Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-12-08
THE FREsIDENT's MESSAGE

After brief interval the Congress Of the
United States resumes its annual Legislative
labors. An all-wise and mcrciful Providence
has abated the pestiience which visited our
shores, leaving its calamitous traces upon
como portions of cur country. Peace, en6er,
tranquility, and civil authority have been
formally declared to exist throughout the
whole Of the United States. sA T.
t, In all of tho States civil authority has
superseded the coercion of arms, and the
people, by their voluntary action, are main
tanning their governments in full activity
and complete operation The Enforcement
of the laws is no longer "obstructed in any
State by combinations too powerful to be
suppressed by the ordinary course .ot judi
cial proceedings;" and the animosities en-
/, vendered by the war are rapidly yielding to
the bopeGcient influences of our free instltu'
tious, and TO the kindly effects OF unrestrict-
ed social and commercial intercourse. An
entire restoration of fraternal feeling must
i be the earnest wish of every patriotic heart;
: and we will have accomplished our grandest
national achievement whom, forgetting the |
! sad events of the past, and remembering |
only their instructive lessons, we resume our |
onward career as a free, prosperous and
f. united people. . fl stl.. .l- .-Is'r. o
. In my message of the 4th of December,
ID 1866, Congress was informed of the measur es
which had been instituted by the Executive
with view to the gradual restoration Of
the States in which the insurrecton oc-
CURED to their relations with the General
Government. Provisional Governors had
been appointed, Conventions called, Gov
u ernors elected, Legislatures assembled
and Senators and Representatives chosen to
the Congress of the United States. Courts
had been opened for the enforcement OF
L. aInpa 'l,a ll lnlN Ia had
been removed, custom houses re.estab,islied
! and the internal revenue laws put in force,
b an order that the people might contribute
i, to the national income. Postal operations
had been renewed and efforts were being
- made to restore them to their former con-
dition af efficiency. The States themselves
had been asked to take part in the high
function of amending the Constitution, and
of thus sanctiening the extinction of African
slavery as one of the Legitimate results of
s our internecine struggle. r Ir. ..a.
g1 Having progressed thus far, the Executive
Department found that it had accomplished
81 nearly ell that was within the scope Of its
constitutional authority. One thing how
ever, vet remained to be done before the
work of restoration could be completed, and
that was the admission to Congress of loyal
Senators and Representatives from the
States whose people had rebeled against
n the lawful authority of the general Govern
I n ment., This question devolved upon the re-
\ spective Houses, which, 10y the Constitution,
g5 are made the judges of the elections, returns,
a and qualifications or their swn members
and its consideration at once engaged the
attention of Congress.
Yf In the meantime the Executive Depart
ment--no other plan having been proposed
BY Congress-continued its efforts to per
feet, as far as was practicable, the restora'
ton of the proper relations between the
- citizens of the respective States, the States
and the Federal Government, extending
from time to time, as the public interest!
seemed to require. the judicial, revenue ant
postal systems Of the country. With thC
advice and consent oil the Senate. the neces
sary officers were appointed and appropria
Sc tions made by Congress for the payment o
900 their salaries. The proposition TO ament
the Federal Constitution, so as to proven
the existence of slavery within the United
st States or any place subject to their jurisdic
9sa ton, was ratified by the requisite number o
rs States; and the 18th day of December, s65
it was officially declared to have becom
valid as part of the Constitution of tn
United States. All of the States in whic
" the insurrection had existed prompt
amended their Constitutions, So as to max
fected in the organic law of the land dC
Ji clared null and void all ordinances and law
al of secession repudiated all pretended debt
- and obligations created for the revolution
"a ary purposes OF the lpsurrection; and prt
ceeded, in good faith to the enactment {
-9Il measures for the protection and anchor;
tion of the condition of the colored race
Congress, however, still hesitated to adm
,I any of these States to representation and
rs was not until toward the close Of the eight
month of the session that an exception WI
-. made in favor of Tennessee, by the admi
neg sion of her Senators and Representatives.
s deem it subject of profound regr
~ that Congress has thus far failed to adm
Co seats loyal Senators and Representative
from the other States, whose inhabitant
f3.- with those of Tennessee, had engaged
b,E the rebellion. Ten States-n.ore than OF
o fourth of the whole number--remain wit
,ls out representation the seats of fifty mel
ed sbers 10 the House Of Representatives and
r17 twenty members ia the Senate are yet
eos cant-uot by their own consent. not by
failure of election, but by the refusal
f'r Congress to accept their credentials. Th'
hrf admission, it is believed, would have
gan complshed much toward the renewal al
q. strengthening of our relations as one prop
e and removed serious cause for discomfort
-at-aA TIE part OF tHe INHABITANTS Oi tHDSe Sta
O. 5 1t would have accorded with the grt
saa principles enunciated in the Declaration
.os5 American Independence, that no peol
rr ought to bear the burden of taxation, a
sa yet be denied the right of representati,
II would have been in cnnsonance with I
grig express provisions of the Constitution, II
Fiii ''each State shall have at least one Rep
.l3a sentative" and ''that no State, without
Es consent, shall be deprived of its equal S
uI fgage in the Senaten These provisiC
were intended to secure to every State. a
90 to the people of every State, the right
.3r representation in each House of Congre
aa and so important was it deemed by
az framers OF the Constitution that the equal
of the States IN the Senate should he p
served, ,-that notseyen by an amendment
the Constitution can any State. without
'i.s consent, be denied voice in that branch
% the National Legislature.
W II is true. il has been assumed that .
existence of the States vas terminated
-.- the rebe,lions acts Of their Inhabitants. {
that the insurrection having been suppr,