The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-07
PRESIDENT HAYES'S MESSAGE.
Fetor citizens Of TIE Ssnals and House Of
kepresentdlivSs:

Increasing prosperity Of our country. BY
he favor Of Divine Providence We have
been blessed. during the past year, with
health, with abundsnt harves's, with profit
bile employ mcnt for all our people, and
with conieutmspt at home and with peace
md friendship with other nations.
The occurrence Of the twenty.four'h cleo
ion Of Chisf Msei strate has afforded another
opportunity To the people OF the United
States 10 exhibit 10 the world q significant
example 81 the peaceful and safe transmits
sion OF the power and authority OF govern.
ment from The public servants whose terms
Of Office are about 10 expire 10 their newly
chosen successors. THIS example cannot
fail 10 impress profoundly thoughtful peo.
pie OF other countries with the advantages
which republican institutions afford. The
general, aud cheerful acoui.
esct nee Of all good citizs ms in the result OF
the election gives gratifying assurance TO
our country, and 10 les friends throughout
The world, that a government based on the
free consent Of an intelligent and patriotic
people possesses elements OF strength, sta
biIity, and pcrmanency not found In any
other form OF government.
Continued opposition TO The full and free
enjoyment OF the rights OF citizenship, con-
ierrcd upon tue col,red people by The re.
cent amendments TO the Constitution. still
prevails in several OF The late slavebodlng
States. II bos, perhaps, not been manifested
Ia the recent election TO any large extent In
acts OF violence or intimidation. IL 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 capyassing
the votes cist, been successful in defeating
the exercise OF the right preservatiye OF all
rights, the right OF suffrage, which the Con-
slitution expressly coufers upon our en-
francbised citizens.
II is the desire Of the good people OF the
whole country that sectiopalism a. factor
in our politics should di.appear. They
prefer that no section OF the country should
he united in solid opposition to any other
section. The disposition 10 refuse prompt
and hcaSty obedience to The equal.righ's
amendments TO tue Constitution is all that
now stands In the way OF a com plete oblit-
Grafton CT sectional lines in our political
contests. As. long as either OF these amend
meDts is fl ,granily violated or disregarded,
il is safe 10 assume thst the people who
placed them In the Constitution, as en-
boGyipg the legitimate results OF the war
for the Union, and who believe them TO
be wise and necessary, will continue TO
act together, and to insist that they shall
he obeyed. The paramount question still
is az to tue 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 country
will be relieved of the contentious OF the
past, bygopes will indeed be bygoneS, aud
political and party issues With resrect to
economy and efficiency OF administration
internal improvements, The tariff, domestic
taxation, education, finance, and other i'm
Dortaut subjects, will then receive their full
share of attention; but resistance To aud
Modification OF the results OF tbe war will
unite together IN resolute purpose for their
support all WHO maintain the authority OF
the Government and the perpetuity a the
Union, and who adequately appreciate The
value OF the vlcrory achieved. This deter.
mination proceeds from 30 hostile sentiment
or feeling 10 any part Of the people OF our
country, or TO any of their interests. The
InviolabiiIy OF The amendments rests upon
the fundamental principle OF our Govern
ment. 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 not grow weaker. 1t will con-
tinue to control the Government of be couu-
try. Happily, the history OF the late elcc.
ton shows that in many parts OF the cOun-
try where opposition 10 the fifteenth amend
ment has heretofore prevailed It is diminish
ing, and is likely TO cease altogether II firm
and welI.consldered action is taken by Con.
gress. / trust the House Of Represents.
lives and the Senate, which have the right
to Judge OF the elections, returns. and quail.
tications OF their own members, will see to
1t that every case Of violation OF the letter
or spirit OF the fifteenth amendment is
thoroughly Investigated, and that no bene-
&. from such violation shall accrue to any
person or party. 1t will be the duty OF the
Executive, with sufficient appropriations
for the purpose, 10 prosecute unsparnely
all who have been engaged in depriving
ci'izens OF the rights guaranteed to them by
the Constitution.
1t is not, however, to be forgotten that
the bet and surfst guarantee Of the pri-
mary rights OF citizenship il 10 be found in
That opacity for selI-proteclion which can
belong only to people whose right to uni
versaI suffrage Is supported nv universal
education. The means al the command Of
the local and State authorities are. in many
cases, wholly inadequate to furnish free IN
struc,ion TO all who need il. This is espe-
cially true where. before emancipation, the
education OF the people was neglected or
prevented in tue interest Of slavery.
Firmly convinced that the subject Of
popular educa ion deserves the earnest
attention OF the people OF the whole cOun-
try, with View TO wise and comprehensive
action by the Government OF the United
States, respectfully recommend that Con-
gress, by suitable legislation and with
proper safeguards, supplement the local
educational funds In The several States
where the grave duties and responsibilities
of citizenship have been devOlved on un.
educated people by devotiDg to the purpose
grants OF the public lands. aud. II neces-
sary, BY appropriations from the Treasury
Of tue United States. Whatever Govern
education ought to be done. Wherever
general education is found, peace, virtue,
aud social order prevail, and civil and re-
ligiou. liberty are secure.
ln my former annual messages I have
asked the attention of Congress TO the ur-
9 ent necessity OF a reformation OF the civil
service system OF the Government. Ny
views concerning the dangers OF patron
age or appointments for personal or part-
san considerations have been strengthened
BY my observation and experience 10 the
Executive office, and | believe these dan-
gers threaten the stability OF The Govern
ment. Abuses so serious in their nature
cannot be permanently tolerated. They
tend 10 become more alarming with the
OF administrative service, as
The growth OF The country 10 population in.
creases the number OF officers and pIacemen
employed.
The reasons are imperative for the adop-
lion OF fixed rules for the regulation of APP
promotions, and removals, es-