Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Aner brief interval the Congress
of the United States resumes its an
nual legislative labors. An .all-wisc
and merciful Providence has abated
thepestilence which visited ourshores,
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 au-
thority has superseded the coercion
of arms, and the people, by their vol
untary action, are maintaining their
governments in fullactivity and com
plete operation. The enforcement OF
the laws is no longer constructed in
any State by combinations too pow
erful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course Of judicial proceedings !" and
the animosities engendered by the war
are rapidly yielding to the benifcent
influences OF our free institutions, and
to the kindly effects of unrestricted
social and commercial intercourse
An entire restoration of fraternal feel.
ing must be the earnest wish Of every
patriotic heart; and we will have
accomplished our grandest national
achievment when, forgetting tho sad
events Of the past, and remembering
only their instructive lessons, we re-
sumo our onward career as a free,
prosperous, and united people.
In my message of the 4th cf. De
cember, 1865, Congress was inform
ed OF the measures which had been
instituted by the Executive with a
view TO the gradual restoration of the
States in which the insurrection oc-
Cured, to their relations with the
General Government Provisional
Governors have been appointed, con-
ventions called, Governors elected
Legislatures assembled, and Senators
and Representatives chosen TO the
Congress Of the United States. Courts
have been opened for the enforcement
Of laws long in allegiance. The block.
ade had been removed. custom houses
re-established, and tho internal rev.
enue laws put in force, in order that
the people might contribute to the
national income. Postal operations
had been renewed, and efforts were
being made to restore them TO their
former condition of efficiency. The
States themselves had been asked TO
take partin the high function of amend
ing the Constitution, and Of thus sane
tioning the extinction of African sla-
very as one of the legitimate results
Of our internecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Ex-
eeutive Department found that it had
accomplished nearly all that was with
in the scope Of its constitutional au-
thority. One thing, however, yet re-
mained to be done before 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 re-
belled against the lawful authority OF
the General Government. This ques
ton developed 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 Con
gress.
In the meantime, the Executive De
partment--no other plan having been
proposed by Congress-continued its
efforts TO perfect, as far as was practi-
cable, 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 interests
seemed to require, the judicial, reven-
ne, 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 proposition TO amend
the Federal Constitution, so as to pre-
vent the existence Of slavery within
the United States or any place sub
iect to their jurisdiction, was ratified
by the requisite number of States /;
and on the 18th day of December, 1865,
it was officially declared to have be-
come valid as a part Of the Constitu-
tion of the United States. All of the
States in which the insurrection had
existed promptly amended their Con
stitutions so as to make them conform
TO the great change thus effected in
the organic law of the land declared
null and void all ordinances and laws
of secession repudiated all pretended
debts and obligations created for the
revolutionary purposes of the insur-
rection; and proceeded, in good faith,
to the enactment Of measures for the
protection and amelioration of the
colored race Congress, however, yet
hesitated to admit any of these States
to representation; and it was not un-
ill toward the close Of the eighth
month Of the session that an excep-
tion was made in favor of Tennessee,
by the admission Of her Senators and
Representatives
; deem it subject of profound re-
gret that Congress has thus far failed
TO admit to seats loyal Senators and
Representatives from the other States
. whose inhabitants, with those of Ten
nessee, had engaged in the rebellion.
Ten States-more than one-iourth Of
hthe whole number-remain without
representation the seats Of fifty mem
bers in the House of Representatives
and Of twenty mcmbers in the Senate
arc yet vacated-not by their own
counsel, not by failure of election,