Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-12-05

the United States resumes its legisla-
tive labors. An all-wise aud merciful
Providence has abated the pestilence
which visited our shores, leaving its
calamitous traces upon some portions
of our country. Peace, order, tran
guilty, and civil au .hority have been
formally declared TO exist throughout
the whole of the United States. In
all of these 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superseded the coercion of arms, and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 enforcement of the laws is no lon.
ger Constructed in any State by combi-
nations too powerful to be suppressed
by the ordinary course of judicial pro
ceeding: and the anlmositles engen-
I dered by the war are rapidly yielding
to the beni6cent influences Of our free
institutions, and to the kindly effects
of unrestricted social and commercial
intercourse. An entire restoration OF
fraternal feeling must be the earnest
wish of every patriotic heart; ana we
will have accomplished VI grandest
national achievement when, forgetting
the sad events of the past, and remem-
bering only their instructive lessons,
We resume our onward career as a free,
prosperous people.
CONDITION oE THE COUNTRY.
In my message of the 4th OF De-
cember, 1865, Congress was informed
of the measure which had been Instl-
tuted by the Executive with a view to
the gradual restoration of the States IN
which the instruction was to their rela-
tions with the General Government
Provisional Governors had been ap-
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 en-
forcement of laws long in abeyance.-
The blockade had been removed; Gus
tom-house re established, and the inter
nal revenue laws put in force, IN order
that the people might contribute to
the national income. Postal operations
had been renewed, and efforts were be-
ing made to restore them to their for
mer condition of efficiency. The States
themselves had been asked to take
part in the high function of amending
the Constitution, and of thus sanction
ing the extinction OF African slavery
as one of the legitimate results OF our
internecine struggle
ADMISSION OF CONGRESSMAN FROM THE
REBEL STATES.
Having progressed thus far. the Ex-
ecutiYe Department found that 1t had
accomplished nearly all that was within
the scope of its constitutional authorl-
ty. One thing, however, yet renamed
to be done before the work of r%estora-
ton could be completed, and that was
the admission to Congress of loyal Sena-
tors ard Representatives from the
States whose people had rebelled
against the lawful authority OF the
General Government 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 attention of Congress.
ACTION OF THE EXECUTIVE.
In the meantime, the Executive De-
partment-no other plan having been
proposed by Congress-coDtinued its
efforts to perfect, as f. as was practical
bic, the restoration Of the proper rela'
lions between the citizens of the res
pective States, the States, and the
Federal Government. extending, from
time to time, as the public interests
seemed to require, the judicial, revenue
and postal system of the country
With the advice and consent OF the
Senate, the necessary officers were APP
pointed, and appropriations made by
Congress for the payment Of their sala-
ries. The proposition to amend the
1 Federal Constitution, 50 as to prevent
the existence of slavery within the
United States or any place subject to
their Jurisdiction, YVES ratified by the
requisite number O. States; and on
the 18th day of December, 1865, 1t was
officially declared to have become yafs
as a part of the Constitution of the
United States. All the estates in which
the insurrection had existed promptly
amended their Constitution, so as TO
maze them conform 10 the great change
thus effected in the organic law of the
Hand; declared null and void all ordi-
nances and laws of secession; repudla-
ted all pretended deb and obligations
created for the revolutionary purposes
of the instruction and proceeded, IN
/ good faith, to the enactment OF meas
ures for the protection and ameliora-
ton of the condition of the colored
race. Congress, however, yet hesita-
ted to admit any of these States to
representation and il was not until
towards the close of The eighth month
of the session that IN exception was
made in favor of Tennessee, by the
admission of her Sci etors and Repre-
~sentatives.
REGRETS THAT coNGRE 5 REFUSES ADMIs-
SION TO MEMBERsFRaH REBEL STATES.
4 deem it a subiec' Of profound re-
aret that Congress he's thus far failed
to admit 10 seats local Senators and
Representatives from The other States,
whose inhabitants, With those OF Ten
aessee, had engaged a the rebellion.
Pen States-more Il "A one fourth OF
the whole number--remain without
representation the eats of fifty mem
beers in the House of Representative;
and twenty members IN the Senate are
vet vacsnt-not by tleir own consent
not by a failure of election, but by the
refusal of Congress to accept their ere
dentials. Their adm lesion, it is behev'
ed. would have accomplished much
towards the renewal nd Strengthening
of our relations as a people, and re
moved serious cause for discomfort OF
the part of the inb., hitants of thos,
States. It would have accorded witt
the great principle & bunciated IN thu
l Declaration of Ameriodn Independence
that no people ought 30 bear the bur
den of taxation, and set be denied tn
right of representation. 1t would havl
been in eonsonance with the expires
: provisions of the Constitution, tina
Leach State shall / We at least on,
: REPRESENTATIVE" AMI that no State
/. without its cansent, nall be'depriEeC
/. of its equal suffrage n the Senate p
These provisions we 6ntended to Sc
cure to every State, %ed to the peopl
I. of every State, the P sht of represents
ton in each House Of Congress an,
so important was il deemed by tn
trainers of the Cons tuition that tn
t equality of the Stat, in the Senat
sbouId he preserved. :hat not even b