Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The presidents message was read to
the two houses of congress yesterday.
After the usual congratulations over
peace and prosperity, abundent har-
vests, etc be says:
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 a
significant example of the peaceful and
safe transmission of the power and au~
thority of government from the public SER
wants whose terms Of Office are about to ex-
pire, to their newly-chosen successors.
This example can not fail to impress pros
foundly, thoughtful people of other coun>
tries with the advantages which Republican
institutions afford. The immediate, gener-
al, and cheerful acquiescence of all good
citizens, in the result of the election, gives
gratifying assurances to our country, and
to its friends throughout the world, that a
government based on the free consent of an
intelligent and patriotic people possesses
elements of strength, stability, and perma>
nency not found in any other form of gov
eminent.
Continued opposition to the full and free
enjoyment of the rights of citizenship,
conferred upon the colored people by the
recent amendments to the Constitution, still
prevails in several of the late slave holding
States. 1t has, perhaps, not been mani
tested in the recent election to any large
extent in ac.s Of violence or intimidation.
1t has, however, by fraudulent practices in
connection with the ballots, with the regu>
lations as to the places and manner of vot.
ing, and with counting, returning, and can
vassing the votes cast, been successful In
defeating the exercise of the right preserV-
alive Of all rights, the right of suffrage,
which the Constitution expressly confers
upon our enfranchised citizens.
1t is the desire of the good people of the
whole country that sectionahsm 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
a prompt and hearty obedience to
the equal>rlghts amendments to the Con
stitution, Is all that now stands in the way
of complete obliteration of sectional lines
in our political contests. As long as either
of these amendments is fagrantIy violated
or disregarded, tits safe to assume that the
people who put them in the Constitution, as
embodying the legitimate results of the wal
for the Union, and who believe them to be
wise and necessary, will continue to act to
gether, and to insist that they shall be obey.
ed. The paramount question still is, as t.
the enjoyment of the right by every Ameri
lean citizen who has the requisite quaifca
tons, to freely cast his vote and have i
honestly co united. With this question
rightly settled, the country will be relieved
of the contentious of the past; bygones will
indeed be bygones; and political and par
ty issues with respect to economy and eff
cheney of administration, internal improve
ments, the tariff, domestic taxation, educa
ton, finance, and other important subjects
will then receive their full share of atten,
.tion but resistance to and notification O
the results of the war, will unite together il
resolute purpose for their support all Wit
maintain the authority of the Government
and the perpetuity. of the Union, and VIII
adequately appreciate the value of the vic
tory achieved. This determination pro