Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-12-09
The presidenl,s aIessa &c

document written evidently WIN greal
care and consideration, and in asprII be-
coming the gravity of the period and The
subject, of which il treats. The PreSl'
dent opens his message with an express
sion Of gratitude 10 God for the Preserva-
ton of the United States. He then re-
fers to the grief Of The uaIion at the death
of his predecessor by the hand of an as
sassIu, after he had lived 10 enjoy the
ihigiles, proof OF the nations confidence
Iby an election 10 a renewed term of Of
fee, and after lie had brought the war
substantially 10 close. He refers to the
weipht OF cares which then devoVed up
on him, and hopes 10 rnerl! and receive
The support and confidence Of the people
by frank statement OF the principles
which will guide the conduc. Of his al
minjs,rslion. The President speaks OF
the wisdom Of the trainers OF the Con-
slitulion in adapting ii 10 the great pur'
poses Of a republican government. IL
sus,ains within itself ample resources Tor
its own preservation. The harrassing
fears that many patriots have suffered OF
an absorption of State governments by
The general government, or that the States
would break away from their orbits, should
be allayed by The very greatness Of our
country. The President explains his
views Of the mutual relations Of the Con.
su,ulion and the States, and says THU
Government, Of the United States is lIH-
tied government, and States with proper
limitations of power are essential TO 'be
existence Of the Constitution Of the UNI
ted States. After the closing OF hosIlII-
ties, the first question that presented IT,
sell for his decision was, whether the ter
ritorv within the limits Of The recovered
States sho1ld be held as conquered terri
tory, under military authority emanstlng
| from the President as The head Of the ar
my. He opposed the policy Of military
rule, for various reasons. The true the.
DRY is, that all pretended acts OF secession
were from he beginning, null and void.
! If any Stale gleclS or refuses 10 per-
! TORN lls Offices, there is the more need
that he general government should main
tam all lis authority, and as soon as Frac-
Ilicoble. rc.ume the exercises Of all I!s
functions. which happily Isr US ell brings
with II blessing TO The States over which
thew are extended. lie has felt II neces.
sary 10 assert one other power Of The gen
eral government, the power Of pardon,
connected with tie cleatesl recognition OF
the binding force of the laws of the Unit
ted States, and an acknowledgment Of the
change in regard to slavery. The nCx'I
step, which The President saws lie has
taken 10 restore the constitutional rrIa-
Mons Of the States has been az InVIlanOn
10 the N TO parlIcip pale in the high Office OF
amending The Constitution. The adoP'
ton Of the proposed amendment re-uniles
US hcvonh al power OF disruption. ltI
w ii efacc the sad memory Of The past,
and bind US more Than ever 10 mutual al
iecnon and support. Every patriot must
wish for general amnesty al the earliest,
epoch consistent whh The public good.
Fur his grcal end there is need Of con-
cnrrence OF all opinions. and spirit Of mu-
,ual coacilallon. The amendment 10 The
constitution being adopted, II would re-
III ain for the STATES whose powers have
been SO long in allegiance 10 resume their
places in lhe.two branches Of the national
legislature, and thereby complete the
work OF restoration. Here" says The
President, "il is for you, fellow citizens
of the Senate and House Of Representa-
lives, 10 Judge each for yourselves Of The
election returns and the qualifications Of
your own members"
The President refers 10 the unwilling |
ness Of the Chief Justice 10 hold q term :;
of the United States Courtst Richmond, |,
"unlil Congress should have an opportn
nilv 10 consider and act on the whole
subject" He hopes that Congress may
make an early provision for the rssump-
ton Of all its judicial functions. Persons
charged with treason should have fair and
| impartial trials in the higbes, civil ttibu
mails Of the country. The ruth should
be affirmed, treason is crime, and ,rsi
tors should be punished, and The offense
made Infamous, and that the question
should be iudcially settled, that no Stale
has the right Of It's own will TO renounce
lis place IN The Union.
In relation 10 the question OF extending
the right of suffrage 10 the freedmen
emanc psted by the war, and Of necessity
10 the free colored men in all The States
of The Union. The Presiden. gives emphat.
| ic uiterance in accordance with his pre-
yious well known views and policy of re-
ferring 1t to the several States. He says
il may prove thai colored men will re-
ceive the kindliesl usage from some Of
those on whom they have heretofore most
closely depended. Bot while he has no