The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-09

So long the adoption OF THIS amendment Is oeLAYeu
so long will doubt and jealousy and uncertainty pre-
vail This is the which will eace the sad me-
mory of the past; this is the measure which Will most
certainly call population, end capital and security TO
those parts Of the Union that need them most Indeed
it is not too much 10 ask Of the States which are now
resuming their places in the family OF the Unon 10
give this pledge OF perpetual loyalty and peace Ghl ~
Is done the past however much may desie 1t, will
not be forgotten The adoption Of the amendment re-
uuites beyond all power OF disruption 1t heals the
wound that is still mperfecy closed; 1t removes sa'
very the element which has so long pepexed and divi
ded the country makes Of us once moro united peo-
ple renewed and strengthened bound more than ever
10 mutual affection and support.
The Amendment to the Constitution beang adopted, II
would remain for the Sates whose powers aave been so
long abeyance, to resume their places In the two
branches OF the National Legislature and thereby COM
plete the work o: restoration Here it is for you, e
lowczens Of the Senate and for you OF
the House OF Representatives. to Judge eacn OF you LOT
oursev, the elections, returns, and qualihcations
Of your VA members.
The full assertion of the powers Of the General Gov
ernment requires The holding 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 mold
ing those IS i'll any Of the States where the rebellion
has existed and it ascertained by inquiry that the
Circuit Court the United States would not be held
within the District of Virginia during the autumn or
early winter until Congress should have IAN opp0r-
tunity to consider and act on the whole subject 10
your eiberaii ms the restoration of this branch OF the
civil authority Of the United States is therefore, ncce.
sary referred, with the hope that early provision VIII
manifest that eason, faSrant in character mas
been committed. Persons who are charged with us
commission should have fair and impartial trials IN the
highest ciyl tribunals the country in order that the
Constitution and the laws may be fully vndicated the
truth clearly established and affirmed that treason is
cre that traitors should be punished and the offence
infamous and. at the same time that the question
may be judcialy settled, finally and forever, that no
State of its WILL Lag the right TO rencunce Its place
in the Union.
The relations of the General Government towards the
four millions Of inhabitants whom the war has called
into freedom, have engaged my most serious conside:a
ton. On the propety of attempting to make the freed
men electors by the proclamation Hf The Executive
took for my e the Constitution itself the inerpre
aiioas of that instrument by its authors and their
ten.porares and .ec-nt legislation by Congress When
the first movement towards nde peidence, the Con-
gress of the United States instructed he several States
to institute governments of their OWL, 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 continued to exist very great
diversity in the qualifications Of electors in the several
states; and even within State distinction OF quahn-