Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-12-08
tes, The best security for the per

tultN vi tIle itls-S it'A ~
the perpetuity of the States: their mu-
tual relation makes US what we are, and
in our political system their connexion
IL indissoluble. The whole cannot exist
without the parts, nor the parts without
the whole. So long Us the Constitution
OF the United States endures, the States
will endure the destruction of the one
il the destruction of the other; the pre-
servation ei the one Is the preservation
OF the other.
have thtis explained my views OF
the mutual relations OF the Constitution
and the States, because they unfold the
principles on which | have sought to
solve the mOnentous questions, and
overcome the appalling difficulties that
met me at the very commencement OF
my administration. 1t has been my
steadiast object TO escape from the sway
of momentary passions, and to derive d
healing policy from the fundamental
and unchanging principles OF the Con
stitutiOn.
found the States suffering from the
effects OF civil war. Resistance to the
General Government appeared to nave
exhausted itself. The United States had
recovered possession Of their forts and
arsenaIs, aud their armies. were in the
tttb tSttibH va tNSi.J AGtltt w litSti nv
tempted 10 secede. Whether the terri
tory within the limits of those States
should be held as conquered territory,
under military authority cmanating
from the President rs the head of the
army, was the first question that pre-
sented itself for decision.
Now. military governments, estab-
lished for an indefinite period, would
have offered no security for the early
suppression OF discomfort; would have
divided the people into the vanquishers
and the vanquished; and would have
envenomed hatred, rather than have
restored affection. Once established, no
precise limit to their continuance was
conceivable. They would have occa-
stoned an incalculable and exhausting
expense. Peaceful emigration to and
from that country is one of the best
means that can be thought of for the
restoration of harmony; and that emil
grafton would have been prevented, for
what emigrant from abroad, what in
dustrious citizen at home, would place
himself willingly under military rule?
The chief persons who would have fol-
lowed in the train of the army would
have been dependents on the General
Government, or men w no expected prof
it from the miseries of their erring fell
low.citiZens. The powers of patronage
and rule which would have been eXer-
cised, under the President, over vast
and populous, and naturally wealthy
region, are greater than, unless under
extreme necessity, ! should be willing
to entrust to one man; they are such,
as for myself | could never, unless on
occasions of great emergency, consent
to exercise. The wiifull Use of such
powers, if continued through period
OF years, would have endangered the
purity of the General Administration,
and the liberties OF the States which re-
manned loyal.
Besides, the policy of military rule
over conquered territory would have
implied that the States whose inhabi-
tants may have taken part in the rebel
lion had, by the act of those inhabi-
tants, ceased to exist. But the true
theory is, that all pretended acts of Sc
cession were, from the beginning, null
and void. The States cannot commit
treason, nor screen the individual citi-
Zens who may have committed treason,
any more than they can make valid
treaties to engage in lawful commerce
with any foreign power. The states at
tempting to seceue placed themselves in
q condition where their vitality was ina
paired, but not eXlinguished - their
functions suspended but not destroyed
But II any state negiects Or retuses to
perform it's offices, there is tie more
need that the General Government
should maintain all its authority, and,
as soon as practicable resume the eXer-
else OF all its functions. On this prin-
ciple / have acted, and have gradually
and quietly, and by almost impercepti
BILE steps, sought 10 restore the rightfu
energy OF the General Government an,
OF the States. To that end, Provisional
! Governors have been appointed for TN,
! SIates, Conventions called, Governor
elected Legislatures assembled aud sen
atOfs anu Representatives chosen to tllt
/ Congress o. tie United States. AT Lht
satne time, the Courts OF the Unite,
| States, Us ar as could be done, have
been TeOpened, so that the laws of thi
United States may be enforced through
their agency. The blockade has beer
removed and the Custom Houses re-es
taOlishcd in ports Of entry, so that the
revenue OF the United States may bt
collected. The Post Office Department
renews its ccaseiess activity, and thi
General Government is thereby ena
bled TO communicate promptly wit.
ms officers aud agents. The Courts be
/ ing security to persons and property
! the opening o. the ports Invites the res
! toratl'n OF Industry and commerce
/ che Post Once lenews the facilities o
social Intercourse and of business. An,
! is it not happy for us ALI, that the resto
/ ration OF each one OF these functions 0
the General Government brings with i
g blessing 20 the States over which the,
/ are extended? Is it not sure promis
Oh harmony and renewed attachment
! 20 the Union that, after all that ha
/ happened the return of the Genera
/ Government Is known only as a beneti
cence?
l know very well that this policy i
attended with some risk; that for it
success il requires at least the acquies
cence of the states which il concerns
! that it implies an Invitation to thos
| States, by renewing their allegiance t,
the United States, to resume their flInc
| tons as States OF the Union. But it i
q risk that must be taken t; i'm the choic
of difficulties, it is the smallest risk
and TO diminish, and, if possible, TO re
move all danger, 1 have felt in incum
bent on me to assert one other power O
| the General Goyernnlent-the power q
| pardon. AS no State can throw a de
! tense over the crime OF treason, tn
power of pardon is exclusively veste
in the General Government of the Uni
ted States. In exercising that power,
have taken every precaution to conneC
il with the clearest recognition of tn
/ binding force OF the laws of the Unite
Safes, and an unqualified acknowiedg
ment OF the great social change of con
dition in regard to slavery which ha
grown out of the war.
1 The next step which have taken t
restore the constitutional relations G
the States, has been an invitation I
them to participate in the high Office q
amending the Constitution. Ever
patriot must wish for a general amnes
ty at the earliest epoch consistent wit
public safety. For this great end th.;
is need of q concurrence OF all opinion.
and the spirit of mutual conciliation.-
All parties in the late terrible confiic
must work together in harmony. 1t
not too much to ask, in the name c
the whole people, that, on the one side
the plan of restoration shall proceed i
conformity with Willingness to cas-
the disorders of the past into oblivion
and that, on the other, the evidence {
sincerity in the future maintenance {
the Union shall be put beyond an