Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-12-26
SATURDAY MORNING, DEC. 26, 1863.

SAIUkUAI MUkNlNU, UEO. ~, lOOC.
The Presidents Message and PROCLAMATION
Of Amnesty.
We publish to-day the Presidents Message,
and his Proclamation offering full and free
pardon to such rebels as may take an oath OF
allegiance to the Government. Those ex-
cepted from the benefit of the Proclamation
are the prominent officers Of the Confederate
Government; army officers, including colonies
and all of greater rank, aud oil officers who
resigned commissions under the National
Government to join the insurgent cause.
We regard the Proclamation as well-timed'
and believe it will the effect of re.estabishing
the State governments in Tennessee, Arkan-
sas. Louisiana, and probably North Carolina,
within two or three months. and in all the
rebel States before the end Of the year 1864.
These documents do not abate one jet or
title from the force and effect Of the Emanci-
patton Proclamation, but while the permanent
freedom Of the slaveis insisted upon unless
the Proclamation shall be declared illegal by
the Supreme Court, it guarantees to the State
Governments the privilege Of adopting tempo
rary measures for preventing the disastrous
consequences which would inevitably result
from immediate abolition. In other words,
the State authorities will be permitted to
adopt measures for gradual emancipation OF
their slaves, similar to those already adopted
in Missouri and Maryland.
As long ago as last August we suggested
this as the plan of reconstruction which would
probably be adopted by the Administration
and expressed our approval oft For doing
this, we were charged with infdclty to the Re-
publican cause.
In our issue of September 18th. under the
canton Of 1.-THE Restoration of the Union
we made use of the following language:
"1n our comments upon the probable return of North
Carolina to the Union and as inducemcht for her
return we expressed approval Of the policy chich
sciN probably pursued Of allowing the rebellious States
to settle the question Of slavery for themselves with
the understanding that they would adopt for
its entire abolition in the course OF ten or fifteen years.
We likewise said:
"Before any reasonable hope can be INDUCED Of a
return to ahe Union of any of the ebeious States some
intimaton must be given of the terms OF settlement
that will be conceded to them
We closed our article with the following
explicit declaration:
ave have thus briefly but plainly indicated the
course we intend to pursue in the discussion Of the
great questions now before the country 10 preserve
our consistency we must cont nue. 70 oppose tne aoc
A-suo nj
the entire and immediate abolition Of slavery
eve think it would be difficult to find an hon:
est rejecting North South who does not regard
the institution Of slavery as doomed to sapS IN
lie opinion where It now exists, as condition OF the
two sections remaining together on terms OF peace and
s ;I% uoe it abolition when substantially the same
result be secured by the exercise OF State author
typ
It appears to us that every sincere Union
man must approve the policy adopted by the
President, upon the great and all-absorbing
question Of reconstructing the Union. We
were convinced many months ago that the
Union could not be restored by the policy in
sisted upon by the radicals Of turning loose all
the slaves. without any previous preparation
and We have felt assured that the President
would not be guilty Of the folly Of counte'
nancing such q measure. It is extremely
gratifying to know that the opinions we ex-
pressed months ago, and for which we were
then so severely criticised by our more ultra
political friends, are now substantially en-.
dorsed by the President.
The temporary measures" alluded to by
the President, which may be adopted by the
States ON the subject Of slavery, we under
stand to b. such as will gradually change the
condition Of tbs slave fiom that Of abject serv.
itude to one of unrestrainsd freedom, and thus
avoid tue shock which an immediate aid un
conditional abolition Of slavery must Of neces
sity produce. 1t is substantially saying tt
the slave States: if you will adopt meas
urea for the entire abolition Of slavery within
reasonable length Of time, your sction viii
meet with the cordial approval Of the Exec
utive.
Other portions of the Message will receive
attention next week.
..e q We are compelled to omit many arti
q cles intended fos this issue to make space TO
tho Presidents Message, among which ar,
our Legislative reports, several communica
lions, miscellaneous paragraphs. etc. W.
will manage to be cup to time" in our mex
and commence the New Year with a fair ant
square start.