Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-12-14

OHl&u StateS Hau recovered possession OF tneir
forts and arsenals; and their armies were in the
occupation of every State which had attempted
: to scccde. Whether The territory within the limits
OF those States should be held as conquered terri
tory under military authority eminating from tho
President as the head et the army. was the first
question that presented itself for decision.
Now, military governments, established for an
indefinite period. would have offered security
for the early suppression Of discomfort; would have
divided the people into the vanquislcrs and the
ranqushed; and would have envenomed hatred
rather than have restored affection. Once estab
lished, no precise limit 10 their continuance was
conceivable. They would have occassioned an in
caculable and exhausting expense Peace u
emigration to and from that portion Of the country
is OF the best means that can be thought OF for
the restoration Of harmony; and that emigration
would have been prevented; for what emigrate
! from abroad, what industrious citizen ut home.
would place himself willingly under military rulel
The chief persons who would have followed in the
train Of the army would have been dependents on
the general Government. or men who expected
profit from the miseres Of their erring fellow cti.
zens. The powers OF patronage and rule which
would have been exercised, under the President,
over a vast, and populous, and naturally wealthy
region, greater than. unless under extreme ne
cessity. should be willing to entrnst to any one
man; they are such as. for myself, | could never,
unless on occasions of great emergency, consent
| to exercise. The millful use of such powers, IL
continued through period of years, would have
endangered the purity of the general administra-
ton and the liberties Of the States which remained
loyal.
Besides, this policy Of military rule over a con-
quercd territory would have implied that tho
States whose inhabitants may have taken part in
the rebellion had, by the acs OF those inhabitants,
ceased to exist. But the true theory is. that all
pretended acts of secession were, from the begin
ming, null and void The States cannot commit
treason. nor screen the individual citizen who may
have committed treason. any more than they can
make valid treaties or engage in lawful commerce
with any foreign power. The States attempting
to scceie placed the selves in a condition where
their vitality was impaired, but not extinguished
their functions suspended but not destroyed.
But il any State negiccts or refuses to perform
its offices, there is the need that the general
Government should maintain its authority, and /,
as practicable, resume the exercise OF all
its functions, On this principle have acted. and
have gradually and quietly, and by almost lmper-
ccptble steps, sought to restore the rghtu energy
of the general Government and Of the States. To
that end, Provisional Governors have been ap-
pointed for the States, Conventions called Gov
crnors elected, Legislatures assembled. and Sen
atOrs and Representatives chosen to the Congress
Of the United States. At the same time. the
Courts of the United States, rs far as could be
done, have been reopencd, so that tho laws o. the
I
agency. The blockade has been removed and the
custom houses re established in ports Of entry SO
that the-revenue Of the United States may be col
lectcd. The Post Office Department rencws its
ccaselcss activity, and the general Governments. is
thereby enabled to communicate promptly with its
officers and agents. The courts bling security 10
per and property; the opening of the ports in
sites the restoration of industry and commerce;
the post Office renews the facilities OF social inter
of hns nd ia not han fnr A a
all, that the restoration Of each of these func
tions Of the general Government brings with II a
blessing TO the States which they extend
edl Is it not sure promise OF harmony and re-
ncwed attachment to the Union that after all that
has happened, the return OF the general Govern
mcnt 10 known only as = benchccncef
know very well that this policy 10 attended
with some risk; that for ts success il requires at
least the acuucsencc Of the States which it con-
Germs; that il implies invitation to those States,
by rene wing their allegiance 10 the United States,
to resume their functions States of the Union.
But it is risk that must be taken; in the choice
of difficulties, it is he smallest risk; and 70 dimin
ish. and, IL possible, to remove all danger. have
felt it incumbent OIL me To assert one other power
OF the General GOvernment-ths power OF pardon.
As no 5 ,ato can throw defence the crime
OF treason, the power of pardon is exclusively vest
cd i'm the Executive Government Of the United
, States. In exercising that power. | have taken
recognition ofthe binding force Of the laws OF the
United States, and an unqualified acknowledg-
ment of the great social change of condition in
regard TO slavery which has grown out Of the war.
The next step which have taken to restore the
constitutional relations Of the States. has been an
invitation to them TO participate in the high Office
of amending the Constitution. Evcfy patriot mus.
wish for general amnesty at the earliest epoch
consistent with public safety. For this great end
there ia need OF concurrence of all opinions, and
the spirit of mutual Cancellation. All parties in
the late terrible conflict must work together in
harmony. Ii is not too much 70 ask, in the name
Of the whole people, that, on the one sde the plan
OF restoration shall proceed in confirmity with
willingness to cast the disorders OF the past into
oblivion; and. that, on the other, the evidence OF
sincerity in the future maintenance Of the Union
shall be put beyond any doubt by the ratification
of the proposed amendment TO the Constitution.
which provides for the abolition of slavery forever
, within the limits OF our country. SO long as the
! adoption of this amendment is delayed, so long
will doubt, and jealousy and uncertainty, prevail.
This is the measure which will cfface the sad
memory Of the past: this is the measure which will
most stecrtainly call population. and capital. and
security to those parts Of tho Union that need
them most. Indeed, il is not too much TO ask Of
the States which now res dming their places in
the family Of the Union to give this pledge Of
perpetual loyalty and peace. Until il is done, the
past, however much we may ucsife II, Will not DC
forgotten. The adoption of the amendment re-
unites us beyond all power Of disruption. # heals
the wound that is still imperfectly closed; it re-
moves slavery, the element which has so long per-
pJeXed and divided the country; il makes OF us
once more united people, renewed and strength
encd, bound more than ever to mutual affection
and support.
Tho amendment to the C Institution being
adopted, ir would remain for the States, whose
powers have been so long in abcyancc, to resume
their places in the two branches Of the National
Legislature, and thereby complete the work of
restoration. Here it is for yOu fellow citizens OF
the Senate, and for you, fellow citizens of the
House of Representatives, to judge, each Of you
for yourselves, OF the elections, returns and quail
fcations Of your own members.
The full assertion Of the powers Of the General
Government requires the holding ofCrcuit Courts
of the United States within the districts where
their authority has been interrupted. In the pres
ent posture Of public affairs, strong objections
have been urged to holding those courts in any of
the States where the rebellion has existed; and it
was asccrtaned, by inquiry, that the Circuit Court
OF the United States would not be held within the
District Of Virginia during the autumn or early
winter, nor until Congress should have ian oppor-
tunity 10 consider and act or the whole subject"
To your deliberations the restoration Of this
branch Of the civil authority Of the United States
is therefore necessarily referred, with the hope
that early provision will be made for the rcsump.
ton Of all its functions. Ii is manifest that trea-
son, most fragrant in character. has been commit
ted. Persons who are charged with its commission
should have fair and impartial trials in the highes.
civil tribunal ls of tha in order that the