Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-04
Presidents Message.

| nations for the continued bestowal, during IN
last year. of countless blessings upon our cotntr,
We are at peace with all other nations on
| public credit has greatly improved, and Is now
| perhaps, stronger than ever Abundant barves,
| have rewarded the labors Of those who till IN
soil, our manufacturing interests are reyivipg nm
II Is believed that general prosperity, which In
SO long been anxiously looked for, is at las
within our reach.
| THE SOUTHERN scoURGE
The enjoyment Of health by our people Gen
| orally has, however, been interrupted during m
| past season by the prevalence Of n fatal nesti
ence the yellow fever. IN some portions Of tn
southern states, creating an emergency whicl
called FOR prompt and extraordinary measures q
senet me disease appeared rs an epidemic a
New orleans and other places on the lowe
Mississippi soon after midsummer It was ran
IDLY spread by fngitives from the infected citie
and towns and did not disappear until early /,
November. The states Of Louisiana, Mississippi
and Tennessee have suffered severely Abon
one hundred thousand cases are believed to nav,
occurred, of which about twenty thousand. ac
cording to intelligent estimates, proved fatal.
" Impossible to estimate with any approach [,
accuracy the loss To the country occasoned b,
the epidemic. II Is 10 be reckoned BY hundred
OF millions OF dollars. The suffering and desti
tuition that resulted excited the deepest sym
pathy in all parts Of the Union Physicians ant
nurses nastened from every quarter 10 the assist
ance OF the afflicted communities Volnntar,
contributions OF money and supplies in every
needed form were speedily and generously fnr
nished. The government was able to respond II
some measure to the call for help, by providing
tents, medicines and food for the sicl and desti
tutc, the requisite directions for the purpose he
ing given IN the confident expectation that thi,
action OF the Executive would receive the sanction
OF Congress. About eighteen hundred tents and
I',ons TO the value OF about twenty-five thousand
dollars were sent TO cities and towns which an
piled Tor them, full details of which will he fur
nished TO Congress by the proper department
The fearful spread Of this pestilence has awak.
ened very general public sentiment in favor OF
national sanitary administration, which shall moi
only control quarantine, but have the sanitary
supervision OF internal commerce In times of epi.
denies, and hold an advisory relation TO the state
ana municipal health authorities with power r.
de,l WIN whatever endangers the public health
and which the municipal and state authorities are
unable to regulate The national quarantine act
approved April 80 1878 which was passed too
late IN the last session Of Congress to provide the
means for carrying it into practical operation
during the past season, IN step in the direction
here indicated. In view of the necessity for the
most effective measures, by quarantine and other
wise, for the protection of. our seaports and the
country generally, from this and other epidemics,
1t Is recommended that Congress give to the whole
SUBJECT early and careful consideration
THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
The permanent pactcation of the country by
the complete protection of all citizens in every
civil and political rgh' continues to be of para
mount interest with the great body Of our people
Every step in this direction is welcomed with
puDilc approval, and every interruption of steady
ana uniform progress to the desired consumma
tlon awakens general uneasiness and widespread
conformation. The recent Congressional elections
nave furnished direct and Trustworthy test of
the advance thus far made in the practical estab-
nshmeht OF the right OF suffrage, secured by the
constitution to the liberated race in the Southern
states. All disturbing influence, real or imagin-
airy, had been removed from all of these
states The three constitutional amendments
winch conferred freedom and equality of civil
ana political rights upon the coored people OF the
South, were adopted by the concurrent action of
the great body of good citizens who maintained
ne authority OF the National Government and
the integrity and perpetuity of the Union at such
a cost OF treasure and life, as n wise and neces-
sary embodiment in the organic law of the lust
results of the war. The people Of the former
saveholding states accepted these results and
gave in every practicable form assurances that
the thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend
mehts and laws passed in pursuance thereof
should, in good faith be enforced rgdy and
lhpartaly IN letter and spirit, to the end that
the hnmblest citizen, without distinction of race
or color, should under them receive full and
equal protection IN person and property and in
politlct rights and privileges. BY these con-
sttntlonal amendments, the southern section of
the Union obtained a large increase Of political
power In Congress and in the Electoral College
and the country justly expected that elections
'''uiu pi'cttu, rs 10 the fn1rancnlst1 race.
ths same circumstances of legal and constitutional
freedom and protection which obtained in all the
otner states OF the Union The friends OF law and
order looked forward to the conduct of these
elections, as Offering to the generl judgment of
the country an important opportunity tn measure
the degree in which the right Of suffrage could
he exercised by the colored people, and would be
respected by their fellow-citizens. but a more
general enjoyment of freedom OF suffrage by the
colored people, and more Just and generous pro-
ht thn t...tt
which they form part, were generally anticipated
ihan the record of the elections discloses In
some OF those states in which the colored people
nave been unable to make their opinions felt in
the elections, the result Is mainly due to influences
not easily measured reinedied by legal pro-
iectlon but in the states of Louisana aud South
CAROLINA at large, and in some particular congress
ioha districts outside of those states the records
u the elections seem to compel the conclusion that
me rights OF the colored voters have been over
hidden and their participation in the elections not
Permitted To be either general or free
IL VIII be Tor the Congress for which these elec.
IONS were held To make such examinations into
her conduct rs may be appropriate to determine
ne validity of the claims of members to their
eats. In the meanwhile ii becomes the duty of
he executive and judicial departments of the
government, each in its province, to inquire into
ma punish violations of the laws OF the United
states which have occurred. | can but repeat
vhat said in this connection in nv last message
nat whatever authority rests with me tn this end
shall not hesitate to put forth, and am unwill-
NJ to forego renewed appeal To the legislatures
ne courts, the executive authorities and the peo-
We OF the states where these wrongs have been
'erpetated to give their assistance towards bring
NJ to Justice the offenders and preventing a rep
luton OF the crimes. No means within my power
vil be spared to obtain full and fair nvestiga-
ION oil the alleged crimes, and to secure the CON
Teton ana punishment of the guilty
IL Is to be observed that the principal appropria-
ION made Tor the department of justice at the
Ranfn nina flaf ..11.
or defmying the expenses which NAV be incurred
y the enforcement of the act approved February |
., lSll entitled An act to amend an act an |
roved May IL, 1870, entitled an act To enforce |
ne rights OF citizens OF the United States to vote
u the several states of the Union, and for other
purposes or acts amendatory thereof and sup |
Elementary thereto"
II Is the opinion OF the Attorney-C eneral that |
ne expenses OF these proceedings will largely ex-
eed the amount which was thus provided and / |
ely confidently upon Congress to make ADEQUATE |
preparations to enable the executive depart-
lent TO enforce the laws
respectively urge upon your attention that the
congressional elections, in any district, in a yery
nporuiht sense, are Justly matter of political
lterest and concern throughout the whole coun-
Fy iIch state, every political party Is entitled
, the snare OF power which is conferred by the
,ga and constitutional suffrage. It is the right
every citizen possessing the qualifications pre-
,rlbed by law 10 east one nnintimdated ballot
nj 10 have his ballot honestly counted So long
! the exercise Of this power and the endowment
inns right are common and equal practically As
Ell hs formally, submissive to the results of the
Mirage will be accorded Loyalty and cheerfnlly.
nd all departments of the government will feel
le true vlgor Of the popular will thus expressed
o temporary or administrative interests of the
DVernment, however urgent or mighty, will ever
splace the zeal of the people in defence of the
fimary rights Of citizenship They understand
at the protection OF liberty requires the main
nance IN full vigor, OF the manly methods of
zee speech, Tree press and free rage and will
'su'h the iuli authority OF government 10 en-
rec the Jaws which are framed TO preserve their
estimable rights. The material progress and
eiiare OF the states depend ON the protection
iorded to their citizens. There can be no peace
'thout such protection, no prosperity without
ace, and the whole country i deeply Interested |
the growth and prosperity of all It's parts.
While the country has not yet reached complete
MY OF FEELING and reciprocal confidence between
g Two communities so lately and so seriously
ranged, reel an absolute assurance that the
ndencies are in that direction and with increas-
z force The power of public opinion will over :
lie all political prejudices, and sectional or state
tachment in demanding that all over our wide ,,
rrtory the name and character of citizens of
G United States shall mean one and the same
Ing, and carry with them unchallenged security
d respect
FoREIGN RELATIONS
Our relations with other countries continue
aceful Our neutrality in contests between for
gu powers has been maintained and respected |
THE PARIS EXPOSITION. 4,
The Universal Exposition held at Paris during G
g past summer has been attended by large /
nbers OF our citizens. The brief period allowed /
the preparation and arrangement of the contrib
ions of our citizens To this great exposition was
III employed In energetic and indCiOus efforts 1
overcome this disadvantage. These efforts. II
and directed by the Commissioner General | r
re remarkably successful, and the exhibition Of h
AmATinAn .l.s.. |