The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1866-12-05
PRISTDIlIT'S NESSAGI.
Reported Expressly for Clarion.
7ello,o Citizens Of the Senate
aRa Horse Of Renr

Fell0v Citizens Of the Senate
and Rouse Of Representatives
After a brief interval the Congress
of the United States resumes its annua
legislative labOrs An All wise an(
Merciful Providence has abated tn
pestilence which visited our shores
leaving its calamitous traces upon
some portions of our country. Peace
tranquility and civil authority have
been formally declared to exist
! throughout the whole of the United
States. In all of the States civil au
thority has superseded the coercion
of arms and the people, by their volun-
tary action, are moulding their govern
ments in full civility and complete op-
Grafton. The enforcement of the laws
is no longer obstructed in any State
by combinations too powerful to be
| suppressed by the ordinary course OF
Judicial proceedings, and the animosi-
ties engendered by the war are rapid
| ly yielding to the benificent influences
OF our fee institutions and to the
kindly effects of unrestricted social
and commercial intercourse An en-
tire restoration of fraternal feeling
must be the earnest wish of every pa
triotic heart, and we will have accom-
plished our greatest national achieve
ment, when, fo getting the sad events
Ol the past, and remembering only
their instructive lessons, we pursue
our onward career as a free, prospe-
rous and united people. In the mes
sage Of the 4th of December, 1865.
Congress was informed of the
measures which had been institu-
ted by the executive with a view
to the gradual restoration of the
States in which the insurrection oc-
Cured, to their relations with the gen
eral government. Provisional Cover
nor's had been appointed, conventions
called, governors elected, legislatures
assembled and senators and represen-
tives chosen to the Congress of the
United States; Courts had been open
ed for the enforcement of the laws
long held in abeyance; 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 nation
al income; postal operations had been
resumed and efforts were being made
to restore them to their former condi-
ton of efficiency. The States them
selves had been asked to take part in
the high functions of attending the
convention and of thus sanctiOning
the extinction of African slavery as
one of the legitimate results of our
internecine struggle and they have
progressed thus far. The executive de /
partment found that it had accom- /
plished nearly all that was in 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 .
to Congress of loyal Sena-
tors and representative from the .
States whose people had rebelled .
against the lawful authority of the
general government.
This question devolved upon the re-
,pective Houses, which, by the Con
are made the judge of cleo
ion returns and qualifications of their
own members, and its consideration
1t once engaged the attention of Con
yress. III the meantime, the Execu- I,
i've Department, no other plan having
)een adopted by Congress, continued
is efforts to perfect, as far as practi-
able, the restoration of the proper re
atiOns between the citizens of the re-
'pective States to the Federal Govern
understanding from time to time, +
IS the public interests seemed to re-
Iuire, the Judicial, Revenue and postal
ystem of the country. With the adj
ice and consent of the Senate, the
officers were appointed and ,
made by Congress for
be payment of their salaries.
The proposition to amend the fed
raj Constitution SO as to prevent the
Xistence Of slavery within the United I
'tates, or in any place subject to their ,
was ratified by the requi- .
ite number of States and on the eigh- /
eenth day Of December 1865, it was
hicially declared to have become valid |
S a part of the Constitution of the :
'nited States. All the States in which c
he instruction had existed had most C
' amended their Constitution so rs to :
lake them conform to the great +
hange thus effected in the organic o
Nv of the land declared null and void +
II ordinances and laws of secession, I
epudiated all pretended debts and OBJ |
cations created for the revolutionary d
urposes of the insurrection and pro I
eeded in good faith to the enactment !,
f measures for the protection and c
melioration of the condition Of the il
olored races. Congress however, hes /
ated to admit any of these States to .
presentation and it was not until to il
ards the close of the eighth month h
f the session that an exception was t
lade in favor of Tennessee by the .
omission Of her Senators and Rep G
esentatives. | deem it subject of t
rofound regret that Congress has p
lus far failed to admit to seats loyal 0
enators and Representatives from il
ther States whose inhabitants with e