Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-12-13

our onward career as = free, prosperous,
and united people.
RESTORATION OF TIE STATES SOUTH.
IN my message of the 4th of December,
1865, Congress was informed of the meas
ures which had been instituted by the
Executive with a view 10 the gradua!
restoration OF the States in which the in
surrection occurred, to their relations with
the General Government. Provisional
Governors had been appointed, conven-
! tions called, Governors elected, Legisa-
lures assembled, and Senators and Repre-
scntatives chosen 10 the Congress of the
United States, Courts had been opened
for tie enforcement of laws long in abey-
snce. The blockade 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 il the high func-
ton Of amending the Constitution, and of
thus sarctioning the extinction of African
slavery as one Of the legitimate results Of
our internecme struggle.
NvIAT 1uE EXECUTIVE ACCOMPLISHED.
Having progressed TINS far, the Exccu-
tive Department found that it had accom-
plished nearly al 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 Represen-
tatives from the States whose people had
rebelled against the lawful authority of the
General Government. This question de-
volved upon the respective Houses, which,
by the Constitution, are made the Judges
of the elections, returns, and qualifications
of their own members; and its considera-
tion at once engaging the attention of
Congress.
EFFORTS TO PERFECT RESTORATION.
In the meantime, the Executive De-
partment-no other plan having been pro-
posed by Congress-continued its efforts
to perfect, as far as was practicable, the
restoration of the proper relations between
the citizens of the respective States, the
States and the Federal Government, ex-
| tending, from time to time, as the public
interests seemed to require, the judicial,
revenue, and postal systems of the coun-
try With the advice and consent of the
Senate, the necessary officers were ap-
pointed, and appropriations made by
Congress for the payment of their salaries
The proposition to amend the Federal
Constitution, so as TO prevent the exis-
tence 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 Decenl-
Der, 1865, it was officially declared to
have become valid as part of the Con-
stitution of the United States All of the
States in which the insurrection had
existed promptly amended their Constitu-
tions so as to make them conform to the
great change thus effected in the organic
law of the land declared null and void
all ordinances and laws of secession
repudiated All pretended debts and obliga-
tons created for the revolutionary pur-
poses. of the insurrection and proceeded,
in good faith, TO the enactment of meas
ures for the protection and amelioraton
OF the condition of the colored race. Con-
grsss, however, yet hesitated to admit any