The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-12-05
Mr.. HAYESS MESSAGE.
HE FLUTTERs SLIGHTLY THE
BLOODY SHIRT.
Advises Money Matters be Left by Congress h
John Sherman-And DOdges COmmlttal on
the Indian Transfer.

fCt0D CtlzeNS W He CeItut6 una i1OlSe ~ IttpTC5eH-
tdtipt5;
Our heartfelt gratitude is due to the Divine Be-
ing, who holds in his hands the destlnies Of ma
tlons, for the continued 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, per-
haps, now stronger than ever before. Abundant
harVesB have rewarded the labors of those who
till the soil our manufacturing industries are re-
Vivlng and 1t is believed that general prosperity,
which has been 80 long anxiousy looked for, is at
last within our reach,
YELLOW FEVER.
The enjoyment Of health by our people gener
ally has however, been interrupted, during the
past season. by the prevalence Of fatal pesience
the yellow fever in some portions of the Southern
States creating an emergency which called for
prompt and extraordinary measures of relief. The
disease appeared as an epidemic at New Orleans
and at other places on the lower Mississippi, soon
after mid summer. II was rapidly spread by fugi-
tlVes from the infected cities and towns and did
not disappear until early In November, The States
Of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have suf
fered severely About one hundred thousand
cases are believed to have occurred, of which
about twenty thousand, according to intelligent
estimates proved fatal. II is impossible to est-
mate with any approach to accuracy the loss 10
the country occssioned by this epidemic, 1t is to
be reckoned by the hundred millions Of dollars.
The suffering and destiution that resulted eXcit
ed the deepest sympathy in all parts Of the Union
Physicians and nurses hastened from every quar-.
ter to the assistance of the afflicted communities
Voluntary contributions Of money and supplies,
in every needed form, were speedily and gener.
Ously furnished. The Government was able to re-
Bpond in some measure to the call for help, by
providing tents, medicines and food for the sick
and destitute the requisite directions for the pur
pose being gwen in the confident expectation
that this action OF the Executive would receive
the sanction OF Congress. About eighteen hun.
dred tents, and raons of the value of about twen-
ty.fVe thousand dollars, were sent to cities and
towns which applied for them, full details of which
will be furnished to Congress by the proper de-
partment,.
The fearful spread OF this peStilence has awak-
ened very general public sentiment in favor Of
national san itary administration, which shall not
only control quarantine, but have the sanitary
supervision of internal commerce in times Of cpl
denies, and hold an advisory relation to the State
and mum icipal 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 20, 1878, which was passed too
late in the last session Of Congress to provide the
meane for carrying 1t into practical operation
daring the past season, is step in the direction
here indicated. In view of the necessity for the
most effective measures, by quarantine and 9th.
erwise for the protection Of our seaports and the
country generally, from this and other epidemics,
II Is recommended that Congress give the whole
subject carly and careful consideration.
THE SOUTHERN POLICY
The permanent paclaLation Of the country by
the complete protection Of all citizens In every
civil and po lihcal right continues to be Of para
mount interest with the great body Of our people,
Every step In this direction is welcomed with
public approval and every interruption Of steady
and uniform progress to the desired consumma
ton AWskens general uneasiness and widespread
condemnation. The recent Congressional elec.
tions have furnished direct and trustworthy
test OF the advance thus far made in the practical
establishment of the right of suffrage secured by
the Constitution to the liberated race In the South
ern States. All disturbing influences, read or
imaginary, had been removed from all OF these
DtRtee
The three constitutional amendments, which
conferred freedom and equality Of civil and pollt.
ical rights upon the coored 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 In
tegrity and perpetuity OF the Union at such cost
OftreRsure and lite, 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
particable form, assurances that the thirteenth,
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, and laws
passed In pursuance thereof should good faith,
be enforced and rlgidly and impartaly, 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 privi
leges. By these constitutional amendments the
southern section Of the Union obtained large
increase of political power In Congress and In the
Electoral College, and the country justly expected
tEat elections would proceed, as to the enfranchis
ed race, upon the same circumstances of legal
and constitutional freedom and protection which
obtained In all the other States OF the Union. The
friends Of law and order looked forward to the
conduct Of these elections as offering to the gen
eral Judgment OF the country an important oppor.
tunity 10 measure the degree In which the right |
OfNffTage could be exercised by the Colored pe0 |
pie, and wodld be respected by their fellow clti
Gems; but more general enjoyment Of freedom OF |
suffrage by the colored people, and more Just |
and generous protection of that freedom by the |
communities Of which they form part, were gen. |
orally anticipated than the record Of the elections
dlscloses. In some Of those States In which the |
cOl0red people have been unable to make their |
opinions felt In the elections the result ia 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 partieu |
lar Congressional districts outside Of those States
the records OF the elections seem to compel the |
conclusion that the rights Of the eOlored voters |
have been overrden, and their participation |
In the elections not permitted to be either gener-
al or free.
THE DUTY OF CONGRESS.
twill be for the Congress for which these elec.
tons were held, to make such examinations into |
their conduct as may be appropriate to determine |
the validity Of the claims Of members 10 their |
seats. In the meantime It becomes the duty Of |
the Executive and Judicial Departments Of the |
Government each In Its province to inquire into |
and punish violations Of the laws Of the United |
States which have occurred. l can but repeat |
what 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 am unwil.
iug to forego renewed appeal to the legislatures
the courts the executive authorities and the peo.
pie Of the States where these wrongs have been
p0rpeGratad. TO give their assistance toward bring.
ing to Justice the Ohenden and preventing q re.
petition Of the crimes No means within my pow.
OF will be spared TO obtain . full and fair in.
Vesugaton Of the alleged crimes, and 10 Co.
cure the conviction and just punishment Of the
guilty.
Itis to be observed that the principal approprIa.
ton made for the Department Of Justice at the
last session contained the following clause: "And
for defraying the expenses which may be incur.
red In the enforcement Of the act approved Feb
ruary twenty eight eighteen hundred and seven
70 one, entitled An act to amend an act approved
May tniriieih, eighteen hunded and seventy, en-.
titled, An act to enforce the rights Of citizens of
the United States to vote In the several States of
the Union and for other purposes or sny acts
acts amendatOry theieOf or supplementary there.
1t La the opinion Of the Attorney. General that
the expenses of these proceedings will largely ex.
ceed the amount which was thus provided, and
call confidently upon Congress to make ADEQUATE
appropriations tOenable the Executive Department
70 enforce the laws