Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-10
ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES
TO THE
TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS
AT THE
Commencement of the Third Session
The Forty-siXth Congress-
The Forty-siNth Congress-

FtHoso Cdti-ons Of The Senate and House O
Representatives. Il congratulate you on The
continued and increasing prosperity OF oui
country. by the favor of the Divine frovi-
dence we have been blessed, during the past
wear, with health, with abundant harvests,
with profitable employment for all our peo-
pie. and with contentment at home, anu
with peace and friendship with other Ma
tons.
The occurrence of the twenty fourth cleo
ton of Chief Magistrate has afforded an
other opportunity to the people OF the United
States to exhibit to the world Significant
example of the peaceful and safe transmis-
sion of the power and authority OF gov
ernmcnt from the public servants whose
terms of Office are about to expire, TO Their
newly-chosen successors. This example
cannot fail to impress profoundly, thought
full people of other countries with the advan-
tages which Republican institutions afford.
The immediate, general, and cheerful acqui-
escence of all good citizens, in the result OF
the election, gives gratifying assurance to
Our country, and TO its friends throughout
the world, that a government based on The
free consent of IN intelligent and patriotic
people possesses clements of strength, stabil-
ity, and permanency not found in any other
form of government.
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE AT THE SOUTH.
Continued opposition 10 the full and free
enjoyment of the rights of citizenship, con-
ferred upon She colored people by the recent
amendments TO the Constitution, still pre-
walls in several of the late slave-holding
States 1t has, perhaps. not been manifested
in the recent election TO any large extent in
acts of violence or intimidation. 1t has,
however, by fraudulent practices in connec-
ton with the ballots, with the regulations as
TO the places and manner of voting, and
with counting. returning, and canvassing the
votes cast, been successful in defeating the
exercise of the right preservative of all
rights, the right Of suffrage, which the Con
stitu,ion expressly confers upon our enfran-
chised citizens.
1t is the desire of the good people of the
whole country that scctionalsm as u factor
in our politics should disappear. They pre-
fer that no section Of the country should he
united IN solid opposition to any other sec
ton The disposition 10 refuse prompt
and hearty obedience to tine equal-rghts
amendments to the Constitution, is all that
now stands in the way of a complete oblitera-
ton of sectional lines in our political con-
tests As long as either of these amendments
is fagrantly violated or dsrcgarded, ii 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 neces-
sary, will continue to act together, and to
insist that they shall be obeyed. The para
mount question still is, as 10 the enjoyment
of the right by every American citizen who
has the requisite qualifications, TO freely cast
his 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 and party issues with respect to
economy and efficiency of administration,
internal improvements, the tariff, domestic
taxation, education, finance and other i'm
portant subjects, will then receive their full
share Of attention but resistance to and
notification of the results Of the war, will
unite together 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 deter
mination 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 Govern
ment They are the solemn expression of
he Will Of the people Of the United States
The sentiment that the constitutional right
of all our citizens must lie maintained does not
grow weaker. II will continue to control
the Government OF the country. Happily,
the history Of The late election shows that in
many parts Of the country where opposition
10 the fifteenth amendment has heretofore
prevailed it is diminishing, and is likely to
cease altogether if ilrlA and well considered
action is taken by Congress | trust the
House of Representatives and the Senate,
which have the right to judge of the cleo
tons, returns, and qualifications of their
own members, will see 10 1t that every case
Of violation OF the letter or spirit of the fif.
teenth amendment is thoroughly inyestigat.
ed, and that no benefit from such violation
shall accrue 10 any person or party 1t will
he the duty OF the Executive, with sufficient
appropriations for the purpose, to prosecute
unsparingly all who have been engaged in
depriving citizens of the rights guaranteed Il
them by the Constitution.
II is not, however, 10 lee forgotten
that the best and surcSt guarantee
of the primary rights of CITIZENSHIP
il to be found in that capacity FOL
self-protection which can belong only to
people whose right to universal suffrage il
supported by UNIVERSAL education. The mean
at the command Of the local and State au
thoriilcs are, in many cases, wholly made
quatc to furnish free instruction TO all Win