The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-12-09
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,:

CoHSIdluldlS you on GGe continued
and increasing prosperity of our coun-
try. BY the favor of Divine Providence
we have been blessed. during the past
year, with wealth, with abundant har-
vests, with pref able employment for
all our people, and with contentment ut
home, ana with peace and friendship
with other nations.
The occurrence of the tvyenty-fourth
election of chief magistrate has afforded
another opportunity TO the people OF the
United States TO exhibit TO the world
significant example of the peaceful and
sale transmission OF the power and au-
thority OF government from the public
servants whose terms of office are about
to expire, TO their newly chosen sue.
cessors. THIS example cannot fail to
impress profoundly thoughtful people
OF other countries with the advantages
which republican institutions afford.
The immC diato, general and cheerful
acquiescence OF all good citizens in the
result of the election, gives gratifying
assurance TO our country, and TO It's
friends throughout the world, that
government based on the free consent of
an intelligent and patriotic people DOS
sesses clements OF strength, stability
and permanency not found in any other
form Of government.
free enjoyment of the rights of cit zen
ship, con erred uron the colored people
by the recent amendments to the Con-
sttutiUn, still prevails in several of the
late saVehOlding States. lit has, perhaps,
not beCn manifested in the recent elec-
tion to any large extent in acts of vio-
lence or Intimidation. 1t has, however,
by fraudulent practices in connection
with the ballots, with the regulations
as to the places and manner of voting,
and with counting, returning and can
vassing the votes cast, been successful
in defeating the exercise of the right
preservative Of all rights, the right of
suffrage, which the Constitution ex-
pressly confers upon our enfranchised
citizens.
1t is thu 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 coun.
try should be united in solid opposition
to any other section TIE 6isposit on to
refuse a prompt and hearty obedience to
the equal rights amendments to the
Constitution, Is all that now stands in
the way of a complete obli'eration OF
sectional lines in our political contests.
As long as either of these amendments
is Hagrantly VIOl ted or disregardtd, it
is safe to assume that the people who
placed them in the Constitution, as en-
bodying the legitimate results of the
war for TIC UuiOn. and who believe them
to be wise :ind necessary will co Oitinue
to act together and to insist that they
shall be obeycd. The paramount ques-
tion still is as to the enjoyment OF the
right by every American citizen who has
the requisite qualifications to freely cast
his vote aud to have it honestly counted.
With this question rightly settled the
country will be relieved of the conten..
tions OF the past; bI cones will indeed
be bygones; and political and party is-
sues with respect to economy and cffi
cheney of administration, internal i'm
provements, tie tatiff domestic taxation,
education. fna ce and other important
subjects wild then receive their IN share
of attention; but resistance to and nulIi.
ficatiOn of the results Of the war, will
unite tOGe' / cr in res QUITE U pose fer their
support all who malntain J,iC authority OF
the government and The uerpetuity OF the
Union, and who adequately appreciate
the value OF the victory achieved. This
determination proceeds from 20 hostile
continent or feeling tu any part of the
people of our country, or to any OF their
interests. The ingio. ability of the
amendments rests upon the fundamental
principle of our government. They are
the solemn expression OF the will of the
ueople of the United States.
The sentiment that the constitutional
rights OF all our citizens must be main
tanned, does n not grow weaker. 1t will
continue 20 control the govt rnment 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, it is diminishing. and is likely
to cease altogether, if irn aud well. con.
sidered action is taken by Congress. |
trust the House of Il representatives. and
the Senate, which have the right to
Judge of tie elections, returns, and
qualifications of their own members,
will see to it that cry case of vio-
lation of the letter or spirit of the fif-
teenth amendment is thoroughly in,
yestigated, and that no benefit from
such yiOlali1 ShGl. acruG TO any person
or parry. |. will be the duty of the
Ey cutlve. with s,fli 5ient appropria-
tions Tor the purpose to prosecute un-
sparingly all VINO have been engaged in
depriving citizens OF the rights guaran-
teed to them by the Constitution.
IL is not, however, to be forgotten
that the best and surast guarantee of
the primary rights OF citizenship is to
ne IOlllu III I'll u ChpdClGy iOE Sell pro-
lection which can 3long only to peo-
pie whose right to universal suffrage is
supported by universal education, The
means ut the command of the loca, and
State authorities are, in many cases,
wholly inadequate to furnish free in.
stIuction 10 all who need it. This is
especially true where, before emancipa-
ton, the education OF the people was
neglected or prevented, in the interest
of slavery. Firmly convinced that the
subject of popular education deserves
the earnest attention of the people of
the whole country, with view 70 wise
and comprehensive action by the gov
ernment of the United States, l respect.
fully recommend that Congress, by
suitable legislation and with proper
safeguards, supplement the local educa-
tional funds in the several States where
the grave duties and responsibilities Of
citizenship have been devolVed on un-
educated people, by devoting to the pur-
pose grants of the public lands, and, ii
necessary, by appropriations from the
treasury of the United States. Whatever
government can fairly do to promote Tree
popular education ought 10 be done.
Wherever general education is found,
peace, virtue, and social order prevail,
and civil and religious liberty are Sc
cure.
In my former annual messages, have
asked the attention OF Congress to the
urgent necessity of q reformation of the