mined to leave behind them all those bitter controversies concerning things which have been irrevocably settled, and the further discussion of which can only stir up strife and delay the onward march. The supremacy of the Nation and its laws should be no longer a question of debate. The discussion which for half a century threatened the existence of the Union was closed at last in the high court of war by a decree from which there is no appeal, that the Constitution and the laws made in pur. suance thereof are and shall continue to be the surreme law of the land, binding alike upon the States and the people. This decree does not disturb the autonomy of the States ner interfere with any of their necessary rights of local self-government, but it does fix and establish the permanent supremacy of the Union. The will of the Nation, speaking with the voice of battle and through the amended Constitution, has fulfilled the great promise of 1776 by proclaiming "liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof." many that in many communities negro citizens are It has been said that unsettled questions have no pity for the repose of Nations. It should be said with the utmost emphasis that this question of the suffrage will never give repose or safety to the States or to the The elevation of the negro race from Nation until each, within its own jurisdicslavery to the full rights of citizenship is the tion, makes and keeps the ballot free and most important political change we have pure by the strong sanctions of the law. known since the adoption of the Constitution But the danger which arises from ignoof 1787. No thoughtful man can fail to ap rance in the voter cannot be denied. It cov preciate its beneficent effect upon our insti- crs a field far wider than that of negro suf. tutions and people. It has freed us from frage and the present condition of the race. the perpetual danger of war and dissolution. It is a danger that lurks and hides in the It has added immensely to the moral and in- sources and fountains of power in every dustrial forces of our people. It has libera-State. We have no standard by which to ted the master as well as the slave from a relation which wronged and enfeebled both. It has surrendered to their own guardian: ship the manhood of more than 5,000,000 of people, and has opened to each one of them a career of freedom and usefulness. It has given new inspiration to the power of self-help in both races, by making labor more honorable to the one and more necessary to the other. The influence of this force will grow greater and bear richer fruit with the coming years. measure the disaster that may be brought upon us by ignorance and vice in the citi zens when joined to corruption and fraud in the suffrage. The voters of the Union who make and unmake constitutions, and upon whose will hang the destinies of our governments, can transmit their supreme authority to no suc ters, who are the sole heirs of sovereign cessors save the coming generation of vopower. If that generation comes to its inheritance blinded by ignorance and corrup certain and remediless. ted by vice, the fall of the Republic will be The census has already sounded the alarm in the appalling figures which mark how dangerously high the tide of illiteracy bas risen among our voters and their children. No doubt this great change has caused serious disturbance to our Southern communities. This is to be deplored, thongh it was perhaps unavoidable. But those who resisted the change should remember that, under our institutions, there was no middle ground for the negro race between slavery and equal citizenship. There can be no permanent disfranchised peasantry in the United States. Freedom can never yield its fullness of blessings so long as the law or its administration places the smallest obstacle in the pathway of any virtuous citi-ing population. For the North and South zen. The emancipated race has already made remarkable progress. With unquestioning devotion to the Union, with a patience and gentleness not born of fear, they have "followed the light as God gave them to see the light." They are rapidly laying the material foundations of self support, widening their circle of intelligence, and beginning to enjoy the blessings that gather around the homes of the industrious poor. They deserve the generous encouragement of all good men. So far as my authority can law fully extend, they shall enjoy the full and equal protection of the Constitution and the laws. The free enjoyment of equal suffrage is still in question, and a frank statement of the issue may aid in its solution. It is alleged To the South this question is of supreme importance, but the responsibility for the existence of slavery did not rest upon the South alone. The Nation itself is responsi ble for the extension of the suffrage, and is under special obligations to aid in removing the illiteracy which it has added to the vot alike, there is but one remedy. All the constitutional power of the Nation and of the States, and all the volunteer forces of the people should be surrendered to meet this danger by the savory influence of universal education. It is the high privilege and sacred duty of those now living to educate their successors and fit them, by intelligence and virtue, for the inheritance which awaits them. In this beneficent work sections and races should be forgotten, and partisanship should be unknown. Let our people find a new meaning in the divine oracle which declares that "A little child shall lead them," for our own little children will soon control the destinies of the Republic. My countrymen, we do not now differ in our judgment concerning the controversies of past generations, and fifty years hence our children will not be divided in their opinions concerning our controversies. They will surely bless their fathers and their fathers' God that the Union was preserved, that slavery was overthrown, and that both races were made equal before the law. We may hasten or we may retard, but we cannot prevent the final reconciliation. It is not possible for us now to make a truce with time by anticipating and accept ing its inevitable verdict. Enterprises of the highest importance to our moral and material well-being unite us and offer ample employment of our best powers. Let all our people, leaving behind them the battle-fields of dead issues, move forward, and in their strength of liberty and the restored Union, win the grander victories of peace. The prosperity which now prevails is without parallel in our history. Fruitful seasons have done much to secure it, but they have not done all. The preservation of the public credit and the resumption of specle payments so successfully attained by the administration of my predecessors has enabled our people to secure the blessings which the seasons brought. more than one-half our people, and furnish much the largest part of all our exports. As the Government lights our coasts for the protection of mariners and the benefit of commerce, so it should give to the tillers of the soil the best lights of practical science and experience. Our manufacturers are rapidly making us industrially independent, and are opening to capital and labor new and profitable fields of employment. Their steady and healthy growth should still be matured. Our facil. ities for transportation should be promoted by the continued improvement of our harbors and great interior water-ways and by the increase of our tonnage on the ocean. The development of the world's commerce has led to an urgent demand for shortening the sea voyage around Cape Horn by constructing ship canals or railways across the the isthmus which unites the continents. Various plans to this end have been suggested and will need consideration; but none of them has been sufficiently matured to war rant the United States in extending pecunary aid. The subject, however, is one which will immediately engage the attention of the Government with a view to a thorough protection to American interests. We will urge no narrow policy nor seek peculiar or exclusive privileges in any commerc al route; but in the language of my predecessor, I believe it to be the right "and duty of the United States to assert and maintain such supervision and authority over any interoceanic canal across the isthmus that connects North and South America as will protect our National interests." By the experience of commercial nations in all ages, it has been found that gold and silver afford the only safe foundation for a monetary system. Confusion has recently been created by variations in the relative value of the two metals. But I confidently believe that arrangements can be made between the leading commercial nations which will secure the general use of both metals. Congress should provide that the compulsory coinage of silver now required by law may not disturb our monetary system by driving either metal out of circulation. If possible such an adjustment should be made that the purchasing power of every coined dollar will be exactly equal to its debt-pay-islative authority of Congress; and hence ing power in all the markets of the world. The chief duty of the National Government, in connection with the currency of the country, 18 to coin money and declare its value. Grave doubts have been entertained whether Congress is authorized by the Con stitution to make any form of peper money legal tender. The present issue of United States notes has been sustained by the necessities of war, but such paper should depend for its value and currency upon its convenience in use and its prompt redemption in coin at the will of the holder, and not upon its compulsory circulation. These notes are not money, but promises to pay money. If the holders demand it the promise should be kept. The refunding of the National debt at a lower rate of interest should be accomplished without compelling the withdrawal of the National bank notes, and thus disturbing the business of the country. I venture to refer to the position I have occupied on financial questions during a long service in Congress, and to say that time and experience have strengthened the opinions I have so often expressed on these subjects. The Constitution guarantees absolute religious freedom. Congress is prohibited from making any law respecting an estab lishment of religion or prohibiting the ree exercise thereof. The Territories of the United States are subject to the direct legthe General Government is responsible for any violation of the Constitution in any of them. It is, therefore, a reproach to the Government that in the most populous of the Territories the constitutional guarantee is not enjoyed by the people and the anthority of Congress is set at naught. The Mormon Church not only offends the moral sense of manhood by sauctioning polygamy, but prevents the administration of Justico through ordinary instrumentalities of law. In my judgment, it is the duty of Congress, while respecting to the uttermost the conscientious convictions and religious scruples of every citizen, to prohibit within its furisdiction all criminal practices, especially of that class which destroy the family relations and endanger social order. Nor can any ecclesiastical organization be safely permitted to usurp in the smallest degree the functions and powers of the National Gov. ernment. The civil service can never be placed on a satisfactory basis until it is regulated by law. For the good of the service itself, for the protection of those who are intrusted with the appointing power against the waste of time and obstruction to the public busiThe finances of the Government shall suf-ness caused by the inordinate pressure for fer no detriment which it may be possible for my administration to prevent. The interests of agriculture deserve more attention from the Government than they have yet received. The farms of the United States afford homes and employment for place, and for the protection of incumbents against intrigue and wrong, I shall, at the proper time, ask Congress to fix the tenure of the minor offices of the several Executive Departments, and prescribe the grounds upon which removals shall be made during the terms for which incumbents have been the fact that thongh the chosen of the peoappointed. ple be struck down, his constitutional sucFinally, acting always within the author-cessor is peacefully installed without shock ity and limitations of the Constitution, invading neither the rights of the States nor the reserved rights of the people, it will be the purpose of my administration to maintain the authority of the Nation and in all places within its jurisdiction; to enforce obedience to all the laws of the Union in the interests of the people; to demand rigid economy in all the expenditures of the Government; and to require the honest and faithful service of all executive officers, remembering that the offices were created, not for the benefit of incumbents or their supporters, but for the service of the Gov-ample and experience. Prosperity blesses ernment. And now, fellow-citizens, I am about to assume the great trust which you have committed to my hands. I appeal to you for that earnest and thoughitiul support which makes this Government in fact, as it is in law, a Government of the people. or strain except the sorrow which mourns the bereavement. All the noble aspirations of my lamented predecessor, which_found expression in his life, the measures devised and suggested during his brief Administra tion to correct abuses and enforce economy, to advance prosperity and promote the gener welfare, to insure domestic security and maintain friendly and honorable rela tions with the nations of the earth, will be garnered in the hearts of the people, and it will be my earnest endeavor to profit and to see that the Nation shall profit by his exour country. Our fiscal policy is uxed by law, is well grounded and generally approved. No threatening issue mars our foreign intercourse, and the wisdom, integrity and thrift of our people may be trusted to con tinue undisturbed the present assured career of peace, tranquility and welfare. The glooni and anxiety which have enshrouded the country must make repose especially welcome now. No demand for speedy legis lation has been heard, no adequate occasion is apparent for an unusnal session of Congress. The Constitution defines the functions and powers of the Executive as clearly as those of either of the other two depart ments of the Government, and he must an swer for the just exercise of the discretion it permits and the performance of the duties it For the fourth time in the history of the and responsibilities, and profoundly con imposes. Summoned to these high duties Republic its Chief Magistrate has been re-scious of their magnitude and gravity, I asmoved by death. All hearts are filled with sume the trust imposed by the Constitution, grief and horror at the hideous crime which relying for aid on divine guidance and the has darkened our land, and the memory of the virtue, patriotism and intelligence of the murdered President, his protracted suffer- American people. ings, his unyielding fortitude, the example and achievements of his life and the pathos of his death, will forever illumine the pages of our history. I shall greatly rely upon the wisdom and patriotism of Congress and of those who share with me the responsibilities and duties of administration. And above all, upon our efforts to promote the welfare of this great people and their Government, I reverently invoke the support and blessings of Almighty God. Of Chester A. Arthur, September 22, 1881. For the fourth time the officer clected by the people and ordained by the Constitution to fill a vacancy so created is called to assume the Executive Chair. The wisdom of our fathers, foreseeing even the most dire possibilities, made sure that the Government should never be imperilled because of the uncertainty of human life. Men may die, but the bric of our free institutions remains unshaken. No higher or more as suring proof could exist of the strength and permanence of popular government than [President Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, in Washington City, at 9:20 a. m., July 2, 1881. He died at Elberon, N. J., at 10:35 p. m., September 19, 1881. Presi dent Arthur, ou telegraphic announement from the Cabinet of the death of President Garfield, and on their suggestion, took the oath of office at once. It was administered at 2:15 a. m., September 20, 1881, in New York City, before Judge Brady, of the State Court. The oath was subsequently retaken in Washington City, before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, September 22, at 12 o'clock M.] INDIANA. submitted by the Legislature because of a The seven amendments submitted in 1880 decision of the Court that they were not -for which see the ALMANAC 10r 1850-legally ratified at the former election, were and adopted by the people as stated in the ratified at a special election March 14, 1881, ALMANAC for 1881, and readopted and re- by the following vote: Amendment. 1. Prescribes qualifications of voters. 4. To strike out the word "white" 6. Additional courts. 9. To restrict municipal debt. This proposed amendment was passed by the Legislature of 1881, which, if passed by the Legislature of 1883, will be submitted to popular vote: Amend Section 2 of Article II thereof, so that it will read as follows: Sec. 2. In all elections, not otherwise pro vided for by this Constitution, every citizen of the United States, of the age of twentyone years and upwards, who shall have resided in the State during the six months, and in the township sixty days, and in the ward or precinct thirty days, immediately preceding such election, and every person of foreign birth, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, who shall have resided in the United States one year, and who shall have resided in this State during the six months, and in the township sixty days, and in the ward or precinct thirty days immediately preceding such election, and shall have dé clared his or her intention to become a citizen of the United States, conformably to the laws of the United States on the subject of naturalization, shall be entitled to vote in the township, ward or precinct where he or she may reside, if he or she shall have been duly registered according to law. IOWA. Two constitutional amendments are snbmitted to the next General Assembly for approval and submission to a vote of the peo ple, or rejection: Add to Section 26 of Article I the words: "No person shall manufacture for sale, or sell, or keep for sale as a beverage, any intoxicating liquors whatever, including ale, wine, and beer." Also, a joint resolution to increase the jurisdiction of justices of the peace from $100 to $300. MASSACHUSETTS. An amendment that "No person, having served in the Army or Navy of the United States in time of war, and having been honorably discharged from such service, if otherwise qualified to vote, shall be disqualified there on account of being a pauper; or, if a pauper, because of the non-payment of poll-tax," was submitted to popular vote. MARYLAND. The following proposed amendment passed the Legisture January, 1880, to stand as Section 5 of Article IV,was submitted to the people November 8, 1881, and adopted: Sec. 5. After the election for judges, as herein before provided, there shall be held in this State, in every fifteenth year thereafter, on the Tuesday after the first Monday For. Against. Majority. 123,736 45,975 77,761 Total 169,711 124,952 128,038 42,896 82,056 167,848 40,163 87,875 168,201 125,170 42.162 83,008 167,332 128,731 116,570 41,434 75.136 165,001 126,221 36,435 89,786 162,656 in November of such year, an election for judges as herein provided; and in case of death, resignation, removal or disqualification, by reason of age or otherwise, of any judge, the Governor shall appoint a person duly qualified to till said office, who shall hold the same until the next general election for members of the General Assembly, when a successor shall be elected, whose term of office shall be the same as hereiubefore provided; and upon the expiration of the term of fiiteen years for which any judges may be elected to fill a vacancy, au election for his successor shall take place at the next general election for members of the General Assembly to occur upon or after the expiration of the said term; ant the Governor shall appoint a person duly quali fied to hold said office from the expirat oa of such term or fifteen years until the election and qualiuication of his successor. MICHIGAN. Three amendments were submitted to popular vote at the spring election, April 4, 1881. The first, to stand as Section 12 of Article XIII, requires the Legislature to establish at least one library in each township and city; and all tines assessed and collect d in the several counties and townships for any breach of the penal laws shall be exc usively applied to the support of such libraries, unless otherwise ordered by the township board of any township, or the board of education of any city; Provided, that in no case shall such fines be used for other than library or school purposes-was adopted, yeas, 59,815; nays, 51,475. The second, to stand as Section 12 of Article VI, provides that the clerk of each county organize for judicial purposes shall be the clerk of the circuit court of such county, and that the Supreme Court shall have power to appoin a clerk for such supreme court-was adopt ed, yeas, 69.233; nays, 62,593. The third, to stand as Section 6 of Article VI. provides that the State shall be divided into judicial circnits, in each of which the electors shall elect one eircuit judge, who shall hold office for six years and until his successor is elected and qualified; and that the Legislature may provide for the elect.on of more than one circuit judge in the circuit in which the City of Detroit is situated, and the circuit judge or judges of said circuit shall, in addition to the usual salary, receive from Wayne County such additional salary as may from time to time be fixed oy the supervisors of said county-was adopted, yeas, 60,468; nays, 53,840. MINNESOTA. Several amendments were submitted: To prohibit special legislation in certain cases; for the sale of swamp lands, the proceeds to be applied to educational and charitable purposes; for a general law defining the powers of municipal corporations over the assessments for certain local improvements; and to fix the pay of members of the Legis lature, and prohibit them from changing the rate. MISSOURI.! on the canals, shall neither be increased nor reduced except by the Canal Board, with the concurrence of the Legislature. All contracts for work or materials on any ca nal shall be made with the person who shall offer to do or provide the same at the lowest price with adequate security for their per formance. No extra compensation shall be made to any contractor; but if from any unforeseen cause the terms of any contract shall prove to be unjust and oppressive, the Canal Board may, upon the application of the contractor, cancel such contract. The A proposed amendment is to be submitted Legislature shall not sell, lease or otherto popular vote at the November election wise dispose of the Erie Canal, the Oswego in 1882, concerning the judicial depart- Canal, the Champlain Canal, the Cayuga and ment. It adds one to the number of judges Seneca Canal or the Black River Canal; of the Supreme Court, which is to be divided but they shall remain the property of the into two divisions, with three judges each, State, and under its management forever. one to be called the civil, the other the criminal side of the Court, and to act separately and levied a tax which shall be sufficient to SEC. 5. There shall annually be imposed for the disposition of causes, two of a side to pay the interest and extinguish the princi be a quorum. After January 1, 1883, the pal of the canal debt, as the same shall be jurisdiction of the St. Louis Court of Appeals come due and payable, and the proceeds of and the election for judge thereof shall be such tax shall, in each fiscal year, be appro restricted to the Eighth Judicial Circuit, priated and set apart for the sinking fund and after that time it shall not have jurisdic- constituted for the payment of the princi tion of any criminal case. The amendment pal and the interest of the aforesaid debt. contains sundry minor provisions.. NEW-YORK. The following proposed amendments to the Constitution will be acted upon by the Legislature of 1882; if agreed to by a ma SEC. 6. There shall be created a canal repair trust fund, under the control and management of the Commissioners of the Canal Fund, which shall be made up and sustained in the following manner: jority of each house they will be submitted pended moneys remaining in treasury at 1. By the transfer thereto of any unex to the people. The two sets of Canal amend-the time of the adoption of this section, be ments conflict, and the Legislature will longing to the canal fund and standing on probably submit but one to the people. the books of the canal department to the I. Amending Article VI by adding the credit of the "fund for extraordinary re following section: "Section 28. The Legis- pairs," the "fund for the enlargement of lature, at the first session thereof after the the Champlain Canal" and the "fund for the adoption of this amendment, shall provide reconstruction of the Oneida Lake Canal." for organizing in the Supreme Court not 2. From the surplus revenues in each fismore than five general terins thereof; and cal year, after paying the expenses of colfor the election, at the general election next lection, superintendence and ordinary reafter the adoption of this amendment by pairs of the canals. the electors of the judicial districts men- All of which fuud so hereby created shall tioned in this section respectively, of not be separately kept and safely invested by more than two Justices of the Supreme the Conmissioners of the Canal Fund, and Court, in addition to the Justices of that may under the direction and enactment of court now in office, in the first, fifth, seventh the Legislature from time to time be appro and eighth, and not more than one Justice priated, to make good any failure in the of that court in the second, third, fourth revenues to meet the appropriation for the and sixth judicial districts. The Justices ordinary expenditures or for the perma so elected shall be invested with their offices nent improvement of the canals. on the first Monday of June next after their IV.-Amending Sections 3, 5 and 6 of election." [The number of general terms is Article VII. so as to read as follows: now limited to four. There are now five Judges in the Ist District, five in the IId and four each in the other six districts.] SECTION 3. The first and second sections of this article having been fully complied with, no tolls shall hereafter be imposed on perII-Amending Section 12 of Article VI so sons or property transported on the cauls, as to provide "for detailing Judges of the but all boats navigating the canals, and the Superior Court of Buffalo to hold Circuit owners and masters thereof, shall be snoCourts of Oyer and Terminer and special ject to such laws and regulations as have terms of the Supreme Court." been or may hereafter be enacted concerning III-Amending Sections 3, 5 and 6 of the navigation of the canals. The Legisla Article VII so as to read as follows: ture shall, annually, by equitable taxes, SECTION 3. The debts mentioned in the make provision for the expenses of the preceding section of this article having been superintendence and repairs of canals. The fully paid or provided for, and no longer canal debt contracted under the section liens upon the revenues of the canals, the hereby amended, which on the 1st day of surplus revenues of the canals, after pay- October, 1880, amounted to $8,982,200, shall ing the cost of collection, superintendence continue to be known as the "canal debt and ordinary repairs, shall in each fiscal under artic e seven, section three, of the year be credited to the reserve fund created Constitution," and the sinking fund appliunder the sixth section of this article, and cable to the payment thereof, together with held to meet appropriations as therein pro- the contributions to be made thereto, shall vided. The rates of toll established for the continue to be known as the "canal debt year one thousand eight hundred and sinking fund," and the principal and intereighty, on persons and property transported est of said debt shall be met as provided in |