Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-12-11

| lsSutu III ocptctnDcI, was running Iie hssiSutu
period to the beginning of the new year. A
month later tie final Proclamation came. in
cludirg the announcement that cOlOred men O
q suitable condition would bs received into the
war service. The policy of emancipation, and
of employing black soldiers gave to the future
a new aspect, about which hope and fear and
doubt c)ntended in uncertain conflict.
According to our political system, as q mat
ter OF civil administration, the General Gov
eminent had no lawful power to effect emanci-
patton in any State. and for long time it had
been hoped that the rebellion could bs sup
pressed without resorting TO It az q military
me sure. Ii was, all the while, deemed posi-
| BILE that the necessity TO: 1t might come, and,
that il it should. the crisis Of the contest would
| then be presented
1t came, and, as was anticipated, was follow
ed by dark and doubtful days. Eleven months
having now passed, We are permitted to take
another review. The rebel borders are pressed
still furthey back by the complete opening of the
Mississippi the country dominated By the re-
bellion is divided into distinct parts, with no
practicable communication between them. Ten
nesSee aad Arkansas have been substantially
cleared of insurgents CONTROL AID iufluenti, Il cit
zens 10 each, owners of slaves and advocates Of
Slavery at the beginning Of the rebellion, now
declare openly for Emancipation in their respec-
tive States.
OF those States not Included in the Emauci-
patton Proclamation, Marylsnd and Missouri,
neither Of which three years ago would tolerate
any restraint upoUthe extension of slavery into
new Territories, only dispute now a. to the best
mole of removing it within their own limits.
OF these who were slaves at the beginning of
the rebellion, full 100, 900 are now in the United
States military service, about one half of which
number actually bear arms In the ranks-thus
giving the double advantage Of taking SO much
labor from the insurgent Gauss, sui supplying
the places which must otherwise bs filled with
20 many white men.
So far as tested 1t Is difficult to say that they
are not as good soldiers a. any. No servils in-
surrection, or tendency to vi0lenca or cruelty,
has marked the measures OF emancipation sud
arming the blacks Thess measures have been
much discussed in foreign countries, and, con-
temporary with such discussion. the tone Of
pubic sentiment there is much improved.
At home the same measures have been fully
discussed, supported, criticized and denounced.
and the annual elections folio AiDg are highly
encouraging to those whose official duty it il
to bear the country through this great tri,l-|
Thus We have the new reckoning Ihs crisis
which threatened TO divide the friends OF the
Union is past.
Looking now, to the present and future, and
with reference 10 q resumption of the national
authority within tie States wherein that au-
thorlty has been suspended, have thought
fit to issue Proclamation, Q copy of which is
herewith transmitted. On examination of this
PROCLAIM alton 1t will appear, as 10 believed, that
nothing 10 attempted beyond what is amply
justified by the Constitution.
True, the form Of IN oath IL given. but no
man Ia Coerc,d to tIke it; the man Is only
promised q pardon In case be voluntarily takes
tho oath. The Constitution authorizes the
Executive to grant or withhold tho pardon at
bis own absolute discretion, and this includes
the power to grant on terms. As 10 fully estab-
lshed by Judicial and other authorities
1t is also proffered that If in any of the
States named q state Government shall be, in
the mode prescribed, set up, such Government
shall be recognized aud guaranteed By the Unit
ted States, and that under it the State shall,
on the Constitutional conditiOls, BE- protected
against invasion and domestic viOlenes.
The constitutional obligation of the United
States to guarantee to every State in the Union
republican form of government, and to protect
the State in the cases stated, is explicit and
full. But why tender the benefits of this pro-
vision only to State Government set I'D in this
particular way!
This section of the Constitution contemplates
4 case wherein the element within Stale IA
vorable to republican Government, in the
Union, may be too feeble for an opposite and
hostile element external to- or even within the
State, and such are precisely the cases with
which we are now dealing.
An attempt to guarantee and protect re-
vved State Government, In whole or In pre-
ponderate part, from the very element against |
whose hoetiliti,s and violence it is to be pro-
ected, is simply absurd. There must be q test |
BY which to separate the opposing elements, so as
10 build only from the sound and that test is |
sufficiently lib raj one which accepts as sound |
whoever will make sworn reCantaticn of his /
ormer uDsOundness.
Bat if it be proper to require as test of ad /
mission to the political body an oath of allesi-
lnce to the Constitution Of the United States Il
md to the Union under 1t, why also to the i
avs and prQclamations in regard to slavery
Those laws and prOclamaiions weie enacted |
md put forth for the purpose OF aiding in the
of the rebellion. To give them
heir fullest effect there had to be pledge for
heir maiotenance. In my judgment, they
lave aided, and will further aid, the cause for
shieh they were intended. To now abandon
hem would be not only to relinquish lever of
'ower, but would also be a c,usl and an
breach of faith.
/ may add, at this point, that while remain
O my present position l shall not attempt to
etract or modify the Emancipation Proclama-
ion, nor shall return to slavery any person
rho Is free by tbs terms of that Proclamation,
Z by any of the acts of Congress.
For these and other reasons it is thought
'est that support of these measures shall be in
luded In tho oath, and it is believed the Ex-
cutive may lawfully claim it in return for
'rdon and restoration of forfeited rights,
vhich he has clear constitutional power to
withhold altogether or grant upon The terms
which he shall deem wisest for the public
interest.
1t should be observed also that this part Of
he oath Is eubjsos to the modifying and abro-
ating power OF leg isa,ion and supreme judicial
leCisiOn.
The proposed aequiescence of the National
Executive in any reasonable temporary State
for tho freed peOpls, /, made with
he view Of possibly modifying the confusion
nd destitution which must at best attend
III cases by . total revolution Of labor
throughout the whole States.
1t 10 hoped that the alresdy deeply sfaicted
,eople In these States may be somewhat more
eady to give up the cause OF their ain otion,
to this extent this vital matter be lsft 70
II IL NJ II