Year: 1877

FELLow-CITIZENs OF THE SENATE
AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
With gratitude to the Bountiful Giver
of all good, ] congratulate you, at the
beginning of your regular session. You
find our country blessed with wealth
and peace and abundant harvests, and
with encouraging prospects of an early
return Of general prosperity.


THE PACIrcATIos OF THB COUNTRY
continues, and until it is fully accom-
plished must remain the most important
OF all our National interests. The earn
est purpose of good citizens generally to
unite their efforts in those endeavors is
evident. II found decided expression
in the resolutions announced in 1876 by
the National Conventions of the leading
political parties of the country. There
was widespread apprehension that
momentous results in our progress as a
nation marked by the recent amend
ments TO the Constitution were in immi-
nent jeopardy, that the understanding
which prompted their adoption in the
interest of a 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 severed and
disunited as they were when arrayed in
war.


The course to be pursued, in my judg-
ment the wisest in the presence of this
emergency, was plainly indicated in my
inaugural address. 1t pointed to the
time, which all our people desire to see,
when genuine love of our whole coun-
try and Of all that concerns its true well
fare, shall supplant the destructive
force of mutual animosity of races and
Of sectional 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
criticisms, and any course whatever
which might have been entered upon,
would certainly have encountered dis
trust and opposition.


These measures were, in my judg-
ment, such M were most in harmony
with the Constitution, and with the
genius Of our people, and best adapted,
under all the circumstances, 10 attain
the end in view.


The beneficent results already appar-
ent prove that these endeavors are not
10 be regarded as mere experiment and
should sustain and encourage us in our
efforts. Already, in the brief time
which has elapsed, the immediate ef-
fectiveness, ne less than the justice of
the course pursued, is demonstrated, and
/ have an abiding faith that time will
furnish its ample vindication in the
minds of the great majority of my fel-
low citizens.


The discountenance of the use of the
army for the purpose of upholding local
governments in two States of the Union
was no less a 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 effected diligently,
and with solicitous care for the peace
and good order of society and the pro-
lection Of the prosperity and every right
Of persons of all classes of citizens. The
results that have followed are indeed
significant and encouraging.


All apprehension of danger from re-
mitting those States to local salf-govern-
ment is dispelled, and the most salutary
change in the minds of the people has
begun, and is in progress in every part
of that section of country, once the
theater of unhappy civil strife. substi,
tuting for suspicion, distrust, and aver
sion, concord, friendship, and patriotic
attachment to the Union.


No unprejudiced mind will deny that
the often fatal collisions which, for sew.
eral years, have been of frequent occur.
renee, and have alarmed the public
mind, have almost entirely ceased, and
that spirit of mutual forbearance and
hearty national interest has succeeded
There has been a general re-establish
ment of orderly administration of jus
tice. Instances of remaining lawless
ness have become of rare occurrence.


Political turmoil and turbulence have
disappeared. Useful industries hav,
been resumed; public credit in tn,
Southern States has been greatly
strengthened, and the encouraging bene
FITS Of revival of commerce between sec
tions Of the country lately embroiled il
civil war are fully enjoyed.


Such are some of the results alread,
attained, upon which the country is t,
be congratulated. They are of sucl
importance that we may, with conf
dence, patiently await the desired con
summation that will surely come wit
the natural progress of events.


IL may not be improper here to sa
that it should be our fixed and una
terable determination to protect, by a.
available and proper means under tn
Constitution and the laws, the latel
emancipated race in the experiment G
their rights and privileges, and urg
upon those TO whom heretofore th
colored people sustained the relation G
bondman, the wisdom and Justice G
humane and liberal local legisls
ton with respect to their edr
cational and general welfare, an
q firm adherence to the laws, bot
National and State, as to the civil an
political rights of the colored people no,
advanced to full and equal citizenship
the immediate repression and sure pun
ishment by the National and local al
thorities, within their respective juri
dictions, of every instance of lawles
ness and violence toward them, is n
quired for the security alike of bot
races, and is justly demanded by th
public opinion of the country and til
age. In this way the restoration {
harmohy anu good Will, and the con
plete protection of every citizen in th
full enjoyment of every constitution.
right, will surely be attained. Wha
ever authority rests with me to this en-
i shall not hesitate TO put forth. Wha
ever belongs to the power of Congre
and the jurisdiction Of the courts Of tt
Union, they may confdentaly be relic
upon to provide and perform; and


the legislatures, the courts, and the e.
ecutive authorities of the several Stat
earnestly appeal to secure, by adequat
appropriate, and seasonable means wit


In their borders, these common and ur
form rights of united people whit
loves liberty, abhors oppression, and /