Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Fellow Citizens of the senate and House Of
Representative:
l congratulate you on the continued
and increasing prosperity OF cur coun-
try. BY the favor OF Divine Providence
we have been blessed during the past
year with health. with abundant har-
vests. with profitable employment for
all our peope, with contentment at
home, and peace and friendship with
other nations.
The occurrence OF the twenty-fourth
election of Ghiet magistrate has afforded
another opportunity to the people OF the
United States to exhibit TO the world u
significant example OF the peaceful and
safe transmission OF the government
from the public servants whose terms
Of office are about to expire. to the new
ly chosen successor. This example
cannot iail to impress thoughtful pee
plo of other countries with the advanta-
ges which republican institutions afford.
The immediate, general and cheerful
acquiescsnce OF all good citizens In the
result OF the election gives satisfying evil
dence to our country and to its friends
throughout the world that q govern
ment based on the Tree consent OF an
SoN ks>eAAosaS kSoPASs f'S
sesses elements OF strength and per-
manency not found in any other form
Of government.
Continued opposition to the full aud
free employment OF the rights OF citi-
zenship, conferred upon the colsred peo-
pie by the recent amendments to the
constitution, still prevails in several
late slave holding states. 1t has, per-
haps, not been manifested in the recent
election, to any large extent. in acts OF
violence or Intimidation. 1t has how
ever. by fraudulent practices, in con-
nection with the ballots. with the reg.
ulations 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 prsservative of all rights
right of suffrage-which the constitution
expressly coniers upon our eniranehis
ed citizens.
1t is the desire of the good people OF
the whole country that se' tionalIsm. as a
factor IN our politics, should disappear.
They prefer that no section oil the coun'
try should be united in solid opposition
to any other section. The disposition to
refuse prompt, hearty obedience to the
equal rights amendments to the consti-
tuition is ali that now stands in the way
OF complete obllteration OF sectional lines
in our political contests. As long as eth
or Of these amendents is tlagrantly vic
lated Or disregarded,it is sale to assume
that the people who placed them in the
constitution, as embodying the Legitimate
results OF the war for the unisn, and who
believe them to be wise and necessary
will continue to act together and to in
sist that they shall be obeyed.
The paramount question still is as tt
the enjoyment OF the rig hit by every
American citizen who has the requisite
qualification to cast his vote and have il
honestly counted. With this question
| rightly settled the country will be reliev
ed OF the contentious Of the past. By
cones will indeed be by-gones, and po
| lltical and party issues with respect t.
economy and efficiency OF administra
ton, internal improvements. the tariff
domestic taxation, education, finance
and other important subjects, will ther
receive their full share of attention. Blu
resistance to the notification OF the re
suit OF the war will unite together reso
lutely for their.support all who maintain
the authority of government and th'
perpetuity of the uuion, and who ade
quately appreciate the value OF the vic
tory achieved. This determination pro
ceeds from no hostile sentiment or feel
ing to any part of the people OF our gov
ernment. They are the solemn expires
sion OF the will OF the people of the Uni
ted States. The sentiment that the con
stitutional rights OF all our citizens mus
be maintained does not grow weaker
It will continue to control the govern
ment of the country. Happily the his
tory OF the late election shows that il
many parts of the country, where oppo
sitlon to the fifteenth amendmt Mt ha
heretofore prevailed, it is diminishing
and is likely to cease altogether, ii iiru
and considerats action is taken by con
gress.
trust the house OF representative
and the senate, which have the right t
Judge Of the election returns and quail
ications OF their own members, Will Sc
to it that every case OF violation OF tn
letter or spirit OF the fifteenth amend
ment is thoroughly investigated. an
that ne benefit from snch violation shaI
accrue to any person or party. 1t will b
the duty of the executive, with sufiicier
appropriations for the purpose, to pros
; ecute unsparingly all who have been er
gagged in depriving citizens OF the rigt
It guaranteed to them by the constit,
tion. 1t is not, hewever, to be torgo
, ten that the best and surest guaranty {
the permanency of the rights of citizen
is to be found in the capacity Tor Sc
preservation, which can belong only
a people whose right to universal sui
frage is supported by universal educ'
ton. The means at the command {
, the local and state authorities are,
many cases wholly inadequate to iu
nish free instruction to all who need
This IS especially true where, hetol
. emancipation, the education OF the pee
, pie was neglected or prevented in tt
interest of slavery. Firmly convince
that the subject OF popular educatio
deserves the earnest attention OF II
t people OF the whole country. with
. view to wise and comprehensive actiC
, by the government OF the United State
respectfully recommend that congress
by suitable Legislation and with prope
: safeguards. supplement the local ed
t catiOnal funds in the several stat
where the grave duties and responsible
tiles of citizenship has been devnlve
on uneducated people by dev",iug
. the purpose grants OF the public lan'
!, and, it necessary, by appropriation
| freni the treasury Of the United State
Whatever the government can possibl
do to promote free and popular educ
}. tion ought to be done. Wherever ge
eral education is found, peace, Writ
e and social order prevail and civil al
religious liberty are secure.
In my iormer annual messages | ha'
asked the attention of congress to the Il
gent necessity of 4 reformation OF Il
civil service system OF the governmet
MY views concerning the dangers OF pa
y ronage or appointments for personal
3 partisan considerations have be-
: strengthened by my observation and ex
n rience in the executive Office, and belle
:, these dangers threaten the stability
, the government. Abuses so serious
y their nature cannot be permanently to {
q atoi. They tend to become more alar,
q ing with the enlargement of the admi
istrative service. as the growth OF I
. country in population increases the nul
u Der OF offices and places Tor men 81
!. ployed. The reasons are imperatl
e tor the adoption of fixed ru! !es to regula
\, appointments promotions and remova
estab!i ishing a uniform method, havi
IT exclusively III view. in every instan,