The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-12-07
The Presidents Message.

The second session of the present rump
Congress met at Washington last Monday
and at | O'Clock the President sent in his
Annual Message. 1t is very lengthy
document, but We give below correct syn
opsis OF its imp ortant points on the subject
of Restoration, Mexican Affairs, Foreign
Relations, &c. The message opens as usual
} with thanks to Providence for peace and
prosperity, in the abatement of the pesti-
lence, and the restoration of civil authority
throughout the United States:
RESTORATION.
A review is then to be had Of the facts
set forth in the last message, relative to the
, measures which the executive had taken
for the gradual restoration of the Southern
States to the Union, such as appointing
provisional governors, etc. Only one thing
done, and that was the admission of loyal
representatives to Congress. This question
was devolved solely upon Congress. In
the meantime, the President says, no other
plan having been proposed, he continued
his etOr S to perfect restoration throughout
the judicial, revenue and postal system of
the country. The South had also ratified
the amendment abolishing slavery, conform
: ed their social laws to the fact, repudiated
the rebel debt, and proceeded, in good faith,
to legislatc for the amelioration of the col
ored race. The President then speaks as
follows: Congress-, however, yet hest
tated to admit any of these States to repre-
sentation, and it was not until the close of
the eighth month of the session that an ac-
ception was made in favor of Tennessee
| Il cub, 6 IL,
Congress has thus far failed to admit to
seats loyal Senators and Representatives
from the other States, where the inhabi-
tants, with those of Tennessee, had engaged
in the rebellion. Ten States-more than
one fourth Of the whole number-remain
without representation The seats of fifty
members of the House, and twenty of them
Senate, are yet vacant; not by their own
consent; not by a failure of election, but by
the refusal of Congress to accept their
credentials. Their admission, it is believed,
would have accomplished much toward the
renewal and strengthening of our relations
as one people, and removed serious cause
for dlscentent on the part of the people of
those States. 1t would have accorded with
the great principles enunciated in the Dec
laraticn Of American Independence, that
no people ought to bear the burden of taxa
ton and yet be denied the right of repre-
E scntation. 1t would have been in conso-
nance with the express provisions of the
constitution, that each state shall have at
, least one representative, and that no state
, without Its consent, shall be deprived of
equal suffrage in the Senate. These pro
visions were intended TO secure to every
state the right of representation in Con-
gress, and SO important was it deemed by
the trainers Of the constitution that the
equality of the states shall be preserved in
{ the Senate, that not even by any amend
ment Oft constitution can any state, with
out Its consent, be denied voice in that
branch of national legislation. It has been
assumed that these states, by rebellion, be-
came territories; but all departments of the
government, with great distinctness, refused
with the nature of our republican system,
and the professed objects of the war
Throughout the recent legislation of Con-
gress, the undenlabe fact makes itself ap-
parent that these ten political communities
: are nothing less than states"
The President then quotes the Critten-
den resolution of 1861 on the objects Of the
war, and reviews the legislation of congress,
wherein the states are recognized; and also
in Mr.. Lincoln proclamation. He then
proceeds again, as follows: ''In the ad
mission of senators and representatives from
all Of the states, there can be no just grounds
of apprehension that persons who are dis
loyal will be clothed with the powers of leg
islation; for this could not happen when
the constitution and the laws are enforced
by vigilant and faithful congress. Each
S house is the judge Of its own members. a
senator or member may be admitted or re-
, jected, or his credentials referred to pro-
per committee. 1t admitted to seat, it
must be on evidence, satisfactory, that he
| possesses the requisite loyal and constitu-
tional qualifications. If refused admission,
and sent to his constituents for want of due
allegiance, they are admonished that none
t but persons loyal to the United States will
S be allowed in the councils of the nation, and
the political power and moral influence OF
Congress are thus effectively exerted in the
interests of loyalty to the Government, and
e fidelity to the Union. Upon this question
r SO vitally affecting the restoration of the
Union, AVID the permanence of our form OF
government, my convictions heretofore ex
pressed have undergone no change, but, or
the contrary, their correctness has been
confirmed by reflection and time. If the
: admission of loyal members to seats in Con
: gress was wise and expedient year ago. il
is no less wise and expedient now. II this
anamlous condition is right now-if- in the
e exact condition of these states at the pres
: ent time, it is lawful to exclude them from
. representation-I do not see that the ques.
ton will be changed by the effect of time
Ten years hence, if these states remain as
S they are, the right of representation will be
j no stronger, and the right of exclusion will
be no weaker. The constitution makes i,
the duty of the President to recommend to
the consideration of Congress, such
measures as he shall deem expedient.
5 know of no measure more imparatively de
!, manded by every confederation of nationa
i interest, sound policy and equal Justice
o than the admission Of loyal members from
the unrepresented states. It would con
> summate restoration, renew vigor and sta
: bility, allay doubt, induce emigration, anc
open new fields of enterprise.
The President concludes on restoration bj
, repeating the warnings of others against
consolidated despotism, and does not make
the slightest reference to the pending con
stitutional amendment, nor to the rhuct
t talked of amnesty and suffrage questions
, All he says of reconstruction l have giver
. verbatim
MEXICAN AFFAIRS.
The President speaks as follows on Mexi
aft ttIn ho or v~;1