Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-12-07
NJ IL 5 : AG II
rHH
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TO THIS
TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS
At rms COMMENCEMENT
OF THE SECOND SESSION.

merehl ptoyd,nco has abated the pesulence which Wis
tied teyh its calamitous traces up some
portions Of our country Peace order tranquility and
civil authority have been formally declared 70 exist
Throughout the whole Of the Uutd States In all Of
the States civil authority has superseded the coercion Of
arms and The people by ihe volut aty action are main
tsiurg their governments IN full activity and complete
operation. The enforcement Of the laws $40 longer
obsfucted in any state by combinations too powerful
TO be suppressed by u Ordinary coure Of Judicial pro-
ceedirgs 70 and he nnmositits endefCd by the war
ate Ystidv Welding 10 the beuthoent influences Il ou-
free n,tu1ous and 10 the XII dy effects Of unrestricted
social ard commscid intercourse An entire festora-
ton OF frAta fc, must be the earnest wish Of ey-
cry patriotic heaui and will have ac'omt sitd our
Rrsndest national achwment when, org tung the sad
events Of the past aud ttmembefns only her mstrno-
tive lessons, we resume our onward career as free,
NV lr,ss.ee III. 4ih DECEMBER. 1866 Congress
was informed the ufes which had been Instituted
by the Executive with view OF The GRADUAL restoration
Of the States in when the instruction occurred 10 their
relations With the General Government Provisional
Governors had been appointed Conventions called 5ov
ernois elected Legislatures assembled, ard Senators and
Represtntaves cht to the Congress Of the United
STATES Courts had been opentd foi the a. tfcement OF
laws long In allegiance The blockad, had been removed
custom houses tetsabshtd' aud the internal revenue
laws put force. In order that The people might contrib
to the 1aot al ncome Postal operations had been
renewed ard efforts were being made 10 restore mem to
their former condition Of efficiency. The STATES them.
selves had teen asked to take part in The high function
Of amending he Constitution and Ct hus s1ncioning
the txIcun OF African slavery one Of the le. tmate
results Of our inteiuecine struggle
Having progressed thus far, the Executive Depart
within the scope Of its COZ uiuuona authority one
thing however yet tcmain 10 be done before the work
ofresoraiion could be completed, and that was TIE ad
mission TO Congrtss u loyal Senaors and Representa-
ti,es from the ates wh peol had rtbeled agai
the lawful authority 81 the General Government This
question devoytd upon the respective Houses, which,
by the co. sututun are made judges OF the ltcons
returns, and QUALIFICATIONS e their own membtfsi and
its consideran ~ once engaged the attention OF Cen
gfess.
In The meantime the Executive Deparimeut-uo 9TH
plan ha,I been proposed by Congress-eontnutdi its
efforts 10 perfect far pratcable the Testota
ton Of he lioptr relations between the citizens Of the
respective STATES, the tates a. the FEDERAL Govern
ment, extendne from time to time, as the public inter
ests seemed TO require the luuia revenue and postal
systems of the country With the advice and consent Of
the Senate the Necessary officers appointed, and
Appropriations made by Congress for the pay men, OF
their salaries. The proposition 10 amend the Federal
Constitution, so as 10 prevent the existence OF slavery in
the United States or any place tufjeot to their jusdo
ton ratified 10y the requisite number 4 SRtes and
the 18Th day Of December, 1865, It officially de-
clared have become valid part Of the Constitution
OF the United States All Of the States in which she iu
had existed promptly amended their Con IL
tuons. 10 make them conform to the great enange
thus effe ted in the rganc law of the land declared
null and void ali Tdnanoes and laws OF secession fepu.
dated all pretended debts and obligations the
reyol utonary Of the instruction aud
ed in good faith 10 the enactment of measures for the
protection and ameoaton Of the dtiOn Of the col
oTed Congrgss, however, yet hestated admit
any Of these states to representation and
til tosArd the close OF the ghth month Of the
that an exception was made in favor OF Tennessee by
the admission II her senators and Representatives.
deem It subject Of profound rgret that Congress
has far failed TO admit seats loyal Senators and
Reptesenta from the other states whose uhabtAnts
with those Of Tennessee, had engaged In the rebellion
Ten etAes--moe than one fourth Of the whole number
remain without representation the seats fifty mem
bers in the House Of Representatives and Of twenty
members in the Senate ave wet vsoAnt-not by their
own consent, NOT by ne failure Of election but by the
refusal OF Congess to accept their credentials Their
admission IL is believed, I'D have hed much
towards the renewal and stier ghenng of our relations
as one people and removed serious for discomfort
the part Of the Inhabitants OF those States 1t would
have accorded with the great principle oiated 10 the
Of American Independence that no people
ought bear the burden Of taxation and yet he denied
he right Of representation would have been in con
onsnce with the express provisions of The Constitution
hat each state snail have at least kepfe
md that State, without its consent shal be depriv
d Of its equal suffrage in the senaie hese provsi ms
intended TO to every state the night OF rem
esentaton in each House Of Congress; and so impor-
ant it deemed by the trainers Of the Constitution
hat the equality Of The States in the Senate should be
that rot even by amendmfn OF the Con-
siitution any ate without its be denied
voice in that bran, Of the tonal Legislature.
II Is tue, uhas been ASSUMED that the existence Of
the States ,enin ,d by the rebtuus acts Of their
Inhabitants, and that the instruction having been snp-
pressed, thty were ihenceforwsId to he considered
merely as conquered territories, The legislative, Ex
ecuiive. and judicial Departments OF the Governmt
Rave. however with great disnctness uniform con
sistency, refused to sanction assumption ineom-
paiaole with the nature Of our republican system, and
with the ptnessed ob ecs Of the Throughout the
recent legislation Of Congress the undenieble aetmakes
itse apparent that these ten political communities
nothing less than states of this Union. Al the very
cnmmtncement Of the rebellion, each House declared
with unanimity as remarkable as II was significant
that the not "waged upon our part, in any
spirit Of oppression for any purpose Of conquest
subiuRaon nor purf ose Of overhrowne or
with the rights established institutions those states
but TO defend and anaia the supremacy Of the Con
stituton and all laws made in thereof and to
preserve the Union with all the dignity, equality, and
rights Of the several states unimpsired and that
as these ottc "aceomplithtd the war
ought 10 CEASE In some instances Senators per
mnttd TO continue their legislative functions, while in
other instances Representatives were elected and admit
ted to SEATS ats their States had formally declared
right 10 withdraw the Union and ere endea, oring
to maintain that right by force of All of the states
whose people il Instruction States were in.
cuded in the tionment Of the direct Of twenty
millions Of dollars annually laid the United States
by the act approved 9TH August 1861 Congress- by the
act of March A. 1862 and by the appoTtionmen of
sentson hereunder, also recognized their pTesei
States in the Union and they hA'eor Judicial purposes
been divided into Districts states alone be divided
The same rtcogt ion appears in the recent egs aior
in reference TO Tennessee which evidently upon tn,
fact that the functions Of the State destroy by
the rebellion, but merely suspended and that pneipl,
Ia Of course applicable 10 those States which, Ike Ten
nestee, attempted 70 Ienounee their places in the U1on
The action Of the Executive Department OF the Gov
eminent upon THIS subject has been equally definite
uniform, and the purpose Of the war specifically
stated IN the Proclamation issued by my predecessor
the I'D day Of September 1862 1t then solemn,
proclaimed and declared that thereafter heretofore
the war will tie prosecuted for the object Of practicable
restoring the constitutional relation between the Unite
States ard each Of the States and the people thereof II
which State that relation is or may be suspended dis
tuIbed"
The recognition Of the States by the Jud ciA Depart
msnt Of the Government has also been clear and
elusive in all proceedings ah cling them States
in the Supreme, Circuit and District Courts.
In the admission Of Senators and Representative
from any and all Of The States, there can be no JUS
ground Of apprehension that persois who disoys
will be clothed with powers Of legislation for this oou
net HAPPEN when the constitution and the laws are en-
forced by yigilant and faithful Congress. Each Hous
is made the Judge Of the elt otons returns and quA
cations Of its mbeIs, and may, with the con
curfence Of two-lhiIds expel member" When
Senator or kepnsentatiye presents his certificate 0
election, he may at be admitted rejected; or
should there be any question TO his eligibility, hi
credentials may be referred for nyestgA ton 20 the ap
propriae commute. II adIaitied seat IL must b
upon evidence satisfactory to the House Of which b
thus becomes mheI that he possesses the Itqust
constitutional and gal qualifications IL refused I'd
mission mtmber for want u due allegiance 10 tn
Government, al returned to his constituents they ar
admonished that none but persons loyal to the Unite
States will be allowed voice in the Legislative Council,
ofthe Nation, and the political power and moral infu
enee Of Congress thus effectively excited in the in
tertss OF 10y atty TO the Government and fidelity 70 tn
Union Upon this question, vitality affecting the res
toIauon OF the Union and the perm antncl Of pre-,
ent fcIm Of goyunmert my convictions heretofore ex
presstd. have unaefgcne no change, but on the ~
trATy iheif has been confirmed by rtAtc,o
and time,
1.-THE adm sion Of 10y al seats In the rospe,
tive Houses Of Congress wise and txpedIeut yea
ago, IL Is no Less wise and expedielt now II hi
diuon OF these States The present time it is lawful
exclude them nom IresentAuonl do not see thai III
question will be changed by the IN x Of time. 1hre
yesIs hence, II thtse states ain they are the igt
Of representation viii be stronge-the right fexclu
sion will DO no weaker