The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-09
The Annual Message
OF the President of the United
States,
As Communicated to the Forty
Sixth Congress,
Touching Upon Universal Suffrage,
Universal Education,
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM, COMPETITIVE
- EXAMINATIONS y
Asa Our Amicable Relations wish For
eIga Gosernments.


A.a Our Amic.bIs Relation. wIsh For
eIga Gosernments.
=
Fello,r- Citizens of ne Senate and House Of
Represenfdtiues:I congratulate you on tho
continued and increasing prosperity Of our
country. BY the favor of Divine Providence
we have been blessed, during the past year
with health, with abundant harvests, with
profitable employment for 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 op-
portunity to the people of the United States to
exhibit TO the world a significant example of the
peaceful and safe Transmission of the power and
authority of government from the public serv-
ants whose terms of Office are about to expire
to their newly chosen successors. This exam
pie can not fail to impress profoundly thought
full people of other countries with the adyan-
tages which Republican institutions afford.
The immediate, general and cheerful acquies-
cence of all good citizens in the result of the
election, gives gratifying assurance to our coun-
try, and to friends throughout the world, that
a Government based on the free consent of an
intelligent and patriotic people, possesses ele-
ments Of strength, stability, and permanency
not found in any other form of government.
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
Continued opposition to the full and free en-
joyment Of the rights Of citizenship, conferred
upon the colored people by the recent amend
ments to the Constitution, still prevails in sew
cral of the late slaveholding States. 1t has per-
haps, not been manifested in the recent election
to any large extent in acts Of violence or intim-
idation. 1t has, however, by fraudulent prac-
tees in connection with the ballots, with the
regulations to the places and manner of vot-
ing, and with counting, returning, and canvass
ing the votes cast, been successful in defeating
the exercise Of the right preservative of all
rights, the right of suffrage, which the Consti-
tution expressly confers upon our enfranchised
citizens
II is the desire of the good people of the
whole country that sectionalism as a factor in
our politics should disappear. They prefer that
no section of the country should be united in
solid opposition to any other section. The dis
position to refuse prompt and hearty obedi-
ence In tho ,equal-rights amendments TO the
Constitution, il all that now stands in the way
Of n complete obliteration of sectional lines in
our political. contests. As long as either of
these amendments is hagrantly violated or dis
regarded, it is safe to assume that the people
who placed them in the Constitution, as
sembodying 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 be
obeyed. The paramount question still il, as
to the enjoyment of the right by every Aneri-
can citizen who has the requisite qualifications,
to freely cast his vote and have it honestly
counted. With this question rightly settled,
the country will be relieved of the contentious
Of tho past; bygones will indeed be bygones;
and political and party issues with respect to
economy and efficiency OF administration, in
ternal improvements, the tariff, domestic tax
alton, eduaction, finance and other important
subjects, will then receive their full share of
attention; but resistance to, and nullifca-
ton Of, the results Of the war will unite
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 de-
termination proceeds from no hostile senti-
ment or feeling to any part Of the people Of
our country, or to any of their interests. The
fundamental principle of our Government.
They are the solemn expression of the will Of
the people Of the United States.
THE frFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The sentiment that the constitutional rights
OF all our citizens must be maintained, does not
grow weaker. 1t will continue to control the
Government Of the country. Happily, the his
tory Of the late election shows that many parts
Of the country where opposition to the Fifteenth
Amendment has hitherto prevailed, it is dimin-
ishing, and is likely to cease altogether if firm
and well-considered action is taken by Con-
gress. 1 trust the House of Representatives
and the Senate, which have q right to Judge
OF the elections, returns and qualifications
OF their own members, will see to it that every
case Of violation Of the letter or spirit of the
Fifteenth Amendment is thoroughly investi-
gated, and that no benefit from such violation
shall accrne to any person or party. 1t will
be the duty of the Executive, with sufficient
appropriations for the purpose, to prosecute
unsparingly all who have been engaged in de-
priving citizens of the rights guaranteed to
them by the Constitution.
POPULAR EDUCATION NFEDED.
II 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-protection which can belong only to a peo-
pie whose right to universal suffrage is sup
ported by universal education. The means at
the command of the local and State authorities
are, in many cases, wholly inadequate to fur
nish FREQ instruction to all who need it. This
is especially true where, before emancipation,
the education of the people was neglected or
prevented, in the interest of slavery. Firmly
convinced that the subject Of popular educa-
tion deserves the earnest attention Of the peo-
pie Of The whole country, with b view to wise
and comprehensive action by the Government
OF the United States, respectfully recommend
that Congress, by suitable legislation and with
| Iarda aor,tt he 1aI,
tional funds in the several States where the
grave duties and responsibilities of citizenship
have been devolved on uneducated people, by
deyoting to the purpose grants of public lands,
Treasury Of the United States Whatever Gov
ernment can fairly do to promote free popular
education ought to be done. Wherever general
education - found. peace, virtue, and social
order prevail, and civil and religious liberty are
secure.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In my former annual messenges, have asked
the attention OF Congress to the urgent neces-
sity Of reformation OF the civil service system
OF the Government. My views concerning the
dangers OF patronage, or appointments for
| personal or partisan considerations, have been
strengthened by my observation and experience
I m the Executive Office, and i believe these
dangers threaten the stability of the Govern
| ment. Abuses so serious in their nature can
not be permanently tolerated. They tend to
become more alarming with the enlargement of
administrative service, AZ the growth Of the
country in population increases the number of
officers and placemen employed.
The reasons are imperative for the adoption
OF fixed rules for the regulation of appoint
ments, promotions and removals, establishing
uniform method, having exclusively in view.
In every instance, the attainment Of the best
qualifications for the position in question
Such q method alone Is consistent with the
| equal rights Of all citizens, and the most
economical and efficient administration Of the