Sacramento daily record-union., 1880-12-07
MORMON AFFAIRS HANDLED WITHOUT GLOVES.

| Service Reform.
MORMON AFFAIRS HANDLED WITHOUT GLOVES.
Chinese Treaties-Coast Defenses Finances
Indian Affairs.
SPECIAL By TELEGRAPH TO THE REcoRp.uslos.l
WASHINGTON, December 6th.-The following is the
full text of the Presidents message delivered to
Congress this morning:
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatiyes: congratulate you on the continued
and increasing prosperity Of our country. By the
favor OF Divine Providence we have been blest
during the past year with health, with abundant
harvests, with profitable employment for all our
people, with contentment at home and with
PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
With other nations. The occurrence of the twenty.
fourth election OF Chief Magistrate has afforded an
other opportunity to the people of the United States
to exhibit to the world significant example of the
peaceful and s.fe transmission of the power and
authority of the Government from the public ser.
wants whose terms of office are about to expire to
their newly chosen successors This example can.
not fail to impress the rofessedy thoughtful people
OF other countries with the advantages which re-
publican institutions offer. The general cheerful
acquescence of all good citizens in the result of the
election gives gratifying assurar ce to our country
and to its friends throughout the world that gov
eminent based on the free consent of an intelligent
and patriotic people possesses eminently strength,
stab and permanepce not found in any other form
of government
AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTH.
The continued opposition to the full and free en-
oyment of the rights of citizenship conferred upon
the colored people by the Constitution still pre-
yails in several of the late slavehodng States 1t
has, perhaps, not been manifested in the recent
election to any large extent in acts of violence or
intimidation. 1t has, however, by fraudulent prac.
tces in connection with ballots with the regulations
as to its places and manner of voting, and with
counting, returning and canvassing the votes cast,
been successful in defeating the exercise of the right
preservative of all rights-the right of suf.
frage which the Constitution expressly confers on
our enfranchised citizens. 1t is the desire of the
as 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 disposition to refuse prompt and hearty
obedience to the equal rights amendments to the
Constitution is all that now stands in the way of a
complete obliteration of sectional lines in our Do
litical contests. AS long as these amendments are
fagrantly violated dlsregarded it is safe to pre-
sumo that the people, who placed them in the Con-
stitution as embodyng the legitimate results of the
warrior 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 para
mount question still is as to the enjoyment Of the
right by every American citizen, who has the
requisite qualifications to freely cast his vote and
have it honestly counted. With this luestis-
rightly settled, the country will be relieved OK tsse
contentious OF the past; bygones will indeed be by
gones and political and party issues with respect to
the economy and efficiency of the administration,
ton, education, finance AMI other important sub.
jects, viii then receive their full share of attention
But resistance to and notification Of the results Of
the war viii unite together in resolute 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 determination proceeds from no
hostile sentiment feeling to any part of the peo-
pie of our country, or to any of their interests
The involability OF the amendments rests upon the
fundamental principle of our Government They
are the solemn expression Of the will of the people
of the United States. The sentiment that the con-
stitutonal rights of all our citizens must be main.
tanned does not grow weaker. 1t Will continue to
control the government of the country Happily the
history of the late elections shows that in many
parts of the country where opposition to the Fif
teenth Amendment has heretofore prevailed it is
diminishing, and is likely to cease altogether if firm
and well considered action is taken by Congress.
trust the House of Representatives and the Senate
which have the right to judge of the election re-
turns and qualifications OF their own members, will
to it that every case OF violation of the letter or
spirit of the Fifteenth Amendment is thoroughly
investigated, and that no benefit from such viola
tion shall accrue to ally person party. 1t will be
the duty OF the Executive, with sufficient appropria
tions for the purpose, 70 prosecute unspariogy all
who have been engaged in deriving citizens OF the
rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution
POPULAR EDUCATION.
1t must not, however, be forgotten that the best
and surest guarantee OF the primary rights of cit-
zenship is to be found in that capacity for sepro-
lection which can belong only to people whose
right to universal suffrage is supported by univer
sal education. The means at the commend of local
and State authorities are in many cases wholly
inadequate to furnish free instruction to all who
need it. This is especially true where before
was neglected or prevented in the interest of
slavery. Firmly convinced that the subject of pop.
uar education deserves the earnest attention
of the people OF the whole country, and
with view to wise and comprehensive
action by the Government OF the United States
respectfully recommend that Cor gress by suitable
legislation, and with proper safeguards supplement
the local educational funds in the several States
where the grave duties and responsibilities of citi
zenship have been devolyed on an uneducated peo-
pie, by devotng to the purpose grants Of the public
lands and if necessary, by appropriations from the
treasury of the United States Whatever the Gov
ernment fairly do TO promote free popular edu-
cation ought TO be done. Wherever general educa-
tion is found peace. virtue and social order prevail
and civil and religious liberty are secure
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In my former annual messages | have asked
the attention Of Congress to the urgent
necessity of reaffirmation Of the
civil service system of the Government Ny
views concerning the dangers of patronage or ap-
pointments for personal or partisan consideration
have been strengthened by my observation and expe
rience in the Executive office and believe the dan
gers threaten the stability of the Government
Abuses so serious in their nature cannot be perma-
nentiy tolerated They tend to become more alarm.
ing with the enlargement of the administrative
service as tie growth of the country and population
increases the number Of officers and placemen en-
pioyed- The reasons are imperative for the
adoption OF fixed rules for the rerulation