San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-01-11

degree in which the right bf eufiragt
could be exercised by he.colored poo
pie, and would DO respected by their lei
low citizens, but the more general en-
joyment of the freedom OF suffrage by
tie colored people, and aAore 1us anu
generous protection of that freedom by
the communities OF which they form q
part were generally anticipated than the
records of Ahe elections disclose. IN
some of these States, in which colored
people have been unablet TO make theif
opinions felt in these elections, the re-
suit is due to Influences not easily meas
ured or remedied by legal protection,
but in the States of Louisiana and South
Carolina at large, and some particular
Congressional districts outside OF those
States, the records of elections seem to
compel the conclusion that the rights OF
colored voters have been overridden,
and their participation in the elections
not permitted to be either general or
free. 1t will be for Congress, for which
these elections we're held to make such
examination into their conduct as may
be appropriate to determine the validi-
ty of the claims Of members to their
seats. In the meanwhile it becomes the
duty of the executive and judicial de-
partments of the government, each in
its province, to inquire into and punish
violations of laws in the United States
which have occurred. I can but repeat
what I said in this connection in my
last message: that whatever authority
rests with me to this end 1 shall not
hesitate to put forth, and / am unwill-
ing to forego renewed appeal to legis.
latures, courts, executive authorities, and
the people of the States where these
wrongs have been perpetrated to give
their assistance toward bringing to- JUS
tice offenders, and preventing rcpLti-
ton of the crimes. No means within
my power will be spared to obtain full
and fair investigation of the alleged
crimes, and to secure the conviction and
Just punishment of the guilty. 1t is to
be observed that the principal appropri-
alton made for the department. OF justice,
at the last session, contained the follow
ing clause, and for defraying the ex-
penses which may be incurred in the
enforcement Of the act approved Feb.
%, 1871, entitled, ian act to amend an
act, approved May 30, 1870, entitled,
an act to enforce the rights Of citizens
of the United States to vote in the sew
eral, States of the Union, and for other
purposes, or any acts amendatory there
Of or supplementary thereto 1t is the
opinion Of the encouragement that the
expenses of these proceedings will large
ly exceed the amount which was thus
provided, and I rely confidently upon
Congress to make adequate appropria-
tions to enable the executive depart
ment to enforce the laws. I respect
fully urge upon Your attention that
congressional elections in every district
in very important sense are justly
matter Of political interest and concern
the whole country. Each
state, every: political party, is entitled
to share Of tho power which is con-
ferred by legal and constitutional stuff
rage. It is the right of every citizen
possessing the qualifications prescribed
by law to cast an unintimidatcd ballot
honestly counted. So long as the ex-
ercise and the enjoyment of this right
are common and equal, practically as
we'll as formally, submission to the re-
suits of suffrage will be accorded 10y
ally and chcerfully, and all departments
of the Government will feel the true
vigor of the popular will thus expressed.
No temporary or administrative inter-
ests of the Government, however ur-
gent or weighty, will ever displace the
zeal of our people in defense Of the
primary rights of citizenship. They
understand that the protection of liber-
ty requires the maintenance OF suffrage
and will sustain the full authority of
the government to enforce the laws
which are framed to preserve these in
eStimable rights. The material progress
and welfare of the states depend on
the protection afforded to her citizens.
There can be no prosperity without
peace, and the whole country is deeply
in the growth and prosperity
u all It's w Illt tut
not yet reached the complete unity of
feeling and reciprocal confidence be-
tween the communities so lately and
50 seriously estrnged, feel an abso-
lutte assurance that the tendencies are
IN that direction, and with increasing
force, the power of public opinion will
overrule all political preiudices, and all
sectional or state attachments, in de-
that all over our wide terrific
~. the name and character of the citi-
gems of the United States shall mean
one and the same thing, and carry with
them unchallenged security and respect.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relation with other countries con-
tinue peaceful. Our neutrality in con-
tests between foreign powers has been
and respected. The uni
-arSal axnoSitinn held Mt Paris durinp