Evening star., 1866-12-03

fs1lcS-cssssess cf tAe Senate
nod xLsss< nf

sseres, leaving its calamitous traces upon
some portions Of our counuy. Peace, order,
nAlly declared TO exist throughout the whole
% 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authority has superseded the coercion OF arms.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 comp>ete operation. The enforcement of
the laws Is no longer Constructed In any state
by the ordinary course of Judicial proceed
iSgs;' and the animosities eneendered by the
war are rapidly yielding To the benihcent IN
Auepces OF our free Institutions, aud to the
Kindly effects of unrestricted social and COM
mercia4 intercourse. An entire restoration OF
frateraal feeling must be the earnest wish of
every patriotic heart: and we will have ac-
compatshed our grandest n rational achievement
when. forgetting the sad events OF the past
and remembering only their instructive les
sens, we resume our onward career as a free,
prosperous, and united people.
In my message of the ith OF Decsmoe 1e65,
Congress was informed of the measures which
had been instituted by the Executive with a
view to the gradual restoration of the States
IN which the Insurrecuon occurred 10 their
relations with the General Government. Pro-
visional Governors had been appointed, Con-
Nentions called, Governors elected, Legisia-
lures emoled, and Senators and Represen-
SaiIves chosen 10 the Congress OF the URited
States. Courts had been opened for the n
toreeinent OF laws long N abeyance. The block
.ade had been removed. custom houses re-es-
tablIshed, and the internal revenue laws put
IN force, in order that the people might con-
tribute to the national income. Postal oper-
atIOns had been renewed, and efforts were be-
ing made to restore them 10 their former con-
ditlon of efficiency. Tne States themselves
had been asked to take part in the high func-
ton OF amending the Constitution, and of thus
sanetion1ng the ex tinctlOn of African slavery
as one OF the legitimate results OF our inter-
necine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Executive
Department found that 1T had accomplished
nearly all that was within the scope of It's con-
stituIIonal authority. One thing, however, yet
remained 10 be done before the work of resto-
ration could be completed, and that was the
admission TO Congress of loyal Senator'S and
Representatives from the States whose people
had rebelled against the lawful authority of
the General Government. This question de-
volyed upon the respective Houses, which, by
the Constitution, are made the Judges OF the
elections, returns, and qualifications of their
own members; and Its consider alton at once
engaged the attention of Congress
In the meantime, the Executive Department
no other plan having been proposed by Con-
gress-cOntin ned its efforts 70 perfect, as far
was practicable, the restoration of the proper
relations between the citizens OF the respective
States, the States, and the Federal Govern
ment. extending, from time to time, as the pub
lie interests seemed 10 require, the judicial,
revenue, and postal systems of the country.
With the advice and consent of the Senate. the
necessary officers were appointed, and appro-
priatiOns made by Congress for the payment
of their salaries. The proposition 10 amend
the Federal Consultation, so 10 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 lSthday OF December, 1865, II was Of
feially declared TO have become valid as
part of the Constitution of the United States.
AL OF the States IN which the insurrection had
existed promptly amended their constitutions,
80 as 10 make them conform 10 the great change
mus effected in the organic law OF the land:
laws OF secession; repudiated all pretended
debts and Oblg atoms created for the revolution
aIy purposes OF the osurrection; and proceed
ed, III good faith, to the enactment of measures
for the protection and ameli0raiion of the con-
cItiOn OF The colOred race. Congress, howeyer
Yet hesitated 70 admit any OF these States to
nfafar m
the close OF the eighth mOnlh OF the session
that an exception was made in favor of Ten
nessee, by the admission of her Senators and
deem it a subject OF profound regret that
Congress has thus far failed to admit to seats
loyal Senators and Representatives from the
other States, whose inhabitants, with those of
Tennessee had engaged in the rebellion. Ten
States-more than one-fourth OF the whole
number-remain without represen tatIon; the
seats OF fifty members in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes and OF twenty members in the Sen-
ate are yet vacant-not by their own consent
not oy a failure of election, but by the refusal
OF Congress 10 accept their credentials Their
admission, II Is believed, would have &C com-
pIished much towards the renewal and
and removed serious cause for discomfort on
the part OF the inhabitants of those States Ii
weuld have accorded with the great principle
enupciated in the Declaration Of American In
dependence. that no people ought TO bear the
burden Of taxation, and yet be denied the right
OF representation. 1t twould have been in con-
sonance with the express provisions Of the
Constitution. that 'seach State shall have AT
least one Representative" and "that no State,
without its consent, shall be deprived Of its
equal suffrage in the Senate" These proyi-
sions were intended to secure to every State,
representat,on in each House of ConSrrss. ana ID
so important was IL deemed by the trainers of
the Consultation that the equality of the
States In the Senate should De preserved, that
not even by an amendment Of the Con stiiution
can any State, without its consent, be denied a
voice in that branch Of the National Legisla-
tnre.
Its true, IL has been assumed that the exis.
tence OF the States was terminated by The re-
bellIous acts OF their inhabitants, and that the
dnsurrection having been suppressed, they
were thencefor " ard 10 be considered merely
IS conquered territories. The Legislative,
Executive, and Judicial Departments Of the
Government have, however, with great dis
tlnctness and uniform consistency, refused 10
sanction an assumption so Incompatible with
the nature OF our republican system, and with
the prOfessed objects ofths war. Throughout
the recent legislation OF Congress, the lndeni-
able fact makes itself apparent, that these ten
STATES of this Union At the very commence
ment OF the rebellion, each House declared,
with unanImity as remarkable as it was sig.
nifcanf, that the war was not s'waged. upon
our part, IN any spirit OF oppression, nor for
any purpose OF conquest or subjugation. ror
purpose OF overthro owing or interfering with
the rights or established institutions of those
States, but TO defend and maintain the suprem-
aey OF the Constitution and all laws made in
pursuance thereof, and 10 preserve the Union
with ali the dignity, eq uaity, and rights OF the
several States unim pal red; and that as soon as
these oblscts" were accomplished the war
ought 70 erase" In some instances, Senator'S
were perEitted 10 continue their legislative
IunctIons, while In other instances Represen-
tauNes Were elected and admitted ts seats after
their States had formally declared the,r right
10 WithdraW from the Union, and were en-.
Geayoring 10 maintain that right by force OF
arms. All Of these States whose peopIe were
in iDsUrrection, as States, Were iueInded in
tie apportionuent of the direct tax OF twenty
millions OF dollars annually laid upon the
aff
gust, 1851. Congress, by the act OF March i
iS62, and by the apportionment OF representa-
dos hereunder, alse recognized their presence
as States in the Unicn; and they have for in
dicial purposes, beal divided IN 70 districts as
states alone can be divided. The same recog-
milton appears in the rece n. legislation in re-
ference 10 Tennessee, which evidently rests
upsn the. fact that the functions of the State
were not destroyed by The rebellion, but mere
~ Suspended; and that principle Is OF course
applicable 20 those States which, like Tennes-
So. attempted TO renounce their places in The