The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-12-06
M e S 8 A Ct e
OF THE
President Of The Uniled States,
TO THE
TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS-.
AT THE
ls1to,D citisens Of the Senate and House

pestilence which visited our shores,
leaving its calamitous traces upon some
portions of our country. Peace, Or
der, tranquility, and civil authority
have been formally declared 70 exist
throughout the whole of the United
States In all of the States civil au-
thority has superseded the coercion OF
arms, and the people, by their volun-
tary action, are maintaining their Gov
erOments in full activity and complete
operation. The enforcement of the
laws is no longer Constructed in any
State by combinations too powerful to
be suppressed by the ordinary course
Of judicial proceedings" and the ami.
mosities engendered by the war are
rapidly yielding to the benefcent in
fuences Of our free institutions, and to
the kindly effects of unrestricted social
and commercial intercourse. An en-
tire restoration Of ffafernal feeling
must be the earnest wish OF every pa.
triotic heart; and we will have accom-.
plished our graDdest national achieve.
ment when, forgetting the sad events
of the past, and remembering only
their instructive lessons, we resume
our onward career as free, prosper
GUS and united people.
In my message of the 4th Of Dcceln.
Der, 1865, Congress was informed OF
the measures which had been instituted
by the Executive with view 10 the
general restoration Of the States in
which tho insurrection occurred to
their relations with the General Gov
ernment. Provisional Governors had
been appointed, Conventions called
Governors elected, Legislatures asse m
bled, and Senators and Representa-
tives chosen TO the Congress OF the U,
States. Courts had been Opened for
the enforcement of laws long in abcy.
ance. Tho blockade had been remoy.
ed, custom houses re- established. and
the internal revenue laws put in force
in order that tho people might con.
tribute to the national income. Postal
operations had been renewed, and eff.
iorfs were being made to restore them
to their former condition of efficiency
The States themselves had been asked
to take part in the high function Of
amending the Constitution, and of thus
sanctioning tho extinction of African
slavery us ono Of the Legitimate results
of our internecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Ex.
ecutivo Department found that it had
accomplished nearly all that was with
in the scope of its constitutional au.
thority. Ono thing, however, yet re-.
maincd TO be done before tho work Of
restoration could bo completed, and
that was the admission to Congress OF
loyal Senators and Representatives
from the States whose people had re-
belled against the lawful authority of
the General Government. This cues.
tion devolved upon tho respective
Houses, which, by tho Constitution, are
made the judges Of tho elections, re-
turns and qualifications of their own
members, and its consideration at once
engaged the attention of Congress.
In tho meantime, the Executive De.
partmont--no other plan having been
proposed by Congress- continued its
efforts to perfect, as far as was practi.
cable, the restoration of tho proper re-.
ations between tho citizens of the re,
spectivo States and tho General Gov.
ernment, extending, from time TO time,
as the public interest seemed to require,
the judicial, revenue and postal sys,
TENS OF the country. With tho advice
and consent of tho Senate, tho neecs.
sary officers were appointed, and .ap-
preparations mado BY Congress for the
payment Of their salaries. The pro-
position TO amondthe Federal Consti-
tuition so as to prevent tho existence Of
slavery within the United States or
any place subject to their jurisdiction,
was ratified by tho requisite number
Of States; and on the 18th day of Do.
cember, 1865 it was officially declared
to have become valid as a part OF the
Constitution Of the United States, All
Of the States in which tho insurrecLion
had existed promptly amended their
Constitutions, 80 as TO make them con.
form to tho great change thus effected
in tho organic law of tho land; deClar.
cd null and void oil ordinances and
laws Of secession; repudiated all pre-.
tended debts and obligations created
tor tho revolutionary purposes Of the
insurrectiOn; and proceeded, in good
faith, TO the enactment OF measures for
the protection and amelioration Of tho
condition OF tho colored race. Con-
gress, however, yet hesitated To adlAit
any OF these States TO representation;
and it was not until toward tho close
of tho eighth month of the session that
an exception was made in favor of Ten
nessee, by the admission of her Sena-
tors and Representatives.
l deem il o subject Of profound re.
grot that Congress has thus far failed
TO admit to seats loyal Senators and
Representatives from tho other States,
whose inhabitants, with those of Ten.
ncssoe, had engaged in the rebellion.
Ten Statcs--moro than one. fourth Of
the whole number remain without
represe' .ation; the seats of fifty mem.
bers in the House OF Rcprest natives,
and oftwenty members in the Senate,
are yeL vacant-not by their own con.
sent, not by failure Of election, but
by tho refusal of Congress to accept
their credentials. Their admission, it
is believed, would have accomplished
much towards the renewal a I'd strength
ening Of our relations US one people,