The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-12-09
The Presidents Message:

/ following synopsis, which will give those Of
our readers WHO do not care to pcruse 50
long document an idea of the contents Of
that important state paper. The Message
and Reports of the Secretaries are printed ia
the peSs, filling seeerty two columns Of
small type.
The President opens his Message with an
expression OF gratitude to God Tor the pre-.
srryation Of the United States. lie then
refers to the grief OF the nation ut the death
OF his predecessor by the hand of an assas-
SIN, after he had lived to enjoy the highest
proof OF the nations confidence by an eIrc
ilon to Il renewed term Of Office. and after
he had brought the war substantially to Il
close
After the closing Of hostiIiics. the first
question that presented itself COR his decision
was, whether the territory within the limits
OF the recovered States should be held as
conquered territory. under military authority
emanating from the President us the head q
tie arny. He opposed the policy of mill
lary rule. for various reasons. The true
theory is, that all pretended acts of seces.
sion were from the beginning. null and void.
IT any State ncglccts or refuses to perform
| It's Offices, there is the more need that the
general government should maintain all it,
| authority, and as soon as practicable, resume
the exercise OF all its functions, which, hap
PLY for us all, brings with it blessing to
the States over which they are extended
f.. lie has felt :: necessary to assert one other
power OF the general government, the power
of pardon, connected with the cearest re-
cognition of the binding force of the law of
the United States, and an acknowledge
of the change in regard to slavery. The
| ,tn u,hi ,l, L. |.
taken to restore the constitutional relations
of the States has been an invitati n to them
to participate in the high office of amending
the Constitution. The adoption of the pro.
posed amendment re-untes us beyond all
power of disruption. 1t will eitace the sad
memory Of the past. and bind us more than
ever to mutual affection and support, Every
patriot must wish for a general amnesty at
the earliest epoch consistent with the public
good. For this great end there is need of "a
concurrence of all opinions, and spirit of
mutual Cancellation. The amendment to the
constitution being adopted, it would remain
for the States whose powers have been so
long in allegiance to resume their places in
the two branches of the national legislature,
and thereby complete the work of reStora-
ton. " Here" says the President, ait is
for you. fellow. citizens of the Senate and
House Of Representatives, to judge each for
yourselves. of the election returns and the
qualifications of your own mcmbcrs.'i
He hopes that Congress may make an
early provision for the resumption Of alI'its
Judicial functions. Persons charged with
treason should have fair and impartial trials
in the highest civil tribunals of the country
The truth should be affirmed that treason is
a crime, and traitors should BE punished
and TIE offGnse made infamous, and that the
question should be jndcalIy settled that no
! STATE has the right gifts own will to renounce
its place in the Union.
In relation to the question of extending
the right Of suffrage to the freedmen eman.
cipated by the war, and of necessity to the
free coored men in all the States of the
Union, the President gives emphatic utter.
ance in accordance with his previous we'll.
known views and policy Of referring it to the
| several States. He says it may prove that
coored men will receive the kindIiest usage
from some of those on whom they have here
tofore most closely depended. But while he
| has no doubt that now. after the close of the
war, it is not competent for the general gov
eminent to extend the elective franchise in
! the several States, it is equally clear that
good faith requires the security Of the freed
men III !heir liberty and their property. their
| right to labo- GC1 to claim the Just return OF
! - "''"'' -'o" ''"' nv "N"oIo'l VI s''i't
labor mas been removed from the States
nearest the Gull OF Mexico the influx Of
Tree labor Will people those regions with a
numerous and an entcrprisng population
which Will We with any III the Union, i'll
compactneSS inventive genius. wealth ana
industry. he constitutional freedom OF
commerce between the States IS referred to.
and the right OF any State to tax the transit
between aieS den1ed' IT constitutes one
OF the worst forms OF monopoly, and the
evlI Is increased II coupled with denial OF
the choice ct route Every such obstacle
ought to be s1cr" y guarded against by ap.
propr'ate legislation within the limits Of the
constitution. heSe remarks; ii will be sup.
posed, have bearing on such railroads as
are hardened with consolidation tax, pass
ing from one State to another.
The President refers to the reports of the
different secretaries. That OF the Secretary
OF the Interior presents evidence Of the sue
cesstul operation of the homestead act, over
one million and ahaIt OF acres having been
entered the past fiscal year and occupied by
industrious settlers. The business of the
Pension Bureau has largely increased, the
mum Der OF pensioners being now $3.50 re-
Curing for their annual pay over $4,000, 900.
he President says that grateful people
will not hesitate to sanction any measures
,or she reNel OF soldiers tor their w'"ss) who