The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-12-11

4 fcuuCeU Ululssr Set Tue Tone OF pu0fic ISci-
ing at home and abroad was no, satisfactory.
Will other signs. the popular elections then
just passed, indicated uaeasiness among
ourselves. while amid much that was cod
and menacing, the kindest words coming
from Eng gland were uttered in accents II
pity. that we were too bIind 10 surrender.
Our commerce was suffering greatly by a
few armed vessels. built upon and furnis he'd,
from foreign shores, aud we were threatersi
ed with such additions from the same quar-
| ter as would sweep our trade from the sea
and raiss our blockade. We had failed to
/ elicit from European governments anything
hope ul npon this subject.
4 The Emancipation Proclamation, which
was issued in September. was running lis
assigned period to the beginning Of 1be new
year. n month later the final Proclamation
came, including the announcement, that col
ored men OF suitable condition. would be
received into the war service.
The policy of emancii alton, and the en-
ploy ment of black soldiers. gave TO the tu :
,ure a new aspect about which hopes. fears
and ooUbts contended in uncertain conflict.
according to our political system as matter
of civil ministration. The General Govern
ment had no lawful power to effect emsnci-
patton in any State; and for long time II
had been hoped that the rebellion could be
suppressed without resorting to 1t as mil
itarv measure. l, was all the while deemed
possible that necessity Tor II might come,
and that If it should. the crisis OF the con-
test could then be presented. 1t came. and
as apprehended, it was followed by dark and
doubtful days. Eleven months having been
passed, we are permitted to take another
view. The rebel borders are pressed snll
further back. and by the complete opening
of the Mississippi river the country domlns-
ted over by the rebellion, Is divided Into
dis ant Parts. Practical communication be
tween them and Tennessee and Arkansas
has been SO substantially cleared Of the in
surgents control and influence, that the
eitizens in each and owners of slaves and
advocates of slavery at the beginning of the
rebellion, now declare openly for emancl-
patton in their res pective States.
Those States not included in the enamel
patton proclamation, MARYLAND and Missouri.
neither of which. years ago, would tolerate
any restriction upon the extension OF say-
cry into their territories, only dispute now
as to the best mode of removing 1t from
their own limits. OF those who were slaves
at the beginning of the rebellion fully one
hundred thousand are now in the United
States military service. and a out halt OF
which number actually bear arms IN the
ranks, thus giving the double advantage Of
taking so much labor from the insurgent
cause and supplying the places which other
wise must be fl led with so many white men.
So far as tested 1t is difficult 10 say they are
not as good soldiers as any. No servIle IN
surreetions or tendency TO violence or cruel
~ has marked the measures of emsnc pa
.icn and arming OF the blacks. These
measures have been much discussed in for
eign countries, and contemporary with such
discussions the tone OF pubic sentiment
there is much improved. Where the same
measures have been fully discussed, sup
ported, criticised and denounced, the annual
elections highly encouraging to those
whose special duty it is to bear the country
through this great trial. Thus we have the
reckoning. The crisis which threatened to
divide the friends of the Union is past.
RECONSTRUCTION.
Looking now to the present and future,
with reference to the resumption OF the
National authority, within the States where.
in that authority has been suspended. have
thought fiji to issue proclamation. copy
of which is here with transmitted. On ex
animation of this proclamation il will appear,
as is believed, amply justified by the Con-
s,itution. True, the form Of an oath Is
given, but no man is coerced to take 1t.
man is only promised pardon in case he
voluntarily takes the oath. The Cons,itu-
lion authorizes the Executive to grant it on
terms as thorities. 1t is also proffered that !
if any OF the States named shall set up a !
State Government, in the mode prescribed, !
such a government shall be recognized and I
guaranteed by the United States, and that
eb.n 70
the constitutional conditions, be protected !
against invasion and domestic violence.
The constitutional obligation of the United |
States, to guarantee to every State in the |
Union Republican form of Government,
and to protec, the State in case as stated, is /
explicit and full, but why tender the beue- !
fits OF this provision only to State Gov, |
eminent set up in this particular way. This
section of the Constitution contemplates a
case wherein the elements In State favor
able to repub lean government IN the nlon.
may be to1 feeble for an opposite and hos l.
tile clement, external to aud even within .
the State, and such are precisely the cases
with winch We now dealing. An at
tempt to guarantee and protect revised
State OF government, Constructed IN whole
or in preponderatng par, from the very eie-
ment, against whose hostility aud violence
it is to be protected. is simply absurd. There
must be lest By which 10 separate oppo
sing elements SO as to build only from the
sound aud that test is sufficient and liberal
one which accepts as souni whoever viii
make a sworn recantati5n Of lis former IN
soundness. Ba. if it be proper to require a
test OF admission TO the political body an
GA h of allie glance to the Constitution Of tue
United States and to the Uui0n uader it,
why no, also to tue laws and Proclamation
in regard to Slavery? Those laws and
proclamalions were enacted and pat forth for
the purpose of aiding 10 ihd suppression II
the rebellion. To give them the fullest Ell
feet there had to be pledge for their main
tenance. In my judgement they have aid
ed, aud will further aid the cause for which
they were enlisted. 10 give up this pIinci-
pie would be not only to relinquish lever
of power but would also be cruel and as