Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-12-15

States over which they are extended Is it
not sure promise of harmony and renewed
attachment to the Union that, after all that
has happened, the return Of the General Gov
ernment is known only rs beneicence ?
know very well that this policy is attend
ed with some risk that for its success it re-
quires at least the acquiescence of the States
which it concerns; that it implies all invita-
ton to those States, by renewing their allie
glance to the United States, to resume their
functions as States of the Union. But it is
a risk that must be taken itl the choice of
difficulties, it is the smallest risk and to di-
minish. and, if possible, to remove all dan
ger, | have felt it incumbent on me to assert
one other power Of the General Government
the power of pardon. AS no State can
throw defence over the crime of treason, the
power of pardon is exclusively vested in the
Executive Government of the United States.
In exercising that power, | have taken every
precaution to connect it with the clearest rec
ognition of the binding force of the laws of
the United States, and an unqualified &C
acknowledgement Of the great social change of
condition in regard to slavery which has
grown out of the war
The next step which I have taken to re-
store the constitutional relation of the States
has been an invitation to them to participate
in the high office of amending the Constitu-
ton Every patriot must wish for a general
amnesty at the earliest epoch consistent with
public safety. For this great end there is
need Of a concurrence Of all opinions, and
the spirit of mutual Cancellation. All par
ties in the late terrible conflict must work to-
gether 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 conformity with willingness to
cast the disorders Of the past into oblivion !;
and that, on the other, the evidences of sin
cerity in the future maintenance Of the Union
shall be put beyond any doubt by the ratifi-
cation of the proposed amendment to the
Constitution, which provides for the abolition
Of slavery forever with the limits Of our coun-
try. So long as the adoption Of this amend
mentis delayed, so long will doubt, and jeal
ousy, 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 population, and capital, and Sc
curity to those parts Of the 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. I'm
til it is done, the past, however much we
may desire it, will not be forgotten. The
adoption of the amendment reunitos us be-
You'd all power of disruption. 1t heals the
wound that is still inperfectly closed; it re-
moves slavery, the element which has so long
perplexed and divided the country /; it makes
of us once more united people, renewed and
tual affection and support.
The amendment to the Constitution being
adopted, it would remain for the States,
whose powers have been so long in allegiance
to resume their places in the two branches Of
the National Legislature, and thereby COM
plete the work of restoration. Here it is for
you, fellow-citizcns of the Senate, and for
you, fellow-citizens of the House of Repre-
sentatives, to judge, each of you for your
selves, of the elections, returns, and qualif
cations of your members.
The full assertion of the powers Of the
General Government requires the holding OF
Circuit Courts of the United States within
the districts where their authority has been
interrupted In the present posture Of our
public affairs, strong objections have been
urged to holding those courts in any of the
States where the rebellion has existed and
it was ascertained, by inquiry, that the Cir
cult Court of the United States would not be
held within the District Of Virginia, during
the autumn or early winter, nor until Con-
gress should have '' an opportunity to con-
slider and act on the whole subject" To your
deliberations the restoration of this branch of
the civil authority of the United States is,
therefore, necessarily referred, with the hope
that early provision will be made for the re-
sumption Of all it's functions 1t is manifest
that treason, most fragrant in character, has
been committed. Persons who are charged
with it's commission should have fair and i'm
partial trials in the highest civil tribunals of
the country, in order that the Constitution
and the laws may be fully indicated; the
truth clearly established and affirmed that
TT ason is a crime, that traitors should be
punished and the offence made infamous
and, at the same time, that the question may
be judicially settled, finally and forever, that
no State, of its own will, has the right to re-
nounce its place in the Union.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
The relations of the General Government
towards the four millions of inhabitants whom
the war has called into freedom, have engage
ed my most serious consideration. On the
propriety Of attempting to make the freed
men electors by the proclamation of the Ex-
ecutive, took for my counsel the Constitu
ton itself, the interpretation Of that instru-
ment by it's authors and their contemporaries,
and recent Legislation by Congress. When,
at the first movement towards independence,
the Congress Of the United States instructed
the several States to institute governments of
their own, they left each State to decide for
itself the conditions for the enjoyment of the
elective franchise. During the period Of the
Confederacy, there continued to exist very
great diversity in the qualifications of electors
in the several States and even within State
distinction Of qualifications prevailed with
regard to the officers who were to be chosen.
The Constitution of the United States recog-
nizes these diversities when it enioins that, III
the choice of members of the House of Rep
rcsentatives of the United States, " the cleo
tors in each State shall have the qualifications