The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-06

Ppproved July 4, 1886.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES TO THE TWO HOU-
SEs OF CONGRESS AT THE COM
MENCEMENT OF THE SECOND sES-
SION.
Felloao- Citizins of the Senate
and House of Representatives.
After brief interval the Congress of
the United States resumes its annual
legislative labors. An all-wise and meT-
ciful Providence has abated the pesti-
lence which visited our shores, leaving
it's calamitous traces upon some portions
of our country. Peace, order, tranquil
lity, and civil authority have been for
mally 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the States civil authority has superseded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 governments in full activity and
complete operation. The enforcement
of the laws is no longer Constructed III
any State by combinations too power
full to be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings - and
the animosities engendered by the war
are rapidly yielding to the benefcent
influences of our free institutions, and
to the kindly effects of unrestricted So
cial and commercial intercourse. An
entire restoration of fraternal feeling
must be the earnest wish of every pa
triotic heart; and we will have accom-
plished our grandest national achieve
ment when, forgetting the sad events
of the past, and remembering only their
instructive lessons, we resume our on
ward career as a free, prosperous, and
united people.
In my message of the 4th of Decem-
Der, 1865, Congress was informed the
measures which had been instituted by
the Executive with view to the gra-
dual restoration of the States in which
the insurrection occurred to their rela-
tions with the General Government
Provisional Governors had been appoin-
ted, Legislatures assembled, and Sena-
tors and Representatives chosen to the
Congress of the United States. Courts
had been opened for the enforcement of
laws long in allegiance. The blockade
had been removed, custom-houses re-
established, and the internal revenue
laws put in force, in order that the peo-
pie might contribute to the national in
come. Postal operations had been re-
newed, and efforts were being made to
restore them to their former condition
of efficiency. The States themselves
had been asked to take part in the high
function of amending the Constitution,
and of thus sanctioning the extinction
of African slavery as one of the legiti-
mate results of our internecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Ex-
ecutive Department found that it had
accomplished nearly all that was within
the scope of it's constitutional authority.
One thing, however, yet remained to be
done before the work of restoration
could be completed, and that was the
admission to Congress Of loyal Senators
and Representative 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 of
the elections, returns, and qualifications
of their own members and it's consid-
Grafton at once engaged the attention Of
Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive De-
partment-no other plan having been
proposed by Congress continued its
efforts to perfect, as far as was practica-
BILE, the restoration of the proper rela-
tions between the citizens of the respec-
tive States, the States, and the Federal
Government, extending, from time to
time, as the public interests seemed to
require, the Judicial, revenue, and pos
tai 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 pro-
position to amend the Federal Consti-
tuition, so as to 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 Decem-
ber, 1865, it was officially declared to
have become valid as part of the Con-
stitution 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 Sc
cession repudiated all pretended debts
and obligations created for the revolu-
tionary purposes of the insurrection;
and proceeded, in good faith, to the
enactment of measures for the protec-
tion and amelioration of the condition
of the colored race. Congress, how
ever, yet 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