The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-12-14

expected proflt from the miseries Of their
erriug fellow citizens. Tho powers Of
patronage and rule which would have
been exercised, under the President, over
vast and populous, and naturally veal.
thy region, are greater than, unless un.
der extreme necessity, should be vii.
ling to sntmst to any one man; they are
such as, fo' myself, could never, unless
on occasions Of great emergency, consent
to sxercis. The wilful use of such
powers, il continued through period of
years, would have endangered the purity
Of the general administration and the
Liberties Of the States which remained
loyal. .. -.
Dcs;aes, %hv pui,cy VI m,,i.ury 'rusv
evera conquered territory would have
implied Mat the States whose inhabi-
tants may have taken part in the rebel
lion had, ny the act of those inhabitants,
ceased to exist. But the true theory is,
that all pre- ,ended acts of secession were,
from the beginning, null, and void. The
States cannt commit Treason, nor screen
the individhl citizens who may have
committed t,esson, any moro than they
can make valid treaties or engage in law
ful commerce with any foreign power.
The States attempting to scccde placed
themselves id condition where their
vitality was IMPAIRED, but not extinguish
ed-their funetions suspended, but not
destroyed.
But if any State neglects or refuses to
perform its Offices, there is the more need
that the Gcnetal Government should
maintain its authority, and, as soon as
practicable, resume the exercise Of all its
functions. On this principle have act,
ed, and have e gradually and quietly, and
by almost inperceptiblc steps, sought to
restore the iightfu energy of the Gene
raj Government and Of the States. To
that end, Provisional Governors have
been appointed for the States, Conven-
tions called, Governors elected. Legisla
lures assembled, and Senators and Rep
resentatives chosen to the Congress of
the United States At the same time,
the Courts of the United States, as far as
could bs done, have been reopened, so
that the laws Of the United States may be
enforced through their agency. The
blockade has been removed and the Gus
tom houses re established in ports o.
| entry, SO that the revenue Of the United
States may be collected. The Post OMce
Dcpartme"s senuws sss ossso'rss activity,
and the General Government is thereby
enabled to communicate promptly with
its officers and agents The courts bring
security to persons and property; the
opening Of the ports invites the restora-
tion of industry and commerce; the post
Office renews the facilities of social inter
course and Of business And is it not
happy for US all, that the restoration of
each one of these functions of the Gene
raj Government brings with it blessing
to the States over which they are extend
ed? Is it not sure promise of harmony
and renewed attachment to the Union
that, after all that has happened, the re-
turn Of the General Government is known
only ss benefcence!
know very we'll that this policy is
attended with some risk; that for its sue
cess it requires at least the asqulescence
of the States which it concerns; that il
implies an invitation to those States, by
renewing their allegiance to the United
States, to resume their functions as State.
of the Union. But it is a risk that must
be taken; in the choice of difficulties, il
! is the smallest risk; and to diminish, and
/ if possible, to remove all danger, | have
felt it incumbent on me to assert one
other power Of the General Govcrnmen.
the power Of pardon. As no State can
throw 1 defence over tho crime of trea,
son, the power of pardon is exclusively
vested in the Executive Government oi
the United States. In exercising that
power, l have taken every precaution to
connect it with the clearest recognition
of tho binding force of the laws Of the
United States, and an unqualified ac.
acknowledgement Of the great social change
Of condition in regard to slavery which
has grown out of the war,
The next step which have taken to
restore the constitutional relations OF the
States, has been an invitation to them to
participate in the high Office of amending
the Constitution. Every patriot must
wish for general amnesty at the earliest
epoch consistent with public safety. For
this great end there is need Of concur
renee Of all opinions, and the spirit Of
mutual reconciliation. All parties in the
late terrible conflict must work together
in harmony It 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 conformity with viii
lingness to cast the disorders of the past
into oblivion; and, that on the other, the
evidence of sincerity in the future main
tenance of the Union shall be put beyond
any doubt by the ratification Of the pro
posed amendment to the Constitution,
which provides for the abolition of sla-
very forever within the limits of our
country. So long as the adoption ofthls
amendment is delayed, so long will doubt
and jealousy, and uncertainty prevail
This Il the measure which will efface tho
Al.