The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-12-06

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The next step which I have taken to
restore the Constitutional relations OF
the States, has been an invitation to
than to, participate in the high Office Of
amending the Constitution. Every pa.
triot must wish for a general amnesty at
the earliest epoch consistent with pubic
safety. For this great end there is need
of concurrence of all opinions, and the
shirt of mutual Cancellation. All par
Ties 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 con-
formity with a willingness to cast the
disorders of the past into oblivion; and
that, on the other, the evidence of sin
cerity in the future maintenance of the
Union shall be put beyond any doubt by
the ratification of the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, which pro-
vides for the abolition of slavery forever
within the limits of our country. So
long as the adoption of this amendment
is delayed, so long will doubt, and Jeal-
ously, and uncertainty prevail. This is
the measure which will etface the sad
memory of the past; this is the measure
which will most certainly call popuia
ton, and capital, and security to those
parts of be Union that need them most.
Indeed, it is not too much TO ask OF the
States which are now resuming their
places in the family of the Union to give
this pledge of perpetual loyalty and
peace. Until it is done. the past, how
ever much we may desire 1t, will not be
forgotten. The adoption OF the amend,
ment reunites us beyond al power OF
disruption. 1t heals the wound that Is
still impertectly closed; it removes sla-
very, the element which has 50 long per
picked and divided the county; IL makes
of us once more united people, renewed
and strengthened, bound more than ever
to mutual affection and support.
The amendment to the Constitution
being adopted, it would remain for the
States, whose powers have been 50 long
i'm obeyance, 10 resume their places III
the two branches of the National Legis-
lature, and thereby complete the work OF
restoration. Here it is lor you, fellow
citizens Of tho Senate, and for yon, Tel
low citizens of the House Of Representa-
tives. to indge. each Of You for your
selves, of the elections, returns, and
qualifications of your own members.
The full assertion of the powers or the
General Government requires tho hold
inp of Circuit Courts OF the United States
within the districts where their author
ity has been interrupted. In the present
posture of our public affairs, strong oo-
iections have been urged to holding those
courts in any of the States where the re-
bellion has existed; and it was ascertain
ed, by inquiry, that the Circuit Court OF
the limited States wOull not De held
within the District of Virginia during
autumn or early winter, nor until Con
rress should have 'an opportunity to
consider and act on the whole Subject.
To YOUR deliberations the restoration Cd
this branch of the civil authority of the
United States is, therefore, necessarily
referred, with the hope that early pro-
vision will be made Tor the resumption
of all its functions 1t is manifest that
treason, most fragrant in character, has
been committed Persons who are chang.
ed with it's commission should have fail
and impartial trials i'll the highest civil
| tribunals of the country, in order that
the Constitution and the laws may be
| fully vindicated; the truth clearly estab
lished and affirmed that treason is O
! crime, that traitors should be punished
and the offense made infamous; and, al
the same time, that the question may be
iudicialIy settled, tinally and forever
that 10 State of its own Will has the
right TO renounce its place III the Union.
The relations of the general govern
ment towards the four millions Of inhab
itants whom the war has called into free
dom, have engaged ny most serious con
sideration. On the proprlety OF at
tempting TO make the 1reedme4 electors
nv the proclamation Of the Executive,
| tool; for nv counsel the Consultation it
| self. the Interpretation OF that Instru
ment bv its authors and their cotempo
raries. and recent legislation b.; Con
gress. When, at the first movement
towards independence, the Congress OF
tbe United States instructed the severa
States to institute laws of their own
| they left each State to decide for itsel
the conditions for the enjoyment OF the
elective franchise. During the periot
of the Confederacy, there continued t.
exist "A very great diversity in the quail
ticatious of electors of the several States
and even within State distinction ol
qualifications prevailed with regard tt
the officers who were to be chosen. The
! Constitution ofthe United States rccog
pises these diversitics when il epjoinS
that. in the choice of members of the
House Of Representatives OF the United
States. "the electors in each State shall
have The qualifications requisite tol
electors Of the most numerous branch OF
the State Legislature" After the for
nation of the Constitution, IL remained
as before, the uniform usage for each
State TO enlarge the body of It's electors
according IT, its own judgment
and. under this system, one State after
another has proceeded to increase the
number OF its electors, until now univer.
sal suffrage, OF something very ucar it
is the general rule, So fixed was this
reservation of power in the habits OF the
people aud so unquestioued has been
the Interpretation of the Constitution
that during the civil war the late Presi,
dent never harbored the purpose--cer-
tainly never avowed the purpose-of dis
regarding il and i'll the acts OF Congress
during that period, nothing can be found
which, during the continuance dt hostil-
tiles, much less after the close, wsuld
have sanctioned any departure by the
Executive from policy which has so
uuiformally obtained. Moreover, a con.
oo,,;o, of tho elective franchise TO the