The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-12-11
The Presidents Message.
FeHow.citi;ens ofttc Senate and House o
Representatives

Alter q brief interval the Congress Of
the United States resumes its annual leg
islative labors. An ali wise AMI merciful
Providence has abated the pcstilence which
visited our shores, leaving its calamtous
traces upon some portions Of our country.
Peace, order, tranquility, and civil au
thority have been formally declared to
exist throughout the whole of the United
States. In all of the States civil author
ity has superseded the coercion ofarns IN
the people, by thcu voluntary action,
are maintaining their governments in iuil
activity and complete operation. The
enforcement of the laws is no longer sob
structed in any State by combinations too
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course Of Judicial proceedings" and the
animositics cngendcred by the war are
rapidly yielding to the bcncficent innucn-
ccs of our free institutions, and TO the
kindly effects of unrestricted social and
commercial intercourse. An entire resto-
ration of fratcrnal feeling must be the
earnest wish Of every patriotic heart
and we will have accomplished our grand
est national achievement when, forgetting
the sad events of the past, and remember.
ing only their instructive lessons, we re-
sumo our onward career as Il free, pros
porous, and united people.
In my message of the 4th of Dec enbcr,
1868, Congress was informed of the meas
ures which had been instituted by the
Executive with a view TO the gradual res
toration of the States in which the insur-
recton occurred to their relations with
the General Government. Provisional
Governors had been app inted Convrn-
tiuns called, Governors elected, Lcgi,la.
turcs assembled, and Senators and Rep
rcscntativcs chosen to tic Congress of
the United States Courts h. d been
opened for the enforcement of laws long
in nbeyance. The blockade had been
removed, custom houses rccstablslled and
the internal revenue 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 con.
dition Of efficiency. The States them
selves had been asked TO take part in the
high function of amending the Constiiu.
ton, ana of thus sanctiol.ing the extinction
Of African Slavery rs one Of the lcgiti-
mate results Of our intcrnccnc struggle.
Having progressed thus far, the Exc
cutivc Department found that it had nc
comp.i,hcd nearly all that was within the
scope Of its Constitutional authority. One
thing, however, yet remained to be done
. Id ~ 4
completed, and that was the admission to
Congress of loyal Senators and RcpIcscn.
J., tativos from the States whose people hal
rebcllcd against The lawful authority o
the General Government. This question
: dcvolved upon the respective Houses
: which. by the Constitution, are made IT,,
d Judges Of the elections, returns, AMI quail
! ification' of their own mcml crs; and it
consideration at once engaged the attcn
tion Of Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive Depart
mcnt-no ether plan having been pro
i posed by Congress-continued its effort
d 10 perfect, rs far as was practicable. iii,
t restoration of the proper relations bctweer
n the citizens of the respective States. ;h
Il States, and the Federal Government, ex
Il tending from time to time, as the publ,
II interests seemed TO require, the Judicial
/ revenue, and postal systems Of the coun
try. With the advice and consent of til,
Senate, the necessary officers were ap
/ pointed, and appropriations made b,
e Congress for the payment Of their salaries
'r The proposition TO amend the Fedora
ID Constitution, 50 rs 10 prevent the cXisenc
,r Of slavery within the United State, 0
NJ any place subject to their jurisdiction
rr was ratified 10y the requisite number O
t. States; and on the lS.h day of Dccem
n. bcr, 1865, it was officially declared t
have become valid as n part of the Cor
" stitution of the United States. All {
the States in which the insurrecion ha,
er existed promptly amended their Cons
r. tutions, 20 as 10 make them conform I
or the great change thus effected in the OF
ne ne ganic law of the land; declared null an
he void all ordinances and laws Of secession
:, repudiated all pretended debts and obi
" gations created for the revolut ionary pur
+ poses OF the instruction and proceeded
III SOou lttltil, 10 INC cHdfllneul OF uca
urcs for the protection and amelioralo
7 of the condition of the colorcd rae,
. Congress, however, yet heslated to adm
Oh any Of these States TO representation; an
it was not until toward the close of tt
eighth month Of the session that an e,
ception was made in favor of Tennesse,
oE by the admission of her Senators an
iu Representatives.
Iv iT deem it subject of profound regrC
he that Congress has thus far failed to II,
hn h" nit loyal Senators and Representative
ms IRON the other States, whose inhabitant
'e- u. with those of Tennessee, had engaged
k, the Rebellion. T,n States-morc lha
iul one-tourth Of the whole number-rcma
ca, o's without representation; the seats of :
in members in the House of Reprcsentatv
, and Of lO members IN the Senate are v
ro- vacant-not by their own consent, not |
In failure Of election, but by the refusal
" Congress 10 accept their credentials
ne Their admission, it is believed, won
id, have accomplished much toward the +
80 newal and strengthening of our relato
&c as one people, and removed serious eau