St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-12-06
The Presidents Message.
(EAtfaCtsJ
FellOw- Citizens Of the Senate and House
of Representatives:
IEXtracts.l

=
[Extracts.I
FellOp- Citizens of the Senate and House
of Representatives -
Our heartfelt gratitude is due to the
Divine Being who holds in his hands
the destinies of nations, for the cOntinu-
al bestOwal, 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 harvests have award
ed the labOrs of those who till the soil,
our manufacturing industries are reviv-
ing, and it is believed that general pros
perity, which has been so long anxious
ly looked for, is at last within our
reach.
THE YELLOW FEVER SCOUKGE.
The enjoyment of health by our peo-
pie generally has, however, been inter
rupted during the past season, by the
yellow fever, in some portions or the
southern states, creating an emergency
which called for prompt and eXtraor-
binary measures of relief. The disease
appeared us an epidemic ut New Orleans
and other places on the Mississippi, soon
after midsummer. 1t was rapidly
spread by fugitives from the infected
cities and towns, and did not disappear
until early in November. The states of
Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee
have suffered severely. About one
hundred thousand cases are believed to
have occurred, of which about twenty
thousand, according to intelligent esti-
| ,NrAra1 fnta1 innnnSsIhla
to estimate, with any approach to ac-
curacy, the loss to the country occasion
J ed oy this epidemic. 1t is to be reck oned
| py the hundred millions of dollars. The
suffering and restitution that resulted,
excited the deepest sympathy III all
parts of the Union. Physicians and
nurses FASTENED from every quarter to
the assistance of the afflicted communi-
ties. Voluntary contributions of money
and supplies, in every needed form were
speedily and generously furnished. The
government was able to respond In some
measure to the call for help, by provid-
ing tents, medicines and food for the
sick and destitute, the requisite direc-
tions 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 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 fur
nished to Congress by the proper de-
partment.
The fearful spread of this pestilence
has awakened very general public SEN
timent in favor of national sanitary ad-
ministration, which shall not only con-
troll quarantine, but have the sanitary
supervision of internal commerce in
times of epidemics, and hold an advise
ry 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 %, 1873, which was passed toe
late in the last session of Congress to
provide the means for carrying it into
practical operation, during the past sea-
son, is a step in the direction here indi-
Gated. In view of the necessity for the
most effective measures by quarantine
and otherwise, for the protection of oul
seaports and the country generally,
from this and other epidemics, it is re-
commended that Congress give to the
whole subject early and careful consid-
Grafton.
AS TO THE SOUTH.
The permanent pacification of the
country by the complete protection OF
all citizens in every civil and political
right continues to be of paramount in
terest with the great body of our peO-
pie. Every step in this direction is well
coined with public approval, and every
, interruption of steady and uniform pro-
gress to the desired contamination
awakens general uneasiness and wide
spread condemnation. The recent con
gressional elections have furnished di-
rect and trustworthy test of the advance
, thus far made in the practical establish
ment of the right 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 civil and political rights upon the
colored people of the south, were adopt
ed by the concurrent action of the great
body of good citizens who maintained
the authority of the national govern
ment and the integrity and perpetuity
of the Union at such cost of treasure
J and life, as wise and necessary en-
, bodiment in the organic law of the just
, results of the war. The people of the
former slave-holding states accepted
these results, and gave, in every practi-
cal form, assurances that the thirteenth,
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments,
and laws passed in pursuance thereof,
T should, in good faith, be enforced, rigid
ly and impartially, in letter and spirit,
to 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 constitutional amendments the
southern section of the Union obtained