Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-12-13
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Representatives:
After brief interval the Congress of the
United States resumes its annual legislative
lsbors- An all wise and merciful Providence
has aheted the pestilence which visited our
shores, leaving its calamitous trace. upon
some portions Of our country. Peace, order,
tranquility, and civil authority have been for
mally declared TO exist throughout tie whole
ofthe United States. In all Of the States civil
authority has superseded TIE coercion of arms,
and the people, by their voluntary action, are
maintaining their Governments in full actIyi-
ty and complete operation. The enforcement
Of the laws 10 no longer "obstructed in sny
State by combinations too powerful to be sup
pressed by the ordinary course Of Judicial
Proeeedings;" and the snimosities engendered
BY the war are rapidly yielding to the benefi-
cent innuenees Of our free institutions. and to
the Kindly Effects Of unrestricted social and
commercial intercourse An entire restora-
tion OF iraternal feeling must be the earnest
Eish OF every patriotic heart; and We will
nave accomplished our grsndest national
schlevement when, forgetting the sad events
oi the past, and remembering only their in
strueuve lessons, we resume our onward ca
reer ss . fee. prosperous and united people.
vHAf THE KKEcUrIvE DID IN TIE WORK OF REs-
fORATIoS.
In my message ofthe 4th Of December, 1865,
Congress was informed OF the measures which
had been instituted BY the Executive with a
view 10 the gradual restoration Of the States
in which the insurrection occurred to their re.
lations with the General Government. Pro-
visionsl Governors had been appointed, Con-
ventious called, Governors elected, LegIsla-
lures assembled, and Senators and Represen
tstives chosen to the Congress Of the United
States. Courts had been opened for the en-
forcement Of laws long in abeyaDce. The
blockade had been removed, custom houses
re-established, and the internal revenue laws
put in force, in order that the people might
contribute to the national income. Postal sp-
erations had been renewed, and efforts were
being made 70 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 senctioning the extinction Of African
slavery ~ one Of the legitimate results Of our
iztrnecine struggle.
HAying progressed thus far, the Executive
Department found that il had accomplished
nearly all that was within the scope Of its
constitutional authority. One thing, how
ever, vet remained TO be done before the work
Of restoration could be completed, and that
was the admission TO Congress Of loyal Sena-
tors and Representatives from the States
whose people had rebelled against the lawful
authority Of the General Government. This
question devolved upon the res pective Houses,
which, by the Constitution, are made the
judges Of the elections, returns and qualifca-
tons Of their OvR members, and its eonside-
ration at once engaged the attention Of Con.
gress.
In the meantime, the Executive Department
no other plan having been proposed by Con-
gress-sontinued its efforts to perfect. as far
- was Practicable, the restoration of the prop
errelations between the citizens of the respec-
tive States, the States and the Federal Gov
ernpent, extending. from time to time, as the
public interests seemed to require, the judicial
revenue and postal systems Of the country
With the sdviee and consent Of the Senate, the
necessary officers were appointed, and appro-
pri.tions made by Congress for the payment
Of their salaries. The proposition to amend
the Federal Constitution so a. TO prevent the
existence Of slavery within tie United States
or any place subject to their Jurisdiction, was
rstifed by the req uisite number Of States; and
on the 18th day OF December, 1865, IL wss Of
heially declared 10 have become valid as q
part Of the Constitution Of the United States
All OF the States in which the insurrectisn had
existed promptly amended their Constitutions.
so - to make them conform IN the great
ehsnge thus effected in the organic law Of the
land; declared null and void all ordinances
and laws Of secession; repudiste all pretended
debts and obligations created for the revolu-
tionsry purposes Of the einsurrection; and pro-
eeeded, IN good faith, to the enactment of
measures for the protection and smelioration
ofthe condition Of the eolored race. Congress,
however. yet hesitated to admit any Of these
States TO representation; and it was not until
toward the close Of the eighth month Of the
session that a exception Was made in favor
Of Tennessee, by the admission Of her sena-
tors and Representatives.
/ deem it subject Of profound regret that
Congress has thus far failed to admit 10 seats
loyal Senators and Representatives from the
other States, whose hsbitauts, with those of
Tennessee, had engaged in the rebellion. Ten
states-more than one-fourth of the whole
.s.,. ~ iePI ~ ,'Nf n .he
sentatives, and twenty members m the Senate.
are yet vaesnt-not by their own consent, not
by failure Of election, but by the refusal Of
Congress TO accept their credentials. Their
admission, it is believed, would have accom-
plished much towards the renewal and
Strengthening Of our relations as one people,
and removed serious cause for discomfort on
the part Of the inhabitants ofthose States 1t
would have accorded with the great principle
enunciated in the L Leclarstion of American In
dependence. that no people ought to bear the
burden Of taxation, aud vet be denied the right
Of represe ntation. It would have been in con-
sonanee with the express provision Of the
Constitution, that "each State shall at least
have one Representative" and "that no State,
without its consent. shall be deprived of its
equal suffrage in the Senate" These provis-
ions we're intended to secure to every State,