The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-12-15

that it implies an invitation to those
States, by renewing their allegiance to
the United States. to resume their func-
tons as States Of the Union. But it is
a risk that must be taken; in the choice
of difficulties it is the smallest risk; and
to diminish, and, If possible, to remove
all danger, | have felt it incumbent on
me to assert one other power of the
General Government-the power OF
pardon.
AS no State can throw defence over
the crime of treason, the power of par
don Is exclusively vested in the EXecu-
tive Government of the United States.
In exercising that power, | have taken
every precautiOn to connect it with the
clearest recognition of the binding force
of the laws of the United States, and
an unqualified acknowledgment Of the
great social change of condition in re-
gard to slavery which has grown out OF
the war.
The next step which have taken to
restore ethecOnstitutional relations of the
States has been an invitation to them to
participate in the high office of amend
ing the Constitution. Every patriot
must wish for a general amnesty at the
earliest epoch consistent with public
safety. For this great end there is need
Of a concurrence Of all opinions, and
the spirit Of mutual conciliation. All
parties in the late terrible conflict must
work together in harmony.
1t is not too muchto ask, in the name
of the whole people, that, on the one
side, the plan Of restoration shall pro-
ceed in conformitywith Willingness
to cast the disorders.of the past into OBJ
liViOn; and that, omthe other, the evil
dence of sincerity id the future main
tenance Of the Unioa shall be put be-
yond any doubt by the ratification Of
the proposed amendment to the Consti-
tuition, which provide 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
viii eflace the sad memory Of the past I;
this is the measure which will most GER
tainly call population, and capital, and
security TO those parts of the Union that
need them most.
Indeed, it is not too much TO ask of
the Estates which are now resuming their
places in the family Of the Union, to
give this pledge of perpetual loyalty
and peace. Until it is done, the past,
however much we may desire it, will
not be forgotten. The adoption Of the
amendment reunites us beyond all pow
er Of disruption. 1t heals the wound
teat is still imperfectly closed; it re-
moves slavery, the clement which has
so long perpleXed and divided the c0un-
try; it makes of Us once more united
people, renewed and strengthened,
bound more than even to mutual affec-
ton and support.
The amendment to the Constitution
being adopted, it would remain for the
States, whose powers have been 50 long
in abeyance, to resume their places in
the two branches Of the National Leg
islature, and thereby complete the work
of restoration. Here it Is for you, fell
low-citizens Of the House Of Represen-
tatiVes, 10 Judge, eacf of you for your
selves, Of the elections, retlrnsan quail
ificatioRS of your own lSsm hcrs-
The full assertion Of the powers of the
General Government requires the hold
ing of Circuit Courts of the United
States within the districts where their
authority has been interrupted. In the
present posture Of our public affairs,
strong objections have been urged to
holding those courts in any OF the States
where the rebellion has existed; and it
was asceitained by inquiry, that the
Circuit Court of the United States would
not be held within the District Of NiT-
ginia during the autumn Or early win
ter, nor until Congress should have ''an
opportunity to consider and act on the
whole subject"
To your deliberations the restoration
of this branch of the civil authority of
the United States il therefore necessari-
ly referred, with the hope that early
provision will be made for the resump-
ton of all its functions. 1t is manifest
that treason, most fragrant i'll character,
has been committed. Persons who are
charged with its commission should
have fair and impartial trial in the
highest civil tribunals Of the country,
in order that the Constitution and the
laws may be fully Vindicated; thetruth
clearly established and affirmed that
treason is crime, that traitors should
be punished and the offence made infa-
nous; and, at the same time, that the
question may be judicially settled, fl
nally and forever, that no State OF its
own will has the right to renOunce its
place in the Union.
The relations of the General Govern
menttowards the fOurmillio OF inhab-
itants whom the war has called into free
dom, have engagedmymostserious con-
sideratiOn. Onthepropriety of attempt
ING to make the freedmen electors by
the proclamation of the Executive, l
took for my counsel the constitution it
self, the interpretations Of that instru-
ment by its authors and their cOntem-
p0raries, and recent legislation by Con-
gress. When, at the first movement to-
wards independence, the Congress OF
the United States instructed the sever
al States to institute governments OF
their own, they left each State to decide
for itself the conditions for the enjoy
ment of the elective franchise. During
the period of the COnfederacy, there
continuedtO eXista very great diversity
in the qualifications OF electors III the
several States; and even within a State
a distinction of qualifications prevailed
with regard to the officers who were to
be chosen. The Constitution of the l.
nited States recognizes these diVersities
when it enjoins that, in the choice OF
members Of the House of Representa-
tives of the United States, ''the electors
in each State shall have the qualifica-
tions requisite for electors of the most
numerous branch of the State Legisla-
ture." After the formation of the Con-
stitution, it remained, as before, the
uniform usage for each State to enlarge
the body of its electors; according to its
Il Il l. ton