Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-08
other; the preservation of the one j. the pre-.

n
culties that met me at the very commence
ment uf my administration. Il has hccn my
s;,adla>t object 70 escape from the sway Of
momeniary passions and to derive healing
policy from the fundamental and unchanging
principles Of the Constitution.
| found the States suffering irom the et-
lects Of civil war Resistance TO the Gen
eral Government appssred to havc.exhausted
itself. The Uniled States had recovered pos
session u their forts and arsenals : and
iheir armies we're in the occupation Of every
State wiish had attempted 10 secede- Whe-
thcr the territory within the limits Of these
States should BE held as conquered territory.
under military authority emsnating from
the President ss the head Of the army, was
the first question that presented itself for dc
cison
Now, military governments, established
for an indefinite period, would have offered
no security for the early suppression of dis
content would have divided the people into
the vanquishers and the vanqushed and
would have envenomed hatred. rather than
have restored affection. Once established,
no precise limit TO their continuance was
conceivable. They would have accustomed
an incIlculable and e1hausting expe. se.-
Peaceful emigration 20 and from that por
ton OF the country Is one Of the best means
that can he thought of for the restoration of
harmony and that emigration would have
been prevented FOX what cmigrant from
abroad. what industrious citizen at 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 Gov
crnment, or men who expected profit from
the mseries Of their erring fellow citizens
The powers Of patronage and rule winch
would have been exercised, under the Presi-
dent, over a vast. and populous, and natur-
ally wealthy region. are greater than, un.
/ less under extreme necessity, | should be
willing to entrust 10 any one man they
are such, as for myself, | could never, unles,
on occasions OF great emergency, consent to
exercise. The wiliful use Of such powers. IL
continued through period Of years, would
have endangered the purity of the general
administration and the liberties of the States
which remained loyal.
Besides, the policy Of military rule over a
conquered territory would have implied that
the States whose inhabitants may have TAX
en- part in the rebellion had, by the act OF
those inhabitants. ceased 20 exist. But the
true theory j., that all pretended acts Of 81, =
cossion were, from the beginning. null and
void. The Safes cannot commit treason,
nor screen the individual citizens who may
have committed treason, any more than they
can make valid TT atits ar engage ~ lawful
commerce with any foreign Power. iii,
States attempting 20 s,ccde placed them
selves m = condition where their vitality va.
impaired, but not cxtinguished- lunc-
tons suspended, but not destroyed.
But Ii any Stale ncsltcts or refuses L
perform its ofiiccs, there l. the more noed
that the General Government should main
tain all its authority, and, as soon as praci-
cable, resume tn exercise OF all it, lune
tions. On thi- principle have acted, ana
have gradually and quietly, and by most in
IerceptIhle STEPS, sought G, restore the n .,ht-
ful energy OF the General Gov, rnment and
VI the Siates. To that end. Provisional co
vernors have been appointed for the StAtos
Conventions called Governors elected. - gis-
lstuTes assembled. and Senators and Repre-
sentatiyts chosen 70 tue Congress Ol tht
United States. At the same time. a.,
Courts Of the United StHtes, as far az cOulC
be done. have been r--openei, 50 that n,
laws ct the United States NAV he enforce
through their agency. Tue blockade ha'
teen removed and the custom-hOusCs re- esta
blishtd 10 ports of entry, 80 that toe rcyrnu,
OF the United States may I've collected tn,
Post Office Department renrws it, csasci,s
activity, and the General Government, II
thereby enabled - communicate vT0mpjl,
with liz officers and agents. The c1uT.
bring security % persons and property: ID,
4 80.
Of industry ana commerce. the pisi oihc'
rUnows the facilities Of social intercourse an,
Of business And .s il 10; happy cor " all
that the restoration oi csch one u ttt-
functions Of the General Government bring
with it blessing - the >sLes over which
they are extended? l. j.. net a SURE promise
OF harmony and renewed attachment L. H.,
Union that, after ail tha; lac happened, tn
return OF the General Government is know
only a. a brueh-encc?
know very Wi tia; ;his policy is al;
tended with some ri-k that for i,s succcs
1t requires a least tn acquiescence ct tn
States ahica /. cuucerus iha; 1t inFli,s n
invitation 10 tho-e States, by renewing thoi
allegiance 10 the Unit ~ S;airs. I, r,s.m
their functions as States Of the Uniln. Bu
it IL a risk that must be t, ken IA the choic
OF difficulties. 1t IL ;Se smal!ert rI-k aud /,
diminish. and. a. possible. % remove III dan
ger. have icij it iucIm., ~ bn mc TO a,-cT
one Other power Of The General G1vernmrH
the power OF pardon. a. no State car
throw ieicJ-c over tae crime ot treason
the power oi par lOu Is excl sivvly vesi,d II
toe Executive Government ~ thc Unite
Safes IL exercising hat p,wcr. hsv
taken every riecauti'n % connect It with Ia
clearest rcrog ItipE ot the binding force OF ~
laws .f lie Unite. States. and a uuqu. Iht,
ackn -wlrd Icmeut IT ile graf social chang
OF condition IN regard y slavery which h'
grown out of the wAr
The next -tcp which | have tnken To re
store tic constitutional relations OF th
States has been an invitation ~ tncm TO par
iIcipate in tie high Office OF amending tn
Constitution Every patriot must wIsh io
general amnesty at tie earitst epoch cln
sIstenJ with public safety. For thi- grca
end there Is need OF II Concurrence of all upi
Mons, aud the spirit of mutual cOncilittion
ALI parties ~ tie late terrible conflict mus
work together in harm my. IL is not to
much 10 ak. N the name OF the whole PEG
pie, that, on tie one SIDE, the plan Of restO
ration rhall proceed M Conformity with
willingness t. cast tie disorders OF the pa.
INTO ohliVin AMI that. on the other. IL,
evidence of sinc,r.ty IN the future mainle
nance OF Ihc Union snail he put Oeyond an
doubt 10y the ratification OF the propose,
am, ndmtni to tie Consultation which pro
vidcs TOR the abolition OF slavery forever With
10 tine limits Oi our country. =, long as tn,
adoption Ui TINS amendment is delayed. =.
long will doubt ami Jealousy. AMI uncertain
Is ucyall. This is the mta-uie which Wi
face the -sd memory of tide past this u
the MEASURE winch will moso certainly cal
population. aud capital. and security Il
thUse parts ui tie Union that need then
most. Ind, ed. II Is not too much to ask o
the States which are NV resuming ibcil
places AZ the fumiis nj tile Union TO give TIM
pledge OF perpetual loyalty and peace. Until
It Is do;.e, Tie past, Low, yer, much We may
GcsIre II, " III rot lie iOrg, lien. The adUp
ton - the amendment reurIies US beyond
ali power OF disruption. Ii heals the wound
that is sill imperiectlY closed 1t removes
slavery, the element which has 80 long per
picked and divided tie country IL makes 0i
us once more u united people, renewed and
sfr,.rvrbcncd humid moro rhnn ever m mn.