The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

After brief Interval the Congress OF the
limited States resumes its annual legislative Ia
bors An sl-wise and merciful Providence has
abated the pestiencc which visited our shores,
leaving its calamitous traces upon some portions
of onr country. Peace, order, tranquility, and
civil authority have been formally declared to
exist throuphout the whole Of the United States.
In all of the States civil authority has supetse-
ded the coercion of arms, and the people, by
their voluntary action are maintaining their gov
erpments 10 full activity and complete operation.
The enforcement of the laws Is no longer "oo-
struc,ed in any State By combinations too pow
erfu to be suppressed by the ordinary course
of judicial proceeding>;" and the anluosities
engebdered by the war are rapidly yielding to
the benefccnt influences of our free institutions,
and to the kindly effects of unrestricted social
and commercial intercourse. An entire resto-
ration of fratcrnal feeling must be the earnest
wish Of every patriotic heart; and we Wall have
accomplished our grandest rational achieve
ment when, forgetting the sad events OF the
past, and remembering only their Instructive
lessons we resume our onsaId career as Tree,
prosperous, and united people.
In INV message of the 4th Of December, 1860,
Congress was informed of the measures which
had been instituted by the Executive with a
view to the gradual restoration OF the States 10
which the instruction occurred to their rela-
tions with the General Government Provls-
ional Governors had beer appointed, ConVen-
tons called, Governors elected, Legislatures as
sembled, and Senators and Representatives, cho-
sen 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 revenue laws put in force, in order tina.
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 African
slavery as one Of the legitimate results Of our
internccine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Executive
Department found that it had accomplished
nearly all that was within the scope OF lts con-
s'tutional authority. One thing, however, yet
remained to be done before the work OF restora-
ron could be ompeted, and that was the ad-
mission 10 Congress Of loyal Senators aud Ke-
representatives. from the States whose people had
Iebelled against the lawful authority CO the
General Government, This question devolved
upon the respective Houses, which, by the Con-
siturion, are made the judges OF the elections,
returns, and qualifications OF their own members;
and its consideration at engaged the at.en-
ton Of Congress
In the meantime the Executive Department
no other plan having been proposed by Con
gress-coutnued its Efforts to perfect, as far as
was practicable, the restoration of the proper
relations between the citizens Of the respective
States and the Federal Government, extending,
from time to tine, as the public interests seemed
to require, the judicial, revenue: aud postal sys
tens of the country With the advice and con-
sent of the Senate, the necessary officers were
appointed, and appropriations made by Congress
for the payment of their salaries The propo-
sition to amend the Federal Constitution, so as
to prevent the existence of slavery within the
United States or any place subject to their ju-
risdiction, was ratified by the requisite number
Of States; and on the 18th day Of December,
1865, it was officially declared 20 have become
valid as part Of the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. All Of the States in which the in
furrection had existed promptly amended their
Constitutions, so as TO make them conform to
the great change thus effected in the organic
law Of the land declared null and void all or
dlnanccs aud laws OF secession; repudiated all
pretended debts and obiigatioua created for the
revolutionary purposes of the instruction; and
proceeded, in good faith, to the enactment of
measures for the protection and ameloratiou of
however, yet hesiated 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 exception made in favor Of
Tennessee, by the admission Of her Senators
aud Representatives.
deem it subject of profound regret that
Congress has thus far failed to admit TO seats
loyal Senators and Representatives from the
other States, whose Inhabitants, with those of
Tennessee, had engaged in the rebellion. Ten
Siates-mOre than one fourth Of the whole num-
ber-remain without representation; the seats
of Fifty members in the House of Representa-
tives and of twenty members in the Senate are
yet vacant-nOt by their own consent, hot by a
future OF election, but by the refusal OF Con-
gress to accept their credentials. Their a1mis
sion, 1T is believed, would have accomplished
much towards the renewal and strengthening oil
our relations as one people, anc removed serious
cause Tor discomfort on the part of the iuhabi-
tants OF those States. 1t would have accorded
with the great principle enunciated in the Dec
laration Of American Independence, that DC
people ought to bear the burden of taxation
and yet De denied the right Of representation.
1t would have been 10 consonance with the ex-
press provisions Of the Constitution, that '.each
State shall have at least one representative, u
and shat no State without its consent. shall be
deprived OF Its equal suffrage in the Senate y
These provisions were intended to secure to
every State, and to ihe people of every State
the night OF representation in each House OF
Congress; aud SO important was it deemed by
the trainers of the Constitution that the equality
of the States 10 the Senate should be preserved,
hat nate h..