Morning journal and courier., 1880-12-07
The Presidents Message.
Feszoso- Citizens of the Sendte end House O1 Represe7etG5iUes

Felzoso- Citizens of the Sen0te and House o1 Representatives
 | I congratulate you on the continued and increasing prosperity of our country. By I the favor of divine providence we have been 1 blessed, during the past year, with health, | with abundant harvests. with profitable em- ployment for all our people, and with con-
 tentment at home, and with peace and friend
 ship with other nations.
 The occurrence of the twenty fourth elec- | tion of chief magistrate has afforded another opportunity to the people of the United l States to exhibit to the world significant 1 example of the peaceful and safe transmits | sion of power and authority of government l from the public servants whose terms of of flee are about to expire, to their newly-ehosen | successors. This example cannot fail to lm- press profoundly thoughtful people of other 1 countries with the advantages which repub- l llcan institutions afford. The immediate, general and cheerful acquiescence of all good citizens in the result of the election 1 gives gratifying assurance to our country, | and to it's friends throughout the world that government based on the free consent of an intelligent and patriotic people possesses elements of strength, stability and permanen- ! cy not found in any other form of govern | ment.
 THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP.
 l Continued opposition to the full and free ! ferred upon the colored people by the recent l amendments to the Constitution, still prevails | in some of the late slaveholding States. It has, perhaps, not been manifested in the re- cent election to any large extent in acts of vi 1 olence or intimidation. It has, however, by | fraudulent practices in connection with the l ballots, with regulations as to the places and manner of voting, and with counting, return ! ing and canvassing the votes cast been suc- cessful in defeating the exercise of the right preservative of all rights, the right of suf- | frage, which the Constitution expressly con- l fers upon our enfranchised citizens.
 l It is the desire of the good people of the whole country that sectionalism as 8 factor in our politics should disappear. They pre- fer that no section of the country should be | united in solid opposition to any other section. The disposition to refuse a prompt and hearty obedience to 1 the equal-rights amendments to the Constitu- complete obliteration of sectional lines in our political contests. As long as either of these amendments is fagrantly violated or disre garded, it is safe to assume that the people who placed them in the Constitution, as embodying the legitimate results of the war for the Union, and who believe them to be wise and necessary, will continue to acttogeth- CT and to insist that they shall be obeyed. The paramount question still is, as to the enjoy ment of the right by every American citizen who has the requisite qualifications, to freely castsshis vote and to have it honestly counted. With this question rightly settled, the coun- try will be relieved of the contentious of the past bygones will indeed be bygones; and political party issues with respect to econo- my and efficiency of administration, internal improvements, the tariff, domestic taxation, education, finance, and other important sub- jects, will then receive their full share of attention ; but resistance to and notification
 
 in resolute purpose for their support all who maintain the authority of the government and the perpetuity of the Union and who adequately appreciate the value of the victory achieved This determination proceeds from no hostile sentiment or feeling to any part of the people of our country, or to any of their interests The inviolability of the amendments rests upon the fundamental principle of our government. They are the solemn expression of the will of the people of the United States.
 The sentiment that the constitutional rights of all our citizens must be maintained does not grow weaker. It will continue to control the government of this country. Happily, the history of the late election shows that in many parts of the country where opposition to the fifteenth amendment has heretofore prevailed, it is diminishing, and is likely to cease altogether, if firm and well considered action is taken by Congress
 
 Senate, which have the right to judge of the elections, returns, qualifications of their own members, will see to it that every case of violation fthe letter spirit of the fifteenth amendment is thoroughly investigated, and that no benefit from such violation shall accrue to any person or party. It will be the duty of the Executive, with sufficient appro- priations for the purpose, to prosecute un- sparingly all who have been engaged in de- priving citizens of the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution.
 It is not, however, to be forgotten that the best and surest guarantee of primary rights of citizenship is to be found in that capacity for self-protection which can belong only to people whose right to universal suffrage is supported by universal education. The means at the command of the local and State au- thorities are. in many cases, wholly made quate to furnish free instruction to all who need it. This is especially true where, be- fore emancipation, the education of the peo- pie was neglected or prevented in the inter est of slavery. Firmly convinced that the subject of popular education deserves the earnest attention of the people of the whole country, with view to wise and comprehen- sive action by the government of the United States, I respectfully recommend that Con- gress, by suitable legislation and with proper safeguards supplement the local educational funds in the several States where the grave duties and responsibilities of citizenship have been devolved on uneducated people, by devoting to the purpose grants of the public lands, and if necessary, by appropria- tions from the Treasury of the United States. Whatever government can fairly do to pro- mote free popular education ought to be done Wherever general education is found, peace, virtue, and social order prevail, and civil and religious liberty are secure.
 CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
 In my former annual messages, have asked the attention of Congress to the urgent necessity of a reformation of the civil-service system of the government. My views con- corning the dangers of patronage, or appoint ments for personal or partisan considerations, have been strengthened by my observation and experience in the Executive office, and l believe these dangers threaten the stability of the government. Abuses so serious in their nature cannot be permanently tolerated. They tend to become more alarming with the enlargement of administrative service, as the growth of the country in population in- creases the number of officers and placemen employed.
 The reasons are imperative for the adop- ton of fixed rules.for the regulation of ap- pointments, promotions and removals estab- fishing uniform method, having exclusively in view, in every instance, the attainment of the best qualifications for the position in question. Such method alone is consistent with the equal rights of all citizens, and the
  of the public business.
 Competitive examinations, in aid of inn partial appointments and promotions, have been conducted for some years past in sev- eral of the Executive departments, and by my direction this system has been adopted in the custom house and postofices of the lar ger cities of the country. In the city of New York over two thousand positions in the civil service have been subject, in their appoint ments and tenure of place, to the operation past two years. The results of these practi- cal trials have been very satisfactory, and have confirmed my opinion in favor of this system of selection. All are subjected to the same tests, and the result is free from preju- dice by personal favor or partisan influence It secures for the position applied for the best qualifications attainable among the com peting applicants. It is an effectual protec