The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-12-13

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VI Ilc Eu SeSSlOn
Ig3f -gf .vEU !jIc,I 5BII %
Fsllo,o- Citizens Of The Senate and House o.
Representatives.! TT .lIr I)TG
After a bfiet interval the Con-
gress of the United States resumes
its annual. legislative labors., An
AH-wise and Mercifil Providence
has abated the pestilence' which
visited our shores, leaving its Ca.
lamitous traces upon some portions
OF our country. Peace, order, tran.
guilty, and civil authority has su.
perseded the coercion of arms, and
the people, by their voluntary ac-
ton, are maintaining their Govern
ments in full activity and complete
operation. The enforcement Of the
laws is no longer Constructed in
any State by combinations too pow
erful to be suppressed by the ordi-
nary course Of judicial proceed
,ings::" and the animosities engen-
dered by the war are rapidly yield
ing to the beneficent influences of
our free institutions, and to the
kindly effects Of unrestricted social
and commercial intercourse. An
entire restoration of fraternal feel
ing must be the earnest wish of ev-
cry patriotic heart; and we will
have accomplished our grandest
National achievement when, for
getting the sad events Of the past,
and remembering only their in
structiye lessons, we resume our
onward career as free, prosper
GUS and united people. ~ /.
In my message of the 4th of De-
cember, 1865, Congress was inform.
Cd of the measures which had been
instituted by the Executive, with a
view to the gradual restoration of
the States in which the insurrec-
ton occurred, to their relations
with the General Government
. Provisional Governors had been
appointed, conventions called, Gov
ernors elected, Legislatures assem-
bled, and Senators and Representa-
tives chosen to the Congress of the
United States. Courts had been
opened for the enforcement of laws
long in abeyance. The blockade
had been removed, custom-houses
re-established, and the internalrev-
enue laws put in force, in order
that the people might contribute to
the National income. Postal oper-
atiOns had been renewed, and ef-
forts were being made to restore
them to their former condition OF
efficiency. The States themselves
had been asked to take part in the
high function of amending the
Constitution, and of thus sanction
ing the extinction of African slav-
cry, as one of the legitimate results
of our internecine struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the
Executive Department found that
ithad accomplished nearly all that
was within the scope of its Consti-
tutional authority. 2 One thing,
however, yetremainedto be done
before the work of restoration
could be completed, and that was
the admission to Congress of loyal
Senators and Representatives from
the States whose people had re-
belled against the lawful authority
OF the General Government. This
question devolved upon the respec-
tive Houses, which, by the Consti-
tuition, are made the judges of the
elections,ret and qualifications
of their own members; and its con-
sideration at once engaged the at
tention of Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive
Department-no other plan having
been proposed by Congl ess = con-
tinued its efforts to perfect, as far
as was pl acticable, the restoration
of the proper relations between the
citizens of the respective States,
the States, and the Federal Govern
ment, extending, from time to time,
as the public interests seemed to
require, the judicial, revenue, and
postal systems of the country.
With the advise and consent of the
Senate, the necessary officers were
appointed,an appropriations made
by Congress for the payment of
their salaries. The proposition to
amend the Federal Constitution, so
as to prevent the existence of sla-
very within the United States or
any place subject to their jurisdic-
ton, was ratified by the requisite
number of States; and on the 18th
Of December, 1865, it was officially
declared to have become valid as a
part. OF the Constitution of the