with public approval, and every in:cr
raption Of steady and uniform progress to The
desired ccrsurua;ion awaken5 Eecera! uSc2:!
nts, and Widespread condemnalieu. Tie re
cert Corgrt s:icCal elections have furnished q
direct and trustworthy tcst o: tbs advance thu:
far made 10 the p:Gc:;ca! establishment OF thc
right Of suffrage, secured by the Constitution
to the liberated race in the southern States.
All disturbing Dfiucreis, real or imaginary: lac
been removed tcon all Of these Sta!is.
The three constitutional amendments. which
conferred freedom AND equally Of civil a;;! %
litcal rigti;a upon The cal1rct people {! IhG
South, we've adapted By tho cai c1:reut acion
OF he great bod? Ct goCG ci;iz.ns vine Eaaio
tsineJ tie authority 81 ih': Na!!oual Covcrn
meot and tic il egri;y aud pcr!'ctuity Of the In
ion at such COST OF treasure SID lie, g: i WISE
aud nectss.ry embadir.eui ia the organic laW
OF the ius: results OF tbs Wal. The people OF
the to, mtr slavcs:o!Ging States accepted thcss
results, acc gavin every practicable form. assuc
~ c:s that the Is h, 14th aud 18th a'ncrdmcu's
aud laws passed 10 PURSUANCE :hc.eo!, s1oa!d,
10 goot: /, ia!, &c q reed, richly AID Impair
italy, ia Itcr AMI s;'ijs. TO INC end shat TIC
bu:pbicst cijz:n, without distinction CT race ot
color, should, u9Gcr them, receive it'll anG
equal protection 10 person and properly
and in political rights aod privileges. ~
,icsi, crusti(u!! ufai GinanG Greats, the south
crn section e TIC U0iOa rbtairad
large iacfsaaa e! political power IL
Congress and IL the Electoral college, AID the
couatty Justly expected that c!ec'oEs would
;rocced, 81 To- the nr;raueh;sctd race. ntoH !he
same circumstances a legal AMI constitutional
| freedom aud protection which obtained il al
tic other States OF the tini0n. Tic friends oil
law aud order locked forward & the oaodu.t c;
| these elections, az Giielng 20 the gHacrat judE.
moDt of The clu#try 81: important ;pportnol:y
| to measure the dcgrao in Which tic Ei.ut OF
suffrage could be czaEcis,d by TIC coored pao
pie, and would be- respected by their icI!rH
citizens; but nero general Enjoyment CT Tree
dom of suffrage by the c3lorcd people, end a
more inst and generous protection Ct that igse'
dom by the cemmnnitics CT which they form a
part, we're generally anticipated than tie record
of tho elections dsclcsos. lu some Of those
| States in which the coiorcd people bava beer
unable to make their opinions felt in tho cleo.
tons, the result is mainly duo 10 influences not
easily measured or remedIca by legal protcctior;
but 10 the States Of Louisiana ard South Caro-
lima at large, and in some particular congress
sional districts outside Of those States, The
records Of the c!cctiors seem to compel The Goa
clusion that the rights OF the ooIored voters
have been cverEiddan, ard their participation
in tho cec1cps rot permitted to be either
general or free.
1t will be For the Congress for which these
elections wcIe held, to naks such examinations
into their ccn9lct as may be appropriate to de.
termao the validity q the claims CT members
to their seals. In the meanwhile it becones
the duty CT the Executive of the judicial De.
-, ne fho IN ts