Maryland free press., 1866-12-06
. = = ;
pretislent's MESSAGE


i"''c i'9h'a' Ah aiI-"lSe aht merciiu
Providence has ahated the pestilenec which
visited orr shores, leaving its caiartou.
traces upon some portions of our country
Peace, order, tranquility, uul civil author,
iiy have been formally declared to exis
throughout he whole of tho United States
lnaii of the States civil authority has SUPER
seeded the coercion of arms, and the people
by their voluntary action, are maintaining 9
their governments in fol. activity .nd COM
plete opcr alton. The enforcement Of the
laws is no longer Constructed in any State
by combinations too powerful to be sup.
pressed by the ordinary course sf judicial
proc"edings:' AMI the animosiiies eugen-
dered by the war are rapidly yic'l ng tc
the benciicent influences of free institutions,
ond to the kindly effects of unrestricted
social and commercial intercourse, An
entire restoration Of feeling must be the
earnest wish Of every patriotic heart; and
we will have accomplished our grandcst
national achievement when, forgetting tho
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 December,
1868, Congress was Informed of the meas
ures which had been instituted by the
Executive with view to their gradual res
toration of the States in which the insur-
rection occurred to their relations with The
General Government. Provisional Cover
nors had been appointed. Conventions
c.lled, Governors elected, Legislatures
assembled, aud Senators and Representa-
tires chosen to the Congress of the United
States, Courts had been opened for the
enforcement of laws long in obeyancc -
The blockade has been removed, custom
housos re-established, and the internal
revenue laws put in force. in order that
the people might contribute to tho national
Income. Postal operations had been re-
moved, and efforts were being made to rc-
store them TO their former condition OF
efficiency. The States themselves had
been asked to take part in the high func-
tion of smending the Constitution. and
thus ssnctioning the extinction Of African
slavery as one of the Legitimate results .,oi
our internecine struggle. .....r.... .....
Having progressed thus far, the Execu-
tive Department found that it had accomp-
lshed nearly all that was within the scope
of IT'S constitutional authority. One thing
however, yet remained to be done before
the work Of restoration could be completed.
aud that was the admission to Congress of
loyal Senators and Representatives from
the States whose people had rcbclled
against the lawful authority of the General
Government This question devolved upon
ths respective Houses, which, by the Con-
st'tution, arc ma e he judges of elections,
returns, and qualifications Of their, own
members; and It's cons deraton at once en-
esoed the attention Of Congress. .s,i. .l,r.,I
In the meantime, the Executive Depart
m'nt-no other plan having been proposed
hy c'ongress-continue its efforts to rsr-
f"ct, as far as was practicable, the restora-
r'nn Of the proper relations between the
citizens of the respective Stat s, the States
and tho Federal Governm mt, extending
from time to time, rs the pu lie intcres,
seemed to require, the judicial, revenue
and postal systems of the country. With
the advice and consent of the Senate, the
necessary officers were appointed, and ap-
preparations made by Congress for the pay
ment Of their salaries. The proposition to
amend the Federal Constitution, so as ia
prevent the existence Of slavery within the
United States r any place subject to their
jurisdiction. was ratified by the requisite
number of States and on the 18th day OF
December, 1865, it was officially declared
TO have become valid as part of the Con-
s'i;ution Of the United States. All of the
States in which the insurrectiou had existed
promptly amended their Constitutions. Sc
as to make them conform to the great
change thus effected in the organic law Of
the land declared null and void all ordi-
nances and laws of secession repudiated
all pretended debts and obligations created
fox the revolutionary purposes of insurrcc.
tIon; and proceeded, in good faith, to t..
enactment Of measures for tue proticto,
and amelioration Of the condition of the
colorcd race. Congress, however, yct
hcsitated to admit any of these States tc
representation and it was not until toward
the close of the eighth month of the scs
sion that an exception was made in favo,
OF Tennessee, ly the admission Of her Sen
mors and Repre- scntatives.
docm it subject of profound rcrrc