The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-12-05
OF THE FoRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

FAi ing, who holds in His hands the destnies OF Ma
S lions, for the continued bestowal, during the last
Yot year, OF countless blessings upon our country.
9 We are at peace with all other Nations. Our pub
w, lie credit has greatly improved, and is, perhaps,
D. now stronger than ever before. Abundant harvests
W. have rewarded the labors OF those who till the soil;
W. our manufacturing Industries arc reviying, and 1t
=" is believed that general prosperity, which has been
But 30 long anxiously looked for, is at last within
+ our reach.
Tn Inc enjoyment OF heaith by our people generally
II has, however, been interrupted during tho past
~, season by the prevalence OF o fatal pestilence, tho
-, yellow fever, in some portions of the Southern
D.. States, creating an emergency which called for
~ prompt and extraordinary measures OF relief. The
disease appeared as an epidemic at New Orleans
Ar and at other places on the Lower Mississippi, soon
after midsummer. 1t was rapidly spread by fugi-
Tn, tiyes from the infected cities and towns, and did
not disappear until early in November. The States
LII OF Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have suf-
Az, fered severely. About one hundred thousand
cases are believed to have occurred, Of which,
about twenty thousand, according TO intelligent
VI estimates, proved fatal. 1t is impossible to esti'
Bnt mate with any approach TO accuracy the loss to the
country occasioned by this epidemic. 1t is to be
reckoned by the hundred millions of dollars. The
n suffering and restitution that resulted. excited the
deepest sympathy in all parts of the Union. Ply
Wv, siclans and nurses hastened from every quarter to
the assistance Of the afflicted communities. Volun-
LIN y" tary contributions Of money and supplies, in every
d" needed form, were speedily and generously fur
Ant nished. The Government was able to respond in
n come measure TO the call for help, by providing
TIL tents, medicines and food for the sick and desti-
Nc tute, the requisite directions for the purpose being
given, in the confident expectation that this action
~ OF the Executive would receive the sanction Of
Congress. About eighteen hundred tents, and
An' rations OF the value Of about twenty-five thousand
III dollars were sent to cities and towns which applied
for them, full details Of which will be furnished to
Congress by the proper department.
The fearful spread Of this pestilence has
awakened a very general public sentiment in favor
Of National sanitary administration, which shall
not only control quarantine, but have the sanitary
IS supervision Of internal commerce in times Of cpl
denies, and hold an advisory relation to the State
ht and municipal health authorities, with power to
w deal with whatever endangers the public health,
Il, and which the municipal and State authorities are
unable to regulate. The National Quarantine Act
w approved April 30. 1873, which was passed too
re late in the last session of Congress TO provide the
ri means for carrying it into practical operation, dur
or ing the past season, is q step in the direction here
- indicated. In view of the necessity for the most
effective measures, by quarantine and otherwise,
for the protection of our seaports, and the country
r, 7 generally, from this and other epidemics, 1t is
Great recommended that Congress give to the whole sub
nen I iect early and careful consideration.
ust The permanent pacifcation OF the country by the
complete protection Of all citizens in every civil
tle O''rolitical right continues to be of paramount
ootswo,n,s cry step in this direction is vel
with one w i Sith of P stsaSy a SpdPrO Uniform and pro sys.y
uder the lash sired awakens general UNI
'''ocA risgi ana trustworthy test Of the advance thus
ndim in light of suffrage, secured by the Constitution to the
Grated race in tho Southern States. All disturb
iISi n,.n roy aved from ali Of I'll these e States tnes n"u D'on :"
- n = The three constitutional amendments which con;
ood rights upon the colored people Of the South, were
eau. Iadopted by the concurrent action of the great body
q of good citizens who maintained the authority Of
the National Government and tho integrity and
a perpetuity Of the Union at such q cost Of treasure
= ia organic law Of the Just results Of the war. The
4 assurances ! ns,S,' that ! the ! Thirteenth # MI, Fourteenth S and
Fifteenth Amendments and laws passed in pur-
: , sTa%Hs Thereof tD% I%n.s sAGnIG; in in Ea}9er faith att I be enforced % ed
end that the Eumblest citizen, without distinC.
ton Of race or color, should under them
T property yu and P IN political SiHlac5 P PisSfs aSd p pr RficsSs a By
these constitutional amendments the Southern sec
iifica Il power sWS f in Cong SnsH and q ihi IN the @f Electoral i col.
iege, and the country j1stly, expscted, that cleo
upon the same circumstances Of legal and consti-
ali apti tne ot 15efe states anS Of PFtG Se union %nl TRo Of frienSs Of Of
law and order looked forward to the conduct of
3 iass Z elections Of t &c 0 eoantFy . an INC imn Ps9Sfat
opportunity to measure the degree in
exercised n@Sai by the ecoSioreS people, and would be re,
spected by their !, ftSslnlcOSECtSai t Il, A. but a m re gen SS,
ored people. and a more just and generous proec-
they form q part, were generally anticipated than
the record of the elections discloses. In some of
unable to make their opinions felt in the elections,
the result is mainly due to Influences not easily
the States Of louisiana and South Carolina "a at
large, and in some particular Congressional, dis.
tricts outside OF those States, the records OF the
elections seem 70 compel the conclusion that the
rights Of the colored voters have been overridden,
and their participation in the elections not per.
United TO be either general or free.
1t will bc for the Congress for which these cleo
tons were held to make such examinations into
their conduct as may be appropriate to determine
In tho meanwhile 1t becomes tho duty of the Elk
ecutive and judicial Departments Of the Govern
ish violations Of the laws of the United States
said in this connection in my last message, that
whatever, authority rests with me to this end |
to foreso a renewed appeal to the Legislatures, the
Courts, the executive authorities, and the people
p petrato d," 10 give EettiSS their S'G asslstancs toward SSnS D Bringing SGvs
TO Justice the offenders, and preventing a repetition
spared to obtain a full and fair Investigation OF the
Just punishment Of the guilty.
1t IL to DO observed that the principal %appropria-
ton made for the Department Of Justice at the last
~detraying the expenses which may be incurred in
sse e isSfs Sntitl Cd 'nS An act a SPpr fO amend peOGaa az
aCt approved May Is, 1879, entitled At LED
United States to vote in tho several States Of the
Union, and for other purposes, or any acts amend
htOry tneteO1 OF bupnleHenIaiy THERETO.
1t ls the opinion Of the Attorney General that the
expenses Of these proceedings will, largely, exceed
the amount which was then provided, and ! rely
confidently upon Congress TO make adequate ap-
preparations 10 enable tho Executive Department
TO enforce tho laws,
respectfully urge upon your attention that tho
Congressional elections, in every district, II Q very
important sense, are justly a matter of political In
terest and concern throughout the whole country.
Each State, every political party, Is entitled to the
bhare OF power which is conferred by the legal and
constitutional suffrage. 1t is tho right Of every
citizen, possessing the qualifications prescribed by
tavv N INST ona unintimilnted ballot. and to have
his ballot honestly counted. solong 90 the exercise
q this power and the enjoyment nns1,oo OF
ms we'll as formally. submission 70
the results OF the suffrage will be accorded Loyalty
- ahnnrfulIr mud oil the dnnnrlnhnla of GOXern-