Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-12-09


dent has to say on this subject is toward
the enactment of a National quarantine
law.
SOUTHERN AFFAIRS.
The President believes that on the
whole the condition Of the South is not
worse than it has been in former years,
but that it is better. Peace has pre-
vailed except in a few localities; and
the result of the late elections has not
been affected, except in about half a
dozen Congressional Districts, by any
thing which occurred either just before
or during election day. The recent
events in South Carolina and Louisiana,
as the President has learned them from
official and other sources are set forth
and the firm determination of the Exec
utive to enforce the laws Of the United
States in those States is announced. No
new legislation on the subject is asked
for, but the opinion is expressed that
under present laws and with the present
judicial machinery offenders against
Federal laws can be punished if Con-
gress will only make sufficient appro.
priation to pay the expenses of investi-
cation and prosecution.
But we give the words of the Presi-
dent as they appear in the message on
this very important subject:
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 influences
not easily measured or remedied by
legal protection; but in the States of
Louisiana and South Carolina at large,
and in some particular congressional
districts outside of those States, the re-
cords of the elections seem to compel the
conclusion that the rights of the colored
voters have been over-ridden and their
participation in the elections not per.
mitted to be either general or free.
1t will be for the Congress for which
these elections were held to make such
examinations into their conduct as may
be appropriate to determine the validity
of the claims of members to their coats
In the meanwhile it becomes the duty
of the, F.;eetiBAa3d Judlcial n~.,n rtn,Ant'
the laws of the United States which
have occurred. can but repeat what
said in this connection in my last
message, that whatever authority rests
with me to this end | shall not hesitate
to put forth, and l am unwilling t.
forego renewed appeal to the legisla
lures, the courts, the executive authori
ties, and the people of the States where
these wrongs have been perpetrated, t.
give their assistance towards bringing
to justice the offenders and preventing /;
repetition of the crimes. No mean
within my power will be spared to OBJ
tain full and fair investigation of tn
alleged crimes, and to secure the convic
ton and just punishment of the guilty.
l respectively urge upon your atten
ton that the Congressional elections, il
every district, in very important sens
are justly matter of political interes
and concern throughout the whole coun
try. Each State, every political party
is entitled to the share of power whic
is conferred by the legal and constitu
tional suffrage. 1t is the right of ever
citizen possessing the qualification
prescribed by law, to cast one unintimi
dated ballot, and to have his ballo
honestly counted. So long as the exel
else of this power and enjoyment of thi
right are common and equal PRACTICAL
as well as formally. submission to th
results of the suffrage will be accorde
loyalty and cheerfully, and all depart
ments of the Government will feel th
true rigor of the popular will thus ez
pressed. No temporary or administr;
tive interests of the Government, how
ever urgent or weighty, will ever di
place the zeal of our people in defene
of the primary rights of citizenship
They understand that the protection
liberty requires the maintenance, in flu
f vigor, of the manly methods of fri
speech, free press and free suffrage, an
will sustain the full authority Of Go,
eminent to enforce the laws which al
, framed to preserve these inestimab
| rights. The material progress and we
+ fare of the States depend on the prote
ton afforded to their citizens. The
can be no peace without such protection
no prosperity without peace, and IL
whole country is deeply interested
the growth and prosperity of all i
parts.
While the country has not yet reacht
complete unity of feeling and reciproc
4 confidence between the two communiti
: so lately and so seriously estranged,
q feel an absolute assurance that the tie
denotes are in that direction, and wi
increasing force. The power of publ
5 opinion will override all political pref
o dices, and all sectional or State attac
S ment, in demanding that all over O
!. wide territory the name and charact
of citizens of the United States shs
!, mean one and the same thing, and car
II with them unchallenged security al
i respect.
n The history of the fisheries award al
# of the diplomatic correspondence viii
a grew out of it and out of the provisio
3 added by Congress at its last session
d the appropriation for the payment of t
p award is briefly told. The payment
y the money to Great Britain is reporte
he No legislation on the subject is reco
mended.