Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-12-09
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

try. By the favor of Divine Providence
IAye have been blessed, during the past
year, with wealth, with abundant har-
vests, with profitable employment tor
all our people, and with contentment at
home, and with peace and friendship
with other nations.
The 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
significant example of the peaceful and
sale transmission of the power and au-
thority of government from the pub t."
servants whose terms of office are abr 8
to expire, to their newly chosen s. s.
cessors. This example cannot fail to
impress profoundly thoughtful people
of other countries with the advantages
which republican institutions afford.
The immediate, general and cheerful
aequiescence of all good citizens in the
result of the election, gives gratifying
assurance to our country, and to Its
friends throughout the world, that
government based on the free consent of
an intelligent and patriotic people DOS
se5ses elements OF 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 Con-
stitution, still prevails in several of the
late slayeholding States. Ithas, perhaps,
not been manifested in the recent elec-
ton to any large extent in acts of vio-
lence or intimidation. It has, however,
by fraudulent practices in connection
with the ballots, with the regulations
as to the places and manner of voting,
and with counting. returning and can
vassing the votes cast, been successful
in defeating the exercise of the right
preservatiye of all rights, the right of
suffrage, which the Constitution ex-
pressly confers upon our enfranchlsed
citizens.
1t is the desire of the good people of
the whole country that sectionalism as
factor in our politics should disappear.
They prefer that no section of the coun-
try should be united in solid opposition
to any other section The disposit on to
refuse prompt and hearty obedience to
the equal rights amendments to the
Constitution, is all that now stands in
the way of q complete obliLeration of
sectional lines in our political contests.
As long as either of these amend ments
is fiagrantly violated or disre garded, it
is safe to assume that the people who
placed them in the G institution, as en-
bodying the legitimate results OF the
war for the 1ion, and who believe them
to be wise snd necessary Will continue
to act together and to insist that they
shall be oheyed. The paramount ques-
ton still is, as to the enjoyment OIL the
right by every American citizen VINO has
the requisite qualifications to freely cast
vote on1 m kox va hon cc n af.11nfad
With this question rightly settled the
country will be relieved of the conten-
Dns OF the past; bygones will indeed
beNbygones; and political and party is
sues with respect to economy and eff
cheney OF administration, internal i'm
provements, the tai iff domestic tax alton.
education, fna ce aud other important
subjects will then receive their full share
of attention; but resistance to and nulli-
-fication of the results OF the war. will
unite togei her in reso ute u pose fer their
support all W no maintain the authority of
the government and the nerpetuity of the
Union, and who adequately appreciate
the value of the victory achieved. This
determination proceeds from 20 hostile
sentiment or feeling to any Part of the
people of our country, or to any of their
interests. The invioiability of the
amendments rests upon the fund amental
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 main
tanned, does n OF grow weaker. It will
continue 20 control the govtrnment of
the country. Happily, the history of
the late election shows that in many
the fifteenth amendment has heretofore
prevailed, il is diminishing, and is likely
to cease altogether, if firm and well-c con-
sidered action is taken by Congress. /
trust the House of Representatives and
the Senate, which have the right to
Judge of tie elections, returns, and
qualifications of their own members,
will see to it that every case of vio-
lation of the letter or spirit of the fif-
teenth amendment is thoroughly in.
vestigated, and that no benefit from
such violation shall acrue to any person
or party. II will be the duty of the
Executive, with Sufficient appropria-
Z tions tor the purpose, to prosecute un-
sparingly all who have been engaged in
depriving citizens OF the rights guaran-
teed to them by the Constitution.
1t is not, however, to be forgotten
that the best and surest guarantee of
the primary rights of citizenship is to
be found in that capacity for self-pro-
lection which can belong only to peo-
pie whose right to universal suffrage is
i supported by universal education. The
{ means at the command of the loca. and
Estate authorities are. in many cases,
inadequate to furnish free in
obstruction to all who need it. This is
anespecia]ly true where, before emancipa-
tion, the education OF the people was
= neglected or prevented, in the interest
,of slavery. Firmly convinced that the
st subject of popular education deserves
q the earnest attention of the people of
:. the whole country, with view to wise
and comprehensive action by the gov
= ernment of the United States, respect
fully recommend that Congress, by
suitable legislation and with proper
/ safeguards. supplement the local educa-
, tional funds in the several States where
the grave duties and responsibilities of
citizenship have been devolyed on un-
educated people, by devoting to the pur-
pose grants of the public lands, and, if
necessary, by appropriations from the
treasury Of the United States. Whatever
government can tairiy do to promote free
popular education ought 10 be done.
Wherever general education is found,
peace, virtue, and social order prevail,
and civil and religious liberty are Sc.
cure.
In my former annual messages, have
asked the attention of Congress to the
!, urgent necessity of a reformation of the
civil system of the government. My
views concerning the dangers of patron