Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-12-13
Dolttltal.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

of Representatives, having assembled 10
their respective Chambers, were called to
order by their Presiding Officers
After prayer by the Chaplains, the Pri.
vate Secretary of the President made his
appearance and presented the Annual Mes.
sage of the President of the United States,
which was read as follows:
THE MESSAGE.
Fellow citizens Of the Senate
and House of Representatives :
After brief interval, the Congress OF
the United States resumes its annual legis.
lative labors. An al-wise and merciful
Providence has abated the pestileuce which
visited our shores, leaving its calamitous
traces upon some portions Of our country.
Peace, order, tranquility and civil author.
ity have been formally declared to exist
throughout the whole of the United States.
In all of the States, civil authority has su-
perseded the coercion of arms, and the
people, By their voluntary action, are main
tanning their Governments in full activity
and complete operation. The enforcement
of the laws is 10 logger "obstructed in any
State by combinations too powerful to be
suppressed by the ordinary course of judi
ciaI proceedings;" and the auimosities en-
gepdered by the war are rapidly yielding to
the beDefcent influences of our free iusti-
tutioDs, and to the kindly effects of uure.
stricted social and commercial Intercourse.
An entire restoration of fraternal feeling
must be the earnest wish of every patriotic
heart, and we will have accomplished our
grandest national achievement when, for
getting the sad events of the past, and re,
membering only their instructive lessons,
we resume our onward career as free, pros
porous and united people.
THE SUBJECT OF RESTORATION.
In my message of the 4th of December,
1865, Congress was informed of the meas
ures which had been instituted by the Ex-
ecutive, with view to the gradual restora.
ton of the States, in which the insurrec.
ton occurred, to their relations with the
General Government. Provisional Govern
ors had been appointed, Conventions called,
Governors elected, Legislatures assembled,
and Senators and Representatives chosen
to the Congress of the United States -
Courts had been opened for the enforcement
of laws long in allegiance. The blockade
had been removed, custom. houses re-estab-
lished, and the internal revenue laws put in
force, in order that the people might cou
tribute to the national income. Postal op.
erations had been renewed, and efforts we're
being made to restore them to their former
condition of efficiency. The States them
selves had been asked to take part in the
high function of amending the Constitution,
and of thus sapctioning the extinction of
African slavery as one of the Legitimate re-
suits of our internecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Execu
tive Department found that it had accom-.
plished nearly all that was within 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 admission to Congress of
loyal Senators and Representatives from the
States whose people had rebelled against
the lawful authority of the General Gov
ernment. This question devolved upon the
respective Houses, which, by the Constl.u-
ton, are made the judges of the elections,
returns and qualifications of their own mem
bers, and it's consideration at once engaged
the attention of Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive Depart
ment-no other plan having been proposed
by Congress-continued its efforts to perfect
as far as was practicable, the restoration of
the proper relations between the citizens of
the respective States, the States, and the
Federal Government, extending, from time
to time, as the public interests seemed to
require, the judicial, revenue, and postal
systems of the country. With the advice
and consent of the Senate, the necessary
officers we're appointed, and appropriations
made by Congress for the payment of their
salaries. The proposition to amend the
Federal Constitution, so as to prevent the
existence of slavery within the United
States or any places subject to their juris.
diction, was ratified by the requisite number
of States; and on the 18th day of Decem-
Der, 1865, it was officially declared to have
become valid as part of the Constitution
of the United States All of the States in
which the insurrection had existed, prompt
ly amended their Constitutions, so as to
make them conform to the great change thus
affected in the organic law of the land ; de-
clared null and void all ordinances and laws
of secession repudiated all pretended debts
and obligations created for the revolutionary
purposes of the insurrection; and proceeded
in good faith, in the enactment of measures
for the protection aud amelioratiou of the
condition of the colored race. Congress
however, yet hesitated to admit any of these
States to representation ; and it twas not un
til towards the close of the eighth month
of the session that an exception was made
in favor of Tennessee, by the admission O
her Senators and Representatives.
I deem it subject of profound regret tha
Congress has thus far failed to admit to seat
loyal Senators and Representatives from th'
other States, whose inhabitants, with those
&c Tennessee had engaged in the rebellion