The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-12-07
Message OF the President OF the
United States
Two Houses Of Congress ut the Commence
mcnt Of The Second Session;


FeIioic CITIZENS Of he Senate and House
Of Representatives:
After brief interyalth Congress of tho Uni
ted States resumes its annual Legislative labors
An aliwise and nerciiul Providence has abated
the pestilencc 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 United States. In
all OF the States civil authority has superseded
the coercion of arms, and the people by their
voluntary action, arc maintaining their govern
ments III full activity and complete operation
The enforcement Of the laws is no longer :" OBJ
structed in any state by combinations too pow
oriu 10 be suppro sscd by the ordinary course of
judlcHl proceedings = and INC Al nuOsitics en-
gcHdvlcd ~ the war arc rapid y yielding TO the
benciioont Influences If or free institutions,
and to the kindly elects OF unrestricted social
and commercial Intercourse. An entire restora-
ton Of fraterual feeling must be the earnest wish
of every patriotic heart and we viii have ac-
cCmphshed our grandost national achievement
when, forgetting the sud 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 December, 1865,
Congress was informed of the measures which
had been instituted by the Executive with Il
view to the gradual restoration of the States in
which tho instruction occurred, to their rela-
tions with the General Government Proys-
ional Governors had been appointed, Conven-
:ons called Governors elected, Legislatures
assembled, and Senators and Representatives
chosen to the Congress of the United States
Courts had been opened for the enforcement OF
laws long III allegiance. The blockade had been
removed, custom houses re-ostablished, and the
internal revenue laws put in force in order that
the people 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 Ar
lican slavery MS one of the legitimate results o.
our intcfnccine struggle.
Having rpgrossed thus far, the Executive
Department found that it had accomplished
nearly all that was within the scope of its con
stitutional authority. One thing, however, vel
remained to be done before the work of restora
ton could be completed, and that was the adj
mission to Congress of loyal Senators and Rep
resentativcs from the States whose people hat
rcbelled against the lawful authority Of TIA,
General Government. This question deyolyee
upon the respective Houses, which, by the Con
stitutioD, are made the judges of elections. re
turns, and qualifications Of their own members
and ITS consideration at once engaged the at
tontion OF Congress.
IN the meantime, the Executive Department
no other pan having been proposed by Con
grcss continued its efforts to perfect as far a,
was practicable the restoration of the propc
relations between the citizens Of the respoctiY,
extending from time to time, as the public in
terosi seemed % require, the judicial, revonue
and postal systems of the country. With tn,
advice and consent Of the Senate the necessar,
officers were appointed, and appropriations mad'
? hy Congress for the payment Of their salaries
rho proposition to almond the Federal Constitu
tion, 50 as 70 prevent the existence Of SLAYER
within the United States, or any place subiec
to their jurisdiction, vas ratified by the requi
site number Of States: and on the 18th day o
? December, 1860. 1t was officially declared &
, nave become valid as part OF the Constitution
of the United States All of the States in whicl
the lnsurroction had existed, promptly amende
Their Constitutions, SO as to make them conform
to the great change thus effected in the organi
law OF the land; declared null and void all OF
dinanees and laws Of accession; repudiated a
pretended debts and obligations created for tn
revolutionary purposes OF the instruction; an
proceeded. IN good faith TO the enactment q
measures for the protection and amehoraton q
tine condition Of the colured race Congress
however, yet hesitatcd TO admit any OF thes
, States TO representation and il was not unit
towards the close of the eighth month OF tn
2 session that an expression was made in favor q
: tennessee, by tho admission II her Senator
/ and Representatives.
deem il subject oil profound regret tina
: Congress has thus far failed to admit 10 seats
h loyal senators and Representatives from tn
, .ther states, whose inhabitants, with those q
lennessee, had engaged in the rebellion. To
n Ntates-more than onc-fOurth Of the whole mum
: her-remain without representation the seat
~ hity members in tho House Of hepresenta
q tlves, and twealy members IN tho Sonate, Gr
n yeI vaeant-not by their own consent, not by
failure OF election, but by the refusal of Cor
u giors t. accept their credentials. Their admin
q riou, il is believed, would have accomplishe
much towards the renewal aud strengthening
"nr relations as one people, and removed ser
= ous cause for discomfort on the part Of the il
S halltants ~ those States. Ii would have az
- corded with the great principle onunciatod
" inc Declaration OF American Independence, ia,
4 no people ought 10 bear the burden Of taxation
n, ana yet be denied the right Of representation.
" " would have been IN consonanc. with tho e.