The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-03
pr E b MESSAGE.
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tinies or nations, forth ntfnued bestowal
during the last year OF countless blessings
upon our country. siss
e we are at peace with oil, other nations.
Our public credit has greatly improved,
and Is, perhaps, now strong ger than ever be-
fore. Abundant haPyests have rewarded
the labors Of those who I'LL the soil, our
industries are reviyi1g. and
tits believed that genera! prosperity, which
has been SO long anxious1v looked for, is ut
last within our reach.
The enjoyment of health, by our people
generally has, however, been interrupted
during the past season By the prevalence OF
o fatal pestilence-the yellow-ferer- some
portions OF the southern States, creating an
emergency which called for prompt and ex-
traordinary measures OF relief. The disease
appeared asan epidemic at New Orleans and
at other places on the lower Mississippi soon
after midsummer. 1t was rapidly spread by
iucitives from the infected cities and towns,
and did not disappear until early In No
yember. The States OF Louisiana, Missis-
sippi; aud Tennessee. have suffered severe.
~. About 100000 cases are believed to
have occurred--of which about 10000,
according to intelligent estimates, proved
fatal. 1t is impossible to estimate with
any approach to accuracy the loss to the
country occasioned by this epidemic. It
is to be reckoned by the hundred millions
Of dollars. The suffering and 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. Vol
untary contributions OF money and supplies
in every needed form were speedily aud
generously furnished. The Government
was able to respond in some measure to the
call for help by providing tents, medicines,
and food for the sick and destitute, the re-
quisite directions for the purpose being
given, in the confident expectation that this
action of the Executive would receive the
sanction OF Congress. About 1900 tents,
and rations OF thevalue. of about $4,000,
were sent to cities and towns which applied
for them, full details OF which will be fur
nished to Congress by the proper Depart
ment. .r
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 supervision OF inter-
nal commerce in times Of epidemics, and
hold an advisory relation to the State and
municipal health authorities, with power to
deal with whatever endangcrs the public
health, and which the municipal and State
authorities are unable to regulate. The
national quarantine act, approved April 20,
1878, which was passed too late in the last
session of Congress to provide the means
for carrying it into practical operation
during the past season, is q step in the di-
rection here indicated. In view OF the ne
cessiLy for the most effective measures by
quarantine and otherwise for the protection
OF our seaports. and the country generally
from this and other epidemics, it is recon-
mepded that Congress give to the whole
subject early and careful consideration.
The permanent pacifcation OF the coun-
try by the complete protection OF all citi-
zens in every civil and political right con-
tinues to be Of paramount interest with the
great body Of our people. Every step in
this direction is welcomed with public APP
proval, and every interruption of steady
and uniform progress to the desired con-
awakens general uneasiness and
condemnation. The recent
con .reSsional elections have furnished a d.
rect and trustworthy test OF the advance
thus far made in the practical establishment
Of the right OF suffrage secured by the Con.
stitution to the liberated race in the south
ern States. All disturbing influences, real
or imaginary, had been removed from all OF
these States. -..s .s. .--.....r
The three constitutional amendments
which conferred freedom and equality Of
civil and political rights upon the colored
people OF the South were adopted by the
concurrent action Of the great body OF good
citizens, who maintained the authority Of
the National Government and the integrity
and perpetuty OF the Union at such cost
OF treasure and life, as wise and necessary.
in the organic law Of the just
results of the war. The people OF the
former slavebolding States accepted these
results, and gave i'll 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 impartially, in letter
and spirit, to the end that the humblest citi-
zen, 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
southern section OF the Union obtained
q large increase Of political power in
Congress and in the Electoral College, and
the country Justly expected that elections
would proceed. as 10 the enfranchised race,
upon the same circumstances OF legal and
freedom and protection which
obtained in all the other States Of the Union.
The friends Of law and order looked for
ward to the conduct Of these elections as
Offering to the general Judgment OF the coun-
try an important opportunity to measure the
degree in which the right OF suffrage could be
exercised by the colored people, and would
be respected by their felloW.citizens but a
more general enjoyment OF freedom OF suf-
frage by the colored people, and more
Just and generous protection OF that free
dom by the communities Of which they
form part, were generally anticipated than
the record OF the elections diScioses. In
some Of those States in which the colored
people have been unable to make their opin-
ions felt in the elections, the result is mainly
due to influences not easily measured or
remedied by legal protection; but in the
States Of Louisiana and South Carolina at
large, and in some particular congressional
districts outside Of those States, the records
OF the elections seem to compel the conclu-
sion that the rights of the colored voters
haye.been overridden, and their participa-
ton in the elections not permitted to be
either general or free.
1t will be for the Congress for which these
elections were held to make such eXamina-
tons into their conduct as may be appro-
pirate to determine the validity of the claims
of members to their seats. In the mean
while it becomes the dnty OF the executive
and judicial departments OF The Govern
ment, each in its province, to inquire into
and punish violations Of the laws OF the
United States which have occurred. can
but repeat what I said in this connection
in my last message, that: whatever authority
rests, with me. to this end / shall not
hesitate to put forth, and l. am unWIll-,
ing to forego a renewed. appeal to the legis-.