Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-03
Presidents Message.

FelGS,.Sitizsns OF the Senate and House Of K pre-
Olr heartfelt gratitude Is due TO the Divine
bt'hSl Who holds IN His hands the destInies
o! nations, Tor the continued bsstOwai, during
country.
We ARE At PEACE
with all other nations. Our public credit has
setauy improved, and Is, perhaps, now
vests have rewarded the labors of those who
uil me soil, our manufacturing industries
are ieNiVIng, and 1t Is believed that general
prosperity, which has been 90 long anxiously
loo~eu Tor, Is at last within our reach.
THE ENJOYMENT OF HEALTH
/ Dy cur people generally has, however, been
Iu -'Ly pled, during the past season, by the
PTe'aieace Of
FATAL PEsTILENCE
- J1'lo"-leVer In some parts of the southern
2 S..l creating an emergency which called
LOT prompt measures Of relief Tho disease
tpPgsred as an epidemic at New Orleans and
o 49, PAGES on the lower Mississippi soon
- H;,; mo hummer. Ii was rapidly spread by
iu-'JsSS from the infected cities and towns,
anu ui 10 not disappear until early in Noyem-
-; Ti me states OF louisiana, Nj sissippi
"uu tennessee have suffered severely About
/ one hundred thousand cases are believed Ia
nav occurred, of which about twenty thou
-,-sa SSoIording TO intelligent estimates
Pl1 .t fatal Il is impossible TO estimate
80 ,~"y approach to accuracy the loss to the
| - re - TIecasioned by this epidemic. Ii is
/ dollars. Gu nli'i'oH' Vi
me SUFFERING AND DEsTITUT1oN
/ that resulted excited the deanast syr,natbv
IN all parts OF the Union. Pbvs;ciane and
nurses hastened from every onarter 10 tbe
/ ass'SIahee OF the afflicted communities Vol
uhtaly contributions of money and supplies,
n elgIy needed form, were speedily aud gen,
eiIa ~ iutalsned. The government was
O.. beI pOnu ~ some measure TO the call
! LOT ISrlP' Gy providing tents, medicines and
lou SEOt ,oI me sick and destitute, the requisite
uiIT eI Tor the purpose being given, In the
| cJhuuehI expectation that this action of the
executive would receive the sanction of con-
go. ASont eighteen hundred tents, and
I.'uGnS o, the value of twenty-five thou
sahd collars, were sent to cities and,
btowns which applied for them, full de-
tans ol winch will be furnished to
congress by the proper department. The
IeaIlul spread OF this pestilence has awakened
a Fei{ general public sentiment in favor
"a u',etIha1 sanitary administration, which
sha'I hot only control quarantine, but have
tae sanitary supervision of internal commerce
III ailiIsS OF epldemlcs, and hold an advisory
RELATION to the State and municipal health
! au!noiltles, with power to deal with whatever
ehuaneers the public health, and which the
ulonicipai and State authorities are unable to
| regulate.
THE NATIONAL QUARANTINE ACT,
approved April 20, 1873, which was passed
CC9 late IN the last session of congress to pro-
Vlue lue means Tor carrying it into practical
oPeIau9n' during the past season, Is a step
! IN inc direction here Indicated. In view OF
| Ihe necessity tor the most effective measures,
| oy quarantine and otherwise, for the protec-
Ton oil our seaports and the country general
| ~ from TINS and other epidemics, it is recon-
menoed that congress give to the whole sub
| Ject early and careful attention
THE PERMANENT PACIFICAT1oN OF THE
COUNTRY.
| b7 the complete protection of all citizens
IN every civil and political right, con-
| tinues 10 be of paramount interest with
! the great body of our people. Every
step In this direction is welcomed with
puphc approval, and every interruption
OF steady and uniform progress to the de-
/ sired consummaton, aWakens general
uneaslness and widespread condemnation.
! The recent congressional elections have fur
| nshed direct and trustworthy test Of the adj
vance thus far made in the practical estab-
| hshment of the right of suffrage, secured by
the constitution to the liberated race in the
southern States. All disturbing influences,
real or imaginary, had been removed from all
OF these States The three constitutional
amendments which conferred
FREEDOM AND EQUALITY OF CIVIL AND Pc.
LITICAL RIGHTS
upon the colored 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 integrity and perpetuity of the Union at
such cost of treasure and life, as wise
and necessary embodiment in the organic
law of the Just results of the war. the peo-
pie in the former slaFehoiding States accepted
these results, and gave, IN every practicable
form, assurances that the thirteenth, four
tenth and fifteenth amendments, and laws
passed In pursuance thereof, should, In good
faith, be enforced, rigidly and impartially, in
letter and spirit, to the end that the humblest
citizen, without distinction OF race or color,
shonld, under them, receive full and equal
protection IN person and property, and in po-
lltical rights and privileges. By these con-
stitutIonal amendments the southern
section of the Union obtained a
large increase of political power in
congress and in the electoral college, aud
the country justly expected that elections
would proceed, as to the enfranchised race,
upon the same circumstances OF legal and
constitutional freedom and protection which
obtained in all the ether States of the Union.
| The friends of law and order looked forward
| to the conduct of these elections, as Offering
| to the general Judgment of the country an
| important opportunity to measure the degree
| In which
| THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE
could be exercised by the colored people, and
/ would be respected by their fellow citizens;
| but more general enjoyment Of freedom Of
| suffrage by the colored people, and a more
| just and generous protection of that freedom
| by the communities OF which they form a
part were generally anticipated than the
record of the elections discloses. In some Of
those States in which the colored people have
been unable to make their opinions felt IN
the elections, the result Is mainly due to in
| Guences not easily measured or remedied by
legal protection; but in the States of Louisi
ana and South Carolina at large, and in some
| particular congressional districts outside of
those States, the records oil the elections seem
to compel the conclusion that the rights OF
the colored voters have been oyerrlden, and
their participation In the elections not per-
mitted to be either general or free. 1t will
be for the congress fer which these elections
were held to make such examinations into
their conduct as may be appropriate to deter
mine the validity of the
CLAIMS OF MEMBERS TO THEIR SEATS.
In tie meanwhile 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
raets with me to this end | shall not hesitate
to put forth, and | am unwilling to forego
renewed appeal to the legislatures the courts,
the executive authorities, end the people OF
the States where these wrongs haze been per-
petrated to give their assistance toward
bringing to justice the offenders and pre-
venting a repetition Of the crimes. No
means within my power will be spared to OBJ
tain a full and fair Investigation Of the al
legged crimes and to secure the conviction
and lust npuishment of the guilty. It is to
be observed That the principal appropriation
made for
THE DEPARTMENT or JUSTICE
at the last session contained the following
clause: And for defraying toe expenses
which may be incurred IN the enforcement o,
the act approved February q, 1871, entitled
| An act to amend an act approved
! May 80 1870, entitled an act to en-
force the rights of citizens OF the United
States to vote in the several States OF the
/ Union and for other purposes, or any acts
amendatory thereof or supplementary there
| to-" 1t is the opinion OF the attorney, gen
! eral that the expenses Of these proceedings
/ viii largely exceed the amount which was
| thus provided. and l rely confidently upon
congress to make adequate appropriations to
enable the executive department to enforce |
the laws. respectfully urge upon your at
! tention that
THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS
in every district, in every important sense, |
are Justly matter of political interest and |
concern throughout the whole country. Each |
State, every political party, is entitled to the
share OF power which is conferred by the |
legal and constitutional suffrage. 1t is the |
hight of every citizen, possessing the quallh- |
cations prescribed by law, To cast one unin- |
Inundated ballot, and to have his ballot hon
ssty counted. So long as the exercise OF
this power and the enjoyment Of this right !
are common and equal, practically as well as |
formally submission to tne results OF the sui |
frage wall be accorded Loyalty and cheerfully, |
and all the departments of government will |
feel the true yigor of the popular will thus