The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-07
ANNUAL MESSAGE
'FnE2ra y inn
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
AZ the Opening OF the Second Session OF
the ForIy.sIxth Congress-A strong,
Able and Manly Present"'
ton OF Pertinent Points
ofPubIIe POlIty.

ofPubIIe POIIiy.
FeiLotr. Citizens of The Senate and HOusE o.
Representatives: Iu At :
congratulate you on the continued
and increasing prosperity OF our country
BY the favor Of Divine Providence We
have been blessed, during the past year
with health, with abundant hsrvests, with
profitable employment for all our people
and with contentment at home, and with
peace and friendship with other nations
Tie occurrence OF the twenty,fourth
election Of Chief Magistrate has afforded
another opportunity to the people OF the
United States to exhibit TO the world a
significant example OF the peaceful and
sale transmission OF the power and
authority OF government from the
public servants whose terms OF Office are
about to expire, to their newly.chosen
successors. This example cannot fail to
impress profoundly thoughtful people oil
other countries with the advantages
which republican institutions afford. The
immediate, general and cheerful acquies-
cence OF all good citizens in the result OF
the election, gives gratifying assurance to
our country, and 10 its friends through
out the world, that a government based
on Sthe free consent OF an intelligent and
patriotic people possesses elements oil
strength, stability and permanency not
found in any other form OF government.
Continued opposition to the full and
free enjoyment OF the rights OF citizen
ship, conferred upon the colored people
by the recent amendments to the Consti-
tuition, still prevails in several OF the
slaveho!ding States. II has, perhaps, not
been manifested in the recent election to
any large extent in acts of violence or in.
timidatiqn. l. has, however, by iraudu.
len: practices in connection with the bal
lots, with the regulations rs lo the places
and manner OF voting, aud with counting,
returning, and canVa.s;pG the votes cast,
been successful In defeating he exeTciGe
ot the right p:esetYative nj all r'gh:F, Tie
right OF suffrage, which the Constitution
expressly Confers upon our enirauchtsed
citizens.
1 .sEcrioStIiSt AND. ITS KINDRED Evils.
iIt is the desire OF the good people Of the
whole country that seCtiOraiism as factor
in our politics should disappear. They
prefet that NO section OF the country
should be united in solid opposition to
any other section. The disposition to re.
fuse prompt and hearty obedience to
the equal rights amendments 10 the Con-
slttuhon, Is all that now stands in theway
Of complete ohliteration Of sectional
lines in bur poltic8l contests. As'lonR as
either Of these amendments Is ilAgrantly
violated or disregArded, it is safe TO a8'
sumo that the People who placed them in
the Constitution, as embodying the legiti.
mate results OF the war for the Union, and
who halieTe them to be wise. and neces-
sary, will continueto to act together, and to
insist that they shall be obeyed. The
paramount question still is, ,as TO the enjoy.
ment OF the right by every American citi-
zen who has the requisite qualifications,
TO freely cast his vote and to have 1t hon.
estly counted. With this question rightly
settled, the country will be relieved OF the
contentious Of the past; bygones will In
deed he bYgones; and politicalana party
tissues with respect 10 economy and eff
cheney OF administration, internal i'm
provemenLs, the tarif, domestic taxation,
education, finance, and other important
subjects, will then receive their full share
of attention; but resistance to and nullih'
cation OF the results oil the war, will unite
to gather In Tesolute purpose Tor their sup
port all who maintain the authority OF the
Government and the perpctuity OF the
Union, and who adequately appreciate the
value Of the victory achieved. This de-
termination proceeds from no hostile SEN
timent or ieelingt to any part OF the people
of our country, or TO any OF their interests
The inviolability OF the amendments rest
upon the fundamental principle Of ou'
Government. They are the solemn ex
preston OF the will of the people OF the
United States.
The sentiment that the constitutional
rights Of all our. citizens must be main
[tAlned does not groT veaker. II Will con
tinue 10 control the Government oil the
country. Happily, the history OF the iatf
election shows that in many parts ot the
country whore opposition to the Fifteenth
Amendment has heretofore prevailed It is
Diminishing, and Is likely 10 cosse alto
gether, il fim and well. considered acao1
Ia taken by Congress. trust the House
Of. Representatives and the Senate, which
have the right to Judge Of the elections
returns and qualifications Of their OWE
members, win see to Il that every easa o.
violation OF the letter or spirit .ot the
Fifteenth Amendment is thoroughly In
Investigated, and that no benefit from suct
violation shall accrue to any person OF
party. 1t will be the duty Of the Execu
live, with sufficient appropriations for tht
purpose, to prosecute Iinspsr.n2ly all VINO
have been engaged in depriving citizens 9
tho rights guaranteed to them by the Con
stitut!on.