Year: 1877

Fellow Citizens OF the Senate and House o


Representatives:


With great gratitude to the bountiful Oliver
OF all good, congratulate you. At the be-
ginning Of your drst regular session you find
our country blessed with health and peace
and abundant haryests, aud with encouraging
prospects OF an early return Of general pros
perity.


THE SOUTHERN POLICY.


To complete and make permanent the pa.
clhcatiOn OF the country continues to be and
until 1t is fully accomplished must remain the
most Important OF all our national interests
The earnest purpose Of good citizens Rener.
ally to unite their efforts in these endeavors Ii
evident. 1t found decided expression In the
resolutions announced in 1876 by the national
conventions Of the leading political parties of
The country. There was q widespread ap.
prehension that the momentous results In
eur progress as a nation marked by the re.
cent amendments to the constitution
were In Imminent Jeopardy: that the good un.
dcrstanding which prompted their adoption
IN the Interest Of loyal devotion to the gen.
eral welfare might prove barren truce, and
that the sections OF the country once engaged
IN civil strife might be again almost as widely
tevcred and dlsunited as they were when ar
raycd in arms against each other. The course
to be pursued which in my Judgment seemed
wisest In presence OF the emergency was
plainly indicated In my inaugural ad-
dress. It pointed to the time which al
our people desire to see when genuine love
Of our whole country, and of all that concerns
!ts true welfare shall supplant the destructive
iorSes OF mutual animosity, OF races and OF sec.
t'onal hostility. Opinions have differed widely
as to the measures best calculated to secure
this great end. This Was to be expected.
The measures adopted by the administration
have been subjected to severe and varied
criticism. Any course whatever which might
have been entered upon would certainly have
encountered distrust and opposition. These
measures were in my Judgment such as were
most In harmony with the constitution and
with the genius OF our people, and best adapt
ed under all tho circumstances to attain the
end In view. The benef!cent results already
apparent prove that these endeavors are not
to be regarded a. a mere experiment and
should sustain and encourage us In our
efforts.


Already in the brief period which has elapsed
the immediate effectiveness, no less than the
Justice OF the course pursued, Is demonstrated,
nnd / have an abiding faith that time
in the minds Of tho great ma jority Of my fellow
citizens. The discontinuance Of the use of the
army for the purpose Of upholding local gov-
crnments in two States Of the Union was no
less q constitutional duty and require.
ment under the circumstances existing at
the time than 1t was a much needed meas
ure for the restoration Of local self gov
ernment and the promotion OF national
harmony. Tho withdrawal Of the troops
from such employment was effected
deliberately and with solcitous care
for the peace and good order of society and
the protection Of the property and persons and
every right Of all classes of citizens. The re-
suits that have followed are indeed significant
and encouraging. All apprehension OF danger
from remitting those States to local self
government is dispcllcd and a most salu.
tary change in the minds Of the people
Of a' Ss sosdn sd is i" Ere in part
the theatre Of unhappy civil strife
substituting for suspicion distrust and
aversion concord, friendship and patriotic
attachment to the Union. No unprejudiced
mind will deny that the fatal collisions which
for several wears have been of frequent occur
ence and have alarmed the public mind have
mutual forbearance and hearty national
interest has succeeded. There has been a
general re-establishment Of order
and the orderly administration Of justice
Instances OF remaining lawlesssncss
Political turmoil and Turbulence a5:e"Hs hag: dis:
appeared. Useful industries have been
resumed. Public credit In tho Southern States
has been greatly strengthened and the cncour.
aging benefits OF q revival Of commerce be
tween the sections Of the country
,afe1y ta5e1y .n;nnoS Smbro''ed SIN In ciyil war are
results already attained, upon which the
country Is to be congratulated They are o
such importance that We may with confidence
patiently await the desired contamination that
will surely como with the natural progress o.
events.


THE RIGHTS OF THE FREEDMEN.


1t may not be improper here to cay that Il
should be our fixed and unalterable detcrmi
nation to protect, by all available, and prope,
means under the constitution and the laws
the lately cmancipated race in the enjoyment
Of their rights and privileges, and urge upor
have sustained tho relation of bondmen thu
wisdom and justice Of humane and liberia
locallegislatiOn with respect to their education
and general welfare; firm adherence to thu
laws, both national and State, az to the civi
and political rights OF the colored people
the immediate repression and sure pun
ishment by tho national and loca
authorities within their respective Jurisdiction
OF every instance Of laWlessness and yio
lence toward them, is required for the security
alike OF both races and is justly demanded By
the public opinion OF the country and thu
age. In this way the restoration Of harmony
and good will, and the complete protection o.
every citizen in the full enjoyment o.
every constitutional right will surely be
attained. Whatever authority rests with mt
to this end l shall not hesitate to put forth
and the jurisdiction OF the courts of the Unior
they may confidently be relied upon to pro
vide and perform, and to the legislatures the
courts and tho executive authorities Of the
several STATES earnestly appeal to secure BY
adequate, appropriate and reasonable means
within their borders these common uniform
rights OF united people who love liberty
ebhor oppression and revere justice.


Inesc 90 ects arc very dear to my heart.
shall continue most earnestly to strive fol
their attainment. The cordial cooperation
OF all classes of all sections OF the country and
with these blessings assured, and not other
wise, We may safely hope to hand down oul
free institutions Of government, unimpaired, tt
the generations that will succeed.


SPECIE RESUMPTION.


Among the other subjects of great and gen
eral Importance to the people OF this country
cannot be mistaken, l think, In regardin, Al
are designed to secure the restoration OF tn,
curr ncy to that normal and healthlul con
oition In which, by resumption Of specie pay
ments, our Internal trade and foreign com
merce may be brought into harmony will
the system OF exchanges which II
trinsic money Of tho world. In the publi'
Judgment that this end should be sought AMI
compassed as speedily and as securely % tn,
resources Of the people and the wisdom ofthei
government can accomplish, there is q muc]
greater degree OF unanimity than Is found +
concur In the specific measures which vii
bring the country to this desired end, or th
rapidity Of the steps by which 1t can be safel
reached. Upon most anxious and deliberat
examination which have felt it my duty t
give to the subject, am but the more con
accepting the nomination for tho Presidency
and again upon my Inauguration, that the POI
ley Of resumption should be pursued by evt