Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1866-12-13
Presidents Message.
Fellow Citizens of The Senate


FeIlo,o Citizens of The Senate
and House Of Representatives.:
After brief interval the Congress OIL
the United States resumes its annual leg
islative labors An al-wise and .merciful
Providence has a5ated the pestilence which
visited our shores, leaving its calamitous
traces upon some portions of our coun-
try. Peace, order, al.quility and civi
authority have been formerly declared tc
exist throughout the whole of the United
States. La all the States civil authority
has superseded the coercion of arms, ano
the people. by their voluntary action, are
maintaining their governments in full ac-
tivity and complete operation The en-
forcement of the laws is no longer ''obstruc-
ted in any State by combinations too. pow,
erful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings; and the
.animosities engendered by the war are rap
idly yielding to the benedcent influence OF
our free institutions, and to the kindly eff
fects of unrestricted social and commercial
intercourse. An entire restoration of fra
ternal feeling must be the earnest wish Of
every patriotic heart: and we will accom-
plish our grandest national achievement
when, forgetting the sad events of the past
and remembering only their instructive
lessons. we resume our onward career as a
free people
Reconstruction.
In my Message of the 18th Of December
1865, Congress was informed of the meas
ures which had been instituted by the Ex-
ecutive with view to the gislual resto-
ration in the States in which the insurrec-
ton occurred to their relations with the
General Government Provisional Gov
errors had been appointed, Conventions
called, Governors elected, Legislatures
assembled, and Senators and Representa-
tives chosen to the Congress of the United
States. Courts had been opened for the
enforcement Of the laws long in allegiance
The blockade had been removed, custom
houses re-established, and the internal rev.
enue laws put in force, in order that the
people might contribute to the national in
come Postal operations had been renew
ed, and efforts were being made to restore
them to their former condition and efficien-
cy. The States themselves had been ask
ed to take part in the high function of a
mending the Constitution, and Of thus
sanctioning the extinction Of African sla-
very as one of the Legitimate results of our
internecinc struggle
Having progressed thus far, the Exec
utive Department found that it had accom-
plished nearly all that was within the scope
Gifts Constitutional authority One thing
however, yet remained to lie done before
the work of restoration could be compile
ted, and that was the admission to Con-
gress OF loyal Senators and Representa-
tives from the States whose people had re-
belled against the lawful authority of the
General Government. This question de-
VOWED upon the respective Houses, which
by the Constitution, are made the Judges
of elections, returns, and qualifications OF
their own members; and its consideration
at once engaged the attention of Congress.
Executive Efforts.
In the meantime, the Executive Depart
ment-no other plan having been proposed
| by Congress -continued It's efforts to per
feet, as far as was practicable, the resto-
ration 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 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 appointed, and APP
priations made by Congress for the pay
ment of their salaries The proposition to
amend the Federal Constitution so as to
prevent the existence of slavery within the
United States or any place subject to their
jurisdiction. was ratified by the requisite
number of States; and on the 18th day of
December, 1865, it was officially declared
to have become valid as part Of the Con-
stitution of the United States. All of the
States i'll which the instruction had existed
promptly amended their constitutions, so as
to make them conform to the great change
thus effected in the organic law Of the land
declared null and void all ordinances and
laws of secession repudiated all pretended
debts and obligations created for the revo-
lutionary purposes of the instruction and
proceeded, in good faith, to the enactment
of measures for the protection and ameli-
Grafton Of the condition of the colored race
Congress, however, yet hesitated to admit
any of these States to representation and
it was not until towards the close of The
eighth month of the session thatan excep
ton was made in favor of Tennessee, by
the admission Of her Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes.
Importance OF Admission Of Southern
Representatives
| deem it subject of profound regre
that Congress has thus far failed to admit
to seats loyal Senators and Representative
from other States. whose inhabitants, will
those of Tennessee, had engaged in th'
rebellion. Ten States-more than one
fourth of the whole number-remain with
out representation; the seats of fifty mem
bers in the House Of Representatives ant
of twenty members in the Senate are We