Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1866-12-13
.# nsAa aE@ 1.-THE 9iuaH .*fH aaloa
WESTERN SENTINEL
49, 1s,PUBLlsHED EVERY THURSDAY At. 9d1
!. S2 OOPER AN NU M.
PRESIDENT, MESSAGE
Fszzoao Citizens of the Senate 81 n.
~ rs aud House of REPRESENTATIVES =

.r -
the United States resumes its annual leg
islative labors. An all-wise and nercitul,
Providence has abated the pestilence
which visited our shores, leaving its ca
lamitous traces upoffe ee,rne portions OF our
conntry. Peace, order, tranquility, and
c;vn authority have been, formally, de
clared to exist throughout the whole Of
the United States. In all Of the States
civil authority has superseded the coercon
of arms, anc the people, by their volunta-
rrv action, are maintaining their govern
nents in fnll activity and complete opera
tion. The enforcement of the laws is no lon
Ger "obtsructed in any State by combina-
tions too powerful to be suppressed by the
ordinary course Of judicial proceedings ;
and the animosities engendered by the
war are rapidly yielding to the beneficent
influences OF our tree ms itntions, 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 onr grand
est national achievement when forgetting
the sad events of the past, and remembers
! inc only their Instructive lessons, we re.
sumo our onward career as free, prosper
Gus, end united people. 4.f..,ti qK ee
In my message OF the 4th of, December
1865, Congress was. informed or the
measures which hac been instituted by
the Executive with a view to the gradual
restoration OF the States in which the in
snrrecton occurred to their relation with
the General Governrment.. Provisional
| Governors had been appointed, Conven-
/ tons called, Governors selected, Legisla-
! lures assembled, and Senators and Repre-
Il Of hn
/ United States. Courts have been opened
for the enforcement Of laws long in abey
ance. The blockade had been removed,
cnstom>houses re established, and the in;
ternal 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 tAeir former con-
dition Of efficiency. The States them-
selves had been asked to take part in the
high fuction of amending the Constitution,
and of thus sanctioning the extinction OF
African slavery. as one of the legitimate
/ RESULTS Of our internecine struggle. ,f: -,-j {
Having progressed thus far, the Eyccn,
tive Teparrment found that it had accom-
aplished nearly all that was within the
scope Of it's constitutional authority, One
thing, however, yet remained TO be done
before the work of restoration could be
sfcn,npeted, and that was the aam ;ssion to
Co oigress of loyal Senators and Repfesenf
tatives from the States, whose people had
rebelled against the, lawful authority OF the
lGeneral !. Government This, Question
devolved upon the respective Houses,
(which, by the Constitution, are anade the
ajldges of the elections, returns, and ,lts
consid Grafton at once, engaged the ,tatten7
III tie, meantime, Executive Department.
1-no other plan having been proposed BY
Gong gress-continucd its efforts 70 perfect,
aasfar as W was prac,icable,. the restoration
Of the proper relations between the citi-
zens of the res -espectiye States, the. States,
lahd the Federal Government, extending, ~ &,
from time 10 time, as the pppbllic Interests
seemed to require, the JUDICIAL Il. .lrey revenue,
1ahd postal systems Of the copntry.,i WITH
: tie advice and consent Of the Senate, the
). lnecessary officers were appointed and ap-
. lsppfopriati;ons made BY Congress for the
lpayment of ftheir salaries. The. proposition 10
!. to: amend, the Federal Cons sttpftlon, IS, as
), prevent the existence Of slavery Wlthdlp y i Hldb
ID tas United States or any place ssnlbls1ccta to
'heir. Jurisdiction, was ratlfled by the re-
lqais:te nuamber. Of States and On the lStll
laay Of December, 1865, il was -!otHclally y
loeclsred to have become valid as a par,
Q! tue Constitution Of the United States