The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
FclIor Citizens Of the Seaatc and House Of
Representatives

Fcllo,c Citizens Of the Senate and House o
Representatives
After brief interval the Congress OF
the United States resumes its annual
! legislative labors. An all-wise and mer'
ciful Providence has abated the pesti'
! lence which visited our shcres, leaving
its calamitous traces upon some pOr'
tions of our country. Peace, order,
tranquility, and civil authority have
been formally declared to exist through
ont the whole of the United States. In
all of the States civil authority has SUI
perceded the coercion of arms, and the
people, by their voluntary action, are
maintaining their governments in full
activity and complete operation. The
enforcement of the laws is no Longer
"obstructed in any State by combina-
tions too powerful to be suppressed by
the ordinary course of judicial proceed
ings :" and the animosities cngendercd
by the war are rapidly yielding to the
bencticent influences of our free insti-
tutions, and to the kindly effects of I'M
restricted social aud commercial inter
course. An entire restoration of frater-
nal feeling must he the earnest wish of
every patriotic heart; and we will have
accomplished Our grandeSt national
achievement when, forgetting the sad
events of the past, and remembering
only their instructive lessons, we re-
sumo our onward career as 4 free, pros
porous, and united people.
In my message of the 4th of Decem-
bcr, 1s65, Congress was informed OF the
measures which had been instituted by
the Executive with view to the grad
nal restoration of the States in which
the insurrection occurred, to their reia-
tions with the General Government
| Provisional Governors had been ap-
pointed, conventions called, Governors
/ elected, Legislatures assembled, and
Senators and Representatives, chosen to
the Congress of the United States
! Courts had been opened for the enforce
ment of laws long in abeyance. The
I blockade had been removed, custom
| houses re-established, and the internal
revenue laws put in force, in order that
the people might contribute to the ma
tional income. Postal operations had
been renewed, and efforts were beng
made TO restore them to their former
condition Of efficiency. The States
| themselves had been asked to take parl
| in the high function of amending the
! Constitution, and of thus sanctioninS
the extinction of African slavery rs one
of the legitimate results OF our inter
necine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Exec
utiye Department found that it had ac-
complished nearly all that was within
the scope of its Constitutional author
ity. One thing, however, yet remained
to he done before the work Of restora-
tion could be completed, and that was,
the admission to Congress of loyal Sen
ators and Representatives from the
States whose people had rebelled against
the lawful authority of the General Gov
ernment. This question devolved upon
the respective Houses, which, by the
Constitution, are made the judges oi
the elections. returns, and qualifications
of their own members; and its consider
alton at once engaged the attention oi
Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive De-
partment-no other plan having been
proposed by Congress-continued Its c1'
FORTS to perfect, as far as was practlc'
able. the restoration Of the proper rela'
tion, between the citizens OF the re-
spective States, the States, and the Fed
eral Government, extending, from time
to time, as the public interests seemed
to REQUIRE, the judicial, revenue, and
postal systems Of the country. Wltf
the advice and consent OF the
Senate. the necessary officers were
appointed, and appropriations made
| by Congress for the payment OF their sal
aries. The proposition to amend the fea
eral Constitution, so as to prevent thS
existence of slavery wit hin the United
States OF any place subject to their lu
risdiction, was ratified by the requisite
number of States; and on the i9th da!
of December, 1865, it was ofhclaiiy oe,
clared to have become valid as part oil
the Constitution of the United States
All of these States in which the lnsur,
rection had existed promptly amended
their Constitutions, so as to make theh
conform to the great change
thus effected in the organic law
of the land; declared null ana
void all ordinances and laws OF seces
sion; repudiated all pretended deots ano
obligations created for the revolution,
ary purposes of the insurrection; and
proceeded, in good faith, to the enact,
ment of measures for the protection ano
amelioration of the condition OF the
cOlored race. Congress, however, ye'
hesitated to admit any of these States
to representation; and it was not until
towards the close of the eighth month OF
the session that an exception was made
IN favor of Teunessea nv the admission