Year: 1877

Fellr-citi-sas y t.s Sai7'c and H,E-f q


IeDresenfaiiUss:


With great gratitude TO the houHti!ul
giver Of al good, congratulate you at the I
be-inning Of your first regular session. You
mad our country blesssS with wealth ant
peace and abundant harves;s, and with
encouraging prospects oi IN early return Of
general prosperity. The paoiic-tion Of the
country continues to he, and until IT is iully
accomplished, must remain the most i'm
portant Of our national interests. The
earnest purpose Of good citizens generally is
to unite their efforts in these endeavors, and
il is evident that it has found decided
expression in the resolutions announced in
1876 by the


NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
Of the leading political parties Of the conn
try There was widespread apprehension :
that the momentous results in our progress
a. a nation. marked by the recent a.end-
ments to the Constitution, were in immi-
nent jeopardy; that the good understanding
which prompted their adoption in the in
terest Of devotion 10 the general welfare
might prove a banner OF truce, and that the
| sections OF the country once engaged in
civil strife might be again almost a. widely
severed and disunited, as they were
when arrayed against each other
IN ARMED CONFLICT.


The course TO be pursued, which
| in my judgment, seemed wisest
| in the presence of this emer-
sency, was plainly indicated in my inaugu-
raj address 1t pointed 10 the time which
all our people desire to see, when genu-
/ inc love of our whole country and Of all
that concerns its true welfare shall sup
plant the destructive force OF the mutual an
namositv of races. and of sectional hostility.
! Opinions have differed widely a. To the
measures best calculated 10 secure this
great end This was to be expected. The
measures adopted by the administration
have been subjected TO


SEVERE AND VAILED CRITICISMS


ANY course whatever that might have been
enteied upon would certainly have encoUnt-
cred distrust and opposition. These
measuIes were, in my judgment,
such as were most in harmony with the
Constitution and wi h the genius of our peo-
pie and best adapted under all circumstan-
ces, TO attain the end in view. The benef-
cient results already apparent, prove that
these endeavors are not 10 be regarded as a
mere experiment, and should sustain and
encourage us in our efforts. Already in
the brief time which has elapsed the imme-
diate effectiveness, no less than the Justice
of the course pursued, is demonstrated, and
have an abiding faith that time will fur
nish its ample vindication, in the minds
OF the great majority of my fellow-citizens
The discontinuance of the army Tor the pur-
pose OF


UNFOLDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
IN two states of the Union, was no less
Constitutional duty and requirement under
the circumstances existing at the time than
it was a needed measure for the restoration
of local self-government and the promotion
of national harmony. The withdrawal OF
the troops from such employment was effect
ed diligently and with solicitous care tor
the care and good order OF society and the
protection OF the property, persons and
every right of all classes OF citizens The
results that have followed are indeed signif-
icanr and encouraging. All


APPREHENSION OF DANGER


from remitting those states to local self





tary change in the minds OF the people has
| begun and Is in progress in every part of
that section of the country, once the the
atre OF unhappy civil strife, substituting for
suspicion, distrust and aversion, concord,
friendship aud patriotic attachment to the
Union. No unprejudiced mind will deny
that the fatal collisions, which for several
years have been OF frequent occurrence and
have alarmed the public mind have almost
entirely ceased, and that a spirit Of mutual
forbearancc and hearty national interest,
has succeeded, and there has been gener-
al


RE ESTABLISHMENT OF ORDER,


and OF the orderly administration OF iustice.
| Instead OF remaining the rule, acts OF
lawlessness have become of rare occurrence.
| political turmoil and turbulence have dis
| appeared, useful industries have been re-
sumed, public credit in the Southern states
has been greatly strengthened, and the
couraging benefits OF revival of commerce
between those sections of the country lately
embroiled in civil war, are fully enjoyed
Such are some OF the results already attain
ed, upon which the country should be con-
gratulatey. They are Of such importance
that We may with confidence patiently await
the desired consummation that will surely
come with the natural progress OF events.
ltmay not be improper here to say, it should
be our fixed and unalierable determination
10 protect by all available and proper means
under the Constitution and the laws,
THE LATELY EMANCIPATED RACE


in the enjoyment of their rights and privi-
leges, and urge upon those to whom here
tofore the colored people have sustained
I hn r,4la .f han hA Il
| justice Of humane and liberal local lcgisla-
tion with respect to their educational and
general welfare; a firm adherance to the
laws both National and State to the civil
and political rights OF the colored people,
now advanced TO full and equal citizenship
The immediate repression and sure pun
ishment, by the National and local author
titles within their respective jurisdiction, OF
every instance Of lawlessness and violence,
toward them, is required for the security
alike of both races, and is Justly demanded
by the public opinion of the country. and
the age. In this way the restoration of
HARMONY AND GOOD WILL,
and the complete protection OF every citi-
Zen in the full enjoyment of every Consti-
tutional right will surely be attained what
ever authority rests with me to this end
shall not hesi ate to put forth. Whatever
belongs 10 the power OF Congress and the
| jurisdiction of he courts of the Union. they
may confidently be relied upon 10 provide
and perform, and to the legislatures, the
courts and the executive authorities of the
several states, | earnestly appeal, TO secure
by adequate, appropriate and reasonable
means within their borders, these common
and uniform rights of


UNITED PEOPLE


which love liberty, abhor oppression and
revere justice. These objects are verv dear
TO my heart, and | shall most earnestly
strive for their attainment The cordial
cooperation of all classes, Of all sections of
/ the country, and of both races is required
for this purpose, and with these blessings
assured, and not otherwise, We may safely
hope TO hand down our free institutions Of
government unimpaired to the generations
that will succeed us. Among the other
subjects of great and general importance to
the people Of this country j cannot be mis-
taken, | think, in regarding as pre-eminent
| the policy and measures which are designed
TO secure the restoration of the currency to
that normal and healihful condition in
which, by the


RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENT,
| our internal trade and foreign commerce
may be brought into harmony with the sys-
TEN Of exchanges which is based upon the
precious metals, as the intrinsic money of
h. l.. IL