Year: 1869

In coming before you for the frs
time as Chief Magistrate of this nation


it is with gratitude to the Giver of al
lgood for the benefits we enjoy. w


are blessed with peace at home, ant


are without entangling alliance abroad


or troubled to forebode. With ter


ritory. unsurpasse in fertility, of al
area equal to the abundant support o


five hundred millions of people, anC
abounding in every variety of usefu


mineral, in quantities sufficient to sup
Iport the world for generations, viii
exuberant crops with q variety of eli


mate adapted to the production of ev
cry species of the earth's produce, ricl
and suited to the habits, tastes and re
quirements of every living thing; with
a population of forty millions of free
people, all speaking one language, with
facilities for every mortal toacquire an
education with institutions closing tc
none the avenue to fame or any bless
ling of fortune that may be coveted


with freedom of the pulpit. press and
schools; with a revenue flowing into
the national treasury beyond the re.
lquirements of the Government de.
mand. Harmony is being rapidly
restored within our borders manu-
| factures hitherto unknown in our coun-
try, are springing up in all directions,
producing degree of national indie
tpendence unequalled by that of any
other power. These blessings, and
countless others, are entrusted to your
care and mine, for safe keeping for the
brief period of our tenure of Office. In
short time we must each of us return
to the ranks of the people who have
conferred upon us our powers, and ac-
count to them for the stewardship. ]
earnestly desire that neither you or
may be condemned by free and en-
| lighened constituency, nor by our own
consciousness.


Emerging from rebellion of gigan-
tic magnitude, aided as it was by the
sympathy and assistance of the nation
with which we are at peace, eleven
States of the Union were four years
ago left without legal State Govern
ments. A debt has been contracted
American commerce was almost driven
from the seas the industry of one
half the country had been taken from
the control of the capitalists and
placed where all labor rightfully be-
longs, in the keeping of the laborers.


THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.


The work of restoring State Govern
ments loyal to the Union, of the pro-
lection anil fostering Of labor and pro-
viding means for paying the interest
on the public debt has received ample
attention from Congress. Although
your efforts have not met with the sue
cess in all particulars that might have
been desired, yet on the whole they
have been more successful than could
have been reasonably anticipated.
Seven of the States which passed or
dinances of secession have been fully
restored to their places in the Union.
The eight (Georgia) has held an cleo
ton at which she ratified a Constitu-
ton, Republican In form, elected a
Governor, members of Congress and a
State Legislature, with all other Off
GERS required. The Governor was duly
installed, and the Legislature met and
performed all the acts then required
of them by the reconstruction acts
of Congress. subsequently, however,
In violation of the Constitution that
had Just been ratified, as since decided
by the Supreme Court of the State,
they unseated the colored members of
the Legislature and admitted to seats
members who are disqualified by the
third clause of the Fourteenth Amend
ment In the Constitution, an article
which they themselves had contribu-
ted to ratify. Under these circum-
stances I would submit to you whether
it would not be wise without delay, to
pass law authorizing the Governor OF
Georgia to convene the members orig
inally elected to the Legislature, and
requiring each member to take the
oath prescribed by the reconstruction
act. This done, those to be admitted
who are ineligible under the third
clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.


The freedmen, under the protection
which they have received, are making
rapid progress In learning, and no
complaints are heard of lack of in
dustry on their part when they receive
fair remuneration for their labor.


The means provided for paying the
interest on the public debt, with all
other expenses of government, are
more than ample. The loss of our
commerce is the Only result of the re-
IL So1, I.nn


cient attention from you. To this sub
iect I call your earnest attention. I
will not now suggest the means by
which this object may be effected, but
will, if necessary, make it the subject
of a special message during the ses-
sion of Congress. At the March term
Congress, by joint resolution, author
lied the Executive to orderan election
in the States of Virginia, Mississippi
and Texas, at which was to be submit
ted the constitution which each had
previously in convention framed, and
these were to be submitted either en-
tire or in separate parts to be voted on,
at the discretion of the Executive. I'm
der this authority elections were call
ed in Virginia. The election took
place on the 9Th Of July, 1869. The
Governor elected has been installed


the Legislature met and did all re
quired by this resolution and by the
reconstruction acts of Congress, and
refrained from all doubtful authority
I recommended to our Senators and
Representatives that the State be fully
restored to it's place in the family o.
States. Elections were called in Mis-.