Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
DELIVERED To BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS MONDAY
DECEMBER g. 1866.

DELIVERED To BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS MONDAY,
DECEMBER 3, 1866.
FGg,o-cG.sas Of tie Ss,ate a,pd House Of RepreSe'-
tdices:
After brief interval the Congress of the
United States resumes its annual legisla-
tive labnrs. An ail-wise aud mercful Prov
ilence las abated the pestience which Wis
itcd our shores, leaving its calamitous ira
c,s upon some portions of our country
Peace, order tranquility, and civil authori
ty have been declared to exist throughout
the whole of the United States In all of
the Stat civil authority has superseded
tn': coercion of arms, and the people, by
their voluntary action, are maintaining
their governments in full activity and com
plete operation. The enforcement of the
laws is 40 longer "obstructed in any State
iy combinations too powerful to be sup
pressed 10y the ordinary course of judicial
Proceedings :" and the auimosities en-
grntrred hy the war are rapidly yielding
t. t.., bcneticent influences of our free in
stsutions, aud to the kindly effects Of un-
u strcted social and commercial inter
course An entire restoration Of fraternal
i ell ng must be the earnest wish Of every
patriotic heart and we will have accom-
pished our grandest national achievement
when, forgetting the sad events of the past,
and remembering only their instructive les
sous. we resume our onward career AS a
free, prosperous, aud united people.
Iu nay message OF the 4th Of December,
1863 Coagress was informed Of the meas
urcs which had been instituted by the Ex-
cu4givc with view to the gradual resto
rai:yu of the States in which the iusurrec-
tiun occurred tD their relations with the
General Government Provisional Cover
uors bad been appointed, Conventions call
ed Governors elected Legislatures assem-
blcd, and Senators and Representatives
cIr sen to the Congress Of the United
: ttss Courts had been opened for the
enforcement Of laws long in allegiance The
blockade had been removed, custom houses
r,.-ustabished and the internal revenue
laws put in force, in order that the people
might contribute to the national income
Pos al operations hal been renewed, and
eh'rts were being made to restore them to
thrir former condition Of efficiency The
Sfatcs themselves had been asked to take
part in the high junction of amending the
Constitution, and IF thus sanctioning the
extinction of African Slavery as one Of the
Legitimate results Of our internecine strug-
gle
Having progressed thus far, the Execu-
tive Department found tlAt it had accom-
pll-ed nearly all that was within the scope
OF is Constitutional authority One thing,
however, yet remained to be done before
thc work Of restoration could be completed,
and that was the admission to Congress OF
loyal Senators and Representatives from the
States whose people had rcbelied against
th, lawful authority Of the General Gov
crnment. This question deyoved upon the
respective Houses, which, by the Constitu
ton, are made the judges Of the elections,
returns, and qualifications of their own
members and lis consideration at once en-
gasrd the attention Of Congress.
Ia the meantime, the Executive Depart
mrut-no other plan having been proposed
by Copgress-co its efforts to per-
feet, as far as was practicable, the restora-
tioo of tic proper relations between the
cit'zrne of the respective States, the States,
and the Federal Government, extending
from time to time, as the pnbic interests
seemed to require, the judicial, revenue, ,and
postal systems of the country. With the
advice and consent Of the Sen lte, the ne
cessary officers were appointed, aud appro
priations made by Congress for the pay
mcnr # 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 ratified hy the requisite
number Of States ; and on the 18th day OF
December, 1865, it was officially declared
to have become valid as d part # the Con
stitution OF the United States All Of the
States in which the insurreCtion had exist
cd promptly amended their Constitutions,
so a7 to make them conform to the great
change thus effected in the organic law Of
the land declared null and void all ordi-
name, ; and laws of secession; repudiated
al pretend, Il debts and obligations created
for the revolutionary purposes Of insurrec-
ton and proceeded, in good faith, to the
enactment Of measures for the protection
and ameioratjon of the condition of the col
ored race. Congress, however, yet hesitat-
ed 10 admit any of the States to represen-
tati0n and it was not until the close of
the eight month of the session that an ex-
ception was made in favor of Tennessee
by the admission of her Senators and Rep
resentatives.
deem it "a subject of profound regret
that Congress has thus far failed to admit
loyal Senators and Representatives from
the other States, whose inhabitants, with
those of Tennessee. had engaged. in the Re-
bellion. Ten States--more than one-fourth
of the whole number--remain without rep
resentation the seats of fifty members in
the House Of Representatives and Of TWEEN
ty members in the Senate are yet vacant
not by their own consent not by failure
o. election, but by the refusal of Congress
to accept their credentials Their admis-
sion it is believed, would have accomplish
ed much toward 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-
cipie 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 iU conSonance with the
express provisions of the Constitution that
leach State shall have at least one Repre-
sentatiyen and "that no State without its