Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
JS2O,o-ei,issas Of ths Senate
and HoEss Of Representatives..

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In all the States civil authority has superseded
the coercion Of arms, and the people, by their
voluntary action, are maintaining their govern
Inents in full activity and complete operation.
The enforcement Of the laws is no longer " Oh
structed in any State by combinations too
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings > and the ami
moSities engendered by the war are rapidly
Welding to the beni6cent influences of our free
institutions, and to the kindly effects Of Unre-
stricted social and commercial intercourse. An
entire restoration Of fraternal feeling must be
the earnest wish Of every patriotic heart and
we will have accomplished our grandest nation
nj achievement when, forgetting the sad events
ofthe past, and remembering only their inStruc-
tive lessons. we resume our onward career as
free, prosperous, and united people.
In my message Of the 4th of December, 1865,
Congress was informed Of the measures which
had been instituted by the Executive with a
view 20 the gradual restoration Of the States
in which the Instruction occurred to their re-
lalions with the General Government. Provi-
sonal Governors had been appointed Conven-
tons called. Governors elected, Legislatures as
sembled, and Senators and Representatives cho-
sen to the Congress Of the United States
Courts had been opened for the enforcement Of
laws long in allegiance. TheblOckade had been
removed, cuStOm-hOUScS re-eStabliShed, and the
internal revenue laws put in fj!c2, norder that
the people might contribute to the national in
come. Postal operations had been renewed,
and efforts were being made to restore them to
their former condition Of deficiency. The States
themselves had been asked to take part in the
high function of amending the Constitution,
and Of thus sanctioning the extinction Of Afri-
can slavery as one Of the legitimate results Of
our internecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far the Executive
Department found that it had accomplished
nearly all that was within the scope of its con-
stitutOnal authority One thing. however, vet
remained 10 be done before the work Of reStO-
ration could be completed, and that was the
admission 10 Congress Of loyal Senators and
Representatives from the States whose people
had rebelled against the lawful authority of
the General Government. This question de-
volved upon the respective Houses, which, by
the Constitution, are made the Judges Of the
elections, 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 Con-
gress-continued its efforts to perfect, as far as
was practicable, the restoration 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 in
terests seemed to require, the judicial, revenue.
and postal systems Of the country. With the
advice and consent Ofthe Senate, the necessary
officers were appointed, and appropriations
made by Congress for the payment of their sa-
laries. The proposition to amend the Federal
Constitution, so as 10 prevent the existence Of ]
slavery within the United States. or any place |
subject to their jurisdiction, was ratified by the
requisite number Of States; and on the 18th
day of December, 1865, it was oficiallvrieclar-
ed TO have become valid as part of the Con-
stituton of the United States. All Of the States
in which the Instruction had existed promptly
amended their constitutions, so as to make them
conform to the great change thus effected i'm
the organic law Of the land; declared null and
void all ordinances and laws Of secession; re-
pudiated all pretended debts and obligations
created for the revolutionary purposes Of the
instruction; and proceeded, in good faith, to
the enactment Of measures for the protection
aud amelioration Of the condition of the color
ed race. Congress, however, vet hesitated to
admit any Of these States 10 representation
and it was not until towards the close of the
eighth month OF the session, that an exception
was made IN favor of Tennessee, by the admis-
sion Of her Senators and Representatives.
deem It subject Of profound regret that
Congress has thus far failed to admit to seats
loyal Senators and Representatives from the
other States whose inhabitants with those of
Tennessee, had engaged in the rebellion. Ten
StateS-mOre than one-fourth of the whole
number-remaln without representation the
seats OF nifty members in the House of Repre-
sentatlveS aud of twenty members in the SEN
ate are yet vacant-nOt by their own consent.
not by failure OF election, but bv the refusal
Of Congress to accept their credentials. Their
admsSlOn,ltiS believed would have accomplish
ed much towards the renewal and strenthening
Of our relations as one people, and removed Sc
rlouS cause Tor discomfort on the part of the in
ha0itantS Of those States. 1t would have ac-
corded with the great principle enunciated in
the Declaration OF American Independence. that
no people ought 10 bear the burden of taxation.
and yet be denied the right of representation.
IL would have been IN cOnSOnance with the ex-
press provisions Of the Constitution. that each
State shall have at least one Representative"
and " that no State, without its consent, shall
bedeprived Of Its equal suffrage in the Senate.
These provisions were intended to secure TO eve
~ State, and to the people Of every State, the
right OF representation in each House of Con-
greSS; and 50 important was it deemed bv the
trainers Of the Constitution that the equality of
the States in the Senate should be preserved
that not even by an amendment Of the Consti
tuition can any State, without its consent, be
denied voice ID that branch Of the National
Legislature.
II is true, it has been assumed that the exis-
tence Of the States was terminated bv the rebel
E0us acts Of their inhabitants, and that the in
surrecton having been suppressed. thew were
tLencelorwaTd to be considered merely as con-
quered territories. The Legislative, Executive.
and Judicial Departments of the Government
have, however, with great diStinctness and uni