Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-12-19

into new territories, oHIf uIFPuto~hV" %
10 the best mode of removing it within
their own limits.
OF those who were slaves at the be-
ginning of the rebellion, full 100000 are
now in the United States militry service,
about one-half of which number actually
bear arms in the ranks, thus giving the
advantage of taking so much labor from
the INDECENT and supplying the P aces
which otherwise must be filled with so |
many white men. So far as tested, 1t is !
difficult to say that they are not as good |
soldiers as any. No servile insurrection
or tendency to violence or cruelty has
marked the measures of emanclpatlng
and arming the blacks. These measures
have been much discussed in foreign
countries, and contemporary with such
discussions, the tone of public sentiment
there is much improved. AT home the
same measures have been fully discussed,
supported, criticised and sanctioned, and
the annual elections following are highly
encouraging to those whose special duty
it is to bring this country through this
great trial.
Thus. we have passed through the crl-
els which threatened to divide the friends
of the Union.
Looking to reconstruction OF the Tn.
ion and with reference to resumption OF
national authority within the States
where that authority has been suspended,
7 have thought fit to issue proclama-
tion. a COPY OF which is herewith trans
mitted.
On examination of this proclamation,
it will appear as is believed, amply JUST
fed by The Constitution. True, tie form
Of an oath is given, but no man is CO.
creed TO take It. A man is only prof
fered pardon in case he voluntarily
takes the oath. The Constitutional au
thorty of the Executive to grant par
1 don on terms Is fully established by judi
cal and other authorities.
1t is also prohered that the States
named asserting government shall be IN
the mode prescribed set up. Such gov
eminent shall be recognized and guaran-
teed by the United States, and that the
State shall under Constitutional condi-
tons be protected against invasion and
domestic violence.
The constitutional obligations of the
United States to guarantee to every State
in the Union n republican form of gov
ernment and to protect the State in cases
rs stated, is explicit and full; but why
tender the benefits of this provision only
to State government set up in this par
ticuIar way. This section of the Consti-
tuition contemplates a case wherein the
element of State favorable to a repub-
lican government in the Union, may be
too feeble for an oppositea nd hostile ele-
ment external to and even within the
State, aud such are precisely the cases
with which w are now dealing.
An attempt to guarantee and protect
revised State government, constituted in
whole or in preponderating part from
the very element against whose hostility
and violence it is TO be protected, is sim
ply absurd. -,
There must be test by which tc
separate opposing elements, so as to build
only from the sound, and that test is q
. | sufficient anu IlOSTdl OilCs hnICb ftOSN pt1
as sound whoever will make q sworn re.
E coonition of bis former unsoundness. But
if it be proper as test of admission tc
the political body.an nth of submission tc
the Constitution Of the United States and
20 the Union, under it, why not also to
laws and proclamations in regard to sla''
very? These laws and proclamations
were enacted and put forth for the pur
pose of aiding in suppressing the rebel
lion. To give them their fullest effect,
there had to be pledge for their main
tenance. In my judgment, they have
aided and will further aid the cause for
| which they were esacted.
To give up this principle would be not
only to relinquish lever Of power, but
would also be a cruelty and an outstand-
ing breach of faith. / will add at this
point, that while | remain in my present
position, shall not attempt to retract oil
modify the Emancipation Proclamation,
nor shall return to slavery anv person
who is free Oy the laws of the procIama-
ton or by any act of Congress. Fol
these and other reasons it is thought best
that the support of these provisions shall
he included in the oath, and it is heliev-
ed the Executive may lawfully claim II
in return for pardon aud restoration oil
projected rights which he has clear con-
stitution power to withhold altogether OF
grant upon the terms which he shall
deem wisest for the public interest.
1t should be observed also that this
part of the oath is subject to the modify
ing and abrogating power of Legislation
and supreme judicial decisions. The
proposed acquiesence of the national ex
ecutive in any honorable temporary ar
rangemeet for the freed people is made
with the view of possibly modifying the
confusion and destitution which must at
best attend all classes by total revolu-
ton of labor through the States. It is
hoped that the already deeply afflicted
people in those States may be made
ready to give up the source of their af-
fiction, and to this end this vital matter
is left to themselves. While no power of
the national executive TO prevent an
| ob,.o "a obr;d ,ad hv, tho Dro,Os;tior