The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1866-12-07

FcLLoU-citizens Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives.:
After brief interval the Congress of the
United States resumes its annual legisla-
tive duties. An all-wise and merciful
Providence has abated the pestilence which
visited our shores, leaving its calamitOus
traces upon some portions of our country.
Peace, order, tranquility, and civil au-
thOrity have been formally declared to ex-
list 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has superseded the coercion of arms, and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
maintaining their governments in full
activity and complete operation. The en-
forcement Of the lawsis no longer "Obstruct-
ed in any State by combinations too power
ful to be suppressed by the ordinary course
of judicial proceedings; )" and the animosi-
ties engendered by the war are rapidly
yielding to the benifcent influences of our
free institutions, and to the kindly effects
of unrestricted social and commercial in
tercoUrse. An entire restoration of frater-
nal feeling must be the earnest wish of
every patriotic heart and we will have ac-
complished our grandest national achieve
ment when, forgetting the sad events of the
past, and remembering only theirinstructive
lessons, we resume our onward career as a
free, prosperous, and united people.
...... $500 RESTORATION. .
In my message of the 4th of December,
1865, Congress was informed of the meas
ures which had been instituted by the Elk
eCutive with a view to the gradual res tora-
ton of the States In which the insurrec-
tion occurred to their relations with the
General Government. Provisional COVER
nors had been appointed, { conventions
called, governors elected legislatures as
qpTDHiph and Senators ,Fati vou
chosen TO the Congress of the United States.
Courts had been Eopened for the enforce
ment OF laws long In allegiance. The block
ade had been removed, custom-hOuses re-
established, and the internal revenue laws
put in force, in order that the people might
contribute to the national income. 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 Constr
tuticn, and Of thus sanctioning the extinc-
ton Of African slavery as one of the legiti-
mate results of our inteEnecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Execu-
tive Department found that il had accom-
lished nearly all that was within the scope
ct It's constitutional authority. One thing,
however, yet remained to be done before
. the work sf restoration could bs completed,
loyal Senators and Representatives from
the States whose people had rebeIled
against the lawful Authority of the General
Government. This question deyolved upon
the respective Houses, which, by the Con-
stitution, are made the judges Of the cleo
tions, returns, and qualifications of their
own members; and its consideration at
once engaged the attention of Congress.
In the meantime, the Ex ecutive Depart
L, I.
by COngress-cOntinued its efforts to per-
feet, as far as possible, the restoration of
the proper relations between the citizens of
the respective States, and the Federal Gov
eminent, extending, from time to time, as
the public interests seemed to require, the
judicial, revenue, and postal systems of the
country. With the advice and consent of
the Senate, the necessary officers were APP
pointed, and appropriations made by Con-
gres5 for the payment of their salaries.
The proposition 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 rati-
fed by the requisite number of States and
on the 18th day of December, 1865. it was
officially declared to have become valid as
a part of the Constitution of the United
States. All of the States in which the in
surrection 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 Ordinaaces and laws of seces-
sion; repudiated all pretended debts and
obligations created for the revolutionary
purposes of the Instruction; and pro-
Ceeded, in good faith, to the enactment of
measures for the protection and ameliOra-
ton of the coalition Of the colored race.
Congress, however, yet hesitated to admit
any of these States to representation; and
it was not until towards the close of the
eighth month of the session that an excep-
ton was made in favor of Tennessee, by
the admission of her Senators and Repre-
sentatiVes. . s....s4.aE .rr
I deem tia subject of profound regret
that Congress has thus far failed to admit
TO seats loyal Senators and Representatives
from the otherStates,w hoseinhabitants, with
those of Tennessee, had engagedin therebel-
lion. Ten States-more than one-fourth
Of the whole number-remaiR without rep
resentatiOn; the seats of fifty members in
the House of Representatives and of twen-
ty members in the Senate are vet vacant
not by their own consent, not by failure
of election bat by the refusal of Congress
to accept their credentials. Their admis-
sion, it is believed, would have accomplish
ed much towards the renewal and strength
ening OF our relations as one people, and
removed serious cause for discomfort on the
part of the inhabitants of those States. 1t
would have accorded with the great prin-
ciple enunciated in the Declaration Of
American Independence, that no people
ought to bear the burden of taxation, and
yet be denied the right of representation.
1t would have been in consonance with the
express provisions of the Constitution,
that each State shall have at least one
Representative" and "a that no State, with
out It's consent, shall be deprived of Its
equal suffrage in the Senate" These pro-
visions were intended to secure to every
State, and TO the people of every State, the
right of fermentation IL each House Of