Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FeIiow Cdi-ens Of the Senate
and House of RepreSentd

hlAAl - W lNl lllANA Nif WV NNo
of the United States resumes its an
nual legislative labors. An Allwise
and Merciful Providence has abated
. the pcStilence which visited our
shores, leaving its calamitous traces
upon some portions of our country,
Peace, order, tranquility, and civil
authority have been formally pro
claimed and declared TO exist
throughout the whole of the United
States, In all of the States civil
authority has superseded the cocr-
cion ofarms, and the people by their
declarations and actions are main
tanning the government in full activ-
ity and complete operation. The
enforcement of the law is no longer
obstructed in any State by combna-
tions too powerful to be suppressed
by the ordinary course of judicial
proceedings, and the animosities en-
gendcred by the war are rapidly
yielding to the bencficent influence
OF free institutions and to the kindly
effects Of unrestricted social and
commercial interests. The entire
restoration OF fraternal feeling must
be the earnest wish Ofevery patriotic
heart, and we will have accomplished
our grandest national achievement
when forgetting the sad events of
the past, and remembering only their
instructive lessons we resume our
onward career as a free, prosperous
and united people.
In my message of the 4th of De-
cembcr, 1865, Congress was informed
of measures which had been institut-
cd by the Executive with view to
the gradual restoration ofthe States
in which insurrection had severed
their relations with the General
Government. Provisional Govern
ors had been appointed, Conventions
called, Governors elected, Legisla-
lures assembled and Representatives
chosen to the Congress of the United
States. Courts had been assembled
for the enforcement of the laws long
held in abeyance, the blockade had
been removed, Custom Houses re-
established, the Internal Revenue
was put in force, in order that the
people might contribute to the ma
tional income, postal operations
have been renewed and efforts made
to restore them to their former con-
dition Of efficiency. The States
themselves had been asked to take
part in the high functions of attend
ing the Convention, and of thus
sanctioning the extinction of Afri-
can slavery, as one of the legitimate
results of the internecine struggle
After having progressed thus far,
the executive department found that
it had accomplished nearly all that
was within the scope of its constitu-
tional authority. One thing, how
ever, yet remained to be done be-
fore the work reconstruction could
be completed, and that was the ad-
mission to Congress of loyal Sena-
tors and Representatives from States
whose people rebelled against the
lawful authority of the General
Government. These questions de-
volved upon the respective houses
which by the Constitution are made
to judge of the election returns and
qualifications of their own members,
and its consideration at once en-
gagged the attention of Congress-
In the meantime the Executive De-
partment, no other plan having been
proposed by Congress, continued its
efforts to perfect as far as practica-
BILE the restoration of the proper re-
lations between the citizens of re-
spective States and the Federal
Government, extending from time
to time as public interests seemed
to require, the judicial, revenue and
postal system of the country. With
the advice and consent of the Senate
the necessary officers were appoint
cd, and appropriations made by
Congress for the payment Of their
salaries. Propositions toamend the
Federal Constitution so as to pre-
vent the existence of slavery within
the United States or any place sub
iect to their jurisdiction wero also
ratified by the requisite number of
States, and ON the 18th ofDecember,
1865, it was officially declared to
have become valid as part of the
Constitution of the United States.
All of the States in which the insti
tuition had existed, have amended
their constitutions so as to make
them conform to the great change
thus effected in the organic law Of
the land, and declared null and void
all ordinances and laws of secession;
repudiated all pretended debts or
obligations created for the reyolu-
tionary purposes ofthe insurrection,
and proceeded in good faith to the
enactment of measures for the pro-
lection and amelioration of the col
ored race. Congress, however, hes
itated to admit any of these States
to representation, and it was not
until the close of the eighth month
of the session, thatsn exception was
made in favor of Tennessee by the
admission of her Senators and Rep
reseDtatives.
i deem it a subject of profound re
gret that Congress has thus far
failed 70 admit to seats loyal Sena-
tors and Representatives of all the
other States whose inhabitants with
those of Tennessee had engaged in
rebellion. Ten more States, more
than fourth Of the whole number
remain without representation
The seats of fifty members Of the
House of Representatives and TWEEN
ty Senators are yet vacant, not by
their own consent, not by mature
reflection, but by the refusal Of Con
gress to receive their credentials
Il