The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-12-14

- lasn rarroved ma the custom houses re-essae's
Fl 10 ports OF entry. that the reFenHe Q. 'e -.
So - !. collected The P1stofhce department
reueyzs its cea seless activity, and TIE D7iei ~ -
nent Is thereby enabled u eprniann'cs@.e az -,
Wei IL otfictrs and sgents The courts BRING s@eu-
" 10 persons and property; the opening ol : -,
invites the restoration of industry and c. iiti- -
-ost Office renews the facilities Of social M -
and OF business. And IS Il q hAPpy .os So N - {: =
the restoration Of these functions oi the u-nStd
erunlent brings blessings 10 the States oNet - L,
are extended Is u not sure pfoHlise VI - I'll
and renewed attachment 10 the Union thai a.el a.
that has happened, the return OF tue 'ei9'@
uleut i kr0wn only benlncenee -,
| know verv aell that THIS policy : at'enI7 -
some risk that fer its success Il retluire a. :
acduiesceuce OF the States winch II concerns -
lfas an imitation t. those states. By rene" iS ls
ALLEGIANCE 10 the United States, To resume their
tious as States of the Union. But IS r.sA ia.
must be taken n the choice OF dihcultes; y = rs
smallest risk ana 10 diminish and If possible 20 re
move all danger. have felt i incumbent ~ ON u -
sert other power Of the uenetAl " -,
power OF pardon. As no state can tnr"" N
over the criIns of treason the power oi ardoh =
clusvev vested in the Executive Government y 1ie
United states In exercising that pow hafe taAst
every recaution to cunect with the clear streGoHt
ton Of the binding force OF the laws o. ,ns -
States, and unqualified achno" ieds ulIn IN -
great social change Of condition N reSalH - '-
which has grown out OF the war. -.
The next step which have taken to restore me con
suouaI relations Of the States, has been al 4h'l1a
ton To them participate in the high once o.
ing the Constitution. Every patriot mus vs. W. ~
general amnesty the earliest epoch 1ent ~
public safety. For this end there Is neel "'
renee of all opinions. in the spirit OF nutnai
ton. All parties in the late terrible struggle 'Aas'
work together in harmony. 1t Is not too nlheh t4N
in the na of the whole people, tha, on te on 800
the plan of restoration shall proceed Win "t.-
ness to disorders OF the past INTO ooii'
and that on the other, evidence OF sincerity N ''S
future maintenance of the Union SHALL oe put nes"'h
any doubt by the ratification OF the proposed aIeH
rlent 10 the Constitution which provides Tor the ap"
htiou OF slavery forever within tie limits o cur cu
try So long a the adoption OF TINS anlsndh-eu' -
della yed long will doubt, and Isa9usE, utee
ty prevail This is the measure Wftch viii eHa,S ~ ~
sad memory of the past; this is the measure "iei
will most certainly call population, and capital an
security those parts Of the Uuon th2t need tetlI
most. Indeed il Is not too much too ASK t" '"S9o
States which are resuning their places IN t'lg
family of the Union to give this pledge "t perpe1u'
loyalty and peace. Until IS done the past 10" %
much we NAV desire it, will not be forgotten ne
adoption o the amendment reuultes Us beyond al,
poae- Of disruption 1t heals the wounds that Is s'''
imperfecty closed 1t removes slavery, tle eleLI>. -
which has long perplexel and divided The country
il makes OF once more united people, fehe'Ee ia
siren gtAenei, bound than ever 10 Ihulul A1I
tiuu and support
TIE am.nimeut to the Constitution being adopted,
il would remain for til. states, whose powers have
been long in aheyauce 10 resume their places IN e
branches of the National Legislature ana thtreoE
complete the work Of restoration Here IT : ior YOU
fellow the Senate. and for you, eaoW-cltl-
OF the House Of Representatives,, 10 JuHge, eac
of Won for your selves, OF the elections, retnrns anu
qualifications OF your own members.
The full the powers OF the General ooF
ernment requires the holding OF Circuit Courts OF the
United States within the districts wnere their ahthorl
" has been L terrupted- In the present postu'e
public affairs strong objections have been ureed
to holiing those Courts in any Of the states where
the Rebellion has existed and il asceralnel, bE
inquiry, that the Circuit Court Of the tinted states
would be held within the District Of Virginia dur
ing the autumn early winter, nor until congress
should have "aH opportunity consider ana act On
the whole subject" To YOUR deliberations on tue
this branch OF the civil authority OF the
United States is therefore necessarily reierre Win
the hone that eariv provision will be made for the re
sumption OF all its functions. 1T Is manifest that
treason, mast hagrant IN character, mas oeen com
mttci Persons WI" are c!argea "lta rs co.iIi9
sion should have fair and Impartial rlaS IN tue hes
civil tribunals of the country, order that the Con
stithtton and the laws NAV bc laif Nihd'ca'ed -
truth clearly established and affirmed taat treason IS
crime that traitors should be punished and the
ofanse made infamous and, at tie same tune, tliL
tie question NAV uiicallr settled. finally and FOR
ever, that State OF its own viii has the right !"
r.uaunce its place in the Union.
The relatjens of the General Government toward
the four millions of inhabitants whom the war has
called freedom, have engaged my most serious
consideration. On the propretr ot attempting ."
make freedmen electors by the proclamation "i tHe
Executive. ! took for nv counsel the Constitution
ITSELF the interpretations of that instrument
authors and their cotemp"raries' ana recent eSsai
ton by Congress. When, at tie first movement
toward independence, the Congress OF the Chltei
States instructed the several States 70 inst'tu'e 90
ernments their they left each State - declde
tor itself the conditions for the enjoyment OF the eec
franchise During the period OF the Contederaey
there co ntnued to exist a very great diversity IN the
Qualifications Of electors the several states; ami
even within a distinction Of qualifications pre-
vailed with regard the officers no we're TO be chosen
The Constitution of the United States recognizes
these dversties when it enoins that IN the choic o!
tOuSe
United States, "the electors IN each state shan haf
the 6catons requisite for electors OF the most
numerous branch OF the State Legislature AFTER
the formation the Constitution, II remained as be-
fore the uniform usage each State enlarge toe
boiy of its electors, according 10 its own judgement
and under this system one State after another has
proceeded 10 increase the number Of its electors, until
+ now universal suffrage. something very near II, i
the general rule. fixed this reservation oi
power in habits of the people, ant So unques tone
i;as been the Interpretation - the Constitution, 'ia
duriuE civil the late President never haro"re
the rpose-certaiuly never avoTed the purpose
oi G4sregarung II ana IA 'ns acts o. t"lsre>s -
ing that period. nothing y found which, during tn
continuance OF hostilitle much less after their Close
would have sanctioned departure bv the Executive
from policy which has uniformity ootaIned. Mere
O-ar concession OF the elective franchise 70 TIA
-, hr ,r n the President Of tfa Units-4 States
must have been extended ali coiored men, wherever
found and 81 mast have established change Of sui
trace in the Northern Middle. and Western states
noI less than III the Southern ani Southwestern.
I such would have created new class Of voters
: and would have been assumption Of power by tn
: Pres dent which nothing II the Constitution or aW
4 ot tie I nItad states would have war aHtei
On the other hand every danger Of conflict ) avoii
Ell when the settlement OF the question Is referre I
the several states They can. each for itself, deysd
= on the measure and whether Il t. be adopted =
once ard absolutely, or introduced gradually aud Wit
conditions.
h Inmv Judgment. the freedmen. If they
. show patience and manly virtues vii
4 sooner obtain Z participation in the elec
r tive franchise through the State thar
/ through the General Government, ever
9 if it had power TO intervene When th'
4 tumult of emotions that have beer
J., raised bv the suddenness OF the secia
II change ehau have subsidized. it may prov
i that they will receive the kindliest usag
r from some of those on whom they hay
|, heretofore most closely depended
h But while have no doubt that now
after the close Of the war. it is not com
I'd petent for the General Government Z
a extend the elective franchise in tn
:, several States, it is equally clear tbs
~ good faith requires the security of th
es freedmen in their liberty and their proI
a. erty. their right TO labor. and their rigt
L 10 claim the just return of their labol
q cannot too strongly urge q dispassior
III ate treatment OF this subjecs. whic
should be carefully kept aloof from a
rs rs party strife. We must equally ayoi