The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-12-07
The Presidents Message.
,N0W- eiIixens d lhe Senate
and House Of Represel

legislative labors. An all-wise anC
merciful Providence has abated thepes
thence wiehh visited our shores, leaving
it's calamitous traces upon ONE por
tlons of country. Peace, order, tran.
guilty, and civil authority have beer
formally declared to exist throughout
the whole Of tho United States. In all
Of the States civil authority has super
seeded 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 longer
Constructed in any State by combina-
tions too powerful to be suppressed by
tho ordinary course of judicial pro
ceedings;" and the animosities cngen-
dered by the war-are rapidly yielding
to the beniicent 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; and we
will have accomplished u grandest
national achievement when, forgetting
the sad events ofthe past, and remem-
bering only their instructive lessons,
we resume our onward career asa free,
prosperous, and united people.
In my message of the 4th of Decom.
Der, 1865, Congress- was informed of
the measures which had been instituted
by the Executive with a view to the
gradual restoration Of the States in
which the insurrection occurred to
their relations with the General Gov
eminent Provisional Governors had
been appointed, Conventions called,
Governors1e elected, Legislatures assem-
bled, and Senator'S and Representatives
chosen to the Congress of tho United
States. Courts had been opened for
the enforcement Of laws long in abey-
ance. 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 opera.
tons had been renewed, and efforts
were being made to restore them to
their former condition of efficiency.
The States themselves had been asked
70 take part in the high function Of
amending the Constitution, and of thus
sahctioning the extinction Of African
slavery q one of the Legitimate results
Of our internecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Ex-
ecutive Department found hat it had
accomplished nearly all that was with
in the scope of its constitutional au-
thority. One thing, however, yet re-
NAMED 10 b edone before the work Of
restoration could be completed, and
that was the admission to Congress of
loyal Senators and Representatives
from the States whose people had re-
belled against the lawful authority of
the General Government This ques-
ton devolved upon the respective
Houses, which by the Constitution, are
made the judges Of election, returns
and qualifications of their own mem
bers; and its consideration at once
engaged the attention of Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive Do
partment-no other plan having been
proposed by Congress-continued its
efforts 70 perfect, as far as was practi-
cable, the restoration of the proper re-
lations between the citizens of the re
spective States, the States, and the
Federal Government, extending, from
time to time, as the public interest
seemed to require, the judicial, revenue
and postal systems of the country.
With the advice and consent of the
Senate, the necessary officers were APP
pointed, and appropriations mado by
Congress for the payment of their
salaries. The proposition 10 amend the
the Federal Constitution, so as 10 pre-
vent the existence Ofslavery within the
United States or @aRy place subject to
their Jurisdiction, was ratified by the
requisite number Of States; and on the
18th day Of December, 1865, it was of,
iclally declared to have become valid
as a part of the Constitution of the
United States. All Of the States in
which the instruction had existed
promptly amended~their Constitutions
90 as to make them conform 10 thu
great change thus effected in the or.
ganic law OF the land; declared null
and void all ordinances and laws o
secession; repudiated all pretended
debts and obligations created for the
revolutionary purposes of the insur
r%ection; and proceeded, in good faith
70 the enactment of measures for tn,
2 protection and amelioration of the con
dition Of tho eolored race. ~ Congress
however, yet hesitated to admit any 0
these States TO representation; and i
was not until towards the close of tn,
close of the eighth month Of the session
that an exception was mada in favor 0
Tennessee, BY the admission Of he
Senators and Representatives.
I deem it a subject Of" profound re
greet that Congress has thus far failet
TO admit to seats loyal Senators an,
Representatives from the otner States