Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-07


Il the destruction OF the other; the pres
eryation OF the one Is the preservation OF the
other.
THE PROBLEM or RECONSTRUCTION.
have thus explained my views of the mutual
relations Of the Constitution OF the States, be-
cause they unfold the principles on which have
sought 10 solve the momentOus questions and
overcome the appalling dimeulties that met
me AZ the very commencement OF my admlnls'
tration. II has been my steadtast object To Is.
cape from the sway Of momentary passions, and
TO derive q healing policy from the mndanen-
tai and unchanging principles OF the Consuln'
tiOn.
found the States suffering from the effects OF
a civil war Resistance to the General Govern
ment appeared to have exhausted itself The
United States had recovered possession OF thelr
forts and arsenals; and their armies were in The
occupation Of every State which had attempted
To secede. Whether the territory within the
limits of those States should be held rs conquer
ed territory, under military authority emanating
from the President ~ the head of the army, was
the first question that presented itself for de-
cision.
Now, military governments, established for
an indefinite period would have offered no Sc
curity for the early suppression of discomfort
would huye divided the people into the van
OUTSIDERS and the vanquished; and would have
euvenOmed hatred, rather than have restored
affection. Once established, no precise limit to
their continuance wac Gonelyahle, They
would have oCCasiOned an inCalculahlc and CX-
hausting expense. Peaceful emigration to and
from that portion Of the country il one of the
best means that can be thought of for the rCsto-
ration Of harmony; and that emigration would
have been prevented for what tmigrant from
abroad, what industrious citizen AZ home, would
place himself willingly under military rule!
The chief persons who would have followed in
the train Of the army would have been depend
ents on the General Government or men who
expected profit from the Trseries Of their err,
inh lellOw-eitizens The powers patronage and
rule which would hsvc been exercised under
thesPresideut, over a vast, ana pOpHi9us, ana
naturally wealthy region, an" GIVult, 'iah, " w
less under extreme necessity, ShOU" NC WIZ
Ing TO entrUst to any one man; they are SUI" ~
for myself, | could never, unless on occasions Of
great emergency, consent 10 exercise. The
willful use OF such powers, ifcOntinUed 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 con
quered territory would have implied that the
States whose inhabitants may have taken part
in the rebellion had by the act of those inhabi-
tants, ceased to exist. Bat the true '""~~--
mat all pre,en"ec acts of secession were. nom
Ino peE ilnlL9, Mi and void, The State cannot
CVlii''', reason, nor screen the individual Citi-
zens who may have committed treason, any
more than they can make valid treaties or en-
gage in lawful commerCe with any foreign pow,
err The States attempting to secede placed
themselves in a condition where their vitality
was impaired, itt not eXtinguished-theirf unc-
tions suspended, but not destroyed
THE POLICY ADOPTED.
But if any State negleCts or refuses TO per
form its offices, there IL the more need that the
General Government should maintain all its au-
thOrity, and, az soon as practicable, resume the
exercise of all its functions On this principle
| have acted, and have gradually and quietly
and by almost imperceptble steps, sought to
restore the rightful energy of the General Gov
eminent and of the States. To that end, Pro-
visional Governors have been appointed for the
States, Conventions called, Governors elected,
Legislatures assembled, and Senators and Rep
resentatives chosen to the Congress of the Unit
ed States AT the same time, the Courts of the
United States az far as could De zone have been
re7opened so that the laws of the United States
may be enforced through their agency The
blockade has been removed and the custom
houses re-establshed in ports of entry SO thar
the revenue Of the United States may be collect
ed. The Post-ofice Department renews its
ceaseless activity, and the General Government
Is thereby enabled to communicate promptly
with its officers and agents The courts bring
security to persons and property; the opening
of the ports invites the restoration of industry
and commerce; the Postoffice renews the facili-
ties of social intercourse and of business And
is it not happy for us ALL that the restoration of
each one Of these functions of the General Coy
ernment brings with it a blessing to the States
over which they are extended Is it not sure
promise of harmony and renewed attachment IN
return, Ui 1lc STenerai government Is Known tn
only as benefcence?
-'. t-.s PARDoNs
j know very well that this policy is attended
with some risk; that for its success it requires
at least the acquiesCence of the States which it
concerns; that itimplies an invitation to those
States, by renewing their allegiance to the Uni
ted States, TO resume their functions as states Of
the Union But it is risk that must be taken;
i'll the choice of difficulties, it is the smallest
risk; and to diminish, and, if possible, to re-
q | ha1-a hon
TO assert one other power Of the General Gov
ernment-the power of pardon. AS no State
can throw a defence over the crime of treason
the power ofpardon is exclusively vested in the
Executive Government of the United States In
exercising that power, have taken every pre-.
caution to connect itwith the clearest reoogni-
ton of the binding force OF the laws of the Uni
| ted States, and an unqualified acknowledgment
OF the great social change Of condition in regard
| TO slavery which has grown out of the war
ea.ss CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND ENT.
| The next step which / have taken to restore
| the constitutional relations of the States has
been an invitation to them to participate in the
| high office of amending the Constitution. Every
| patriot must wish for a general amnesty at the
earliest epoch consistent withpublic safety. For
this great end there is need of a concurrence of
| all opinions, and the spirtof mutual concilia-
| ton, All parties in the late terrible conflict
/ must work together in harmony. 1t is not too
| much to ask, in the name of the whole people.
that, on the one side, the plan of restoration
shall proceed in conformity with willingness
to cast the disorders of the past into oblivion
and that, on the other the evidence of sincerity
| inthe future maintenance of the Union shall be
| put beyond any doubt by the ratification of the
| proposed amendment to the Constitution. which
provides for the abolition of slavery forever
within the limits Of our country. 50 long as
the adoption of this amendment is DELAYED so
long will doubt, and Jealousy, and uncertainty
prevail This Is the measure which will eflace
the sad memory of the past this il the measure
winch wall most certainly 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 States which are now resum-
ing their places in the family of the Union 70
give this pledge ofperpetual loyalty and peace
may desire it, will not be forgotten The adop.
ton of the amendment reunites us bevond all
| power of disruption, IL heals the wound that ia
still mperfectly closed; it removes slavery. the
| element which has so long perplexed and di-
vided the country it makes of us once more a
| unitedpeople, renewed and strengthened, bound
more than eyer to mutual affection and support
| ADMISSION OF MEMBERS LEFT TO CONGRESS-.
The amendment to the Constitution being
| adopted, itawOuld remain for the States, whose
| powers have been so long in abeyanee to re-
sumo their places in the two branches of the Ma
| tional Legislature, and thereby complete the
work of restoration. Here il is for YOU fellow
citizens of the Senate, and for YOU fellow-citi-
Gems OF the House of Representatives.. to Judge
| each or you for yourselves of the elections re.
turns, and Qualifications Of your own members
~ TRAITORS TO BE TRIED BY OWL COURTS
Ihs full assertion of the powers Of the general