Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-12-12
MESSAGE of the PRESIDENT.

MESSAGE Of the PRESIDENT.
Fsllosc-citizens Of the Senate and House OF
Representatives
After brief interval the Congress of the
United States resumes its annual Legislative
labors. 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 authority have been
formally declared to exist throughout the
whole of the United States. In all of the
States civil authority has superseded the CO.
ercion of arms, and the people, by their vol
untary action, are maintaining their govern
ments in full activity and complete operation.
The enforcement of the laws Is no longer
''obstructed in any State by combinations
too powerful to be suppressed by the ordi-
nary course of judicial proceedings >; and
the animosities engendered by the war are
rapidly yielding to the benefcent influences
of our free institutions, and to the kindly
effects of unrestricted social and commercial
intercourse. An entire restoration of fra
terpal feeling must be the earnest wish Of
every patriotic heart and we will have ac-
complished our grandest national achieve
ment when, for getting the sad events of the
past, and remembering only their instructive
free, prosperous, and united people.
In my message of the 4th Of December,
1865, Congress was informed of the meas
ures which had been instituted by the Exc
cutive with view to the gradual restoration
of the States in which the insurrection oc-
Cured to their relations with the General
Government. Provisional Governors had
been appointed, Conventions called, Govern
ors 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
IN obeyance. The blockade had been re-
moved, custom-houses re-established, and
the internal revenue laws put in force, in or
der that the people might contribute to the
national income. Postal operations had been
renewed, and efforts were being made to re-
store them to Their former condition of eff
cheney. 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 in
ternecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Execu- |
tive Department found that it had accom- |
plished nearly all that was within the scope |
of its constitutional authority. One thing, |
however, yet remained to be done before the |
work of restoration could be completed, and
that was the admission to Congress of loyal
Senators and Representatives from the
States whose people had rebelled against the
This question devolyed upon the respective
Houses, which, by the Constitution, are
made the judges of the elections, returns,
and qualifications of their own members; and
Its consideration at once engaged the atten-
ton of Congress-
In the meantime, the Executive Depart
ment-no other plan having been proposed
by Congress-continued its efforts to perfect,
rs far as was practicable, the restoration of
the proper relations between the citizens of
the respective States, the States; and the Fed
eral Government, extending, from time to
time, as the public interests seemed to re-
quire, the judicial, revenue, and postal sys-
TENS of the country. With the advice and
were appointed, and appropriations made by
Congress for the payment of their salaries.
The proposition to amend the Federal Con-
stitution, so as to prevent the existence of
slavery within the United States or any place
subject to their jurisdiction was ratified by
the requisite number of States and on the
18th day of December, 1865, it was officially
declared to have become valid as part of
the Constitution of the United States. An
of the States in which the insurrection had
existed promptly amended their Constitu-
tons, SO as to make them conform to the
great change thus effected in the organic law
Of the land declared null and void all ordi-
nances and laws of secession repudiated all
pretended debts and obligations created for
the revolutionary purposes of the insurTec-
ton and proceeded, in good faith, to the
enactment of measures for the protection
and amelioration of the condition of the col
ored race Congress, however, yet hesitated
to admit any Of these States to representa-
tion and it was not until towards the close
Of the eighth month of the session that an
exception was made in favor of Tennessee,
By the admission Of her Senators md Rep
/ deem tia subject of profound regret that
Congress has thus far failed to admit to seats
oval Senators and Representatives from the
,f Tennessee, had engaged in the rebellion.
Ten States-more than one-fourth Of the
Whole number-remain without representa-
ion; the seats of fifty members in the House
# Representatives and Of twenty members
q the Senate are yet yacant-nOt by their
,wn consent, not BY failure Of election, but
" the refusal of Congress to accept their
redeutials. Their admission, tits believed,
WOULD have ACCOMPLISHED much towards the
enewal and strengthening of our relations
s one people, and removed serious cause for
iscontent on the part Of the inhabitants Of
hose States It would have accorded with
he great principle enunciated in the Decla-
ation of American Independence, that no
eople ought 70 bear the burden of taxation,
al vet Be- denied the right Of representa-
On, II would have been in consOnance
FL fRe exrress provisions Of the Constitu-
IN. that "sach State shall have at least one !