The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-12-09
THE MESSAGE
President Hayes to the Second Session
OF the Forty. Second Congress,
Delivered at IL O'clock
Monday, Dec. 6.

va UaAo SVAVy '0cCOuu NOu&CtSS,
Delivered at IL O'clock
Monday, Dec. 6.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of
Representatives.: 1 congratulate You on tho
continued and increasing prosperity Of our
country. By tho favor of Divine Providence
we have been blessed during tho past year with
health, with abundant harvests, with profit.
abe employment for all our people and with
oOntentment NJ home and friepdshjp with
other nations.
The occurrence Of the twenty-fourth election
Of schief magistrate has Afforded another uppor.
tunity to the people of tho United States to ex-
hibit to the world . significant example Of the
transmission OF the power and
authority Of the government from
public servants, whose terms of Office
are about to expire, to their newly chosen sue
cessors. This example cannot fail to impress
PROFOUNDLY the thoughtful people of other
countries With the advantages which republi-
can institutions afford. The immediate, gen.
eral and cheerful acquiesoence of all good citi-
sens in tho result of the election gives eratify-
ing assurance to our country and its friends
throughout the world that the government
based on the free consent of an intelligent and
patriotic people possesses elements of strength.
stability aud psrmanency, not found in any
other form of government.
suFFTAaE.
Continued opposition to the full aud free en-.
joyment of the rights of citizenship conferred
upon colored people by the recent amendments
en- t6~ sA,~<:~ -:
tho late slave-holding States. It has, perhaps.
not been manifested in the recent election to
any large extent by acts of violence or intin,i.
dation. 1t has, however, by fraudulent prac-
tices in connection with ballots, with reauls-
t'ons ~ to the places and manner of voting and
with counting the returns and canvassing ,he
votes cast, been suocessful in defeating
tue exercise OF tho right preservative of ali
rights, the right of suffrage, which the consti.
tuition cxpEeesly confers upon our enfrauchised
citizens. 1t is tho desire of good people of the
whole country that sectionalism a. . fact or in
politics should disappear. They prefer that
NJ section of the country should be united in
section. Tie disposition % so refuse ei1ss
prompt and hearty obedience to
the equal rights amendments to the consti.
tuition 10 all that now stands in the way of
complete obliteration of sectional lines in our
political coutests. As long a. either of these
amendments is ha2rantly violate ed OK disre-
gerded Is il safe to assume that the people who
placed them in the constitution as embodying
the legitimate results of the war for the Un-
ION, or who believe them to be wise and neces.
ssry. will continue to act together
and to insist that they shall be
obeyed. The paramount question,
still is - to the enjoyment of the right by every
American citizen who has the requisite qali6.
cations to freely cast his vote, aud have it hon.
estly counted. With this question rightly .et-
tied the country will be assured the conten-
tlons Of past bygones will indeed be by
cones, and political and party issues with re-
spcct to economy and efficiency Of adm;nistra.
ton. internal improvements, the tariff. uolnes-
lortant subjects will then receive their full
share of attention. But resistance to and
publication of the results of the war
will unite together in resoiutc 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
minstion proceeds from NO hoetile sentiment
OF feeling to any part of the people of our
country. or to any Of their interests. The
invloleolllty OF the emendmen Is rest upon the
fundamental foan. principles of our govern
e1p1s..ioD. % 'es cf .he Ses viii ine Of '0'e3n 9he
people of the United States. The sentiment
that the constitutional rights of all our citi-
zens must be maintained does not grow weaker.
the country. Happily, the history of the late
election shows that in many parts of the coun.
try whore opposition to the fifteenth amend
lnent has heretofore prevailed, it il diminish
ing. and il likely to cease altogether il firm and
*el oonsldered action is taken by Congress. 1
trust the Houae of Representatives and the
Senate. which have the sight to judge of tho
elections, returns and qualifications of
their own members, will see it
that every case of vlOlstion of the letter or
spirit of the fifteenth amendment is thorough
~ Investigated, and that no benefit from such
violation shall accrue to any person or party
1t will be the duty of the executive, with suf-
hcient sppropriations for the purpose, to prose-
cute unsparinRly al who have been engaged in
depriving citizens of the rights guaranteed to
them by the constitution.
1t IL not however, to be forgotten that the best
and surest guarsutee of the primary rights OF
citizenship 10 to be found in that capacity for
self'prOtecti0n, which can only belong to Geo.
pie whose right to universal suffrage is sup.
ps,rted by personal education. The resources
arc in many cases wholly inadequate to furnish
free instruction to all who need it. This il
especially true, where before emsncipation the
education of tho people was neglected or pre-
vented in tho interests of slavery. am firmly
convinced that the subject of popular education
this country. with view to wise and compre-
Of The United States. I respectfully
recommend that Congress by suitable legisla-
tiOn and with proper regulations supplement
the local educational funds in tho several
statee where the grave duties and responsible.
ties OF cltizenship have been devolved on un-
cducsted people, by devoting to the purpose
grants of the public lands. ard if necessary, by
appropriations from the treasury of the United
States; What else the government can fairly do
to promote free popular education ought to be
done. Wherever general education is found
peace, virtue and social order prevail aud civil
and religious liberty are secured.
O1T1I SERVICE REFORM.
In my former annual messages have asked
tho attention of Congress to the urgent neces-
sity of . reformation Ut the civil service sys-
TEN of the government. My views concerning
the dangers of patronage or appointment for
personal or partisan considerations, have been
strengthened by my observation aud expe-
ricnoe in theexecutive Office, and believe these
dangers threaten the stability of the govern.
meut. Abuses 30 serious in their nature can
not be permanently tolerated. They tend to
become moro alarming with the enlargement Of
the Administrative selvice, a. the growth of
tho country in population increases the mum.
Der Of ofdcers and plsoemen employed. The
reasons are imperative for the adoption of
fixed rules for the regulation of appointments,
promotions and removals by establishing
a uniform method having exclusively in view
in every instance the attainment of best quail
tcations for the position in question. Such a
method alone il consistent with the equal rights
of all citizens and the most economical and ef-
hcieut administration of the public business.
Competitive examinations in aid of impartial
appointments and prom 1tions have been con-
Quoted fox some years past in several of the
executive departments, and by my direction
this system has been adopted in the custom
houses and poetotiioee of the larger cities Of
the oountry In New York CITY nver OOO No.
s,tioDs in the civil service have been subject
in their appointments and tenure of
place to tho operations of the
published rules for this purpose the
past two years. The results of these practical
trials have been very satisfactory, and have
confirmed my opinion in favor Of the system