Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
resentatiyeS:

resentatives:
Our heartfelt gratitude is due to the Divine
Being who holds IN his hands the destInies of
ios, vss, '" " II roh..nnsa nestowal. during the
try. We are at peace Will all other nations.
Our public credit has greatly improved, and Is,
perhaps, now stronger than ever before. Alum
dant hsrvests have rewarded the lsbors Of those
VINO till the soil; our manufacturing Industries
are reyiving III believed that general pros
perity which has been 80 long snxionsly looked
Tor |. 1t last within our reach The enjoyment
or S.s heath by our people generally has. however.
preVaience of y fatal pestilence-
THE YELLOW FRYER,
in some portions of the southern states, creating
An emergency which called for prompt ind ex-
traordinary measures of relief. The disease ap-
peared as An epidemic in New Orleans, and as
other places on the lower Mississippi soon after
midsummer. 1t vas rapidly spread by f%ugitiyes
from the infected cities and towns, and did no,
disappear until early In November. The states
oil L'uislnna. Mississippi and Tennessee. have
suffered severely. About one hundred thousand
cases are believed to have occurred, Of which
about seventy thousand. according to intelligent
estimates. prove'i fatal Ii 10 impossible to esti-
mate. with any approach to accuracy. the loss
TO the country occasiOnrd by this epidemic. 1t
Is to be reck0ned BY the hundred millions OF
dOliars.
The suffering and destitution that resulted e1-
clteu the deepest sympathy In all parts OF the
Union. Physicians and nurses hastened from
every quarter to the assistance of the all lCt+d
communities. 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
Tor heip-by providing tentS medicines and food
for the sick ami destitute, the requisite direc-
lions Tor the purpose being given in the conf
dent expectation that this seton of the executive
would receive the sanction of congress. Abour
800 tents, and rations to the value Of about
S25 600 were sent TO the cities and towns which
applied for them. full details Of which will be
furnished 10 congress- by the proper upDSrtIpent.
The fearful spread of this pestilence has
aWskened . very general public sentiment IN
shall not only control quarantine, but have the
sanitary supervision of internal III
times Of epidemics, and hold an advisory reis-
zion to the state and municipal health associa-
tons. with power to deal with Whatever -ndan-
gers the public health. and which the municipal
and state authorities are unable to regulate.
The national quarantine act approved April %,
1873. which was passed too late in the last ses-
sion Of congress TO provide ths means for car
ryiny it into practical operation during the past
season. Ia a step in the direction here indicated.
In view OF the necessity for tine most effective
measures, by quarantine and otherwise. for III.
projection Of our seapOrts and the country gen.
orally from this and other rpi'iemics. it is rec
commended that congress give t. the whole sub
ject An early and careful consideration.
PROTECTION TO CITIZENS.
The permanent publication OF the country by
the complete protection of all citizens in every
civil and political right. continues to be OF par
amount interest with the great body Of our p.o-
pie. Every step in this direction Id welcomed
with public approval, and every interruption of
steady and uniform progress 10 the desired CON
summation nwakens general nneasiness and
widespread condemnation. The recent con-
gressional elections have furnished q direct and
tTnstw test OF the advance thus Tar made ia
the practical establishment Of the right OF suf-
fIa.e secured by the constitution TO the liberated
race in the southern states. All disturbing
influences. real Orimsginary, had been removed
from all of these states. Ihs three constitutional
amendments which conferred freedom and
equality of civil and political rights upon the
4 CDiDTpt lteOnlp OF the aanfl We're annnfPi nv the
concurrent action of the great body OF good CIT
izens who maintained the authority of The
national government and The integrity and per
petuity oil the union at such = Cost Of treasure
and lie. as . wise and Necessary embodiment Ia
the organic Law OF the just results OF the war.
The proEle OF the former sldve-hol,ling states
accepted these results and gave in every practi-
Cal form assurances that the thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth amendments. and laws
passed in pursuance thereof. should IN good
faith be enforced riYIdly and Imrarially IN let
ter and spirit to tn" end that the huInbie-t cite
zen, without distinction OF race or Color. should
under them receive FULL and equal prot, ctlon IN
| person and property anu in political rights and
privileges. By these constitutions am. ndments
tn. southern section oil the Union obtained IA
large Increase OF political power in congress
and IN the electoral college, and the country
justly expected that elections would proceed a.
To the eniranchiscd race upon the same circum-
stances of legal aud constitutional freedom and
protection which obtained IN ali the other states
OF the Union.
The friends of law and order looked forward
to the conduct of these elections as Offering TO
II general 1Nuk vi ltG equity MI pIpD'-
tuniIy to measure the degree in which the right
of suffrage could be exercised by tie coioItd
people. ami would be RESPECTED by their fellow
citizens, but \ more general enl0. mcnt CT free
dom OF suffrage ~ The culOred people, ana n
more just and generous protection OF that free
dom by the communities OF which they form Il
part were mere generally anticipated than the
record Of the election disclose In some oil these
states in which the coiored people have been un-
able TO make their opinions felt IN the elections,
the result 10 maIYly due To- influences not easiiy
measured or remehied By legal protection. but
in the states OF Louisiana and South Carolina at
large, and in some particular congressional dis
tricts outside oil those stst.s, the records Of the
elections seem 10 compel the conclusion that the
rights of the cylorpd voters have been overrid-
den, and their participation in the elections not
permitted TO be either general or tree.
II will be for the congress- for which these
elections were held, to make such examinations
in their conduct rs may be appropriate to de-
ternine the validity Of the claims oil members
to their seats. In the meanwhile, It becomes the
duty OF the executive and judicial departments
of the g~Overnurpt, each in Its province, to in
Quire into and punish violations OF the laws OF
but repeat what l said In this Connection In my
last message. that whatever authority rests
with me TO this end l shall not hesitate to put
forth, - and l am unwilling to forego q renewed
appeal to the legislatures. the courts. the ex-
ecutive authorities aod the people OF the states
give their assistanc- towards bringing to Justice
the offenders aLJ:preventlng q repetition of the
crimes. No means within my power wiil b:
spared to obtsiu . fun and fair investigation OF
the alleged crimes. and to secure the conviction
and ust punishment Of the guilty.
THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
II il to lie observed that the principal appro-
priatlou made for the department oil justice a:
the last session contained the following CLAUSE
':And for dsfraying the expenses which may be
February %. 1871. entitled an act to shend an
act approved May IL, 1870. entitled an act 20
enforce the rights Of sitiaens to the right to vote
purposes, or any acts arnendatory thereof, OF
supplenentsry thereto" It 10 the opinion OF
the attorney general that the expenses of these
procsedlnEs will largely exceed the amount
which was thus provided. and very confidently
call upon congress to make adequate appropria-
tIons ~ enable the executive department "a en-
force tho laws. 1 respectfully urge Upon your
attention That the congregational elections in
Justly = matter Of political interest and concern
through the whole country; In each state every
political party is entitled to the share o: power
tionsI outrage. Its tins right Of every citizen.
possessing tho qualification prescribed by Law
10 cast an u%nintimidaled ballot, ana to have his
30 long a. the exercise Of this power and tbs
employment OF this right are common and equal
G,sI p.suIt! Of IN. . suar.ss viii Be accorded ,o1.
ally aud cheerfully. and all the departments Of
government will teel the true viHor q: :ne popu.
ar wi! ,hu' enps:.:e "a Nm No dsmp"r.sy or ho Nd.
ever urgent or weighty, will ever dlsplaee III.
seal Of our people IN dsfense q the primary
| ftRQGo Oh CIIlSenoHlp. lney unutsst8nl tuht IL
protection o 1liherty requires the maintenance in
full viHor of the manly methods Of tree speech
free r,ress and Tree suffrage. ana will sustain
the full authority OF the government to enforc,
the laws which are framed to preserve these In
estimshie rights: The material welfare anc
progress of the states depend on the protection
Afforded to their citizens. There can be n,
peace without such protection. no prosperity
without peace. aud the whole country is deeply
! interested in the growth and prosperity Of Al
Its parts.
UNITY OF YEsLrHa THE STATES.
While the country has not yet reached com
plrte unity OF feeling and reciprocity of con
ddence between the communities so lately 81
! seriously estranged. l feel An absolute assurance
that the tendencies are In that direction. AM
With increasing force the power OF public opin
ion will override all polite Al prejudires and al
sectional or state sttachIaents in demanding tina
eli over our wide territory the name and Omar
act.r of citizen of the United States shall inca
one and the same thing, and carry with then
unChallenged confidence and respect.
}, FoREIoN RELATIONS.
Our relations with other countries %continu
peaceful, and our II. utralIty IN contests between
fore rgn powers has been maintained and lie
r spected.
THE UNIvHRsAL EXPOSITION
held nt Paris during the last summer. has bee
attended by large numbers OF our citizena. TIL
hSief period allowed Tor the preparation and ar
? this great exposition. was employed in en- 'rget
ic and judicious c0 Irts to overcome this tisad
vantage. These efforts, led and directed by tn
commissioner general. were remarkably sue
E American industry Was creditahle and CRAFTY
ing In seope aud character. The reports OF th'
. United States commissioner. giving its result
in detail, WIN be duly laid before you: Gu
for the favor and the trade Of the world may b
expected to produce useful and important Re