Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-12-14
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents Message.
Fellow Citizens Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives,:
After brief interval the Congress
of the United States resumes its annual
legislative labors. An all-wise and
merciful Providence has abated the
pestilence which visited our shores,
leaving its calamitous 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 au-
thority has superseded the coercion
Of arms, and the people, by their vol
untary action, are maintaining their
governments in full activity and COM
plete operation. The enforcement OF
the laws is no longer constructed in
any State by combinations too power
full to be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings" and
the animoSitieS engendered by the war
are rapidly yielding to the benetcent
influences OF our free Institutions, and
to the kindly effects of our
unrestricted social and commercial
Intercourse. An entire restoration
OF tratcrnaI feeling must be the ear
nest wish OF every patriotic heart !;
and We will have accomplished our
gr'andest national achievement when,
forgetting the sad events of the past,
and remembering only their instruc-
tive lessons, we resume our onward
career as free, prosperous, and unit
ed people.
In my message of the 4th of De.
ccmoor, 1895, Congress was iniormed
of the measures which had been insti
tuted by the Executive with view to
the gradual restoration of the States
in which the insurrection occurred
to their relations with the Genera
| Government. Provisional Governors
had been appointed, Conventions
called, Governors elected, Legisla
lures assembled, and Senators anC
Representatives chosen to the Con
gress of the United States. Court:
had been opened for the enforcement
of laws long in allegiance. The block
ade has been removed, custom-houses
re-established, and the internal reve
nue. laws put in force, in order tina
the people might contribute to the ma
tiJnal income. Postal operations ha(
} Deen renewed, and efforts were bein.
2 made to restore them to their forme
+ condition of efficiency. The State
themselves had been asked to tax
part in the high function of amend
= ing the Constitution, and of thus salc
S tioning h extinction of african
S slavery as one of the legitimate result
t of our internecine struggle.
n Having progressed thus far, tn
Executive Department found that
had accomplished nearly all that wa
within the scope Of its constitutions
authority. One thing, however, ye
s remained to be done before the wor
d OF restoration could be completed
o aud that was the admission to Cor
gress of loyal Senators and Represe1
t ttives from the States whose peopl
l. had rebelled against the lawful al
S thority of the general government
S This question devolved upon the re
!. spective Houses, which, by the Cor
= stitution, are made the judges of th
elections, returns, and qualifications 0
their own members; and its consider
S alton at once engaged the attentio
It of Congress.
!" In the meantime, the Executive D,
- partment-no other plan having bee
proposed by Congress-continued il
u efforts to perfect, as far as was pra
II ticable, the restoration Of the propc
e relations between the citizens of til
o respective States, the States, and til
p Federal Government, extending, frol
time to time, as the public interest
: seemed to require, the judicial rev,
o nue. and postal systems of the countr,
1t With the advice and consent of th
2. Senate, the necessary officers wer
appointed, and appropriations mad
7 by Congress for the payment of the
salaries. The proposition to amen
ii the Federal Constitution, so as t
y: prevent the existence of slavery witt
G in the United States or any plac
I. subject to their jurisdiction, was rat
# fed by the requisite number of States
3 and ON the 18th day of Decembe
1865, it was officially declared t
l. have become valid as a part of tn
d Constitution of the United States
Y All Of the States in which the insu
o rection had existed promptly amend
:. ed their Constitutions, so as to max
;" them conform to the great change tho
d affected in the organic law of the land
Y declared null and void all ordinance
n and laws of secession; repudiated a
r pretended debts and obligations ere;
q ted for the revolutionary purposes o
the iusurrection; and proceeded,
y good faith to the enactment of mea
IT ures for the protection and anchor,
d ton of the condition of the colore