The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-09
VOL. mo. ssZ.

1t requires at least the acouiescence of the
States which it concerns; that it implies
an INVITATION to those States, by renewing
their allegiance to the United States, to
resume their functions as States of the
Union But it is a risk that must be taken:
IN the choice of difficulties, it is the small
est risk; and to diminish, and if possible,
to remove all danger, I have felt it -incum-
@ @ncnt on me to assert one other power OF
the General Government-thc power of
pardon. AS no State can throw defence
over the crime of treason, the power of
pardon Is exclusively vested in the Exccu-
tive Government of the United States In
exercising that power l have taken every
prccautlon to connect 1t with the clcarest
recognition of the binding force of the
laws OF the United States, and an unuuali-
fed acknowledgment Of the great social
change of condition in regard to slavery
which has grown out of the war.
Ihc next step which I 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 concurrenne
OF an OPINIONS, and the spirit of mutual
cancellation. All parties in the late terri
bic conflict must work together in har-
mony. 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 a willingness to cast
the disorders OF the past into oblivion,
ana that, on the other, the evidence of sin
cerlty in the future maintenance of the
Union shall be put beyond any doubt bv
the ratification of the proposed amend
mcnt to the Constitution, which provides
TOR the abolition Of slavery forever within
.he UNITS OF our country. So long as the
adoption OF this amendment is DELAYED, so
long Will doubt, and jealousy, and uncer-
talnty prevail. This is the measure which
VIII efface the sad memory Of the past
this Is tho measure which will most ccr,
talnly call population, and capital, and Sc
curly TO those parts of the Union that
need them most. Indeed, it is not too
much to ask of the States which are now
resumlnS 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. viii
not DC forgotten: The adoption of the
amendment re-unitcs us beyond all power
OF disruption. 1t heals the wound that is
stlll lmperfectly closed; it removes slavery
the clement which / as so long perplcxed
and divided the couI -ry; it makes us once
more united people, renewed and
mutual affection and support.
!he amendment to the Constitution
beng adopted, it would remain for the
States, whose powers have been so long i'm
abeyance, to resume their places in the
two branches Of the Nationa! Legislature.
and thereby complete the work of rcsto,
ration. Here it is for YOU, fsllow-citizens
OF the senate, and for you fellow citizens
OF the House of Representatives. to judee
each of you for yourselves, of the eiecs
tlons, returns, and qualifications of your
own members.
General Government requires the holding
OF Circuit Courts of the United States
within the districts where their authority
has been interrupted. In the present nos
ture OF our public affairs, strong objections
nave oeen urged to holding those courts in
any OF the States where the rebellion has
cxisted and it WAS ascertained. by in,u;rv
that the Circuit Court of the United States
would not be held in the District of Vir.
glnla during the autumn or early winter
nor until Congress should have ssan oppor
tun!ty to consider and act on the whole
SUBJECT. To your deliberations the resto-
ration of this branch of the civil author;tv
OF the United States is, therefore. neces.
sarlly REFERRED with the hope that early
provision will be made for the resumntinn
OF all its functions. 1t is manifest that
treason, most hagrant i'll character, has
,,th uetti Goinnlltted. g.. PERSONS who are charged
with It's commission should have fair and
impartial trials in tho highest civil tribu-
nals OF the country, in order that the Con.
stltutlon and the laws may be fully yindi-
Gated; the truth clearly established and
aihrmed that trcassn is crime, that trail
tors snould be punished and the offence
made lnfamous, and, at the same time.
that the question may be judicially settled.
hnally ana forever, that no State, of It's own
will has the right to rcno,lnce its place in
the Union.
The rela lions of the General Govern
mcnt towards the four millions Of inhabit-
ants whom the war has called into freedom,
has engaged my most serious considera-
ton. On the propricty of attempting to
make the freedmen electors by the pro,aa-
nation of the Executive, | took for my
counsel the Constitution itself, The inter
prctatlons OF thai instrument by its authors
and their contemporaries and recent Iegis-
lation by Congress. When, at the first
movement towards independence, the Con-
gress of the United States Instructed the