The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
fe1o'r-ca'senS OF the Senate and House Q
Representatives

( Fe((oar-cltieenS OF the Senate and Houss NJ
/ Representatives:
After brief interval, the Congress OF
The United States resumes its annual leo
l>lallve labors. An all-wise and mercilul
Providence has abated the pestilence which
visited our shores, leaving its calamitous
traces upon some portions of our country.
leace, order, tranquility, and civil author
Ity have been formerly 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has superseded the coercion of arms, and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 Governments in full ac-
tlvty and complete operation. The en-
torcemen1 of TIE laws is no longer s. ob-
structed in any State by combinations too
powerful TO be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings :" and the
anmosltles en9endcred by the war, are
rapidly yielding to the benefcent inAn-
ences OF our free institutions, and to the
kindly effects of unrestricted social and
commercial intercourse An entire res
torallon oi tratcrnal feeling must be the
earnest wish Of every patriotic heart and
We will have accomplished our grandest
Lallonal achievement when. forgetting the
sad events Of the past, and remembering
only their instructive lessons, We resume
our onward career as a free, prosperous,
and united people.
TIE SOUTHERN STATES
In my message of the 4lh of December,
1860. Congress was informed of the meas
ures which had been instituted by the Ex-
ccutlvc with view to the gradual restor-
atlou OF the States in which the inSurrec-
ton occurred to their relations with the
General Government. Provisional Gov
ernors had been appointed, Conventions
called, Governors elected, Legislatures as
>cmbled, and Senators and Representatives
chosen TO the Congress of the United
States. Courts have been opened for the
enforcement of laws long in abeyance.
Tho blockade had been removed, Custom
houses rc-cstabli>hcd, and the internal rev.
enue laws put in force, in ord,r that the
people might contribute to the national in
come. Postal operations had been re-
newed. and efforts We're being made To re-
store them to their former condition OF
efficiency. The States themselves had
been asked to take part IN the high tinc-
ton OF amending the Constitution, and oi
thus sanctioning the extinction OF African
Slavery as one OF the legitimate results OF
oar interneclne struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Execu-
j.. tive Department found that it had accom-
pli>hcd nearly all that was within the
scope OF its constitutional authority. One
: thing, however. Yet remained to b" done
- before the work of restoration could be
completed. and that was the admission to
Concrcs, OF loyal Senators and Rcpre>cl-
!, tativcs from the States whose people re-
lclicd against the lawful authority Of the
General Government. This question de-
voiyed upon the respective Houses, which,
by the Constitution. are made the judge
of the elections, returns and qualifications
j OF their own members and lis consider
alton at once engaged the attention o
Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive De
pariment - no other plan having beer
proposed by Congress - continued its ct
forts to perfect, as. tar as was pracllcab!c
the restoration of the proper relations be
tween the citizens Of the respective States
/, the Statt$ and the Federal Government
extending, from time TO time, As the pub
; lie Interests seemed to require, the ludlcla!
revenue and postal systems Of the country
With :hc advice and consent OF the Sen
ate, the necessary officers were appointed
= AMI appropriations made by Congress 70
. il:c payment of their salaries. The prop
o,ition to amend the Federal Constitution
50 as to prevent the existence of Shaver,
within the United States Or any pIac,
>. subject 10 their jurisdiction, was rattle,
by the requisite number Of States au,
on the 18th day OF December, 1860,
was officially declared to have become vail
. as Il part 81 the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. All Of the States in Whic
the in>urrccton had existed prompt
amended their Constitutions, so as t
make them conform to the great chang,
thus effected III the organic law Of tn
land declared null and void all or,linai
rs cvs und laws OF secession repudiatcd a
II pretended debts and obi cations created to
the revolutionary purposes Of the insure,
ton: and proceeded, i'll good faith, t
= the enactment of measures for the prOtcC
L ton and amelloTation Of the condition {
the colored race. Congress, however, yc
hc>itated TO admit any of these States t
representation and it was not until tt
word the close Of the eight month of til
session that an exception was made in ia
yor Of Tennessee by the admission OF he
Senators and Representatives.
ix- NoN-ApNI>,loN OF LOYAL REPRESENT,
:. deem it subject Of profound regr'
W that Congress has thus far failed to adm
to 10 seats loyal Senators and Represent;
ss sG tives from the other States, whose inhab
RI. tants, with those of Tennessee, had eI
st gagged in the rebellion. Ten States =
p more than one-fourh of the whole nun
!ly
n; Der - remain without representation Il
ell
,of seats of fifty members in the House {
he =, :.
e. Representatives and OF twenty membe
IDS III the Senate are yet vacant - not /