The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-08
Presidents Message.

WASHINGToN, December 5.-The message
OF President johnson was read to Congress
this day. 1t says that resistance to the
Government having exhausted itself, the
first question to be considered is, whether
the territory within the limits of States
which attempted to secede should be held
as conquered territory, under military
authority emanating from the President.
He considers that military Governments
established for an indefinite period would
have offered no security for an early sup
preston OF dlscontent, would have pro-
duced a vanquished people full of enven-
omed hatred, rather than restore their
affection, which is the true theory. All
PRETENDED acts OF secession were from the
beginning null and void. States cannot
commit treason, nor secedc through their
individual citizens who may have commit
ted treason. The States attempting to
secede, placed themselves in condition
where their functions were suspended, but
not destroyed; but if any State neglects
or refuses to perform its Offices, there is
the more need that the General Govern
ment should maintain its authority, and,
as soon as practicable, resume its func-
tons. On this principle he acted, gradu-
ally and equally; by almost imperceptible
energy of the General Government and
the States. To that end Provisional Go
vernors were appointed. All parties in
the late terrible conflict must work to-
gether in harmony. 1t is not too much to
ask that a one-side plan of restoring the
Willingness to cast the disorders of the
past into oblivion, and that on the other
side, the evidence of sincerity, in the futu
maintenance of the Union, shall be put
beyond doubt by the ratification of the
proposed anti-slavery amendment Of the
adopted, it would remain for the States to
resume their | 4aces in both branches of
Congress, and thereby complete the work
of restoration. The President says that
the General Government has no authority
to make the freedmen electors; that power
remains with the States; they can decide
whether it is to be adopted at once, or in
trodnced gradually, with the condition,
however, that the Government faith re-
quires tho security Of the freedmen in
their liberty, property, right to labor and
to claim jurisdiction of their labor. 1t
with all foreign nations, and thinks they
are animated by the same disposition.
The accordance OF belligerent rights to
the lnsurgent States was unjustihable; but
Great Britain was an exception. She built
ships and furnished men and material of
war to the insurgents. A Justification of
1t cannot be sustained before the tribunal
OF the world; at the same time, he does
not ADVISE any present attempt at redress
by acts Of legislation; for the future, the
friendship between the two countries must
rest on basis of mutual justice We have
wisely foreborne, because Of the alleged
propagandism of republicanism; but it
would be cause of great calamity to our
selves and the cause of good government,
should any foreign power challenge the
American people to its defence against
foreign interference He relies on the wis
dom and justice Of those powers to respect
our system of non-interference, which has
so long been sanctioned by time.