The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-09
TK1 RRESXDENT"S MEssxoE.

the Presidential table.
-.
TH1 RRESxDENTS MEsSA0E.
1he Constitutional Au,endn,e ents- oinr 70,
tho Mormons-Civn Service Rcforn and
Othor Matters.
Presiacnt Hayes message was road
on Monday. 1t 10 the longest docu.
ment no has yet penncd. Opening
with congratulations on tho general
prosperity Of the country and the
peaceful elections, he touches upon the
amendments a. follows:
Continued opposition to tho full and
free enjoyment Of the rights Of citizon-
snip, conferred upon the colorcd peo-
pie by the recent amendments to the
Constitution, still prevails in several
OF tho lato slavcholding States. II
has, perhaps, not been manifested IN
tho recent election to any large extent
IN acts Of violence or intimidation. It
nae' however, by fraudulent practices
IN connection with the ballots, with
tne regnlnt'ons as to the places and
manner o1 voting, and with counting,
returning and canvassing the votes
cast, Deen succosslul iu Ncfeutiuy tic
exercise Of tho right prcservative of MI
rights-the right OF suflrupc-which
the Constitution expressly confers npon
our entianchiscd citizens.
1t is tho desire Of the good people Of
thc whole country that scctiOnalism az
1actor III our politics should disup-
Inn r..
tho country ahould be united in solid
opposition t" any other section. The
Hlsposlt'on to refuse Il prompt and
he@rty obedience to the equal rights
amendments TO tho Constitution, is all
that now stands in the way Of Il COM
plete obliteration of sectional lines in
our political contests. AS long us
either OF these amendments is !ayrant-
~ violated or disregartled, it is safe to
assume that the people who placed
them III the Constitution, as enibodv-
Ing the legitimate results Of the war
Tor the Union, and who believe them
TO bo wise and necessary, will con-
tin0e I" net together, and to insist that
they shall DC obcyed. Tho paramount
question still Is, as to the enjoyment
OF tho right by every American citizen,
VINO has the requisite qualifications, to
trccly cast his vote and TO have il
honestly counted. With this question
rightly settled, tho country will be
relieved OF the contentious Of the pnst :
bygones will indeed DO bygones
anu political aud party issues with
respect to economy and efficiency OF
administration, internal improvements,
tho tariff, domestic taxation, educa.
ton, finance, and other important sub
Jects. vii then receive their full share
OF attention.; but resistance to and
Mulhflcation Of the results Of tho war,
Will unite together in resulutc pur.
pose for their support all who main
tain the authority OF the Government
and the pcrpetuity OF the Union, and
who adequately appreciate the value
or the victory achieved. This dcterrni.
nation proceeds from no hostile senti.
ment or feeling to any part of the peo.
plo OF our country, or to any of thci,
interests. The inviolability of the
amendments rests upon tho funda
mental principle Of our Government
They &C the solemn expression Of. tho
viii OF the people OF tho UniteG
The sentiment that the constitution
al rights of all our citizens must b,
maintained, does not grow weaker. /
will continue to control the Govern
ment Of tho country. Happily, tn,
history Of tho late election shows tina
IN many parts of tho country, wher,
opposition to tho fifteenth amendment
has hitherto prevailed, 1t is diminish
Ing, and 10 likely to cease altogether
IT q firm and well.considered action i
taken BY Congress. I trust the Hous,
OF Representatives and the Serate
which have tho right to Judge of tn,
elections, returns and qualifications o
their own members, will sec to Il tina
every case Of violation Of the letter q,
spirit OF the 4Asenth amendment Il
thoroughly investigated and that ne
benefit fom such Violation shall accru,
TO any person or party. It will be tn,
duty OF the Executive, with sufficien
appropriations for the purpose, I,
prosecute unsparingly ali who hay,
been engaged in depriving citizens o
tho rights guaranteed to them by tn
Constitution.
II Is not, however, to be forgottc,
that tho beet and suiest guarantee O
tho primary rights Of citizenship is t,
DO found in that capacity for selt-pro
lection which can belong only to
people whose right to universal sui
trage is supported BY universal educ,,
tiol. The means at tho command q
tho local State authorities arc, in man
ca'cs, wholly inadequate to ium1s
Me instruction to al who necd I,