The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-18
The Presidents Annual Message, and
Proclamation of Amnesty,


Proclamation of Amnesty,
We lay before the readers of the Union
this week, the Presidents Annual Mes
sage to Congress; and his Proclamation
offering an Amnesty, with certain excep-
tiopal cases-to all those, now in rebellion
against the Federal Government, who will
return to their duty and take, and SUBJ
scribe an oath of allegiance.
The message refers to this proclamation,
And before we proceed to notice the mes
sage further, it is proper to examine the
Proclamation,
1t may be well remarked, that the Presi-
dent, with his very practical mind, sound
judgment; and plain good sense takes
hold Of, and treats the most difficult SUBJ
jeets, with plainness and simplicity of
style, and distinctness of purpose, that
leaves no one in doubt as to his meaning
and he sustains his positions with argu-
ments so plausible, as to carry conviction
to most of his readers and even to ST.
lenee these, and put them to serious
thonghtfulness, who might feel disposed
to question his views. The proclamation
of Amnesty is of this character. 1t has
often been asked, NWhat are we to do
with the rebels, after we shall have re-
duced them ?"
rrTNs
This question has puzzled many men.
And it is, eonfessedly, question of great
dittlculty-a question, however, capable of
an easy solution, if we contemplate the
character Of our Government; the nature
of the rebellion, and ths dictates Of hu-
manity.
Frst.-The Federal Government, is not
Union of the States, but ofhe people of
the achole United States, and is a compact,
National Government, in unity with itself,
harmonizing in its several parts, with
checks, and balances, which at the same
time that they protect the people, sustain
and give vigor to the Government.
1t is hetrodox opinion that State, as
such, can commit treason, or forfeit its
status, as State, under the constitution
of the United States. The people of the
several States may commit treason. In
such case the constitution and laws of the
United States, act upon the persons, not on
the States; so that, it is plain, no ordi
nance of secession can take State out Of
the Union, although all the people in thai
State may be in rebellion against the Fed
eral authority. So soon as the insurrec
ton, or rebellion is suppressed, and th'
Federal authority restored, then tina
authority resumes its sway or control ovei
the people, and the State remains, as j
was before, in the Union. This is tn,
character of the Government.
sSecond.-As to the nature Of the rebel
lion.
We have already said that State can
not commit treason, nor can it, as Stat
secede from the Union The rebellion il
'e.>'e - sAAS POoPeo asdlnSI INC cOusUiIutlOn
and laws Of the United States. The State
reDaaias as one Of the United States O.
America, before and after the rebellion
shall have been suppressed, subject, W,
admit, to the forfeitures, penalties, an,
confscations which the rebels have brough
upon themselves.
4hiad-As TO the dictates of Hupaa,,st,
1t is manifest, that few leading, ba
men, have plunged the people of the Sout
into rebellion. The people themselves
the masses of the people, were, we ar
satisfied, opposed to secession They s
express themselves in most Of the Souther
States, by large majorities Yet the Gun
ming and wickedness of the few ambition
demagogues, forced them into open wa
and rebellion, with the Federal author
ties.
Then after the rebellion shall have bee
suppressed, hoV are punishments to |
meted out against those who have con