Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-10
saf they are moi. as good soldiers a. ans.

violence or cruelty has marked the
measure of emancipation. and arming
the blacks. -
These measures have been much dis
cussed in foreign countries, and cotem-
porary with such discussionstheL tone of
the public sentiment there was much inn
proved While the same measures have
been fully discussed, supported, criticized
and denounced, the annual elections are
especially encouraging to those whose
special duty it is to bear the. country
through this great trial. Thus we have
the reckoning. The ccrisisewhich threat
ened to divide the friends. of the Union
is passed. roiies spon,IoHa rs zsal
Looking now to the present and the fu-
tnre, and with reference to- assumption |
of the National authority within those
States wherein that authority has been |
suspended, l have thought fs to issue a
Proclamation, copy ofaWhieh is here
with transmitted. a. Upon examination of
this proclamation, it will appear, as is |
believed, amply justified by the Constitu-
ton. True, the form Of an oath is given,
yet no man is coerced to take it. Aman
is only promised pardon ain case he
voluntarily takes the oath. ~ The Consti-
tuition authorizes the Executive to grant
it on terms as fully established by judi !
cial and other authority aa'.rans.l9 sEi
tits also proposed that if any Of the
States named desire to,reunite with the
Government it shall be in the mode pre-
scribed and set up. Such Government
shall be recognized and guaranteed by
the United States, and that,under it the
State shall. on subscribing to, the constii'
tutional conditions, be protected against.
invasion, and domestic violence. The
constitutional obligation of the United
/ States to guarantee to every State in the
Union republican form of government
and to protect the same, is explicit and
| full. But why tender the benefits ofthis
proclamation only to a State government
set up in this particular way2 This sec
ton Of the Constitution centemplates a
case wherein the element within State
favorable to a Republican government
in the, Union may be too feeble
for an opposite and hostile element
external to, and even within the State;
and such ,ars precisely the case with
which we are now dealing, An, attempt
to guarantee and protect o revised state
of Government constructed in whole or.
Fin preponderating part from the very
element against whose hostility, and vio-
lence it is to be protected, is simply abb
surd. There must be a test b. which to
separate the opposing elements so, as to
build only from the, sound one; and that
test is sufficient and liberal one, which
accepts as sound whoever viii make a,
sworn recantation of bis former nnsound-
ness, But if it be proper to require "a
test Of admission to the political body,
an oath of allegiance to the Constitution
of the United States and the Union under
it, why not also to the Jaw and proclama-
ton in regard to slavery2 Those laws
and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES enacted and put
forth for the Purpose of, aiding in the
suppression of the rebellion. To give
them the fullest effect, there had to be a
plege for their maintainance. In my
judgement they have aided and will fur
Their aid the cause for which-th were
enacted. To give up.thisip tiRei lewould
be not only to reinquish a lever of pow
i er but it would also be cruel and as
founding breach of faith. may add.
at this point, that while | remain in my
present position ] shall not attempt
to retract or modify the Emancipation
Proclamation, nor shall | return'to slavery
any person who is made free by the
terms of the Proclamation, or by any act
Of Congress. For these and other reasons,
it is thought best that the support these
; persons snalI pc 1ncTuued IN, the oath
: and it is believed that the Executive NAV
J claim IL in return for pardon and restora-
ton of forfeited rights Which he has
: clear constitutional power to withhold
, altogether, or grant upon the terms which
: he shall deem wisest rfor-public interest
1t should be observed also that tIifi9ss part
Of the oath is subject to the modifying
and abrogating power Of legislation.
The proposed acqniescence of the Ma
tional Executive in any honorable tenn
porary State arrangement for the freed
people, is made with view of possibly
, modifying the confusion distress. and
, restitution which must at last attend
all classes, by a total revolution of labor
throughout the whole State 1t is hoped
: the already deeply afflicted in those States
: may be somewhat more ready to. give up
the cause of their affliction, and to this
4 extent. This vital matter isleftto them
, selves While no power Of the National
: Executive to prevent an abuse is abridg-
ed by this proposition, the suggestion in
in the proclamation, as to- maintain
a ing the POLITICAL framework of the
States on what is called reconstruc-
ton, is made in the hope that it may
do good without harm. It will favor
} labor and avoid great confusion But
why any proclamation now, upon this
subject7 This question is beset with
the conflicting views that the step might
be delayed too long or be taken too soon.
In some, the elements for resumption have
been ready for action, but remain inactive
apparently for want Of raIlying point
a plan of action. Why shall A adopt
the plan of B, rather than b that Of A !?
And if A and B should agree, how can
they know thatthe General Government
here will respect their plan. By the Pro
= ciamation, a plan is presented which
may be accepted by them as ralIying
point and which they are assured in adj
Il vance will not be rejected here. This
may bring them TO act sooner than they
otherwise would. The objection to a
premature. presentation of a plan. by the
National Executive, consists in the dan
ger of commitments in points which
could be more safely left to further de-
velopments. Care has been taken to so
shape the document as to avoid embar-
rassment from this, source. In saying
that on certain terms certain ella sses
will be pardoned, with their rights re-
stored, it is not said that other classes on
other terms will never be Included
J In saying that reconstruction viii
be accepted if presented in spec
fled way, it is not. said that it will
never be accepted in any other way
, The movements by State actions for
emancipation in several of the States
} not included in the Emancipation Proc
lamatiop, are matters of profound con-
graduation, and while do not repeat in
detail what / have heretofore so earnest