The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House

After DfleI lntefVAi, tine congress VA VAC
United States returns to its annual lie glslatlve
labors An allwise and merclful Provi-
dence has abated the pestilence which visited
our shores, leaving its calamtous traces up
GA soma portions of our country. Peace, or.
der, tranquility and civil authority have
been formally declared to exist throughout
the whole of the United States In all the
states civil authority has superseded the
coercion of arm and the people by their vol
untary action are are maintaining their gov
ernments in full activity and complete opar-
alton. The enforcement of the laws is no
longer obstrueted in any state by combina-
tions too powerful to be suppressed by tSe
ordinary course Ofjadicial proceedings, and
the anlmosities engeDdered by the war are
rapidly yielding to the beusheent influences
OF our free Institutions and to the kindly offers
of unrestricsed social and commercial inter.
course. An entire restoration of fraterns /
feeling must be the earnest wish Of every
patriotic heart; and We shall have accom-
plishsd our grandest national achievement,
when, forgetting the sad events of the past
and remsm bering only their instructive les
sons, we resume our onward course as free,
prosperous and united people.
RESTORATION OF THE STATES
In my message OF the 4th of December.
1865, congress was informed of the measures
which had been instituted by the executive,
with view to the gradual restoration of the
states, in which the insurrecsIon occurred, to
their relations with the general government.
Provisional governors had been appointed,
conventions called, governors elected, legis-
lstures assembled, and senators and repre-
ssntatives chosen to the congress of the Uni
ted States Courts had opsned for the en-
forcement of laws long IN allegiance. The
blockade had been removed, custom houses
rs-esta blished, and the in ternal regenua laws
put in order that the people might contribute
to the national income. Postal operations
had been renewed, aod efforts Wera beln g
made to restore them to their former con-
dision and efficiency. The states themselves
had been asked to take part in the high func-
ton eff amending the constitution, and of thus
sanotIoning the extinction of African slavery
as one Of the legitimate results of our in
terhscine struggle. Having progressed thus
far, the executive department found that 1t
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 restoration could be
completed and that was the admission to
congress OF loysl senators aud Representatives
from the states whose people had rebslled
against she lawful authority Of the general
government. This question devoIvsd upon
the respective houses, which hv the constitu-
ton ere made the judges Of ths election, re-
turns and qualifications Of their oSn mem
bers; aud It's consideration at oncs engaged
the attention ct congress.
IN the mesutime, the executive depart
msnt, 20 other plan having been proposed by
congress, continued in It's etTerts 10 perfect,
- SIS far as was practicable, the restoration Of
the proper relations between the citizens of
the respective states, the states and the fed.
ersl government extending from time to
time, as the public interest seemed to require,
the judicial, revenue and postal systems of
the country. With the ADVICE and consent
of the senate, the necessary officers were ap-
pointed, and appropriations made By congress
for the payment Of their salaries.
THE ANTI-sLArERY AMENDMENT.
The proposition to amend the federal con-
sttutiou, 50 is to prevent the existence Of
slavery within the Unitea States in any
place subject to their Jurisdiction, was ratif-
ed by ths REQUESTS number Of states and
On the 18th day of December, 1865,
it was officially declared to have BE-
came valid SIS part of the constitution Of
the United States. All Of the states IN which
the instruction had existed promptly
amended their constitutions 30 as to make
tLS-L CVNAOt IL ~ VIC CT LGS SAGSN-
cd in thu organic law Of the land--decl6red
null and void all ordinances and laws Of Sc
cession-repudiased all pretended debts and
obligations created for the revolutionary pur-
pose OF the instruction, and proceeded in
good faith TO the enactment of measures for
the protection and ameioration Of the color
ed race. Congress yet hesit4ted to
admit any OF taess states to repre-
sensation, and it was not until the close
OF the eighth month OF the session that
au exception was made in favor of Ten
nsssse By the admission of her senators and
representatives.
THE EXCLUSION OF LOYAL SOUTHERN SENATORS
AND REPRESENTATIVES.
I deem it subject of profound rs
greet that congress has thus far failed to ad-
NIT to seats loyal senators and representa-
tives from the other states, where the inhabi-
tants, with those of Tennessee, had engaged
in rebellion. Ten states-Dore taan one
fourth Of the whole nanbar-remein witho
representation, The seats OF fifty mem beTs
of the house, and twenty of the senate, are
yes vacant not by their own consent; not
by 8 failure OF election, but by the refusal OF
congress to accept their credentials. Their
admission, it is believed, would have accom-
plished much towards the renewal aud
strengthening of our relations as ono people,
and removed serious cause for discon tent on
the part of the people of those states.
Il would have accorded with the great prinoi-
Piles enunciated in the declaration of Ameri.
can independence, that no people ought to
bear the burden Of taxation and yet be deni,
ed the right of representation. 1t would
have been in consononcs with the express
provisions of the Constitution, that each state
shall have at least one representative, and
that no state, without its consent, shall be
deprived of equal suffrage in the senate These
provisions we're attended to secure to every state
the right of representation in congress, and so
important was it deemed by the trainers of the
constitution thai the equality ofthe states shall
be preserved IN the senate, that not even bv an
amendment OF the constitution can any state,
without its consent, be denied voice in that
branch of the national Legislature
INrEGESrY OF THE STATES
It s true, it has been assumed that the ex;s
lance of the states terminated by the rebel
ous acts of their inhabitants, and that the insur
rection having been suppressed, they wer,
theuceforward to be considered merely as con
quered territories.
The legislative, executive and judicial depart
nents of the government have, however, will
vpaat diatinntnnaa and unifnrpn rnneiatpucr