The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-12-07

Nuiiph Va Ahb iilSCh AAht'o 49,
States will endure the destruction OF the
one is the destruction of the other; the
preservation of the one is the preservation
OF tile other.
nave Thus explained my views of the
mutual relations OF the Constitution aud the
States because they unfold the principles
on which | have sought t. solve the mo
,nent0us questions and overcome the ap-
palliug difficulties that met me at the very
commencement of my administration It
has been my stesdfast object to escape from
the sway of momentary Passions, and to
derive a healing policy from the fundamei,-
tai and unchanging principles Of the COD
stitution
found the States suffering from the eff
fects of civil war. Resistance to the Geu-
eral Government appeared to have exhaust
ed itself The United States had recovered
possession of their forts and arsena's; aud
tlitir armies " ere III the occupation IT ev-
Try State which attempted to secede.--
Whether the territory within the limits ii
those States should be held as conquer ed
territory under military authority cnIana
ting from tho President as the head of the
army. was the first question that preseutei
for decision.
Now, military governments. established
for ali indefinite period, would have offered
10 security for the early suppression of dis
content: would have divided the people iutu
the vanquishers aud the vanquished; and
would have envenOmed hatred. rather than
have restored affection. Once established,
no precise limit to their continuance war
conceivable. They would have occasinlei
All iucaIculabe aud exhausting expense
Peaceful emigration to and from that prr
ton of the country is one OF the best nleailt
that can be thought Of for the restoration
If harmony; and that emigration would
have been pre- vented; for what emigrani
from abroad, what industrious citizen al
home, would place himself willingly under
military rule? The chief persons who
would have followed in the train of the
army would have been dependents on the
General Governments, or linen who expect
ed profit from the iniseries of their erring
fellow citizens. The powers of patronage
and rule which would have been exercised
under the President, over vast and popu
Ious, and naturally wealthy region, art
greater than, unless under extreme neces
sity, should be willing to entrust to any
one man; they are such as, for myself
could never, unless on occasions OF great
emergency, consent to exercise. The viii
fu USE of such powers, if continued through
period Of years, would have endangered
the purity of the General Administration
and the Iibefties of the States which re
manned loyal.
Besides the policy of military rule ovel
conquered territory would have implied
that the States whose inhabitants may have
taken part in the rebellion had, by the ACT
of those inhabitants, ceased to exist But
the true theory is, that all pretended acts
Of secessiou, We're, from the beginning null
AMI void The States cannot commit trea
sou. nor screen the individual citizens who
may have committed treason, any NOR,
than they can make valid treaties to en-
gage Ill lawful commerce With any toreig,
Power. The states attempting to sece,tt
placed themselves in Il co,slitIpu where Their
vitality Was impaired but not extiugisbed
their functions suspended, but not de
stroytd
But if any State ueglects or refuses to
perform lis offices there liz the more neeC
that the GeneFai Government should main
tain all Its authority, and, as soon "a prac
ticahte resume the exercise OF all Its func
tions. On this principal have acted, AND
have gradually aud quietly. and by almost
imperceptble steps, sought to restore the
rightfuI energy of the General Government
and of the States To that end, Provisions
al Governors have been appointed for the
States, Conventions called, Governors cleo
ted, Legislatures assembled, and Senators
aud Representatives chosen to the Congress
Of the United States At the Same time
the Courts of the United States, as far as
could he done have been reopeued, so thai
the laws of the United States may be eutor-
led through their agency The blockade
has been removed and the Custom House re
established iii ports of entry, 80 that the
revenue Of the United States may be collect.
ed The Post Office Department renews its
ceaseless activity, aud the General Govern.
meut is thereby enabled to communicate
promptly with it's officers and agents The
Courts bring security TO persons aud proper
~; the opening of the ports invites the res
toration Of industry and commerce; the
Post Office renews the facilities of socl Il III
ter,Ourse and OF business And is it not
happy for us all. that the restoration of each
one of these functions Of the General Gov
ernmeut brings with it blessing to the
States over which they are extended? ls
1t not a sure promise Of harmony and re-
De"ed attachment To the Union that, after
all that has happened, the return of the
General Government 10 known only as a
benefcenceP
know very well that this policy is at
tended with some risk; that for its success
1t requires at least the acquiescence of the
States which it concerns; that it implies all
invitation to those States, by renewing their
allegiance to the United States to resunle
their functions as States of the Union. But
1t IS risk that must be taken; in the
choice of difficulties it is the smallest risk;
and 10 diminish, and, if possible. to remove
all danger, | have felt it incumbent OH he
to assert one other power of the General
Governnent-the power of pardon. AS no
State can throw defense over the crime of
treason, the power of pardon is exclusively
vested in the Executive Government of the
United States. In exercising that power,
| have taken every precautiou to connect
1t with the clearest recognition of the bind
ing force of the laws of the United States
and an unqualified acknowledgement 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 re-
store the constitutional relations Of the
States has been an Invitation to them to
participate in the high Office of amending
the Constitution. Every patriot must wish
for general amnesty at the earliest epoch
consistent with public safety. For this
great eIld there Is nee,i Of "A concurrence Of
all opinion, aud ;he spirit of mutual concili-
alton AL pntics i'll the late terrible CON
H'ct must work together in harmony. 1t
rs not to Unch too ask III the name of the
" hole people. that, on the one side, the
plan N restoration shall proceed in confIrn,-
'ty @lth a wilIugn' IS Ia cast the disorders
OF the past into "bI>ion; and that. on the
other. the evidence OF sincerity in the t,ltnr,-
maintenance of the Union shall be put tie
You'd any doubt 10y the ratification of the
proposed amendment to the Constitution
which provides for the abolition of slavery