The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-04
From tie Unaed States 0nd European
Ne'cs AssocjGtion.l
PRESID'T JOHNSON'S MESSAGE.


EELLOw-C CITIZENS OF THE SENATE
AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
After q brief interval, the Congress of
the United States resumes its annual
legislative labors. An all-wise and
merciful Providence has abated the
pestilence which visited our shores,
leaving its calamitous 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 of the States, civil
authority has superseded the coercion
of arms, and the people, by their
voluntary action, are maintaining
their Government i'll full activity and
complete operations. The enforce
ment of the laws is no longer OBJ
structed in any State by combination
too powerful to be suppressed by the
ordinary course of judicial proceed
ings, and the animosities engendered
by the war are rapidly yielding to the
beneficent influences of our free in
stitutions, and to the kindly effects of
unrestricted social and commercial
intercourse. An entire restoration of
fraternal feeling must be the earnest
wish of every patriotic heart. We
will have accomplished our grandest
national achievement when, forget
ting the sad events Of the past. and
remembering only their instructive
lessons, we resume our onward ca
reer, as free, prosperous and united
people. In my message of the 4th
December, 1865, Congress was in
formed of the measures which had
been instituted by the Executive with
view to the gradual restoration OF
the States, in which the insurrection
occurred, to their relations with the
General Government. Provisional
Governors had been appointed, con-
ventions called, Governors elected,
and Representative chosen to the
Congress of the United States. Courts
had been opened for the Enforcement
Of laws long IN allegiance; the block
ade had been removed. custom-houses
re-established, and the internal re-
venue put in force, in order that the
people might contribute to the na-
tional income; postal operations had
been resumed, and efforts were being
made to restore them to their former
condition of efficiency The States
had been asked to take part in the
high function Of amending the Con-
stitution, and of their sanctioning
the extinction of African slavery, as
one of the legitimate results OF our
lnternecine struggle. Having pro-
gressed thus far, the Executive De-
partment found that it had accom-
plished nearly all that was within the
scope of its Constitutional authority;
one thing, however, yet remained to
be done before the work of restora-
ton could be completed, and that
was the admission to Congress of
loyal Senators and Representatives
from the States whose people had
rebelled against the lawful authority
of the General Government. This
question devolved upon the respective
Houses. which, by the Constitution,
are made the judges of the election
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,
III its effort to perfect, as far as was
practicable, the restoration of the
proper relations between the citi-
zens of the respective States, the
Federal Government extended, from
time to time, as the public interests
seemed to require, the judicial revenue
and postal systems OF the country,
and 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 proposition to
amend the Federal Constitution, so
as to prevent the existenc of slavery
within the United States, or any
place subject to their Jurisdiction,
was ratified by the requisite number
of States. On the 18th day of De
cember, 1865, it was officially declar-