The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1866-11-07
Presidents Message.
EUow- Citizens Of the Senate
and Hcuse of Representatives

OF Gne UnlLCQ OIaICS ICSlllucS ilo '"h-
nual Legislative laJors. An all-wlse
and mcrciful Providence has abatcd
thepestilencc which visited our shores,
leaving it's calamitous traces upon
some portions Of our country. Peace,
order, tranquility, and civil authori-
ty have been formally declared to
exist throughout the whole of the
United States. In all of the States
civil authority has superseded tic
coercion Of aims. and the people, by
their voluntary action, arc maintain
ing their governments in full activity
and complete operation: The enforce
ment Of the laws is no longer ''o5struc-
ted in any State by combinations too
powerful to be suppressed by the OF
dinary course of judicial proceedings;
and the animosities cngcndcrcd by the
war are rapidly yielding to the benc-
fcent influences of our free institu-
tions, and to the kindly effects of
unrestricted social and commercial
intercourse. An entire restoration of
fraternal feeling must be the earnest
wish af every patriotic heart; and we
will have accomplished our grandcst
national achievement when, forgetting
the sad events of the past, and rcmem-
bering 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 the measures Which had been insti-
tuted by the Executive with a view
to the gradual restoration Of the
States in which the insulrection oc-
Cured to their relations with the Gen
eral Government. Provisional Gov
ernors had been appointed, Conven-
tions called, Governors elected, Leg
islatures assembled, and Senators
and Representatives chosen to the
Congress Of the United States. Courts
had been opened for the enforcement
of laws long in allegiance. The block
ade had been removed, custonl-houses
re-established, and the internal rev.
enue 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 restore them to their
former condition Of efficiency. The
States themselves had been asked to
take part in the high functions of
amending the Constitution, and of
thus sanctioning the extinction of
African slavery as one Of the lcgiti-
mate results Of our intcrnccinc strug-
gle.
Having progressed thus far, the
Executive Department found that it
had accomplished nearly all that was
within the scope of its constitutional
authority. One thing, however, yet
remained to be done before the work
of restoration could be completed,
and that was the admission to Con-
gross of loyal Senators and Repre-
sentatives from the States whose pco-
pie had rebcllcl against the lawful
authority of the General Government.
This question dcvolvcd upon the res
pective Houses, which, by the Con-
stitution, are made the judges Of the
elections, returns, and qualifications
of their own members; and it's con-
sideration at once engaged the attcn-
tion of Congress. 49,.
In the meantime, the Executive
Department. other plan having
been proposed by Congress-con
ned it's efforts to perfect, as far as
was practicable, the restoration of the
proper relations between the citizens
of tue respective States, the States
and the Federal Government, extend
ing, from time to time, as the puplic
interests seem to require, the judicial,
revenue, and postal systems of the
country. With the advice and con-
sent of the Senate, the necessary Of
fcers were appointed, and appropria-
tions made by Congress for the pay
ment of their salaries. The PROPOSE
ton to amend the Federal Constitu-
ton, so as to prevent the existence
ofslavery within the United States OF
any place subject to thcir jurisdiction,
was ratified by the requisite number
of States; and on the 18th day of De-
ccmber, 1865, it was officially dcclar-
ell to have become valid as a part of
the United States. All of the States
in which the rebellion had existed
promptly amended their Constitutions,
SO as to make them conform to the
great change thus effected in the Oh
ganic law of the land: declared mil