The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-12-11

/ United StateS resumes ats annual legislative
labors. An all-wise and merciful Provi-
dence has abateb the pestilence which vis-
tied our shores, leaving its calamitous ira
ces upon some portions of our country.
Peace, order, tranquility, and civil author
| ity have been formally declared to exist
throughout the whole United States. In
all Of the States civil authority has super
seded the coercion of arms, and the people,
by their voluntary action, are maintaining
their governments in full activity and com
plete operation. The enforcement of the
laws is no longer obstructed in any State
by combinations too powerful to be sup
pressed by the ordinary course Of judicial
proceedings" and the animosities engen-
dered by the war are rapidly yielding to the
beneticent influences of our free institutions,
and to the kindly effects of unrestricted So
cial and commercial intercourse. An en-
tire restoration of fraternal feeling must be
the earnest wish of every patriotic heart !;
and We will have accomplished our grand
est national achievement when, forgetting
the sad events of the past, and remembering
only their instructive lessons, we resume
our onward career as free, prosperous, and
united people.
In my message Of the 4th of Dec. 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 insurrection occurred to
their relations with the general government
Provisional Governors had been appointed
Conventions called, Governors elected, Leg
islatures assembled, and Senators and Rep
Iresentatives chosen to the Congress of the
United States Courts had been opened for
the enforcement Of laws long in allegiance.
| The blockade had been removed, custom
houses re-established, and the internal rev.
enue laws put in force, in order that the
peopl might contribute to the national in
come. Postal operations had been renewed,
and efforts were being made to restore them
to their former condition Of efficiency. The
States themselves had been asked to take
part in the high function of amending the
Constitution, and of thus sanctioning the
extinction of African Slavery as one of the
legitimate results Of our intelnecine strug-
gle.
| Having progressed thus ar,the Executive
/ Department found that it had accomplished
nearl y all that was within the scope of its
Constitutional authority. One thing, how
ever, yet remained to be done before the
work of restoration could be completed.
and that was the admission to Congress of
loyal Senators and Representative from
the States whose people had rebelled against
the lawful authority of the general Govern
ment. This question devolved upon the re-
SpectlYe Houses, s,whicb, by the Constitution,
are made the judges of the elections, returns,
and qualifications of their own members {;
ane It's consideration at once engaged the
attention of Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive Depart
ment-no other plan having been proposed
by Congress continued its efforts to per-
feet, as far as was practicable, the restora-
ton of the proper relations between citizens
of the respective States, the States, aud the
Federal Government, extending from time
to time, as the public interests seemed to
require, the judicial, revenue and postal sys-
TENS Of the country With the advice and
consent Of the Senate, the necessary officers
were appointed, and appropriations made
by Congress for the payment of their sala-
rles. The proposition to amend the Fede-
raj Constitution, so as to prevent the exis-
tence of slavery within the United States or
any place subject to their jurisdiction, was
ratified by the requisite number of states ::
and on the 18th day of December, 1865, it
was officially declared to have become valid
as part of the Constitution of the United
States. All of the States in which the in
surrectiou had existed promptly amended
their Constitutions, so as to make them con-
form to the great change thus effected in
the organic law of the land; declared null
and void all ordinances and laws of seces
sion repudiated all pretended debts and OBJ
legations created for the revolutionary pur-
poses of insurrection; and proceeded, in
good faith, to the enactment of measures for
the protection and amelioration of the con-
dition Of the colored race. Congress, how
ever, yet hesitated to admit auy of these
States to representation and it was not un-
til the close of the eighth month of the ses-
sion that an exception was made in favor of
Tennessee, by the admission of her Sena-
tors and Representatives.
Ideem it a subject of profound regret that
Congress has thus far failed to admit loyal
Senators and Representatives from the 9th
er States, whose inhabitants, with those of
tennessee, had engaged in the Rebellion.
len States-more than one-fourth of the
whole number-remaln without represent
alton; the seats Of so members in the House
of Representatives and of 20 members in
the Senate are yet vacant-not by theirown
not by failure of election. but bv