The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-12-08
M E s s A G. Il
OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES
TO THE
Two Houses Of Congress at the Com
mopoement Of the Second Session.
M E s S A G T.
Fcllow- Citizens of tie Senate
aud House of Representatives

""" 1Ao"se " ItcPfc6eNtdtLtcS.
After brief interval tho Congress-
of the United States resumes its an
nual legislative labors. An all-wisc
and mcrcifuf Providence has abated
the pestileuce which visited our shores
leaving the calamitous traces upon
some portions of our country. Peace,
order, tranquility, and civil authority
have been formally declared to exist
throughout the whole United States.
In allof the States civil authority has
superseded the coercion of arms, and
the people, 10y their voluntary action,
are maintaing their governments in full
activity and complete operation.-
The enforcement of the laws is no
longet Constructed in any State by
combinations too powerful to be sup
pressed by the ordinary course of Judi
cial proceedings - and the animosi-
ties engendcred by the war arc rapid
ly yielding to the benc6cent influences
of our FREQ institutions, and to the
kindly effects Of unrestricted social
and commercial intercourse. An en-
tire RESTORATION of fraternal foeline
must be the earnest wish of every pa
triotic heart and we will have ac-
complished our grandest national
achievement when, forgetting the sad
events of the past, and remembering
only their instructive lessons, we re-
sumo our onward career as a free,
: prosperous, and united people.
In my message of the 4th Dccem-
Der. 1865, Congress was informed of
the measures which had been institut-
cd by the Executive with view to the
gradual restoration of the States in
which the insurrsction occurred to
their relations with the General Gov
ernment. Provisional Governors had
been appointed, Conventions called,
Governors elected, Legislatures as
semblcd, and Representative chosen
to the Congress of the United States,
Courts had been opened for the en-
forccmcnt of laws long in allegiance.
The blockade had been removed, Gus
ton-houses re-ostablished, and the in.
ternal revenue laws put in force, in
order that the people might contrib
ute TO the national income. Postal
operations had been renewed, and cig
forts were being made to restore them
to their former condition of efficiency.
The States themselves had been
asked to take part in the high func-
tion of amending the Constitution,
and thus sanctioning the extinction of
African slavery as one of the legiti-
mate results of our internecinc strug-
gle.
Having progressed thus far, tho
Executive Department found that it
had accomplished 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 he completed, and
that was the admission to Congress of
loyal Senator'S and Representatives
from the States whose people had re-
belled against lawful authority of the
General Government. This question
devolved upon the respective Houses,
which, by tho Constitution, are made
thcjaages of the elections, returns,
and qualifications of their own mem
bcrs' !. and its consideration at once
the attention of Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive
Department--no other plan having
been proposed by Congress-contin-
ned its efforts to perfect, as far as was
practicable, the restoration of the pro-
per relations between the citizens of
the respective States, the States, and
the Federal Government, extending,
from time to time, as tue public inter
ests seemed to require, the judicial,
rovel., ,, and postal systems of the
country. With the advice and con
sent of the Senate, the necessary Off
ee,s were appointed, and appropria-
tions made by Congress for the pay.
mcnt of their salaries. The PROPOSE