Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-12-06
Presidents Message.
DELIVERED TO CONGRESS ON
DECEMBER B, 1866.


ali-wise and merciful Providence has abated the
pesiercc which visited our shores, leaving its ca
lamitods traces upon some portions of our country
Peace, order, tranquility and civil authority have
been formally declared to exist throughout the
whole of the United States. In all the States civil
authority has superseded the coercion Of arms, and
the people by their voluntary action are maintain
ing 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 oil
judicial proceedings, and the animosities engen-
dered by the rapidly yielding to the benef-
cent influences of our free Institutions, and to the
kindly offers of unrestricted social and commercial
intercourse. An entire restoration of fraternal
feeling must be the earnest wish of every patriotic
heart; and we shall have accomplished our grand
est national achievement, when, forgetting the sad
events of the past, and remembering only their III
structve lessons, we resume onward course as
free, prosperous and united people.
RESTORATION OF THE STATES.
In my message o. the 4th of December, 1865, Con-
gress was informed of the measures which had
been instituted by the Executive, with view to
the gradual restoration of tho States in which the
instruction occurred, to their relations with the
General Government. Provisional Governors had
been appointed, conventions called, Governors
elected, legislatures assembled, and Senators and
Representatives chosen TO the Congress of the
United States. Courts had been opened for the en-
torcement OF laws long III allegiance. The blockade
had been removed custom houses re-estabiished,
and the internal revenue laws put in force in order
that the people might contribute to the national in
come. Postal operations had been renewed, and
former condition and efficiency. The States them
selves had been asked to take part in the high func
ton Of amending the Constitution. and of thus
sanctoning the extinction of African slavery one
of the legitimate results OF our nternecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far the Executive Depart
ment found that it had accomplished nearly all
that was within the scope of its constitutional a-
thority.
One thing, however, yet remained to be done be-
fore 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 the lawful au-
thority of the General Government. ms questlon
deYoyed upon the respective houses, which by the
Constitution are made the Judges OF the electlon,
returns and qualifications OF their own members
and its consideration at once engaged the attention
of Congress.
In the meantime the Executive Department, no
other plan having been proposed by Congress, con-
tinued in its efforts to perfect far as was practi-
cable, the restoration of the proper relations be-
tween the citizens of the respective States, the
States and Federal Government, Extending from
time to time, as the public interest seemed to re-
quire, the judicial, revenue and postal systems of
the country. With the advice and consent of the
Senate, the necessary officers were appointed, and
appropriations made by Congress for the payment
OF their salaries
THE ANTI-sLAvERY AMENDMENT.
The proposition to amend the Federal COnsttu-
ton, to prevent the existence of slavery with
in the United States, in any place subject TO their
jurisdiction, was ratified by the requisite number
of States, and on the 18th day of December, 1865,
ii was officially declared to have become valid as
part of the Constitution of tire United State All
of the States in which the instruction had existed
promptly amended their cons tGtiOns so as to make
them conform to the great change thus effected in
the organic law of the land-decared null and void
all ordinances and laws of secession repudiated
all pretended debts and obligations created for the
revolutionary purpose of the instruction, and pro-
ceeded in good faith to the enactment of measures
for the protection and aeliOratlon OF the colored
race. .-fO
Congress, however, yet hesitated to admit any
of these States to representation, and it was not
until the close of the eighth month of the session
,aA 10 inf rfNf
i deem it subject of profound regret that Con-
gress has thus far failed to admit to seats loyal
Senators and Representatives from the other States
where the inhabitants, with those of Tennessee,
had engaged in rebellion. Ten States--more than
one-fourth the whole number-remain without
presentation. The seats of fifty members of the
House, and twenty of the Senate, yet vacant
not by their own consent not by failure of cleo
ton, but by the refusal of Congress to accept their
credentials The admission, it is believed, would
have accomplished much towards the renewal and
Strengthening OF our relations as one people, and
removed serious cause for discomfort the part of
the people OF those States. 1t would have accord
ed with the great principles enunciated in the
declaration OF American independence, that no
people ought to bear the burden of taxation and
yet be denied the right of representation 1t
would have been in consonance with the express
provisions of the Constitution that each State shall
have at least representative, and that no State,
without its consent, shall be deprived of equal
suffrage in the Senate. These provisions were in
tended to secure to every State the right of repre-
sentatlon In Congress, and so important was it
the equality of the States shall be preserved in the
Senate that not even by amendment of the
Constitution can any State, without its consent,
be denied voice In that branch OF national legis
lation. 1t has been assumed that these States, by
rebellion, became Territories: but all departments
of the Government with great dstinctness, refused
10 sanction an assumption so incompatible with
the nature of our Republican system, and the pro-
fessed objects of the war. Throughout the recent
legislation of Congress- the undeniable fact makes
itself apparent that these ten political communities
are nothing less than States.
INTEGRITY OF THE STATES.
1t Is true it has been assumed that the existence
Of the States was terminated by the rebelious acts
of their inhabitants, and that the instruction hay
ing been suppressed, they were thenceforward to
be considered merely as conquered territories.
The legislative executive and judicial depart
ments of the government nave, however, with
great distinctness and uniform consistency refused
TO sanction an assumption incompatible with
the nature of our republican system and the pro-
fessed objects Of the war. Throughout the recent
legislation of Congress, the undeniable fact makes
itself apparent that the ten political communities
are nothing les than States of this Union. At the
very commencement of the rebellion, each House
with unanlmlty as remarkable as 1t was signif-
cant, declared that the war was not "waged upon
our part in any spirit of oppression, nor for any
purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor for the
purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions of those States
but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution, and all laws made in pursuance
thereof; and to preserve the Union with all the
dignity, equality and rights OF the several States
unimpalred; and that as soon as these objects are
accomplished, the war ought to cease"
In some instances Senators were permitted tt
continue their Legislative functions, while in othe
instances Representatives were elected and admit
ted to seats after their States had fora v declared
their right to withdraw from the Union, and were
endeavorng to maintain that right by force O
arms. All of the States, whose people were in in
surrectlon States were included in the amor
tionment of the direct tax of $50 900 900 annually
laid upon the United States by the act approved
9Th of August, 1861. Congress, by the of Marcel
4, 1862 and by the superintendent of representa-
ton hereunder also recognized their presence al
States IN the Union, and they have for judicial pur
poses been divided into districts as States alone
can be divided. The same recognition appears il
the recent legislation in reference to Tennessee
which evidently rests upon the fact that the func
lions of the State were not destroyed by the rebel
lion, but merely suspended, and that principle il
of course applicable to those States, which, like
Tennessee, attempted to renounce their places il
the Union
The action of the executive department of til,
Government upon this subject has been equal,
definite and uniform and the purpose of the wal
was specifically stated in the proclamation issued
by my predecessor, on the I'D day of September
1862. 1t was then solemny proclaimed and de
cared that hereafter heretofore, the will BIZ
prosecuted for the object of practically restoring
the constitutional relation between the United
States and each of the States, and the people
thereof, in which States that relation is may BIZ
suspended or disturbed. The recognition of the
States by the judicial department of the Govern
ment has also been clear and conclusive in all pro
ceedings affecting them as States, and in the Su
preme, Circuit and District Courts.
QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.
In the admission of Senators and Representatives
from all the States there can be no just grounds o
apprehension that persons who are disoyal will be
clothed with the powers of legislation,-for this
could not happen when the Constitution and the
laws are enforced by vigilant and faithful Con
gress Each House is the Judge of Its own mem
beers. A Senator or member. may be admitted OF
rejected, or his credentials referred to a proper
committee. Ii admitted to a seat, II must be on
evidence, satisfactory, that he possesses the requ
site qualifications. If refused admission and sent
TO his constituents for want of due allegiance, they
are admonished that none but persons loyal