The Van Buren press., 1868-12-22
The Van Buren, Press,
VAN BUREN,, ARKANSAS.
Extracts from President Johnson's Annual
Message.

| VI REPRESENTATIVES,
Upon the reassembling Of Congress
again becomes my duty to call your a,
tention to the state Of the Union and II
continued disorganized condition unde
the various laws which have been passes
upon the subject Of reconstruction.
may be safely assumed AZ an axiom L
the government Of States that the grea,
est wrongs INFECTED upon a people mr.
caused by unjust and arbitrary legislation
or by the unrelenting DEGREES Of despoti
rulers, and that the timely revocation o
injurious and oppressive measures Is tn
greatest good that can be coperi ed upol
a nation. The legislator ojvruler VIII,
has the wisdom and magnanimity to re
trace his steps when convinced of hi
error, will, sooner or later, be rewarded
with the respect and gratitude Of an in
telligent and patriotic people.
Our own history, although embracin!
period less than 3 century, affords
abundant proof that most il not all on
domestic troubles are directly traceabl,
to violations OF the organic law and ex
cessive legislation. The most strikin.
Illustrations Of this fact are furnished BY
the enactments of the past three year.
upon the question of reconstruction. AT
ter fair trial they have substantially fail
ed and proved pernicious in their results
and there seems to be ne good reason
why they should longer remain upon the
statute book. States to which the Con
stitution guarantees Republican form OF
Government have been reduced literally
to dependencies, in each of which the
people have been made subject to the ar
btrary will of the Commanding General
Although the Constitution requires that
each State shall be represented in Cou
gress, Virginia, Mississippi and Texas
are yet excluded from the two Houses
and contrary to the express provisions
of that instrument, were denied partici-
patton in the recent election for Presi-
dent and Vice President Of the United
States. The attempt to place the white
population under the domination of per
sons of color in the South, has impaired
if not destroyed, the kindly relations that
had previously existed between them, and
mutual distrust has engendered feeling
OF animoslty which, leading in some in
stances to collision and bloodshed, has
prevented that cooperation between the
two races so essential to the success OF
industrial enterprises in the Southern
States. Nor have the inhabitants of these
States alone suffered from the disturbed
condition of affairs growi,iy out of these
Congressional enactmeu I,The entire
IeRslohs OF trouble, which mignr agsm,
involve the peace of the nation. Its in
terests have been injuriously affected by
the arrangement of business and labor
and the consequent want Of prosperity
throughout that portion of the country
The Federal Constitution, the Magns
Charta of American rights, under whose
wise and salutary provisions we have sue
cessfully conducted all our domestic ant
foreign affairs, sustained ourselves IL
peace and in war. and become great ma
ton among the powers of the earth, mus
assuredly be now adequate to the settle
ment of questions growing out of a civi
war waged alone for its vindication. Thi'
great fact is made most manifest by thu
condition of the country.
When Congress assembled in the mont
of December, 1866, civil strife had ceaset
the spirit of rebellion had spent its entr'
force. In the Southern States the peopl'
had warmed into national life. an,
throughout the whole country healthy
reaction in public sentiment had takel
place. BY the application Of the simpl
yet effective provisions Of the Constitu
ton, the Executive Department. with thu
voluntary aid of the States, had brough
the work Of restoration az near compile
ton as was within the scope OF its author
ity, and the nation was encouraged by tn
prospect Of an early and satisfactory ad
instment Of all its difficulties Congress
however, interviewed. and, refusing to per
feet the work so nearly consummated, de
clined to admit members from the unrep
resented States; adopted series o
measures which arrested the progress o
restoration; frustrated all that had bee
so successfully accomplished, and, ATE
three years of agitation and strife has LEI
the country further from the attainment
Of union and fraternal feeling than at tn
inception of the Congressional plan ofrt
construction. 1t needs no argument t
show that legislation which has produc
ed such baneful consequences should b
abrogated, or else made more to conforr
to the genuine principles Of republica
government. Under the influences O
party passion and sectional prelude
other acts have been passed not warrant
ed by the Constitution.
Congress has already been made Il
miliar with my views respecting the Tel
ure- Of Office bill. Experience has pro,
ed that its repeal is demanded by the be-
interests Of the country, and that while
remains in force the President cannot el
Join that rigid accountability Of publ
officers essential to an honest and etiiciel
execution Of the laws. Its revocatio
would enable the Executive Departmel
to exercise the power of appointmcI
and removal in accordance with the ori,
inal design of the Federal Constitution.
The act Of March 81, 1867, making a
proprations for the support Of the arm
for the year ending June Both, 1868. an
for other purposes, contains provision
which interfere with the Presidents col
stitutional functions as Commander-i
Chief of the Army, and deny TO the Stat
Of the Union the right to protect then
selves by means Of their own militi
These provisions should be at once a
nulled. for while the Rrst might, in tim