The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-09
Presidents Message.

~'~~~~-~oO'
We were kindly favored BY Judge Harris
with an early copy of the Presidents Message,
read 10 Congress Monday. 1t is an extremely
lengthy document, and we have abbreviated it
! considerably on account of want of space We
give, however, all of the important features.
Tic parts omitted would have been of interest
10 sery few if any of our readers.
Fsgloao- Citizens Of the Senate and House Of Rep
reSentatioes:,
congratulate you upon the 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 employ
ment for all our people, and with contentment
at home, and with peace and friendship with
| other nations.
The occurrence of the twenty-fOnrth 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 servants whose terms of office are about
to expire, to their newly.chOsen successors
This example cannot fail to impress profound
" Thoughtful people Of other countries with
the advantages which Republican institutions
afford. The immediate general, and cheerful
acqiliescence o. all good citizens in the result of
the election, gives gratifying assurance to our
country, and to its friends throughout the
world, that government based-.0n the free
consent of an intelligent and patriotic people
possesses elements of strength, stability, and
permanency not found in any other form OF
government.
Continued opposition to the full and free
enjoyment of the rights of citizenship, confer
red 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 manifested in the recent
election to any large extent in acts of violence
or intimidation. 1t has, however, by traudu-
lent practices in connection with the ballots,
with the regulations as to the places and MN
ner of vetng, and with counting, returning
and canvassing the votes cast, been successful
in defeating the exercise of the right preserva-
tive of all rights-the right of suffrage-which
the Constitution expressly confers upon our
enfranchlsed citizens. a
II is the desire of the good people of the
whole country that sectionalism 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 ODE
dience to the equa-rights amendments to the
Constitution, is all that now stands in the way
of complete obteration of sectional lines in
our political contests As long as.either of
these amendments is fagrantly violated or dis
regarded, ii is SAT-. to assume that the people
who placed them in the Constitution, as en-
bodying 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 is, as to the enjoy
ment of the right by-every American who has
the requisite qualifications, to freely cast his
vote and to have il honestly counted. With
this question rightly settled, the country will
be relieved of the contentious OF the past by
cones will indeed be bygones; and political
and party issues with respect 10 economy and
efficiency of administration, internal improve.
ments, the tariff. domestic taxation. education
| finance. and orher important subjects, viii
then receive their full slaresof attention; but
resistance 10 and notification of the results of
the war, will unite together in resolute pur-
! pose for their support all who maintain the
authority of the Government and the perpetui-
tv of the Union, and who adequately appre-
ciate the value of the victory achieved. This
| determination proceeds from no hostile senti-
mentor feeling to any part of the people of
our country, or 10 any of their interests. The
inviolability of the amendments rests upon the
fundamental principle of our Government.
They are the solemn expression OF the will OF
| tie people of the United States s-rsa's
4 The sentiment that the cons. itutional rights
of I'LL our citizens must be maintained, does
not grow weaker. 1t will continue to control
the Government of the country. Happily, the
history of the late election shows that in many
parts of the country where opposition to the
| fifteenth amendment has heretofore prevailed,
il is diminishing, and is likely stoEeease alto
getlIer. if firm and wel-eOnside;eSl action is
taken by Congress- Itrust the House of Rep
resentatiyes and the Senate, which have the
| right to Judge of the elections. returns and
| qualifications of their own members, will see
Ia it that every case of violation of the letter
or spirit of the Fifteenth amendment is thor
oughly investigated, and that no benefit from
such violation shall accrue TO any person or
party. 1t will be the duty of HE Executive,
with sufficient appropriations for the purpose,
J TO prosecute unsparipgy all who have been
engaged in depriving citizens of the rights
guaranteed To them by the Constitution.
1t 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
people 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
pish free instruction to all who need it. This
is especially true where, before emancipation,
the education of the people was neglected or
prevented, i'll the interest OF slavery. Firmly
convinced that the subject of popular educa-
| ton deserves the earnest attention of the peo-
pie of the whole country, with view to wise
and comprehensive action by the Government
of the United Statf s, respectfully recommend
that Congress. by suitable legislation and with
proper safeguards to supplement the local edu-
cational funds in the several States where the
grave duties and responsibilities of citizenship