The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-12-12
Presidents Message.
Fellow CITIZENS OF TIE SENATE AND
House OF REPREsn NTArlvEs


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
After brief interval the Congress o
the United 5 ates resumes its annua
legislative abors. An al wise and mer
citul Providence has abaled the pesti'
lence which visited our shores, leaving
It's calamltlons traces upon some portions
of our country. Peace, order, tranquil.
ty and civil authority have been formal.
ly declared to exist throughout the whole
Of the United States, In all of the
States civil authority has superseded
the coercion Of arms, lpd the people, by
their voluntary action, are minimizing
their governments in tull activity and
complete operation, The enforcement
OF tine laws is no longer "obstrucled in
any State by combinations too powerful
to be suppressed by the ordinary course
of Judicial proceedings p and the ami,
mosities engendered by the war are
rapidly yielding to the bcnidcent inhu-
ences Of our free institutions, and to the
kindly effects of unrestricted social and
commercial in ercourse, An entire res
toration of tr ternal feeling must be the
earnest wish OF every patriotic heart ;
and we will have accomplished our
grandest natiounl achievement when,
forgetting the sad events OF the past, and
remembering only their instructive les
sons, we resume our onward career as a
free, prosperous aud united people.
RESTORATION OF TIE SOUTHERN STATES.
In my message Of the lth OF Decem-
Der, 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
instruction occurred 10 their relations
with the General Government. Provi =
sional Governors had been appointed,
Con, entlons called, Governors elected,
+; Legislatures assembled, md Senators
and Reprps ,natnes chosen to the on
gross Of the Umei States Courts had
been opened tor the enforcement I, t laws
long in abtyauce The blockade had
been removed. custom houses re.estab.
liSh d, and the Internal revenue laws
put i'll force, in order lha' the people
might contribute to the national income.
Postal operations had been renewed, Hnd
efforts were b ing made to restore them
/" their former condition Of efficiency
The States themselves h Il been asked
to take part IN t q high function OF
amending the constitution, and Of thu,
sanctionng the extinction OF African
slavery as one Of the legitimate results
Ut our mternecne struggle
Having progressed thus far, the Ex
ecu,ive Department found that it had
accomplished neasly al that was within
the scope of It's Constitutional authority.
One thing, however, yet remained to be
done before the work of reconstruction
could be completed, and that was the
admission to Congress Of loyal Senators
and Representatives from the Stat =
whose people had rebelled against the
lawful authority Of the General Govern
mcnt. This question devolved upon the
respective Houses, which, by the Con-
stitu,ion, are made the judges OF the
elections, returns, and qualifications of
their own members; and its considera-
,ion at once engaged the attention OF
Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive De-.
par,ment--no other plan having been
proposed by Cougrcss-continu"d its
efforts to perfect, as tar as was practi'
cable, the restoration Of the proper re-
lations etween the citizens of the re.
spectlve States, the States, and the Fed
eral Government, extending trcm time
to time, as The public interests seems to
require the judicial, revenue, ard postal
system Of the country. With the adj
vice and consent of the Senate, the me-
cessary officers were appointed, aud ap-
preparations made by Congress for the
payl ent of their salaries. The propo.
stion to amend the Federal Constitution,
SO as TO prevent the existence of slavery
within the United States or any place
subject to their jurisdiction, was ratified
by the requisite number of State and
on the 18th day of December, 1865, 1t
was officially declared to have become
valid as a part of ihe Constitution oI
the United States All OF the States it
which the insurrectlon had existed
promptly amended their Constltut on
so as to make them conform tt
the great change thus affected II
the organic law of the land declared
null and void all ordinances aud laws o
secession repndiaied all pretended debts
and obligations created for the revolu
tionary purposes OF the insurrection
and proceeded, in good faith, to the en-
actment of measures for the protection
and amelioration of the condition of TIN
colored race. Congress, however, ye
heslt ted to admit any Of these States tt
representation and 1t was not until to
wards the close OFT eighth month @
the session that an exception was mad
in favor of Tennessee, by tie admission
of her Senators and Representatives.
ADMISSION OF LOYAL REsENTATIvES
deem it subject of'proound regre
: that Congress has thus far failed to ad
t mt to seats loyal Senators aud Repre-
: sentatlves from the other States who's
inhabitants together, with lfos
OF Tennessee, had engaged in rebellion
Ten States, more than one fourth OF IN
entire number, remain without reprtser
< .,n,,,l,nc, ,,t IN