The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-12-13

plan OF restoration shall proceed in con-
formity with willingness to cast the dis
orders Of the past into oblivion; aud that
on the other, the evidence Of sincerity in
the future maintenance of the Union shall
be put beyond any doubt by the ratification
Of the proposed amendment to the Cons IT,
tuition, which provides for the abolition Of
slavery forever within the limits Of our
country. So long ss tho adoption Of this
amendment is delayed, 40 long will doubt,
and jealousy, and uncertainty prevail. -
This IS the measure which will sfface the
sad memory Of the past this is the meas
ure which will most certainly call populu.
lation, 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 nov resunng their places
in the family of the Uli,n to give this
pledge Of perpetual loyalty and peace.
Until it is done, the past, however much
We may desire it, will not be forgotten.-
The adoption Of the amendment reuniteA
US beyond al power of disruption. II
heals the wound that is still imperfectly
closed it removes slavery, the element
which has so long perplexed and divided
the country; it makes Of Us once more q
united people, renewed and strengthened
bound more than ever to mutual affection
and support
The amendment of the Constitution be
ing adopted, it would remain for the States,
whose powers have been SO long in abey
ance, to resume their places in the two
branches Of the National Legislature, and
thereby complete the work Of restors ten.
Here it is for you, fellow citizens of the
Senate, and for you, fellow citizens of the
House Of Representatives., to judge, each
Of you for yourselves, Of the elections, re,
turns and qualifications Of your own mem.
bars
The full assertion of the DO wors of the
General Government requires the holding
of Circuit Courts Of the United States
within the districts where their authorities
has been interrupted. In the present pos.
ture Of our public affairs, strong objections
have been urged to holding these courts in
any of the States where the rebellion has
existed and it was ascertained, by ,nqui.
rv, that the Circuit Court Of the United
States would not be held within the distric,
Of Virginia during the autumn or early
winter, nor until Congress should have
'an opportunity to consider and act on the
whole subject" To your deliberations the
restoration Of this branch of the civil su
thority of the United States 10 therefore
necessarily referred, with the hope tha,
early provision will be made for the re
sumption Of all it's functions. 1t is mani
fest that treason, most fagrant in charac
ter, has been committed Persons who are
charged with its commission should bav,
fair and impartial trials in the highest c,vi
tribunals OF the country, in order that tn,
Constitution and the laws may be full vim
dicated the truth clearly established ant
affirmed that treason is crime, that trai
tors should be punished, and the offens'
made Infamous and, ut the same time
that the question may be judicially settled
finally and forever, that no State of it's owr
will have the right to renounce its place il
the Union.
The relations Of the General Govern
ment towards the four millions of inhabi
tants whom the war has called into free
dom, have engaged my most serious con
sderstion. On tho propriety OF attempt
ing to make the freedmen electors by tha
proclamation OF the Executive. took 10
my counsel the Constitution itself, the in
terpretations Of that instrument by it's au
thors and their cotenporaries. aud receD
lesislation by Congress. When at the frs
movement towards independence, the Con
gress Of the United States instructed tn,
several States to institute governments o
their own, they left each State to decide fo
itself the conditions for the enjoymen
of the elective franchise. DuriAg tn,
period Of the Confedsracy, there continued
to exist very great diversity in the qurli
fications Of electors in the several States
and even within State . distinction 0
qualifications prevailed with regard to tn,
officers who were to be chosen. The Con
su,ution of the United States recogr ize
these diversites when it injoins that, in th,
choice Of members of the House Of Repre-
sentstives OF the United States, 1.-THE elec
tors in each State shall have the Qualfica
tons requisite for electors of the mos
numerous branch Of the State Leg g'slature.' ,
Alter the formation Of the Constitution, j,
remained, ss before, the uniform usage fol
each State to enlarge the body of its elec
tors, according TO it's own judgement
and, under this system, one State after An
other has proceeded to increase the mum
Der of its electors, until now universal suf
trsge, or something very near it, is the gen
ersl rule. So fixed was this reservation Q
power in the habits Of the people, and 81
| unQuestioued has been the Interpretation
Of the Constitution, that during the civi
war the late President never harbored th
purpose-ccrtsinly never avowed the pur
poss-of disre.arding it; and in the act
Of Congress, during that period, nothing
can be found which, during the contin
nance Of hostili,ies, much less after thei
close, would have sanctioned any depar,
ure by the Executive from policy whic
has 50 uniformly obtained. Moreover,
concession Of the elective franchise to tn
freedmen, by the act Of the President O
.he United States, must have been extend
ed to all colored men, wherever found, ant
30 must have established = change Of sut
tuage in the Northern, Middle, and West
ern States, not less than in the Southern
aud Southeastern. Such 90 act wOul'
nave created a new class OF voters, ant
would have been an assumption Of powe
by the President which nothing in tn
Constitution or laws of the Un;tsd State
wouli have warranted.
| On the other hand, every danger Of conAc
| - dSOiucu WHEN TIE seCtleueHt VI tIc Qucstlo
is referred to the several States. They Can
each for itself, decide on the measure, an,
whether it is to be adopted at once and abso
luteIy, or introduced gradually and with cor
ditions. In my judgment. the freedmen,
they show patience and manly virtue. wi
sooner obtain participation in the electiv
franchise through the States than through tn
General Government. even if it had power
intervene. When the tumuit of emot ons ths
have been raised by the suddenness of the ss
cia. change shall hive subsidized. it may prov
that they will receive the kindliest usage frol
some Of those On whom they have heretofor
most closely depended
4 But while have no doubt that now, afte
the close Of the war, it is not competer
for the General Government to extend til
elective franchise in the several States. it
equally clear that good faith requires the 81
curity OF the freedmen in their liberty and the
property, their right to labor and their right
claim the lust return of their labor. | cann(