Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-12-06
PREsIpENT,s MESSAGE.

Feiiow Citizens Of the Senate and Hoh"@ fep-
resentattues;
After brief int.rval the Congress of the United
States resumes its annual legislative labors An
a-wise and merciul Providence has abated the pes
thence which visited Shores leaving its calami'
tous traces upen some portions of our country
Peace, order, tranquility and civil authority nave
been formally declared to exist throughout the
whole of the United States. In all OF the states
civil authority has superseded the coercion OF arms
and the people, by their voluntary action are man
tanning their governments in full activity and com
plete operation. The enforcement Of the law Is NO
longer Constructed in any State by combinations
too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course Of Judicial proceedings and the animosities
engendered by the rapidly yie ding TO the d.
nefcent influences Of free institutions, aad to
the kindly effects Of unrestricted social and com
mercial intercourse. An entire restoration oil ira
tsrna feeling be the earnest wish Of every pa
triotic heart and we will have accomplished our
grandest national achievement when, forgetting the
sad events ofthe past, and remembering only their
instructive lessons resume our onward career US
a free, prosperous and united people.
In my message of the 4th of December, 1865, Cen
Rress was informed ofthe measures which had been
Instituted by the Executive with view to the grad
ua restoration ofthe States in which the Insured
ton occurred, to their relations with the General
Government, Provisional Governors had been ap'
pointed Conventions called, Governors elected, leg
islatures assembled, and Senators and Representa-
tyes chosen to the Congress of the United States
Courts had been opened for the enforcement of law
long in allegiance. The blockade had been removed
stom houses re established and the internal rev
enue laws put in force, in order that the people
might contribute to the national income. Posta
operations had been renewed, and efforts were benl
made to restore them to their former condition
efficiency. The States themselves had been aske
to take part in the high function of Amending IN
Constitution and of thus sanctioning the exinetio
of African slavery as one of the legitimate result
of our internecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, tbs Executive D
partment found that 1t had accomplished nearly a
that was within the scope Of It's constitutional au
thority. One thing however, remained TO be don
before the work Of restoration could be completed
and that the admission to Congress of low
Senators and Representatives from the States who's
people had rebelled against the lawful authority
the General Government. This question devolvs
upon the respective Houses, which, by the Const
tuition, made the judges Of the elections return
and qualifications Of their own members; and i
consideration at once engaged the attention of Co
gress.
In he meantime, the Executive Department.
other plan having been proposed by Congress-co
tinusd its efforts to perfect, as far rs was prsetie
BILE, the restoration Of the proper relations bstwe
the liens of the respective States, the States Al
the Federal Government, extending from time
time, as the public interests seemed to require, q
judicial revenue, and postal systems Of the countl
With ths advice and consent ofthe Senate, he n
cessary officers were appointed, and appropriate
made by Congress for the payment Of their sAlari
90 as to proven, the existence of slavery within
United States or any place subject to their jurisd
ton was ratified by the requisite number OF Stat
and on the 18th day of December, 1865, it was
hcially declared to have become valid as psf
the Constitution of the United States. All of
States in which the instruction had existed prom
ly amended their Constitutions, so as to make tn
conform to the great change thus effected in
orgsnc law of the land declared null and void
ordinances and laws of secession repudiated
pretended debts and obligations created for the
olutionary purposes Of the inEurrection and I
ceeded, In good faith, to he enactment Of nsasu
for the protection and amslioration Of the col
ton ofthe colored race. Congress- however
hesitatsd to admit any Of these States ito rsprsei
ton; and it was MT until towards the close of
eighth month of the session that an exception
made in favor of Tennessee, by the admission of
Senators and Representatives.
l deem it subject Of profound regret that
yres, has thus lar failed to admit to seats L
Senators and Representative from the other Sta
whose inhabitaDto, with those OF Tennessee had
gagged in the rebellion Ten states-more than
fourth of the whole number-.remain without re
sanitation; the seats of fifty members in the Hous
Representatives and of twenty members in the
ate are yet vseant-not by their own consent, no
a failure Of section but by the refusal Of Cong
to accept their credentials Their admission,
believed, would have accomplished much tow
abe renewal and strengthening OF our relation
one people, and removed serious Gauss for disc
tent on the part Of the inhabitants Of those Sta
II would have accorded Win rue Rreht prlot
enunciated in the Declaration of Amer can Ii
pendence that NO people ought to bear the Blu
of taxation and yet be denied the right Of re
sentation It would have been in consonsnce
the express provisions Of the Constitution,
leach State shall have at least one Representa-
and 'that NO State, without its consent, sha
deprived ofits equal suffrage in the Senate
Provisions were intended to secure to every
and the people Of every State, the right Of repr
tation in each House Of Congress- and SO inpo
was it deemed by the fpmers of the Copstit
that the equality Of the States in the Senate sh
be preserved, that not even by an amendms
the Constitution can any State. without its cor
be denied voice in that branch Of the Nat
Legislature.
1t s true, it has been assumed that the exis
OF the States was terminated by the rebelliou
ofther inhabitauts, and that the instruction
ing been suppressed, they were thenceforward
considered merely as conquered territories
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Departt
ofthe Government have, however, with grea
tinetnsss and uniform constituency refused to
tion an assumption so incompatible with the n
of cur republican system, aud with the prof
objects of the war. Throughout the recent 10
tion Of congress the pndeniaole fact makes
apparent, that these ten political conmuniti
nothing less than States Of this Union
AT The very commencement of the rebs
each House declared, with unanimity a
natkable as it was significant, that the