The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-12-12
THE PR Es1DENT,s MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Felloc Citizens Of the Senate and Hous
Of Representatives
After brief interval, the congress 9
the United States returns to its annual leg
islative labors. An all-wise and mercifu
Providence has abated the pestilence whic
visited our shores, leaving its calamitou
traces upon some portions of our country
Peace, order, tranquility and civil author
ity have been formally declared to exis
throughout the whole Of the United States
In all the states civil authority has super
seeded the coercion of arms, and the peopl
by their voluntary action are maintaining
their governments in full activity and com
plete operation. The enforcement of tn,
laws is no longer obstructed in any stat'
by combinations too powerful to be sup
pressed by the ordinary course of judicia
proceedings, and the animosities engender
ed by the war are rapidly yielding to thu
beneficial influences Of our free institution.
and to the kindly offers of unrestricted so
cial and commercial intercourse. An en-
tire restoration of fraternal feeling mus
be the earnest wish of every patriot,
heart; and we shall have accomplished
our grandest national achievement, when
forgetting the sad events of the past, and
remembering only their instructive lessons
we resume our onward course as q 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 ex-
ecutive, with view to the gradual resto
ration of the states, in which the insurrec-
ton occurred, to their relations with the
general government. Provisional govern.
ors had been appointed, conventions call.
ed, governors elected, legislatures assem-.
bled, and senator's and representatives
chosen to the congress of the United States.
Courts had been opened for the enforce
ment of laws long in allegiance. The
had been removed, custom-hous-
es 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 and efficiency. The
states themselves had been asked to take
and of thus sanctioning the
extinction Of African slavery as one Of the
legitimate results of our internecine strug-
gle. Having progressed thus far, the ex-
ecutive department found that it had ac-
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 represen-
tatives from the states whose people had
against the lawful authority of
the general government. This question
devolvcd upon the respective houses,
which by the constitution are made the
judges of the election, returns and qualifi-
cations of their own members and its
at once engaged the attcn-
ton of congress.
In the meantime, the executive depart
mcnt, no other plan having been proposed
by congress, continued in its efforts to per-
feet, as far as was practicable, the rcstora-
ton Of the proper relations between the
and the federal sovernrnsS nsstes, ass the states
from time to time, as the public interest
seemed to require, the judicial, revenue
and postal systems of the country. With
tho advice and consent of the senate, the
necessary effects were appointed, and ap-
made by congress for the pay
ment Of their salaries.
The proposition to amend the federal
so as to prevent the existence
of slavery within the United States, in any
place subject to their jurisdiction, was rat
ified by the requisite number of states, and
on the 18th day of December, 1865, it was
officially declared to have become valid a.
q part of the constitution of the United
States. All the states in which the insur
rection had existed promptly amended
their constitutions so Us to make them con
form to the great change thus effected il
the organic law of the land-declared nul
and void all ordinances and laws Of secess
ion-repudiated all pretended debts and
obligations created for the revolutionary
purposes of the insurrection, and proceed
cd in good faith to the enactment of meas
ures for the protection and amelioration o
the colored race. Congress yet hesitate'
to admit any Of these states to representa-
ton, and it was not until towards the clos
Of the eighth month of the session that Al
exception was made in favor of Tennessee
by the admission Of her senators and reI
resentatives.
deem it a subject of profound regre
that congress has thus far failed to admi
to seats loyal senators and representative
from the other states, whose inhabitantl
with those of Tennessee, had engaged il
the rebellion. Ten states, more than ont
fourth of the whole number, remain with
out representation. The seats of SO men
bers in the house of representatives, an
of 20 members in the senate, are vet VI
cant, not by their own consent, but by tn
refusal of congress to accept their creder
tials. Their admission, it is believed
would have accomplished much toward
the renewal and strengthening of our rel'
tions as one people, and removed seriOu
cause for discomfort on the part Of the il
habitants of those states.
1t would have accorded with the gre,
principle enunciated in the declaration
American independence, that no peop
ought to bear the burden of taxation, ar
yet be denied the right of representation
| It would have been in consonance with Il
express provisions of the constitution, tn
each state shall have at least one represe
tative, and that no state without its CO.
sent shall be deprived Of its equal sufra,
in the senate. These provisions were i
tended to secure to every state, and to Il
people of every state, the right of repr
sentation in each house of congress; al
SO important was it deemed by the frame
of the constitution, that the equality of Il
states in the senate should be preserve
that, not even by an amendment Of d
constitution, can any state, without
consent, be- denied a voice in that bran
of the national legislature.
1t is true, it has been assumed that I
existence of the states was terminated
the rebellious acts of their inhabitants, al
that the insurrection having been suppreI
ed, they were thenceforward to be consi
cred merely as conquered territories.
The legislative, executive and judic
departments Of the government have, no
ever, with great distinctness, and unifol