Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-02
THE EVENING STAR.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Ft,,otc- Citizens q TIE Senate

- >
Being. who holds in His hands the destinies OF
nations, for the continued oastowal, during the
last year, OF countless blessings upon our cOIn
try.
We are al peace with al other nations. Our
public credit has greatly improved, and is, per-
hapS now stronger than ever before. Abundant
harveStS have rewarded the lab0fS OF those who
till the soil, our manufacturing industries are
reyiyiDg, and it is believed that general proSpe-
rity, which has been so long anXiOuSly looked
for, is at last within our reach.
The enjoyment Of health by our people
generally has. however. been interrupted,
during the past season, by the prevalence
Of fatal pestilence, 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 MiSsis-
Sippi. soon after midsummer. I5 was rapidly
spread by fugitiveS from the infected cities and
tCEns, and did not disappear until early in No.
vember The States Of Louisiana, Mississippi
anG Tennessee have suffered severely. About
one hundred Thousand cases are believed to
have occurred, of which about twenty thou
sand. according to intelligent estimates,
proved fatal. IL is impossible to estimate with
any approach TO accuracy the loss TO the cOun-
try CccasiOned by this epidemic. 1t is TO be
TeckOned by the hundred millions of dollars.
The suffering and destitutf0n that resulted. eX-
cited The deepest sy mpathy in all parts OF the
HlOD. l'llS SlC!iliS anu nurses n1StpHeu rom
every quarter 10 the assistance OF the AFFLICTED
communities. Voluntary contributions OF
money and supplies. in every needed form,were
speedily and generously furnished. The GOV
errment was able TO respond in some measure
10 the call for help, by providing tents, mel-
cines, and food for the sick ana destitute The
requisite directions 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 thou
which applied Tor them. full details OF which
viii he furnished to Congress by the proper De-
rartHeut.
The fearful spread of this pestilence has
awakened very general public sentiment in
favor OF national sanitary administration.
which shall not only control quarantine, but
have the sanitary supervision OF internal COM
merce in times of epidemcs. and hold an adviS-
cry relation 10 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. ihe national quarantine act APPROX
cd April 90 1873. which was passed TOO late in
the last session of Congress 10 provide the
means for carrying it into practical operation,
curing the past session, is step in the direc-
for the most effective measures. by quarantine
and otherwise, for the protection OF our sea-
ports and the country generally. from this and
other epidenicS, 1t is recommended that Con-
greSS give TO the whole subject early and care
ful consideration.
The permanent pacifcation OF the country by
civil and political right continues TO be OF para
mount interest with the great body Of our peo-
pie. Every step in this direction is welcomed
with public approval, and every interruption of
steady and uniform progress to the desired con-
summation aWakens general UneaSineSs and
widespread condemnation. The recent Con-
gleSSiOLal elections have furnished direct and
trustworthy test OF the advance thus far made
i'll he practical establishment OF the right OF
suffrage, secured by the Constitution TO the lib
Grated race in the southern states. All disturb
Al p
moved from all OF these states.
Ire three constitutional amendments. which
conferred freedom ard equality o. civil and po-
htfcal rights upon tie cOl0red people OF the
south. were adopted b. tie concurrent action
OF the great body OF good citizens who main
tanned tie authority OF the national govern
ment and the integrity and perpe-uity of the
union al such cost OF treasure and life, as a
wise and necessary embodiment i'll the organic
law CT the Just results Of the war. The people
Of the former slayeholding states accepted these
results, and gave, in every practicable form.
assurances that the thirteenth. fourteenth. and
hlteenth amendments; and laws passed in pur-
suance thereof, should in good faith. be en-
1olced. ng1dly and impartially, in letter and
spirit, to the end that the humbieSt citizen,
without distinction of race or color, should, un-
der them, receive full and equal protection in
person and property and in political rights and
privileges. By these constitutional amend
ments, the southern section of the union OBJ
tanned large increase Of political power in
Congress and the electoral college, and the
country justly expected that elections would
u.
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 general judg-
ment OF the country an important opportunity
10 measure the degree in which the right OF
suffrage could be exercised by the colored peo-
pie. and would be respected by their fellow-cit-
EenS; but a more general enjoyment Of free
dom Of Suffrage by the colOred people, and
more Just and generous protection OF that free
q q
part, were generally anticipated than the re-
cord OF the elections diSclOSeS. In some OF those
states in which the col0red people have been
unable TO make their opinions felt in the cleo
uonS, The result is mainly due TO influences not
easily measured or relnedied by legal protec-
ton but i'll the states OF Louisiana and South
Carolina at large and in some particular con-
gIesSiOnal districts outside of those states, the
records OF the elections seem TO compel the con
cluS1on that the rights OF the cOiored voters
have been overrdden, and their participation
III the elections not permitted to be either gen.
eTdi or free
II will be for the Congress for which these
elections were held, TO make such examinations
Into their conduct as may be appropriate to de-
termine the validity OF the claims OF members
the duty OF the Executive and Judicial depart
ments OF the government, each in its province,
10 inquire into and punish violations of the laws
Of the United States which have occurred |
can but repeat what l said in this connection in
my last message, that whatever authority rests
with me to this end | shall not hesitate TO put
Il
appeal to the legislatures, the courts, the eXecu-
tive authorities, and the people OF the states
where these wrongs have been perpetrated to
give thelf assistance towards bringing to JUS
tlce the offenders and preventing repetition
OF the crimes. NO means within my power will
be spared to obtain a full and fair Investigation
or the alleged crimes, and to secure the cOnyic-
t0n and Just punishment OF the guilty
Ii is TO be observed that the principal appro-
prlation made for the Department OF Justice at
the last session contained the following clause:
= And for defraylng the expenses which may be
incurred IN the enforcement OF the act approved
February twenty EIGHT, eighteen hundred and
SeVenty-0ne, entitled An act to amend an act
approved May thirtieth, eighteen hundred and
seventy, entitled an act TO enforce the rights OF
citizens OF the United States to vote in the sew
eral States OF the Union, and for other pur-
poses, or any acts amendatory thereon Or sup
Elementary thereto"
X is the opinion OF the Attorney General tha.
the expenses OF these proceedings will largelT
exceed the amount which was thus provided
and rely confidently upon Congress TO max
adequate appropriations TO enable the EXecu.
tive Department 10 enforce the laws.
| respectfully urge upon your attention that
tie congressional elections, in every district. IN
"a very important sense, are justly a matter o.
political interest and concern throughout tn,
whole country. Each state. every political par
". is entitled to the share OF power which Is
conferred by the legal and constitutional suf-
1rage. III is the right OF every citizen. possess
lDS The qualifications prescribed by law, to cast
ole uDintimidated ballot, and 10 have his ballot
honestly counted. So long as the exercise OF