The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
FsllOto Citizens Of he Senate dad
House Of Representatives.

House Of Representatives.:
After a brief interval tho Congress
Of the Uuited States resumes It's an.
nual legislative la6ors. An all wise
and mcrciful Providence has abatcd
the pesliienco which visited our
shores, leaving iis calamit0us traces
upon some portions Of our country.
Peace, order, tranquility, and civil
authority have been formally declared
To exist throughout the whole Of the
United States. In all of the States
civil authority has superseded the CO.
ercion of arms, and the people, by
their voluntary action are maiptaih.
ing their GOyernments in full activity
and complete operation. The ,ent0rce-
ment of the laws Is no longer {" OBJ
WruUred in any State b combina.
tions too powerful 10 be suppressed
by the ordinary course of judiciid
proceedings" and tho animoSitieS en-
ganhered hy the war are rapidly
Welding TO he bOnefcent haueEces
Of our free institutions, aud TO the
kindly effects of unrestricted social
and commercial intercourse. An en-
tire restoration of fraternnl feeling
must bp thp eprnest wish of every
patriotic heart; and VIC will have ac.
complirhed our grandest national
achievement when, forgetting the sad
evrnts Of the past. and remembering
only their instructive ess0ns, we re
sumo our onward career as = free,
prosperous and nhiied people
WHAT TaE EXECUTIVE DID IN THE
work OP RESTORATION.
In my message Of the 4lh Of De-
eembrr, 1868, Congress was iRf1, med
nf the,mrasurea which had heen insti-
tuied by the Executive with q view
10 the gradual restoration Of the
Suites in which the insurreclion. oc-
cnrryd to their relations with the
General Government. ..PrTisional
Governors had been appointed, Con
v,nri0ns called, Governors elected,
Legislatures assembled, and Senators
aud Representatives. chosen 10 the
Congress Of the United States
Courts had been opened ftr' tho en-
f6rcement of the laws long In abey
ante. The blockade had been re-
moved. custom lrUuAes re established
aud .he internal revenue laws pat hi
force, IN order that the -people might
t,intribate to the national income.
Postal operations had been renewed
and offDrls were being made 70 re
store them 10 their former condition
OF efficiency. The States Themselves
nid been asked To take part in the
high function Of Amending the Con
rtilndon, aud of thus sanetioning The
extinction Of African slavery ~ 0ns
of the legitimate results Of our inter
neeihe struggle
Having progressed Tins far th'
Executive Drpartms ut found that u
had accomplished nearly Hll that wal
within tho scope Of its constitutions
authnfity One thing. however, yet
Femained tu BE- doue efnre the wUrl
Of recoDstrnciion could BE- completed
and that WAS the admission 10 Con
vress of loyal Senators and Represen
tarives from lhe States whoee peopl'
had rebeIled against the lawful 90
lhority of the General Government
This question devOlyed upon the
speetive Houses, which, by the Goa
lpilluriDn, arc made the judges Oi IN
eTee'ions, returns and qualifications Q
their own members. and ia consider
aiion ut once engage the attention q
! Congress. sec 4, 80 rl.-la4rF aasE
b. IaisihV meantime, che Bxeeutiv
pDApirtment--ho other plun huyin
been proposed By Congress conlhlt
ed iis efforts 10 perfect, as.iaP a, wa
pratiicahlr, the restnratiQn of Oh
proper relations between the citizen
fof the respective States, the State
Iand the Federal Gvvernmonb extsns
a....a.9 49, at .,...-il1 sa titf-.l -.