Year: 1877

tions Discussed.


Fenow-GtiEens Of the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives:
With great gratitude to the Bounufu1 Giver of al
Good, congratulate you that, at the beginning OF
your first regular session, you find country
blessed with health and peace, and abundant har-
vests and with encouraging prospects of early
return of general prosperity.


The Southern Policy.


To complete and make permanent the pacifca-
ton of the country continues to be, and until IT is
accomplished, remain the most important of
all our national interests. The earnest purpose of
good citizens generally to unite their efforts in those
endeavors is evident. 1t found decided expression
IN the resolutions announced in 1876 by the
tional conventions of the leading political par
ties of the country There a widespread
apprehension that the monentous results in
progress a nation, marked by the
recent amendments to the constitution, were i'm
minent jeopardy; that the good understanding which
prompted their adoption in the interest of loyal
devotion to the general welfare might prove bar
truce and that the sections of the country
engaged in civil strife, ulieht be again almost
widely severed and disunited as they were when ar
rayed in arms against each other. The course to
be pursued which, in my Judgment, seemed the
wisest, in the presence of this emergency, was
plainly indicated in the inaugural address. 1t
pointed to the time, which all our people desire to
see, when a genuine love of whole country and
of all that its true welfare shall supplant
the destructive forces of mutual anInosity of the
races and Of sectional hostility. Opinions BIZ 7e
differed widely as to the measures best caleu-
lated to secure this great end This to
istration have been subjected to and varied
criticisms. ANY course whatever which might have
been entered upon would certainly have encoun-
tered distrust and opposition. These measures
were, in my judgment such as were most in har-
mony with the constitution and with the genius of





stances. to attain the end in view. Benefcent re-
suits already apparent prove that these endeavors
should sustain and encourage us in our efforts al
ready in the brief period which has elapsed. The
immediate effectiveness, less than the justice, of
the course pursued, is demonstrated and have an
abiding faith that time Will furnish ample yiudica-
ton in the minds of the great majority of my fei-
low-ciGZens.


The disoontinuanee of the of the army for the
purpose of uphodipg the local Governments in two
of the States Of the Union was no less constitution
al duty and requirement, under the circunstan
existing at the time, than 1t was much-needed
measure for the restoration of local self-gov-
ernment and the promotion of national harmony.
The withdrawal Of the troops from such employ
ment was effected deliberately, and with solicitous
care for the peace and good order of society and
the protection of property and persons and every
right of all Glasses of citizens. The results that
have followed are indeed significant and enoourae-
ing. All apprehension of danger from rernitting
these States local self-government is dispelled,
and a most salutary change in the minds
of the people has begun, and is in prog
the theater of unhappy civil strife, substi-
tutng for suspicion, distrust and aversion, con-
cord. friendship and patriotic attachment to
the Union. No unprecedented mind will deny that
the often-fatal collisions, which for several years
have been of frequent occurrence, and have alarmed
the public mind, have almost entirely ceased, and
that spirit of mutual forbearance and hearty ma
tional interest has succeeded. There has been q
general re-establishment of order, and of the OF.
derly administration of justice. Instances of re.
naming lawlessness have become of rare occur.
renee; political turmoil and turbulence have dsap-
peared; useful industries have been resumed; pub
lie credit in the Southern States has been greatly
vival of commerce between the sections of the
try lately imbrolled in civil fully enjoyed
Such are some of the results already attained upon
which the country is to be congratulated. They
OF such Importance that we may with confidence pa
tienty await the desired consummation that VII
surely come with the natural progress of events.


The Emancipated Race.


1t NAV not be improper here to say that it should
be our Axed and unalterable determination to pro
tect, by ali available aud proper means, under th
constitution and the laws, the iately-emanc1patet
in the whole of their rights and privi
leges, and urge upon those to whom heretofor,
the colored people have sustained the relation o.
bondsmen the wisdom and justice of humane ant
liberal local legislation, with respect to their euca
ton and general welfare; a firm adherence to th
laws, both national and State to the civil and po
{f and equaf citizenship the immediate repree
sion and sure punishment, by the national and loca
ansnoFaes within NJ their respective Jurisdictions, o.
them required for the security alike of both
fhe oonoirv ana tSa ps ,he Puone opinion o.
restoration of harmony and good WILL an6
the complete protection of every citizen in the full
enjoyment of every constitutional right, will sure
ly be attained. Whatever authority rests with me
to this end shall not hesitate TO put forth. What
ever belongs TO the power of Congress and the uri
dction of the courts OF the Union, they may conf
IDENTIFY be relied upon to provide and perform, and
TO the Legislatures, the courts, and the executive
authorities of the several States L earnestly appea
to secure by adequate, appropriate, and seasonabt
means within their borders these common an mi
form rights of united people which loves liberty
abhors oppression, and reveres justice. These OBJ
5ects are very dear to my heart. 1 shall continu,
FOR hair ftaip n,
cordial cooperation of all classes of all sections o.
the country, and of both races is required for th
purpose and with these blessings assured and no
otherwise, We nay safely hope to hand down ON
free institutions OF government uninpaired to tht
generations that viii succeed US.


Resumption Specie Payments


Among the other subjects Of great and genera
Importance to the people of this country, canno
be mistaken, think IN regarding pre-e1ninen
The policy and measures which designed to sc,
cure the restoration of the currency to that norma
and healthful condition in which, by the resu1np
ton of specie payments our internal trade aud for
eign commerce may be brought into harmony Will
the system of exchanges which is based upon III,
IN the public Judgment. That this end should bt
sought and compasSed as speedily and securely
as the resources of the people and the wisdom OF
the Government can accomplish, there is much
greater degree of unanirnity than is found to con.
cur in the specific measures which viii bring the
country to this desired end, or the rapidty of the
steps by which it be safely reached Upon mos
anxious and deliberate examination which 1 have
felt II my duty to give to the subject am but the
more confirmed in the opinion which expressed in
accepting the nomination for the Presidency and
again upon my inauguration, that the policy of re-
sumption should be pursued by every suitable
means and that no legislation would be wise that
should dfsparage the importance retard the at
talnmepr of that result. have disposition, and
certainly no right to quesio the sincerity the
integrity of opposing opinions and would neither
conceal uusteryaloo the considerable difficulties
ard even occasional distress, which may attend the
progress of the na1lon toward this prinary condi-
Ton of its general and permanent prosperity
must, however, adhere to my most earnest convic-
uon, that any waverIng in purpose, or unsteadi-
ness u IN methods, so far from avoid
ing or redEc ng the Inconvenience iusep-
arabic from the transition from an ire
deeInable to redeeTnab,e paper currency.
would only tend to increased d and prolonged dis
turbance in values, which. unless relieved. must
end in serious disorder, dishonor ond disaster in
the financial affairs of the Government and of the
people. The nnischiefs which 1 apprehend and
urgently deprecate, confined to class of the
people: indeed, they but to most GER
tairiy to threaten the industrious masses whether
their occupations of skilled common labor
To then 10 me, it is of prime importance
that their labor should be compensated in money
which is n Itself fixed in exchaugabie value, by be
ing irrevocably measured by the labor necessary to
Its production This permanent quality of all the
money of the people is sought for and can OILY be
gained By the resumption cf specie payment. The
rich, the speculative, the operating, the money
dealing classes, may not always feel the naischefs
Of or may hnd ual profits in, variable currency,
but the nisfortunes of such a currency to those