The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-16

Government, the power of pardon; o.
no State can throw defense over thI
crime of treason The power of par
don is exclusively vested in the Execu-
tive Government Of the United States
In exercising that power i have taker
every precaution to connect it with ths
clearest recognition of the binding
force of the laws Of the United States
an unqualified acknowledg dgment of the
great social change of condition in re.
gard to slavery, which has grown oul
Of the war. The next step which ]
have taken to.restore the Constitutions
relations of the States has been an In
Vitationato them to participate in the
high Office of the amendment of The
Constitution. Every patriot must
wish for q general amnesty at the ear
Lest epoch consistent with public safe
ty.9 Forthis great end there is need
of a concurrence of all opinions, and
the spirit, of mutual Cancellation. All
parties in the late terrible conflict must
work together in harmony It is not
too much o7askg in the name of the
whole people. that on the one side the
plan Of restoration shall proceed in
~
conformity with q willingness to cast
the disorders of the, past into oblivion;
and that the evidence of sincerity In
the future maintenance of the Union
shall, be put beyond q doubt by the
ratification of the proposed amend
mentlto the Constitution, which pro-
yides for the abolition of slavery forev-
er within the limits of our country,
So long as the adoption of this amend
ment isldelayed, so long will .doubtaand
jealousy, and uncertainty prevail. This
is the measure which will efface the
sad memory of the past. This is the.
measure which viii 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 re-
spIlImling their places in the family of the
Union, 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 reunites us beyond
all power of disruption; it heals the
wound that is imperfectly closed; it re-
moves slavery, which has so long per-
picked and divided the country; it
makes of us once more a united people.
renewed and strengthened. bound more
than eYerlto mutual affection and sup
port. The. amendment to the Consti-
tuition being adopted. it would remain
for the States whose powers have. been
SO long IN abeyance,e to resume their
places In the two branches of the Ma
tional Legislature, and thereby com
plete the work of restoration siHereit
is for you, fellow-citizens of the Senate
and for you, fellow-citizens oil the
House of Representatives, to Judge
each Of you for yourselves Of the cleo
tionlretnrnsan qualifications Of your
own members. The full assertion Of
the powers of the General Government
requires the holding of Circuit Courts
of the United States within the dis
tricts where their. authority has been
in the present posture of
our public affairs. Strong objections
have been urged to holning these
courts9in ANY of the States where
the rebellion has existed, and it was as
certained by enquiry that the Circuit
Court Of the. United States would not
be held in the District of Virginia dur
ing the autumn or early winter, nor
until Congress should have had oppor-
tunity to consider and act upon the
whole subject. To your deliberations
the restoration of this branch Of the
civil authority of the United States is
thereforelneeessarily referred, with the
hope that early provision VIII be made
for the resumption of all its functions
It is manifest that treason most faggrant
in character has -been committed
Persons who are charged with its com
mission should have fair and impartial III pa
trials IN the high and civil tribunals OF
The country, IN order that the Constiitu--
ton and the laws may be fully v7indii-
Gated, the truth clearly established and
affirmed that treason is crime; that
traitors should be punished and the
offence made infamous, and at the same
time thstthe question may be judiciaIly
settled finally and forever that no State
Of its own will has the right to renounce'
its place in the Union. The relations
of the General Government towards
the four millions Of inhabitants whom
the war has called into freedom. Have.