East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-12-16
NUMBER 227.s

dark and doubtful days,
Eleven Notwithstanding passed we
are permitted to take another re.
view. The rebel borders are pressed
further back and by the COM
plete opening Of Mississippi River, the
country dominated over by the rebel
lion isdivided into distinct parts and
no praciifal communication between
them. Tennessee and Arkansas have
been SO substantially cleared Of in
surgentcontroll and influential citizens
iu each, owners of slaves and advo-
Gates of slavery, at the. beginning of
the rebellion, now declare for enlanci-
patton in their respective States, not
included in the emancipation procla-
nation. Maryland and Missouri,
neither Of which years ago would tol-
crate any restraint upon the extension
of slavery into the new Territories,
only dispute now as TO the best mode
of removing it within their own limits
OF those who were slaves at the be-
ginning Of the rebellion, full one hum Z
dred thousand are now in the United
States military service, about one half
Of which number actually bear arms
in the ranks, thus giving tho double
advantage Of taking SO much, labor
from the insurgent cause and supply
ing the places which otherwise must
be filed with so many white men,
So far it is difficult to state that they
are not as good soldiers as any. No
seivile instruction or tendency to Vi
olenee or cruelty has marked the
measures Of emancipation and arming
the blacks These measures have
been much discussed in foreign coun-
tries, and with such discussion the
tone Of public setiment there is much
improved. AT homo the same meas
ureshave been fully discussed, sup
the annual misunderstanding are high
ly encouraging to those whose official
duty it is to bear the country through
this great trial. Thus we have tho
new reckonioning--th crisis which
threatened to divide the friends of the
Union is past
Looking now to the present and
future, and with q reference to re-
sumption Of the national authority
in the States wherein that authority
has been suspended, i have thought
right to issue proclamation, copy
of which is ith transmitted. On
examination of this proclamation it
will appear, as is believed, that moth
ing is attempted beyond what is amply
justified by the Constitution. True,
the form Of an oath is given but no
man is coerced to take it. The man
is only promised pardon in case he
voluntarily take the oath. The Con-
stitution authorizes the executive to
grant or withhold the pardon at his
absolute discretion. This includes tho
power to grant on terms as is fully es-
tablishcd 10y judicial and other author-
tiles. 1t is also prolered that i'll any
of the States named, State Govern
ment shall be recognized and guaran-
teed by the United States, and that
under it tho State shall, on the
Constitutional conditions be protect
ed against invasion and domestic vi
olenco. The unconstitutional obligation
of tho United States to guarantee to
every state of the Union Republican
form of Government, and to protect
the SSate in the case stated, is explicit
and full, but why tender the benefits
of this provision only to State Gov
ernment set up in this particular way?
This section OF the Constitution con-
contempates case wherrin the elc-
ment within State favorable to Re-
publican Government within the
Union, may be too feeble for an op-
o lite and hostile element external to
on even within the State; and such
are precisely the cases with which we
are now dealing. An attempt to
guarantee and protect a revised State
government, constituted in whole or
in prepondeifng part, from the very
cement against whose hostility and
violence it is to be protected, is simply
absurd. There must be a test by
which to separate the opposing ele-
ments so as TO build only from what
is sound. That test is u sufficiently
liberal one which accepts as sound
whoever viii make q sworn recanta-
{ ON Of his former movements, but If
il be proper to require as test Of adj
mission to the political body an oath
of allegiance TO the United States and
to the Union under it, why not also in
the laws and proclamations in regard
t. slavery These laws and proclama-
tons were enacted and put forth for
the III rpose OF nj q in the suppress
- .its- -. fr--...--.-lf ~ -.-.. =
their fullest effect there has to be O
! Iledge for their maintainance. In my
ljud. .ment they have aided and will
further aid the cause for which they
were intended. To now abandon them
would Le not only TO relinquish a lev
en- of power, but would also be cruel
and astounding, breach of faith. While
| remain in my present position i
shall not attempt TO retract or modify
the emancipation PROCLAMATION nor
shall lretuIn to slavery any person
who is. free by the telms Of that proc
lama,ion, CT by any of theactsof Con-
gress. For these, and other reasons,
it is thought best that the support Of
these measures shall be included in
the oath, and it is believed that the
Executive may lawfully claim it in
return for pardon and restoration of
forfeited rights which he has clear
constitutional power TO withhold alto
gether, or grant upon the terms he
/ shall deem wisest for public interest
1t should be observed, also, that this
part OF the oath is subject TO the mod
Z flying and abrogating power of legis-
lation, and Supreme judicial proceed-
! ings. The proposed acquiescense of
the national Executive in any reason-
! able temporary State arrangement for
f the freed people, is made with view