Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Delivered to the Last Session Of the
45th Congress, Dec. 2, 1878.

REPRESENTATIVES: Our heartfelt gratitude is due to
the divine being who holds in his hands the destnes
of nations for the continued bestowal, during the |
last year, of countless blessings upon our country
We at peace with all other nations. Our public |
credit has greatly improved and is perhaps now |
stronger than before. Abundant harvests have
rewarded the laDors of those who till the soil. Our
manufacturing industries are reviving and it is be-
heved that the general prosperity which has been SO
long anxiously looked for, j. at last within cur
reach.
THE YELLOW FEVER.
The enjoyment of health by our people generally
has, however, been interrupted during the past sea-
by the prevalence of fatal pesiiience Inc yellow
fever some portions of the Southern States, Gre
atng emergency which called Tor prouipt ana OK
traordnary of relief. The disease appeared
ut New Orleans and other faces on The lower MlAss-
sippi soon after midsummer 1twas lapuly spread by
fugtves from the infected towns anu Giles, and o1d
not disappear until early in November. The States
of Louisiana Mississippi and tennessee have suffer-
ed severely. About one hundred thousand cases are
believer to have occurred, of which about 2o;0OO,
according to intelligent estimates, proved fatal lt
Is impossible estimate with any proxmate to accu-
racy, the loss the country accustomed by the cpl
demic. 1t is to be reckoned by the hundred millions
of dollars The suffering and restitution that resulted
| excited the deepest sympathy IN all parts OF the
| Union. khyslcans and nurses FASTENED from every
quarter to the assistance OF the afflicted Commune
| ties. Voluntary contributions OF money aud sup
In every needed form were speedily and gener-
| ousy furnished. Tue government Was able TO re-
spond In some measure to the call for helJ by pro-
4 Vidln
dest ue, ihe requls directions for the purpose be-
| ing given ia the CONFIDENT expectation that
this action of the executive would receive
| the sanction of Congress. About 1880
tents and ratious OF The value OF about
S25 900 sent to cities and towns which applied
tor them, full details OF which will be furnished to
| Congress by the proper department. The fearful
spread of this pestilence has awakened very gem
eral public sentiment i'll favor of national sanitary
administration which shall not only control qaran-
tine, but have the sanitary supervision OF internal
commerce in times of epidemics, and hold an advl-
sorry relation the State and municipal health au
thorities with powers to deal with whatever endan-
gers the public heath, which the municipal and
State authorities unable to regulate The national
quarantine act approved April ~, 1878, which Was
passed late in The last hours OF Congress to pro-
vide the tor carrying it into practical oper uon
during the past season, step i'll the direction here
indicated. In view OF The necessity for the most If
fecve measures by quarantine ana otherwise tor the
protection of seaports and the country generally
from this and other ep.demics, it is recommended
hat Congress give to the whole subject early and
| careful consideration.
| THE COLOR LINE.
The permanent pacihcation of the country by the
complete protection Of all citizens in every civil and
political right continues to be OF paramount interest
with the great body Of our people. Every step in
this direction is welcomed with pubic approval and
every interruption of steady and uniform progress
| to the desired consummatlon aw4ken5 general I'M
easiness and widespread condemnation. The recent
Congre sonal elections have furnished direct and
Trustworthy Of the advance tnus tar maze in inc
practical establishment OF the right of suffrage Sc
cured by the constitution to the Liberated race III the
Southern States. All disturbing Influences, real or
imaginary, mad been removed from ali OF these states.
The constitutional amendments which conferred
freedom and equality or civil and political
rights upon the colored people OF
Il the South were adopted by the coDclrr5n MT
action of the great body of good tzens who ma n
taiued the authority Of the national government and
the lnIegr ty and perpetuity OF the Uuion such
cost of treasure al nfe wise aud necessary EN-
bodiment i'll the organic law of just results OF
| Va
States accepted these results aud gave in every
ticable form that the thirteenth, Tour
teenth and fifteenth amendments and laws passed III
pursuance thereon, should il good faith be enforced
rgidly and impartay III letter and spirit to the end
that the humblest citizen without distinction or rca
or color, should uuder them receive full and equal
protection il person and property and iu political
| rights privileges. By these constitutional
amendments the southern section If the Union OBJ
tained large Increase of political i'll Congre IS
and i'll the electoral college, aud the country justly
peced that eIections would proceed as to The
1ranchised race, upon the came circumstances of
legal and constitutional freedom and protection
which obtained i'll all the other States OF the
Union. The friends Of law and order iooRed forward
to the conduct OF these eiec Lions, Offering to the
portulity the degree which The right ol
suffrage could be exercised by the colored Poop e.
and would be respected by their fellow citizens Bu
general enjoyment OF freedom of suffrage By
the coloied people, and more just and generous
protection OF that freedom, by the communities OF
/ which they form part were generally autcit ated
than the record of the elections dscloses. III
those States in which coored people have been unable
to make their opinions felt in the election the result
is mainly due to influences not easily measured o.
remeded by legal protection, but II
the States of Louisiana and Soutl
Carolina at large, and in some particular
Congressional districts outside of these States, the
records of the election seem to compel the conClu
sion that the rights of colored voters have been
riden and their participation in the elections not per
mtted to be either general free. 1t Will be for
Congress for which these elections had to max
such examination into their conduct'as may be ap
members to the seats. In the meanwhile it becomes
the duty of the executive and judicial department.
of the government, each in its province, to inquir
into and punish violations of the law
of the United States which have &C
CURED. can but repeat wha
l said in this connection, in my last message tina
whate\ authority rests with me, to this end sha
not hesitate to put forth, and am unwilling to fore
go renewed appeal to the legislatures, tine courts
the executive authorities and the people of the Stae
where the wrongs have been perpetrated to give thei
assistance towards bringing to justice the offender
h and preventing repetition of the crime. No mean
with my power will be spared to obtain full ani
l. fair investigation of the alleged crimes, and to sc
@ cure the conviction and just punishment of tn
% guilty.
ton made for the department of justice at the las
session contained the following clause: ttAnd 70
ia defrayng the expenses which may be incurred in tn
act approved Feb %, 1871, entitled act to amen
act approved May 30, 1870, entitled act to en-
l. force the rights of citizens of the United States
vote in the several States Of the Union and for oe
- purposes, any acts arnendat0ry thereof supple
mentary thereto. 1t is the opinion of the attorne
e general that the expenses of these proceedings Wi
> largely exceed the amount which was thus provided
10 and rely confidently upon Co gross to make ade
quate appropriations TO enable the executive depart
Is ment to enforce the laws. -
n l respectfully urge upon your attention that tn
If Congressional elections in every district yer
important sense, justly matter of interest AM
concern throughout the whole country. Each Stat
and every political party is entitled to a share G
n power which is conferred by the legal and eonsttu
onal suffrage 1t is the right of every citizen pos