Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-12-18
saatsbman 3 State yonrnaI.
MONTPELIER. DECEMBER is, 1868.
THE MESSAGE.
BY E.P. WALTON.

THE MESSAGE.
President Lincoln's message is as plain as him
self and very much shorter--so short TO be
read by everybody and so plain as to be under
stood by everybody There is no gas in It, no
special pleading. cheating but rather the
President has limited himself to fair and brief
statement Of public matters, and the recommend
alton Of such new legislation he deems desira-
be, and very little Of that The condition of
public Affairs Is not only encouraging by contrast
with the years last past, but positively encourage
ing The clouds Of foreign interference and Tor
eign war have passed; monstrous as has been the
cost Of the war the resources Of the country have
more than met it an army and navy have been
developed which will not only dispose Of the re-
bclliou, but command due respoct from other ma
tons: aud while we have been fighting for ma
tional existence new states and territories have
bccn born Co u.s. As to the rebellion. its area has
been greatly circumscrbed and its strength SO
weakened as TO satisfy the President that now is
the time TO offer amnesty to all who are disposed
to come back into the Union, and stay there, on
conditions which shall ensure future peace--lead-
ing and dangcrousrcbels of course excepted. The
conditions are embraced in the following oath, a
part Of which vas omitted in copy Of the mes
sage
ID do s,iemnly swesr in the presence n Al.
mighty God that ! eil heuect rih faithfully support
pfotcc aud defend the Constitution u the United states
And the MON nf the States heeunder. aud that ~il
iu Ike abide by aud ftihfuN support All aeis 81
C1ngre.s tassed during the EXISTING rebellion win reit
20 slaves long and 40 faf A. not repeaa OF moo
iltd held void hy Congress by decree "i the sup
rcn,c Cutt, sud that will IN like mAuner abide by and
faithfully support adj Ptocamatons oi the lteslu'n y. N
made nung ihc existing REBELLION having reference 70
slaves g. long and 20 af a. not modhea % asciet 20
void by decsiou of zoe Supreme Court SO help me 6od
The President has not been a moment too soou
in this matter because states are waiting for it.
Nor has he erred in the mode Of proceeding.
We're be- TO turn the matter over to Congress to
auie that body would wrangle about 1t for
months, aud probably agree upon nothing half so
good as the Presidents plan. But will it sue
coed We don't know Some attempt at recon-
strictiou is necessary, and it is more than proba
Bile that the President has hit upon the best thing
10 try first Doubtless he has been informed that
tbis plan is practicable in at least part Of the
rcbellous states Who will complain If it saves
even one 70 the Union and 70 Freedomt Bur w'
think it quite probable that Louisiana and Ten
uescc may Doe brought ia within few months
aud Arkansas Texas, Mississippi. Alabama ant
FLORIDA, within the year The greatest DANCE
W. apprehond is from the loyal states rather thai
uic disloval II the President is not 90 be sus
tanned iu the loyal states, and especially if th
dl.loyal are to be nAttcred with the hope that
prosla,ery administration is TO be elected in 1864
then we shall have no paciication on the princi
ple OF Erccdom and the rebellion will stTuggl
ON and the war bc prolonged either 10 reach Al
unpotrut conclusion, o. al isast no better ON
than that which the President has now proposed
We observe that some of "the radicals" at Wash
iuglon complain of the condition to the Suprcm
Court Well, We used 10 be counted among 9Th
radicals at Washington. but we really do no
scc q n thing to complain about in tins mate
The Supreme Court cannot be lodged an
fortunately it j., not SO desirable TO dodge 1t as
once was We're Congress to attempt reconstruc
ton. either on summers theory of state suicide
or any other, the first question to be settled wou
Dec as to the power of Congress; and that th
Court must decide ID is precisely so as to Tia
validity Of Lincoln's proclamatons-we mea
both the emancipation proclamation and that nor
under consideration. II any body raises the ques
ton, the Court must decide 10. II the questio
is not raised. then the Presidents condition
mounts 10 nothing, and is not worth quarrellin
about II is well enough TO remember that th
Proclamation has in some respects At least, a
the validity Of an act Of Congress, inasmuch a.
by the 18th section Of the act OF July II, 1856.
the President was authorized at any time, b
proclamation. TO extend pardon and amnesty
rebels on such conditions he may deem e.
pedient for the public welfare