The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-12-14
The Presidents Message.
Feltoao Citizens Of the Senate and House O
Representatives.:

fettoao Citizens Of the Senate and House OF
Representatives.:
Our heartfelt gratitude is due to the Divine
Being who holds in His hands the destinies of
nations for the continued bestowal during
the last year of countless blessings upon our
country.
OUR NATIONAL PROSPERITY.
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 manufactur-
ing industries are reviving, and it is believed
that the general prosperity which has been 50
long anxiously looked for is at last within our
reach.
THE FEVER PLAGUE.
The enjoyment of health by our people gen.
orally has, however, been interrupted during
the past season by the prevalence of the fatal
pestilence of yellow fever in some por-
tions of the Southern States, creating an
emergency which called for prompt and extra
ordinary measures of relief The disease ap-
peared as an epidemic at New Orleans and
other places III the lower Mississippi soon
after midsummer. It was rapidly spread by
fugltlyes from injected cities and towns, and
did not disappear until early in November.
the States of Louisiana, Mississippi and Ten
nessee have suffered severely. About 100, 600
cases are believed to have occurred, of which
about 10000, according to intelligent esti-
mates, proved fatal. 1t is impossible to esti-
mate with any approach to accuracy the loss
to the country occasioned by this epidemic.
1t is to be reckoned by hundreds of millions
OF dollars. The suffering and destitution that
resulted excited the deepest sympathy in all
parts OF the union, physicians and nurses has
tening from every quarter to the assistance of
the afflicted communities. Voluntary contri-
buttons of money and supplies in every needed
form were speedily and generously furnished.
The government was able to respond in some
measure to the call for help by providing
tents, medicine and rations for the sick and
destitute, requisite directions for this purpose
being given in confident expectation that this
action of the executive would receive the
sanction of Congress. About 1880 tents and
rations of the value of about $25, 900 were
sent to the cities and towns which applied for
them, full details of which will be furnished
to Congress by the proper department.
SANITARY GOVERNMENT.
The fearful spread of the pestilence has
awakened very general public sentiment in
favor of national sanitary administration,
which shall not only control quarantine, but
have sanitary supervision of internal commerce
lation to State and municipal health authori-
ties, with power to deal with whatever en-
dangers the public health, and which the
municipal and State authorities are unable to
regulate. The national quarantine act, APP
proved April %, 1878, which was passed too
late In the last session of Congress to provide
means for carrying it into practical operation
during the past season, IS a step in the direc-
tion here indicated. In view OF the necessity
for the most effective measures by quaran-
tine and otherwise for the protection of sea-
ports and the country generally from this and
other epidemics. it Is recommended that Con-
gress give the whole subject early and careful
consideration.
THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.
The permanent paclhcatlon of the country
by the complete protection of all citizens in
every civil and political right, continues to be
of paramount interest with the great body of
our people. Every step in this direction is
welcomed with public approval, and every
interruption of steady ard uniform progress
to the desired consummation awak sns general
uneasiness and Widespread condemnation
Recent Congressional elections have furnished
direct and trustworthy test of the advance
thus far made in the practical establishment
of the right of suffrage, secured by the con-
stitution to the liberated race in the Southern
States. All disturbing influences, real and
imaginary, have been wiped from all these
States. Three constitutional amendments,
which conferred freedom and equality of civil
and political rights upon the coIored people of
the South, were adopted by the concurrent
action of the great body of good citizens who
maintained the authorities of the national
government ard the integrity and perpetuity
Of the union at such cost of treasure and
a.
the organic law of the just results of the war.
The people OF the former slave-holding States
accepted these results, and gave inlevery prac-
tical form assurances that the 18th, l4th and
18th amendments, and laws passed in pursu-
ance 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, should under them
receive full aud equal protection in person and
property, and in political rights and privileges.
By these constitutional amendments and IN
crease of political power in Congress and the
electoral college, the country justly expected
that elections would proceed as to the en-
franchised race upon the same circumstances
of legal and constitutional freedom and pro-
lection which obtained in all other States in
the Union. The friends of law and order
looked forward to the conduct of these elec-
tions as Offering to the general Judgment OF
the country an important opportunity to meas
ure 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 the freedom
OF suffrage by colored people; and more just
and generous protection of that freedom by
the communities of which they form part,
were more generally anticipated than the
record of elections discloses.
THE ELECTION oUTRAaEs.
In some of those States the colored people
have been unable to make their opinions felt
in the elections. This 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 out
side OF those States, the records of election
seem to compel the conclusion that the rights
OF the colored voters have been overridden,
and their participation in elections not per-
mitted to be either general or free. 1t will be
| for Congress, for which these elections were
held. to make such examination into-their
conduct as may appropriately determine the
validity OF the claims of members to their
| seats In the meantime it becomes the duty
of the executive and judicial departments of
the government, each in its province, to in
| quire into and punish violations of the laws
! of the United States which have occurred. T
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 am unwilling to forepo a
renewed appeal to the legislatures, the courts,
the executive authorities and the people of
the States where these wrongs have been
perpetrated, to give their assistance toward
bringing to justice the offenders and prevent
ing repetition of the crimes. No means
within my power will be spared to obtain q
full and fair investigation of alleged crimes,
and to secure conviction and just punish.
ment of the guilty.
IL is To be nhsaruad that the nrinninnl on,