The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
feIIo'o- Ctt'*eas IF the Senate


which visited our shores leaving its cal
amitous traces upon some portions ct our
country. Peace, order tranquility ano
civil authority have been formally decar.
ed to exist throughout the United States.
Civil authority has superseded the coer-
cion OF arms. aud the people by their vol
untary action are maintaining their gov
ernmeut in full activity and complete OPP,
Grafton. The enforcement Of the laws is
no longer obstructed in any place by com
binations 100 powerful TO be suppressed
by the ordinary course of judicial PRO.
ceedings. The amin sites eugendered
hy the war arc rapidly yielding to the
ben hcent influences of our tree institu-
tions. aud to their kindly efforts of unre-
Stricted social aud commercial intercourse.
An entire restoration Of tralernal feeling
must he the earnest wish of every patri-
otic heart. and we will have accomplished
our grande>t National achievements, when.
forgetting the sad events of the past, and
remembering ONLY their instructive lessons,
We resume our onward career as u free.
prosperous and united people.
her lSG5, Congress was Informed OF the
measures which had been instituted by
the Executive with a view to the gradual
but sure restoration of the States in
which the late InSurrection occurred. tu
their former relations with tile General
Government. Provisional Governors had
been appointed. conventions called. gov
ernors elected, legislatures assembled. aud
Senators and Representatives chJ-en Ia
I the Congress of the United States and
courts had been opened for the enforce
ulent OF lays long iR abcyancs. The
! blockade had been removed. custom houses
re-eS;ablished, aud the internal revenue
. laws put III force ia order that the people
might contribute to the national income
/ Postal operations had been renewed. and
efforts were beng made 10 restore them
+ ~ tis,r former condition and efficiency
i he States themselves had been asked /,
f take part in ihe high function Of amend
/ ing the Constitution. aui of thus sane
/ tionIng the extinction Of American slave
~ a. one of the legitimate results Of our
struggle.
! Having progressed Tins far the Exeou
tive head found that it had accompishc,
nearly all that was within the score of IL
/ Constitutional authority. One thing
however. yet remained 10 he done befur'
the work Of restoration could he complete,
and that was the admission To Congress u
loyal Senators and Representatives from
he STATES whose people had reLe!le,
against the lawful authority Of the Gen
eral Government. This question devoIve,
upon the respective Houses. which, b.
the Constitution, are made the judges Z
the election returns and qualifications O
their own members, and its consideration
at once engaged the attention of Congress
Ia the meantime the Executive plan
having been proposed by Congress, con
tnued ITS efforts to perfect. as far "a wa
practicable, the restoration Of the prope
relations between the cItizcns Of the re
spectige States. the States, aud the Fed
eral Government. extending from time 4
time what the public interests seemed L
require 10 the judicial. revenue aud pos
tai systems ot III" country. With the al
vice and cun~enr of Ihe Senate the ncccs
/. sary officers were appointed, and appro
Fr'atl"ns were made by Congress for tn
payment Of their salaries.
i The proposition tO amend the Fedora
Constitution 80 as to provide for the ex
tinction of slavery WITHIN the Unite
States. or any place subject to their juris
dicJIoH. was ratified by sufficient mum
bsr of States. aud Oh the 18th day q
November, 1860, it was officially declares
to have become valid, and part Of til
: Constitution Of the United States. Al
Of the S ates in which the insurrectiol
had existed promptly amended their con
stltutlOns 50 as To make them conform T.
the great change thus effected in the or
ganic law OF the land. They declare,
null and void all ordinances or laws O
secession, repudiaied al! pretended debt
iaHd obligations created for the revolu
ticnary purposes Of the instruction, an
proceeded III good faith to the enactmen
Of measures for the protection and amel
Grafton Of the condition Of the coIore
race.
i Congress, however, yet refused to ad
hnit any Of these States to representation
land it was not until toward the close {
Ieight months of the session that an ex
ception was made in favor Of Tennessee
lby the admission Of her Senators an
Representatives.
l deem it a subject of profound regrc
that Congress has thus far failed toadm
to seats loyal Senators and Representative
from the other States whose inbahitant
with those Of Tennessee, had engaged i
the rebellion, Ten States-more tha
one-f fourth of the whole nlber-rc
mained without representation. Th
seats Of fifty members in the House {
, Representatives and of twenty member
in the Senate are yet vacant-not b
their own consent; not by faction
electors; but by the refusal Of Congre,
to accept their credentials. Their admi
sion, it is believed, would have accon
plished much toward the renewal an
, Strengthening Of our relation as on
people, and removed a serious cause fc
discomfort on the part of the inhabitan
OF those States; it would have accorde
with the great principles enunciated i
the Declaration Of American IpdepenC
ence, that no people ought to bear til
, burden OF taxation, and yet be denied th
right Of representation. 1t woula ha1
F been in consonance with the express pr
5 visions Of the Constitution, that eac
r State shall have at least one Represent,
/ tive, and that no State, without it's col
It sent. shall be deprived of its equal su