The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-12-07
Allo,s Citizens Of Ae Sendte and House of
Representatives.


the United States resumes its legislative
labOrs. An all-wise aud merciful Provi-
dence has abated the pestilence 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 tho whole of the United States.
In all of the States civil authority has su.
persceded the coercion of arms, and the
people, by their voluntary action, are
maintaining their governments In full ac-
tivity and complete operation. The en-.
BrCement Of the laws Is no longer "ob-
Rsiucted in any State by combinations too
powerful TO be suppressed by the ordinary
course OF judicial proceedings" and the
animosities engendered by tie war are
rapidly yielding to the Seneficent ipfiu.
enee Of our free institutions, and to the
kindly effects OF unrestricted social and
commercial intercourse. An entire resto.
ration OF fraternal feeling must be the
earnest wish OF every patriotic heart; and
We will have accomplished our grandest
national achievement, when, forgetting
The sad events of the past, and remember
Tag only their instructive lessons, We re-
same our onward career as free, pros
porous and united people.
In my message Of the Ath of December,
teo6, Congress was informed OF the measures
which had been instituted by the Executive
with view to the gradual restoration OF the
States iu which the insurrection occurred to
their relations with the General Government
Provisional Goveruora had been appointed,
Qoaventions called, Governors elected, Leg.
haatures assembled, and Senators and Rep
roeentatives chosen to the Congress OF the
enited States. Courts had been opened for
the enforcement of laws long In sbeyance,
The blockade had been removed, custom.
houses re-established, and the internal reve.
nue laws pnt Ia force in order that the peo-
pie might contribute to the national income.
eoetal operations had been renewed, and ef-
forts were being mado to restore them toe
their former condition Of efficiency. The
\ States Themselves had been asked to take
part IN the high function of amending the
constitution. and oithus sanctiOning the ex-
uDetion OF African slavery as one OF the
legitimate results of our internecine strug-
gle.
Having progressed thus far, the Executive
Department found that II had accomplished
nearly all that was within the scope OF its
constitutional authority. One thing, how
ever, 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 Govern
mcDt. This question devolved upon the
respective Houses, which, by the Coustitu.
ton, are made tho judges Of the elections,
returns, and qualifications of their own men,
ners; ana It's consideration at once engaged
the attention of Congress
in the meantime, the Executive Depart
ment-no other pl IN having been prOpos-
ed by Copgress-cOntinued its efforts to
Pe:fecs, as far as was practicable, the res
toration OF the proper relations between
the citizens of the respective States, the
States, and the Federal Government, ex-
tending, from time to time, as the public
Interests seemed to require, the judicial,
revenue, and postal systems of the coun-
try. With the advice and consent OF the
benafe, the necessary officers were appoin-
ted, and appropriations made by Congress
tor the payment OF their salaries. The
proposition to amend the Federal Consti-
utioD, so as to prevent the existence of
slavery within the United States or any
place subject to their jurisdiction, was rat
HE'D by ne requisite number of States:
and on the 18th day of December, 1865, it
was officially declared to have become
valid as part of the Constitution of the
United States All of the States in which
he tnsurrec ion had existed promptly
amended their Constitution, so as to make
them conform to the great charge thus
effected in the organic law of the land; de-
elared null and void all ordinances and
laws o secession; repudisted all pretended
debts and obligations created for the revo.
lutiOnary purposes of the insurrection; and
p-ooeeded, in good faith, to the enactment
sf measures for the protection and ameli-
Grafton OF the colored race. Congress,
however, vet hesitated 10 admit any of
these States to representation; and it was
not until near the close of the eighth
month OF the session that an exception
in 10 .Nf1n
admission Of her Senators and Represent
etiVes.
deem it q subject OF profound regret that
Congress has thus far failed to admit to seats
loyal Senators and Representatives from the
other States, whose inhabitants, with those
Of Tennessee. had engaged in the rebellion.
Ten States-more than one-ionrth of the
whole enumber-remain without representa-
Non; the seats OF fifty member in the House
OF Representatives and twenty members In
the Senate are yet vacant-not by their own
consent. not by failure Of election, but by
lhe refusal Of Congress TO sccept their ere.
dentisls. Their admission, IL is believed,
would have accomplished much towards the
renewal and strengthening of our rtlrious
as one people, ana removed serious cause
Tor discomfort on the part OF the inhabitants
OF those States. 1t would have accorded
With the great principle enunciated In the
Declaration of Independence, that no peo-
pie ought to bear the burGen of tsxation,
and yet be denied the right of representa-
tion. 1t would have been in consonanee
With the express provisions of the Constl.
tuition, that leach State shalt have at least
one Representative" and ''that no State,
without It's consent, shall be deprived OF its
equal suffrage 10 the Senate d" These prOvi.
eiOns were Intended to secure TO avery State,
and TO the people OF every State, tho right
OF representation Ia each House of Congress;
and so important was II deemed bV the tram.
~ fhea GOnafifntfon haf ~ nf
the etates in the SeDa' should no preserved,
that not even nv an amendment OF the Con.
stitutiOn eau any State, without it's consent,
% denied voice In that branch OF the Ma
honSl Legislature.
II Is true, Il has been assumed that the ex-
iBteDce of the States was Terminated by the
IsbelllOus acts of their inhaolIants, aud that
the resurrection having been suppressed,
they were theneefOrWard to be considered
merely as conquered terTito,irs. The Legis-
alive, Executive and Judicial Departments
Il the Government have, however, with
great disiinctness and uniform cOnsiStency,
refused to sanction an assumption 20 ineOm-
patible with the nature OF our Republican
system, and with the prOfessed Ohjscts OF
The war. Throughout the recent legislation
OF Congress, the undeniatls fact mskes IL
self apparent that these ten p litical comma
lities are nothing less than Stat1s of this
Unl0u. At the very commencement OF the
rebellion each House declared, with . una
nimIy As remarkable as it Wss significant,
that the war WAS not "Waged on our part
k any spirit OF oppression. nor for any par-
Dosa OF conquest or subjagarion, nor pur-
pose OF overthrowiDg or interfering with the
rights or established Institutions OF those
btatos. but to d. fend and mairtsin the su-
promaey OF the Constitutes aud all laws
MAde ln pursuance thereof. and 10 preserve
he Union With all the dignity, equality IN
nVhts Of the several States u0tmpaired:
0Ao that as eOOu ~ these CbleetA"