Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-12-22
II Il Fair?


Hitherto, among ell our parties, Il has
been held to be not only hcbcrsble, but
Just, that the Anussl Message Of THE
President should be published for people
of ell views. Even religious papers we're
not f.ulted if they copied the rank ''pcli.
tics" Of that exhibit Of the Chief Maeis.
mste. A fair synopsis was the best that
could be expected.
Most heartily - We condemned them,
We have expended from one to two hun.
dred dollars 10 getting early extra copies
of Messages of Presidents Tyler, Pierce,
and Buchanan, for the readers OF the
CuRoNIcLE. While We dissented from
aud denounced them, We thought it only
common honesty that our readers should
see the documents for themselves, that
those high officers might have the chance
to speak their own views in their own way,
where ssssiisd.
No Message vas ever sought With more
interest than the last of Pres LINCOLN.
The loyal and Independent press generally
have copied it in full, for the mos, general
consideration. 1t is very shsrt-not half
ss long IS most Of the worst Of its prede.
eessors. But of . score or tuo Of our 50.
called Democratic" exchanges, only halt
q dozen have the nanliness and honor to
copyit. Instead thereof, the most of them
have concealed, misrepresented, trsduced,
o. ridiculed it. Even 10 this momentous
crisis, the views Of the officer, highest in
authority and influence, are refused to
their readers, BY meu so stepped in parti-
Fan IS to have neither good judgmeu, or
fair play 10 exercise. We care but little
wb.t they soy about the Messaee-only
lie, them giee Il, for all readers to see for
What the President thinks aud
advises 10 this day of the eountry's au-
guish. The following is from = Leading
literary paper, which, before the REBEL.
ion, -ss = practical ally Of the Slave
Power:
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The Message Of tbi. year 10 the most
important document ever submitted by the
Executive to Congress and the country.
There has been criticism Of bis "etyle,"
bu, there are few state papers more direct
and incisive than his. lie knows exactly
what be means to say, and exactly how to
say it. And when his Messages and let
,ers are compared with those of our Chief
for many . year, their true
a American ring. their manly faith in hu.
nan rights and the people, srs as unprece.
Tented as tuey are Inspiring.
The Presidents plan Of Reconstruction
Is familiar to all our readers. 1t is simple
lnd radical; it is also inevitable. For
either the Rebels must be left to determine
y hen to throw down their arms and rush
back to the Union to secure political pow.
sr, or they must understand that their
chiefs are excepted from pardon, and that,
The system for which they took up srms
having ceased legally to exist, all hope Of
ts restoration must be abandoned. The
ormer is the Copperhead plan. 1t propo.
les that whenever Rebel chooses to say
ha, be returns to his allegiance, he may
esume all bis political rights. The Pres
dents plan proposes that he shall resume
lis political rights, not when be says that he
$ sorry, but when be says that be is sorry
o such q manner that be can reasonably
De believed.
That something more than an oath to
he Constitution is necessary to secure the
,sace Of the Union, is clear enough from
he fact that Jefferson Davis himself does
.ot allow that be has violated his oath.
% bis view, secession 10 consistent with
be Constitution. Resistance to coercion
s not, according to him and the State
Rights school, rebellion. Simple repeti.
ion Of such sn oath, therefore, would be
nerely the FIRST step to another csnspirs-
,, because it leaves the object of the
onspirscy untosched. Nov, the para
,ount duty Of the Government is not
,erely to subdue, but to prevent, RsbsIl-
~. But it is clear that when the Rebel
uns are eilenced, the Uoion is not pecess.
rily restored. The initiative Of political
c,ion in the States which Rebellion will
ave sulleu aud passive, must proceed
'om the Nationsl Government. And how
lore simply and wisely than as the Mess
&c suggests +?
The President has been often accused Of
'rdily following, instead Of lsadiog, pub
c opinion. But it is bis great merit that
e early saw this to be var in which the
eople must save themselves. II they
ere unequal to the task, . popular gov
'Dment vas failure. And therefore be
IS sought only to be the executive mag
trate Of their will, which he has OWNED
ith more ssgscity than any public man
our history. It 10 that sagseisy which
~ admonisbes him to pat into clear and
nple form the settlement to which the
tional common sense irresistibly tends.
9 has done it. Not Is an advocate, or
r'isan, or fanatic, but With the same
'dom and psssiouless equity shich has
lrked bis official career from the moment
commended himself to the prayers of
old friends and neighbors st Spring. 4
ID, aud set forth to undertake q vast . q
~ ss ~asever committed to man.-Hay. I
rs Weekly.
whas say Tie Resehs