Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-12-11
PREsIDEN rs MESSAGE.

its annual legislative Iabors. An Ali
Wise and Merciful Providence has
sbated the pestiler &c, which visited
our shores, leaving its calamItous
traces upon some portions Of our
country. Peace, order, tranquility
and civil authority have been form
ally declared to exist throughout tn =
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superseded the coercion OF arms, and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 activity and complete opera
ton. The enforcement Of the laws
is no longer INSTRUCTED in any State
by combinations too powerful to be
suppressed by the ordinary course of
judicial proceedings, end the anim0s-
ties engendered by the war are rap
idly yielding TO the benencent infu
Jences 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 patriotic heart, and we will
have accomplished our grandest ma
tional achievement when, forgetting
the sad events CT the past, and re-
Numbering only their instructive
lessons, we resume Cur onward course
as free, prosperous and intelligent
people.
RESTORATION OF THE STATES.
In my message of the 4Lh Of De
cember, 1865, Congress was informed
Of the measures which had been in
stituted by the Executive with a
view to the gradual restoration of the
States in which the instruction oc-
Cured to their lations with the gen
eral government. Provisional Gov
errors had been appointed, Conven-
tiOns called, Governors elected, Leg,
islatures assembled, and Senators aud
Representative chosen to the Con-
gress Of the United States; courts
had been opened tor the enforcement
of laws long in allegiance the block
Rde had been removed, custom hou-
ses re-estabished, and the Internal
Revenge laws put in force in order
that the people might contribute to
the national income. Postal opera
tons had been renewed, and efforts
were being made 20 restore them to
their formal condition and efficiency
The States themselves had been ask cd
TO take part in the high function of
amending the Constitution, and Of
thus sanctioning the extinction Of
slavery, as one of the legitimate res
ulte OF our internecine struggle. Hav-
ing progressed thus far, the EXecu-
tive Department found that it had &C
complished nearly all that was with
in the scope Of its constitutional au-
thority. One thing, however, yet re-
manned to be done before the work Of
restoration could be completed, and
that was, the admission to Congress
ofloyal Senators and Representatives
from the States whose people bad re-
belled against the lawful authority
of the general government. This
question devolved upon the respect
i've Houses, which, by the Constitu-
ton, are made the judges If the elect
ions, returns and qualifications of
their own members, and its consider
alton at once engaged the attention
OF Congress. In the meantime, the
Executive Departmcnt-no other
plan having been proposed by Con
rress-c0ntinu 4 in its efforts 10 per
feet, az far as practicable the restor-
alton of the proper relations between
the citizens ot the several States, the
States, and the Federal government,
extending from time TO time, as the
public interests seemed TO require, the
judicial, revenue and postal systems
of the country With the advice and
consent of the Senate, ,he necessary
officers were appointed, @nd appro-
priations made by Congress for the
payment of their salaries. The pro
position 10 amend the Federal Con
stitution SO as to prevent the exist
ence of slavery within the United
States. or any place subject TO their
Jurisdiction, was ratified by the requi-
site number Of States. and on the 18th
day of Decem Der, 1868. it was otfici
ally declared to have become valid as
part of the Constitution Of the United
Stat S.
ALI of the States in which the in
surrection had existed promptly
amended their constitutions, so a. to
make them conform to the great
change thus effected in the organic
laws of the land declared null aud
void all ordinances and laws OF seces.
sion repudiated all pretended DEBTS
ami obligations created for the revo
lutionary purposes of insurrection,
and proceeded in good faith TO the
enactment Of measures for the pro-
lection and amelioration of the cons
dition Of the colored race. Congress
however, yet hesitated to admit any
of these States to representation, and
it was not until towards the close OF
the eighth month of tho session that
an exception was made in favor 81
Tennessee, by the admission of her
Senators and Representatives.
EXCLUSION OF LOYAL SOUTHERN sENA-
TORS AND REPRESENTATIVES,.
deem it subject of profound re.
greet that Congress / .hus far failed
TO admit to seats loyal Senators and
Representatives from the other State: