The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

vine Being who holds in His hands the des-
TIMES of nations, for the continued bestow-
al during the last year of countless bless
ings upon our country.
We are at peace with all other nations
our public credit has greatly improved, and
is perhaps now stronger than ever before;
abundant harvests have rewarded the labors
of those who till the soil; our manufacture
ing industries are reviving, and it is be-
lieved that general prosperity which has
been so anxiously looked for, is at last with
in our!reech. {. Our enjoyment of health by
our people generally, has, however, been in
terrupted during the past season by the
prevalence of. akfatal fpestilence,
"a THE YELLOW REvER,
IN some portions of the southern states
creating an emergency which called for
prompt and extraordinary measures of re-
lief. The disease appeared as an epidemic
at New Orleans, and at other places on the
lower Mississippi, soon after midsummer.
1t was rapidly spread by fugitives from the
infected cities and towns, and did not dis
appear until early in November. The
States OF Louisiana, Mississippi and Ten
nessee have suffered severely About one
hundred thousand cases are believed to
have occurred, of which about twenty
thousand. according to intelligent esti-
mates, proved fatal. 1t is impossible to es-
innate with any approach to accuracy the
loss to the country occasioned by the cpl.
demic. 1t is to be reckoned by the hundred
millions of dollars. The suffering and des-
titution that resulted excited the deepest
sympathy in all parts of the Union. Ply
sicians and nurses fastened from every
quarter to the assistance of the afflicted
communities. Voluntary contributions of
money and supplies in every needed form
were speedily apd generously furnished.
The government was able to respond in
some measure to the call for help by pro
viding tents, medicines and food for the
sick and the destitute, the requisite di-
rectIons for the purpose being given in
the confident expectation that the action
of the Executive would receive the sanction
of Congress. About eighteen hundred
tents and ratlons, of the value of about
twenty five thousand sdollars, were sent to
cities and towns which applied for them,
full details of which will be furnished to
Congress- by the proper department.
NATIONAL SANITARY LAWS RECOMMENDED.
The fearful spread of this pestilence has
awakened a very general public sentiment
in favor of national sanitary administration,
which shall not only control quarantine,
but have the sanitary supervision of in
ternal commerce in times of epidemics,
and hold an advisory relation to 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.
The national quarantine act approved
April Goth, 1875 which was passed too late
in the last session of Congress to provide
the means for carrying 1t into practical ope-
ration during the past season, is step in
the direction here indicated. In view OF
the necessity for the most effective measures
bvouarantine and otherwise for the protec
ton of our seapOrts and the country gener-
ally from this and other epidemlcs, it is
recommended that Congress give to the
whole subject early and careful considera
ton.
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
The nermanent pacifcation OF the cOun
try by the complete protection OF al
citizens in every civil and political right
continues to be of paramount interest with
the great body OF our people. Every steF
in this direction is welcomed with public
apnroval, and every interruption of steady
and uniform progress to the desired con
summation awakens general uneasInesE
and widespread condemnation. The recen
Congressional elections have furnished {
direct and trustworthy test OF the advance
thus far made in the practical establish
ment of the right of suffrage secured by
the Constitution to the liberated race In the
Southern States Alldisturbing influences
real or imaginary, had been removed from
all of these States. The three constitutions
amendments which conferred freedom ant
equality of civil and political rights upoI
the colored people of the South wer'
adnpted bv the concurrent action of tn
great body of good citizens, who main
tained the authority of the National Gov
eminent, and the integrity and perpetult
of the Union, at such cost of treasure AM
life. as q wise and necessary embodiment i
The organic law of the just results OF tn
war. The people of the former slave-holC
ing States accepted those results, ana CAV
p in every practicable form assurances tha
the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteen ameno
ments, and laws passed IN pursuance there
of should In good faith be enforced, rig
idly and impartially, in letter and spirit
10 the end that the humblest citizen, witt
ont distinction of race or color, should III
der them receive full and equal protectio
in person and property, and in politics
RIGHTS and privileges. By these constitl
ti0nal amendments the Southern sections {
the Union obtained large increas
OF political power in Congress and in tn
electoral college, and the country justly G.
pected that the elections would proceed a
TO the enfranchised race under the sam
circumstances of legal and constitutions
freedom and protection which are obtalne
in all the other States of the Union. III
friends of law and order looked forward
the conduct of these elections as Offering
the general Judgment OF the country an IN
portant opportunity to measure the degrt
in which the ri ght of suffrage could be e.
ercsed by the colored people, and would |
respected by their fellow citizens. But
more general enjoyment OF freedom OF SUI
rage by the colored people and more lu
and generous protection OF that ire
dom by the communities OF whlC
they form a part were general
anticipated than the result OF the election
discloses In some of those States in Whlc
the colored people have been unable
make their opinions felt in the election
the result is mainly due to influences n
easily measured or remedied by legal pr
lection. but in the States of Louisiana al
South Carolina, at large, and in some pa
ticular Congressional districts OF tho
States the records of the elections seem
compel the conclusion, that the rights
the colored voters have been oyerrldden al
their participation in the elections not p'
mitted to be either general or free.
will he for the Congress for which the
elections were held to make such examir
tions into their conduct as may be
nropriate; to determine the validity OF
claims of Members to their seats. In
meanwhile 1t becomes the duty OF t
executive and judicial departments OF
Governments each in its province, to
Guire into and punish violators OF the la
of the United States which have occurrt
7 can but repeat what / said in this CT
pootiou in nv last message that whateN