The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
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II ItIagt ~. AND noVsb W AifhhshNfANtfhs'
After brief interval, the Congress Of
the United States resumes its annual leg.
islative lubors. An all wise and merciful
Providence has abated the pestilsnee
which visited our shores, leaving its On.
lhmitous traces upon some portions Of our
country, Peace, order, tranquility, and
civil authority have been formally declar.
ed to exist throughout the whole United
States. In all of the States civil author.
ity has superseded the coercion Of arms,
and the people, by their voluntary action,
are maintaining their governments in full
activity and complete operation. The en-
forcement of the laws is no longer "ob-
structed in any State by combinations too
powerful to be suppressed by the ordina-
ry course Of judicial proceedings y and
the aniwosities engendered by the war
are rapidly yielding TO the benifcent in
fluences Of our free institutions, and to
the kindly effects CT unrestricted social
and commercial intercourse. And entire
restoration Of fraternal feeling must be
the earnest wish Of every patriotic heart |;
and we win have accomplished our grand
est national achievement when, forget.
ting the sad events Of the past, and re-
memberiDg only their instructive lessons,
we resume our onward career as q free,
prosperous, and united people.
In my message of the 4th Of December,
1865, Congress was informed Of the meas.
ures which had been instituted by the Ex-
ecutive with a viewto the gradual restora.
tion of the States in which the insurrec
ton occurred to their relations with the
General Goyernment Provisional Gov.
ernors had been appointed, Conventions
called, Governors elected, Legislatures.
assembled, and Senator's and Ropreseuta-
tives chosen to the Congress Of the Uni
ted States. Courts had been opened for
the enforcement Of laws long in obeyance
The blockade had been removed, custom
houses re-established, anG the internal
revenue laws put in force, in order that
the people might contribute to the nation !
al income. Postol operations had been
renewed, and efforts were being made to
restore them to their former condition Of
Of ,ficiepcy The States themselves had
been asked to fakc,past in the high func-
ton of amending the Constitution, and of
thus sanctioning the extinction Of African
slavery as cne of the legitimate results Of
our internecine struggle,
Having progressed thus far, the Exec
tive Department found that it had accom-
plished nearly all that was within the
scope Of its constitutional authority. One
thing, however, yet remained 10 be done
before the work of restoration could be
completed, aud that was the admission to
Cngrcss of loyal Senators and Rcpresen-
taiivcs from the States whose people had
rebelled against the lawful authority Of
the General Government. This question
devolved upon the respective Houses,
which, by the Constitution, are made the
judges OF elections, returns, and quali6ca
lions Of their own members and its con.
sideration at once engaged the attention
Of Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive De-
partm eht--no other plan having been pro-
posed continued its efforts to perfect, as
far as was practicable, the restoration Of
the proper relations between the citizens
Of the respective States, the States and
the Federal Government, extending from
time to time, as the public interest seem.
ed to require, the Judicial, revenue, and
postal system of the country. With tho
advice and consent Of the Senate, the
necessary officers were appointed, and ap-
preparations made by Congress for the
payment of their salaries. The PROPOSE
ton to amend the Federel Constitution,
so as to prevent the existence Of slavery
within the United States or any place
subject TO their juristion, was ratified by
the requisite number Of States and on
the 18th day Of December, 1865, it was
officially declared to have become valid az
part Of the Constitution Of the United
States. All of the States in which the
insurrection had existed promptly amend
| ed their Constitutions, 80 as to make them
conform in the great change thus effected
Inn the organic law Of the land; declared
null and void all ordinances and laws Of
| secession; repudiatod all pretended debts
and obligations created for the revolution
ary purposes Of the insurrection and pro
ceeded, in good faith, to the enactment o.
measures for the protection and ameliora
,ion of the condition Of the colored race
Congress, however, yet hesitated to admi
any Of these States to representation ant
it was not until the close of the eighth
month Of the session that an exception
was made in favor Of Tennessee, by the
admission Of her Senators and Represen
tatives.
| I deem IL a subject Of profound regre
that Congress bas thus far failed to admi
to seats loyal Senators aud Representa-
tiyes from the other States whose inhabi
tapts, with those Of Tennessee, woult
have accomplished much toward the re
Inewal and strengthening Of our relationl
as one people, and removed serious caus'
for discomfort on, the part Of the inhabi
tants Of those States, II would have 40
corded with the great principle eupnciatet
in the Declaration ofAmerican lndepend
opce, that no people ought to bear th'
bntden Of taxation, and yet be denied th,
| the right Of representation, II wppl(
! have been in consonance with the express
provisions Of the Consultation, thai "eacl
State shall have 40 least one Representa-
i've and athpt no State, without ia con
lsspts tsshslIbed deprived ofits squalsuifrag'