Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-12-06
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT
n<,be Tnited States to the Two HOUSES Of
c.-.ss at the commencement of the Sec
ond Session.

After q brief interval the Congress of the Uni
tod States resumes its annual legislative labor
An all-wise and merclful Providence mas 'p"'eu
the pestilence which visited our shores, leaving us
oalamitous traces upon some portions OF our
country. Peace, order, tranquility, ana CIVIL au-
tbority have been formally declared to exist
throughout the whole of the United States
In al! of the States civil authority mas supefse-
voluntary action. are maintaining their govern
nnnts in mil activity and complete operation.
Tho enforcement of the laws is no longer sob
structed in any State by combinations too power
f1I to be suppressed by the ordinary course OF
judicial peocecdings - and the anlmOsltles engen-
Ipred by the war are rapidly yielding to the
benefcent influences of our free institutions and
70 the kindly effects of unrestricted social and
commercial intercourse. An entire restoration OF
fraterna feeling must be the earnest wish OF every
ratrotic heart ; and we will have accomplished
nur grandest national achievement when forget
ting the sad events OF the past, ard remembering
only their instructive lessons, we resume our on
ward career as free, prosperous, ana united peo-
pie. ~
Congress was informed of the measures which had
been Instituted by the Executive with view to
the Gradual restoration of the States in which the
insurrectiOn occurred to their relations with the
General Government. Provisional Governors
had been appointed, Conventions called, Govern
ors elected. Legislatures assembled, and Senators
i-nised States Courts had been opened for the
enforcement of laws long in allegiance The
blockade had been removed CustOm-hOuSCS re-
established, and the internal revenue laws put in
force, in order that the people might contribute
to the national Income Postal operations had
been renewed, and efforts were being made to re
store them to their former condition of efficiency.
The States themselves lad been asked to take
part i'm the high function OF amending the COnstl-
tuition, and of thus sauCtioning the extinction of
African slavery of the Legitimate results OF
our interneclne struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Executive De
partmcnt found that it had accomplished nearly
all that within the scope of its constitutional
authority One thing however yet remained TO
be dOac before the work of restoration could be
completed and that the admission to Con-
OF = of lOyal Senators and Representative from
the States whose people had rebcllcd against the
lawful authority of the General Government
This question dpyOlved upon the respective Hou-
SEES which, by the Constitution, made the
Judges OF the elections. returns, and qualifications
OF their members and its consideration at
once engaged the attention OF Congress
la the meantime, the Executive Department -
no other plan having been proposed by Congress
continued It's efforts to perfect, as TAR as was
practicable the restoration of the proper relations
bctwtOn the citizens of the respective States. the
States and the Federal Government extending.
from time to time. as the public interests seemed
to require the judicial, revenue, and postal sys-
tens of the country. With the advice and con-
OF the Senate, the necessary officers APP
pointed and appropriations made by Congress
for the payment of their salaries. The PROPOSE
ton to amend the Federal Constitution, 80 as to
prevent the existence of slavery within the Uni
ted States or any place subject 20 their urisdic-
ton. ratified by the requisite number ofStatCs;
and the 18th day of December, 1860, it was Of
fcialIy declared to have become valid us part OF
the Constitution Of the United States. All of the
l.sxl,t a.,
promptly amended their Constitutions, TO
make them conform to tn great change thus effect
cd in he organic law of the land declared null
and void all ordinances and laws OF secession
rcpudiated all pretended debts and obligations
created ID the revolutionary purposes of the i'll
surrectiOn and proceeded, in good faith, to the
enactment of measures for the protection and
amclioration of the condition Of the colOred
Congress. however, yet hcstated to admit any OF
these States to representation and it was not I'M
til towards the close of the eighth month of the
session that an exception made i'll favor OF
Tennessee. by the admission OF her Senators and
Representative.
deem it a subject Of profound regret that Con-
gresS has thus far failed to admit 20 seats loyal
Senators and Representatives from the other States
whose inhabitants, with those of Tennessee, had
engaged in the rebellion. Ten StateS-mOre than
.Out-Uurth of the whole number-remain without
representation the seats of fifty members in the
House of Representatives and Of twenty members
IN the Senate are yet Vacant-nOt by their own
consent II It by a 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 strength
ening OF oar relations as one people, and removed
serious causes Tor discomfort the part of the
inhabitants of those States. 1t would have ac-
corded with the great principle enunCiatCd iii the
Declaration of American Independence. that no
people ought To bear the burden of taxation. and
I.,,I.. T1,YI e +
would have been in cOnsOnance with the express
provisions Of the Constitution, that " each State
shall have at least one Representative" and ''that
no State. without its consent, shall he deprived OF
its equal suffrage in the Senate" These prOvis-
Ions were intended to secure to every State, and
to the people of every State, the right of repre-
sentaton in each House Of Congress and SO in
pOrtaut was it deemed by the trainers OF the Con
>ttution that the equality of the States in the
Senate should be preserved. that not even by an
amendment of the COnsti ,uton can any State
without It's consent, be denied voice in that
branch Of the national Legislature.
1t is true it has been assumed that the exist
Cuce ofthc States was terminated by the rebclliOus
acts of their inhabitants, and that the insIrreciOr
having been suppressed, they were thenceforward
to be considered merely as conquered terrific
tories. The Legislative. Executive, and Judicial
Departments of the Government have, however
with great dstinctneSs and uniform consistency
refused to sanction an assumption so lncOmpatl
bic with the nature OF our republican system, ano
with the proicssed Objects Of the war. ThrOugOut
the recent legislation Of Congress- the undeniablt
fact makes itself apparent, that these tea politi
cal communities nothing less than States O
this Union. At the very commencement Of thC
rebellion, each House declared. with Il uuanmtS
a. remarkable as it was Significant that the wal
was not ''wagcd. upon part in any spirit o
oppression. nor for any purpose of conquest o.
Suhlugation. nor purpose of oycrthrowing or Inter
fering with the rights or established institution
OF those States. but to defend and maintain th
supremacy OF the Constitution and all laws mad
III pursuance thereof. and 10 prcScvc the Unio
with all the dignity. equality, and rights ri til
several States Unnnpaircd and that as -ann Il
these objects We're accomplished the war utu II
80 cease" In some Instances, Senators were Eel
anittcd to continue their Legislative function.
while in other instances representatives wcr
elected and admitted to seats after their State
had formally declared their right to withdra,
from the Union. and ndrayorju.E to matt
tain that right bv force OF arms All Of the Stat,
whose people were in insurrrctioi, as States, wei
incud d III the app0rjonmant Of the direct TAX
twenty millions OF dollars annually laid upon Il
United States by thu act approved 9TH Angus
1851. Congress. by the act of March t. 1862, an
by the appOrtOnmcHt of Representations thcrcUnd