The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellea0 Citizens Of the Senate
and House of Representatives:

and House Of Representatives:
! After a brief interval the. Con-
gress of the United States re-
sunes It's, annual legislative la
bors- An a1Ewise and merciful
Providence has abated the pcsti-
Ienee which visited our shores,
leaving it's calamitous traces up
ON some portions of our country.
Peace, order, tranquility and civil
authority have been formally de-
clared to exist throughout the
whole of the United States, In all
1Gthe States civil authority has
superseded the coercion Of arms,
and the people, by their voluntary
action are maintaining their Gov
ernments IN full activity and COM
plete operation. The enforcement
of the laws is no longer fobstruc-
ted in any State by combinations
too powerful to be suppressed by
the ordinary course of judicial
proceedings :" and. the animosities
engendered by the war are rapid,
Iy yielding to the benefcent in
efuences Of our free institutions,
and to the kindly effects of
social and commercial intercourse.
An entire restoration of fraternal
feeling must be the earnest wish
ofevery patriotic heart ; and we
will have accomplished our grand
est national achievement when,
forgetting the sad events Of the
past, and remembering only their
Instructive lessons, we resume our
onward career as free, prosper
Gus, and united people.
THE SUBJECT OF RESTORATION.
In my message of the 4th of
December, 1865, Congress was in
formed Of the measures which
had been instituted by the Execu-
tive with a view to gradual resto-
ration of the States in which the
insurrection occurred to their re-
lations with the General Govern
ment. Provisional Governors had
been appointed, Conventions call
ed, Governors elected, Legislatures
assembled, and Senators and Rep
resentatives chosen to the Con
gress of the United States. Courts
had been opened for the enforce
ment of Laws long in allegiance,
The blockade had been removed,
eustem-heuses re-estabished, and
the internal revenue 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 effcien-
eY. The States themselves had
been asked to take part in the
high function Of amending the
Constitution, and ofthus sanction
ing the extinction Of African sla-
very as one Of the legitimate re-
suits 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
constitutional authority. One
thing, however, yet remained to
be done before the work Of restor-
alton could be completed, and that
was the admission to, Congress Of
loyal Senators and Represents
tiyes from the States whose peo
pie had rebelled against the Lawful
authority of the General Govern
ment. This question devolveC
upon retrospective Houses, which
by the Constitution, are made the
judges Of the elections, return;
and qualifications Of their OWL
members, and it's consideration al
once engaged the attention o
Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive
Department-no other plan hav
ing been proposed by Congress-
continued it's efforts to perfect, a
far as was practicable, the restor
alton of the proper relations be
tween the citizens of the respect
i've States, the States, and the Fed
eral Government, extending, from
time to time, as the public inter
est seemed to require, the judicial
revenue, and postal systems ofth'
country. With the advice ant
consent Of the Senate the necessa
ry officers were appointed, anC
appropriations made by Congress:
for the payment Of their salaries
The proposition to amend the Fed
eral Constitution, so as to preven
the existence Of slavery within
the United States or any place
subject to their jurisdiction, wa
ratified by the requisite numbe
Of States and on The 18th day o