The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-12-13
PRESlDT JOHNSON'S MESSAGE.

AsNShD SVhNSVN - III mLSSRULs
Feflo,o Cu;.ens ot The Senate and House
of Representatives After briei interval.
the Congress Of the United States resumes
its annual Legislative labors. An all-wise
and merciful Providence has ablted the
pestilence which visited our shores, leaving
Its calamitous traces upon some portions OF
our country. Peace, order, tranquility and
civil authority have been formally declared
to exist throughout the whole of the IL nj
tcd.States. In all OF the.States, oivM au.
thority has superseded the coercion OF
arms, and the people, by their voluntary
action, are maintaining their Government
in full activity and complete operations.
The enforcement Of the laws is no longer
obstructed in any State by combination too
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicia, proceedings, and the
animosities engendered by the war are
rapidly yielding to the benefcent influcn
ces of our free institutions, and to the
kindly effects unrestricted social and
commerci Il intercourse. An entire resto
-.::e:: eff ::TT=;oTuai feeling must be the
earnest wish OF every patriotic heart We
will hav accomplished our grandest ma
tional achievement when, forgetting the
sad events of the past, and remembering
only their instructive lessons, we resume
our onward career, as free, prospcros,..
aud united people. In my message o. the
4th December, 1865, Congress was i;.iorui.
ed OF the measures which haG been ins,i
tuted y the Executive with view to the
gradual restoration OF the States, in which
the insurrcctiOn occurred, to their relations
with the General Government. Provis.
icnal Governors had been appointed, con
ventiOns called, Governors elected, aud
Representatives chosen to the Congress of
the United States. Courts had been open
ed Tor the enforcement of laws long in
abeyance; the blockade had been removed.
custom, houses re.established, aud the in
ternal revenue put in force, in order that
the people might contribute to the nation
al income; postal operations had been re
sumed, and efforts were being made to
restore them to their former condition OF
efficiency. The States had been asked to
take part in the high function OF amend
Ing the Constitution, and of their sanction
Ing the extinction OF African slavery, as
one OF the legitimate results OF our inter
,necine struggle. Having progressed thus
far, the Executive Department found that
1t had accomplished nearly all that was
within the SC pc of its Constitutional au
thorlty; one thing, however, yet remained
to be done before the work. of restoration
could be completed, and that was the ad
mission to Congress of loyal Senators and
Representatives from the States whose
people had rebelled against the lawful au
thority of the General Government. THIS
question devolved upon the respective
HOuses, which, by the Constitution, are
made the judges Of the election returns
and qualifications of their own members,
and It's consideration at once engaged the
attel tion of Congress. In the meantime,
the Executive Department, no other plan
having been proposed by Congress, in its
effort to perfect, as far as was practicab C,
the restoration OF the proper relations be
tween the citizens of the respective States,
the Federal Government extended. from
time to time, as the public interests seem
ed to require, the judicial revenue and
postal systems OF the country, and with
the advice and consent of the Senate. the
necessary officers were appointed and ap
propriations made by Congress for tho
payment OF their salaries. The PROPOSE
tlon 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
py the requisite number of States -
On the 18th day of December, 1868,
1t was officially declared to have become
wand as part OF the Constitution of the
United States. All of the States in which
the insurrection had exhibited, promptly
amended their Constitutions so as to make
them conform to the great change thus
On cted in the organic law of the land ;
declared null and void all ordinances and
laws OF secession, repudiatng all pretend
cd debts and obligations created for revo
lutlonary purposes Of the insurrcction, and
proceeded in good faith to the enactment
OF measures for the protection and ameli-