The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-18


and there had been many conflicts on both
land and sea, with varying results. The re-
bellion had been pressed back into reduced
limits, yet the tone of public feeling and
opinion, at home and abroad was not salts
factory. With other signs, the popular cleo
tions, then just passed, indicated uneasiness
among ourselves while amid much that was
cold and menacing the kindest words coming
from Europe were uttered in accents Of pity,
that we were too blind to surrender a hope
less cause. Our commerce was suffering
greatly by few armed vessels built upon
and furnished from foreign shores, and we
were threatened with such additions from the
same quarter as would sweep our trade from
the sea, and raise our blockade. We had
failed to elicit from European Governments
anything hopeful ON this subject.
The preliminary emancipation proclama-
ton, which was issued in September, was
running its assigned period to the beginning
of the new year. A month later the final
proclamation came, including the announce
ment that colored men of suitable condition
would be received into the war service.
The policy of emancipation, and of employ
ing black soldiers, gave to the future a new
aspect, about which hope and fear and boubt
contended in uncertain conflict
According to our political system, as a mat
ter of civil administration, the General Gov
eminent had no lawful power to effect eman-
cipation in any State, and for long time it
had been hoped that the rebellion could be
suppressed without resorting to it as mill
tary measure. 1t was all the while deemed
possible that the necessity for it might come
and that if it should, the crisis of the contest
would then be presented. 1t came, and, as
was portended, it was followed by dark and
doubtful days.
Eleven months having now passed, we are
permitted to take another review.
The rebel borders are pressed still further
back, and by the complete opening OF the
Mississippi river the country dominated by
the rebellion is divided into distant parts,
with no practical communication between
them. Tennessee and Arkansas have been
substantially cleared of insurgent control and
influence, and the citizens in each, owners of
slaves and advocates of slavery at the begin
ming of the rebellion, now declare openly for
emancipation in their respective States. vi
those States not included in the emancipation
proclamation, Maryland and Missouri Meth
er of which, three years ago, would tolerate
any restraint upon the extension OF slavery
into new Territories--only dispute now as to
the best mode of removing it within their own
limits,
Of those who were slaves at the beginning
of the rebellion, full one hundred thousand
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 cause and supplying the
nloces which otherwise must be filled with sc
MANY white men. So far as tested, it is diff
fcult to say that they are not as good soldiers
as any. No seryile instruction or tendency
to violence or cruelty has marked themeasures
have been much discussed in foreign coun
tries, and cotemporary with such discussion
the tone of public sentiment there is much
improved. At home the same measures have
been fully discussed, supported, criticised
and denounced, and the annual elections fol
lowing are highly encouraging to those whose
official duty it is to bear the country through
this great trial.
Thus we have the new reckoning. TIT
crisis which threatened to divide the friends
of the Union is past.
Looking now to the present and future, am
with reference to resumption OF the natlona
authority within the States wherein tina
authority has been suspended, | have though
| hfit to issue proclamation, a copy of which il
herewith transmitted. On examination o
this proclamation it will appear, as is believ
. ed, that nothing is attempted beyond wha
is amply justified by the Constitution. True
| the form of an oath is given, but no man i
coerced to take it. A man is only promised
t pardon in case he voluntarily takes theoath
The Constitution authorizes the Executive t.
grant or withhold the pardon at his own alb
l solute discretion, and this includes the powe
TO grant on such terms as is fully establi she,
/ by judicial and other authorities. 1t is ais
/, preferred that if sin any of the States named
a State Government shall be in the mod
q prescribed set up, such government shall b
= recognized and guaranteed by the Unite
e States, and that under ii the State shall, OF
1 the constitutional conditions, be protectei
: against invasion and domestic violence"
$ The constitutional obligation of the Unite
/ States to guarantee to every State in tn
t Union a republican form of government, AM
n to protect the State in the cases stated, is ex
plicit and full But why tender the benefit
Q of this provision only to State Government
Y set up in this particular way? This section
e of the Constitution contemplates a case where
Q in the element within State favorable to
+ republican form of government in the Uniol
G may be too feeble for an opposite and hostll
G element, external to and even within tn
e State; and such are precisely the cases witt
e which we are now dealing An attempt t
: guarantee and protect revived State govern
+ ment constructed in whole or in prepondeI
= ating part from the very element agains
$ whose hostility and violence it is to be pre-
t tected, is simply absurd. There. must be
S test by which to separate the opposing elC
y ments, so as to build only from the sound
4 and that test is sufficiently liberal one whic
@ accepts as sound whoever will make swor
: recantation of his former unsoundness.
o But if it be proper to require as test {
n admission to the political body an oath G
It allegiance to the Constitution of the Unite
# States, and to the Union under it, why nj
e also to the laws and proclamations in regar
IS to slavery? Those laws and proclamation
were enacted and put forth for the purpose
. aiding in the suppression of the rebellion
d.. To give them their fullest effect, there had
S be pledge for their maintenance. In m
It Judgment they have aided, and will furth'
d aid, the cause for which they were enlisted
To give up this principle would be not onl
l. to relinquish lever of power, but would ais
y be a cruel and astounding breach of faith.
d may add, at this point, that while renal
in my present position l shallnot attempt
st retreat, or modify the emancipation prOcl
a nation. Nor shall l return to slavery an
i person who is free by the terms of the procl
e matisn or by any act of Congress.
l, For these and other reasons, it is thong
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