Year: 1877




full Giver of ali Good, ! congratulate
You tha. at the Beginning of your first
regular session you find our country
blessed with health, peace and ebund
ant barvests, and with encouraging
prospects of an early return of gen
eral prosperity. To complete and
make permanent the pacification of
the country continues to be, and un-
til it is fully accomplished must re-
main, the most important of all our
national interests. The earnest pur-
pose of good citizens generally TO
unite their efforts in the endeavor is
evident and it found decided express
sion in the resolutions announced in
1876, and in the national conventions
of the leading political parties of the
country. There was widespread
apprehension that the momentous re-
suits of our progress as a nation,
marked by the recent amendments to
the Constitution, were in Imminent
jeopardy; that the good understand
ing which prompted their adoption in
the interest of loyal devotion to the
general welfare might prove barren
truce and the two sections of the
country, once engaged in civil strife,
might be again as widelY severed and
dlsunited as they were when arrayed
in arms against each other.


The course TO be pursued, which in
ry judgment seemed the wisest in the
presence of this emergency,was plain
ly indicated in my inaugural address.
1t pointed to the time which all our
people desire to see, when genuine
love of our whole country and OF all
that concerns its true welfare shall
supplant the destructive forces of the
mutual animosity of the races and
sectional hostility. Opinions have
differed finally as to the measures
best calculated to secure this great
end. This was to be expected. The
measures adopted by the administra-
ton have been subjected to severe
and varied criticism. Any course
whatever which might have been en-
tered upon wonld certainly have en-
couraged distrust and opposition.
These measures were, in my judg-
ment, such as were most in harmony
with the Constitution and with the
genius of our people, and best adapt.
ed under all circums tances to attain
the end in view. BeDefcent results
Already apparent prove that these en-
deavors are not to be regarded as
mere experiments, and should sustain
and encourage us in our efforts. AL
ready in the brief time which has
elapsed, the immediate effectiveness
no 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
fellow citizens.


THE WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS.


The discontinuance OF the use Of
the army for the purpose of holding
local governments in two States of
the Union was no less a constitution
al duty and requirement, under the
circumstances existing at the time,
than it was a much needed measure
for the restoration OF local self gov
ernment and the promotion of har-
mony.


The withdrawal of the troops from
such employment was effected de-
liberately and with solicitous 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 results that
have followed are, indeed, significant
and encouraging. All apprehension
of danger from remitting those States
to local selfgovernment is dispelled,
and most satisfactory change in the
minds of the people has begun and is
in progress in every part of that sec
tion of the country, once the theater
of unhappy civil strife. substituting
for suspicion, distrust and aversion,
concord, friendship and patriotic at
tachment to the Union. No unpre
iudiced mind will deny that the ter
rihle and often fatal collisions wGich
for several years have been frequent
occurrence, and have agitated and
alarmed the public mind, have almost
entirely ceased, and that a spirit of
mutual forbearance and hearty ma
tional interest has succeeded. There
has been a general re-establishment
of order and in the orderly admins.
tration Of justice instances of remain
ing lawlessness have become of rare
occurrence.


Political turmoil and turbulence
have disappeared, useful industries
have been resumed, public credit in
the Southern States has been greatly
strengthened and the encouraging
benefits of revival of commerce be-
tween the sections of the country
lately embroiled in the civil war are
fully enjoyed. Such are some Of the
results already attained, upon which
the country is to be congratulated.
They are of such Importance that we
may, with confidence. patiently await
the desired consummat!on that will
surely come with the natural progress
of events.


PROTECTION T0R FREEDMEN.


1t may not be improper to say here
that it should be our fixed and unal-
terable determination to protect by
all available and proper means under
the Constitution and the laws the
lately emancipsted race in the enjoy
ment 2f their rights and privileges,
and urge upon those to whom here
tofore the colored people have sus-
tanned the relation Of bondsmen the
wisdom and Justice Of humane and
liberal local legislation with respect
TO their education and general vel
fare; 6rm adherence TO the civil and
political rights Of the colored people,
now advanced to full and equal citi.
zenship. The Immediate repression
and sure punishment by the national
and local authorities, within their
respective jurisdictions, of every in
stance Of lawlessness and violence
toward them is required for the