Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-12-16


" republican FORM VI government and to
protect the State, in The casos stated Ia
explicit aud full but why tcndpr mo
benefits Of this provision only 10 n state
government set mp IN this particular wey :
This section OF the Constitution coniom.
plates n case wherein the element within
a state favorable to republican govern
ment, IN the Union, may bc too feeble for
an opposite and hostile element external
to, or oven within the State and such
are precisely the cases with which we uro
now dealing.
An attempt to guaranty and protect IA
revived state government, constructed in
whole, or in prepondorating part, from
the very element against whose hostility
and violence it Is to be protected, is simp-
ly absurd. There must be q test by which
to separate the opposing elements, so as
to build only from the sound and that test
is a sufficiently liberal one, which accepts
as sound whoever viii make sworn re-
Cauta,ion Of his former unsoundness.
But II it be proper to require, "a test OF
admission TO the political body, an oath OF
allegiance to the Constitution OF tho Uni
ted States, and TO the Union under it,
why also to the laws and proclamationS
in regard to slavery? Those laws aud
proclHmatious were enacted and put forth
for the purpose Of aiding in the suppress
sion Of the rebellion. To give them their
fullest effect, there had to be a pledge for
their maintenance. in my judgment
they have aided, and will further aid, the
cause for which they were intended. To
now abandon then would be not only 10
rellnquish lever Of power, but wouldalso
be cruel and an astounding breach OF
faith. may add at this point, that
while ! remain in my present position /
shall not attempt to retrpct or modify the
emancipation proclamation; nor shall
return to slavery any person who is free
10y the terms Of that proclamation, or by
any of the acts Of Congress. For these
and other reasons it is thought best that
support of these measures shall be inclu-
ded in the oath and it is believed the
: Executive may lawfully claim it in return
for pardon and restoration of forfeited
rights, which he has clear constitutional
power to withhold altogether, or grant
upon the terms which he shall deem wis
est for The public enterest, 1t should be
observed, also that this part of the oath
is subject to the modifying and abrogating
power Of legislation and supreme judicial
! decision.
The proposed acquiescence of the ma
tional Executive in any reasonable tom
lporary State arrangement for the freed
people is made with the view of possibly
modifying the confusion and destiiution
which must, at best, attend all classes 10y
a revolution of labor throughout whole
7. g. I.1 a. L.,
deeply afflicted people in those States
may be somew hat more ready to give VI
the cause of their affiiction, if, to this ex-
tent, this vital matter be eft TO them
selves while no power of .he national
Executive to preyeut an abuie is abridged
10y the proposition.
The suggestion in The proclamation a
10 maintaining the political framework o
b the States on what is called reconstruc
e. ton. is made in the hope that il may dc
e good without danger of harm. 1t viii
- y, -, - 20: r.-~t ovHfusium.
But why any proclamation now upol
this subject? This question is beset will
the conflicting views that Tie stop nigh
he delayed too long or taken too soon
In some states the elements for resump
ton seem ready for action but remain mac
tive, apparently for want of a ra,lyinj
point-a Plan Of action. Why shall
adopt the plan Of B. rather than B that o
. A? And if A and B should ugree. ho7
$ can they know bnt that the general gov
ernment here will reject their plan? B,
b the proclamation plan is presented
which may he accepted by them as raj
| lying point, and which they are assured
in advance will not be rejected here. -
- This may bring them to act sooner thar
, they otherwise would
b, The objections to premature presents
tion ofa plan 10y the national Executiv
, consists in the danger of commitials OF
points which could be more safely lef
to further Developments. Care has beer
Q taken to so shape the document as to avoi,
+ enbarrassments from this source Sayinl
that, on certain terms, certain classes vii
be pardoned, with rights restored, it i
, not said that other classes, or other terms
- will never be included. Saving that re
construction will be accepted if presente,
in a specific way, it is not said it will pey
er be accepted in any other way.
The movements, by State action, for e
, Emancipation in several Of the States, no
l included in the emancipation proclama
tion, are matters Of profound graduation
l And " while | do not repeat in detail Tha
; | have heretofore so earnestly urged upol
= this subject, my general views and feeling
I remain unchanged; and trust that Con
b gress will omit no fair opportunity Of aid
ing these important steps toa great con
l summation.
= In the midst Of other cares, howeve
o important, we must not lose sight of th
- fact that the war power is still our mai,
g reliance. TO that power alone can we look
a } ct for a time, to give confidence to tn
j. people IN the contested regions, that tn
e inSurgont power will not again overrui
b them. Until that confidence shall be es
. tablished, little can be done anywhere 70
i what is called reconstruction. Hence ou
r chieiost care must still be directed to Tia
g army and navy, who have thus far born
T. their harder part so nobly and we'll
@ And it may be esteemed fortunate tha
5 in giving the greatest efficiency TO thes
1 indispensable arms, we do also honorabl,