Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-12-06

IN sovnnNnnxf % rnB LATE n1nsL
VIZ ofka1A
I found IL s>ssss sl1lbelns 49, ~ e.
lecas q 3 e1vll W. cgooeo 70 she general
seyssneea! $500 e h:ve s1p:sded n
IN - 49, s.nsss - $1,000 pos.ss-
mlee Wseo b tAe o0repoeioa ofevssy State
watch I'D ataempesd' 70 sscede. Whistler
the territory within the limits OF these
States should b held . cOnqossed terrific
rtea vsdee military authority euaanAting from
TIE President. = the head Of ths army, was
the nfss question that presented itself for
uecasooe. Now military govsrnnents eetab.
liseeo eor ~ indefinite period would have
anorded NO security for the early suppress
s>on OF dtsc0nteht, would have divided the
people into the vanquishcrs and the van
pushed, would haveenvcnomedh hatred rather
than have restored affection. Once estab
lishcd, no precise limit 70 their continuance
~as conceivable they would have occa-
siOned IN incalcuhble and exhaussine ex.
pensc. Peaceful emigration 70 and from that
portion Of the country 10 one Of The best
means that can Be thought 0f for the restO.
ration Of harmony, and that emigration
would have been prevented-for what emf.
grafton nom abroad, what industrious iii.
zen 1t home would place himself willingly
under military rule
The chief pcrsOns who would have followed
In the train Of the army would have been
dependents on the general government, or
men who expected profit from the miseries
OF their fellow citizens. The powers Of pat
rOnage and rule which would have been
exercised under the President over q vast
and populous and naturally wealthy region,
are greater than (unless under extreme ne
cessity) should be willing to entrust to
any one man, II they are such, a. for myself,
| could never, unless ON occasions Of great
emergency, consent to exercise the wilful
use OF; such power, ii continued through .
period OF years, would have endangered the
purity Ofthe general administration and the
liberties Of States which remained loyal be-
sides, the policy Of military rule over con.
quercd territory would have implied that
the States whose inhabitants may have Ia
ken part in the rebellion, had, by the act Of
these inhabitants ceased TO exist but the
| true theory is, that all intended acts Of &c.
cession were, from the beginning. null and
void. The States cannot commit treason,
nor screen the individual citizens who may
have committed treason, Iany more than they
can make valid treaties, or engage in lawful
commerce with any foreign power.
The States attempting to secede placed
themselves in condition where their vital
.y was impaired, but not extinguished,
their functions suspended, but not destroy
ed. But if any State neglccts or refuses to
perform its offices. there is the more need
that the General Government should main
tain all its authority, and as soon as practi
cable resume the exercise Of oil it, functions.
On this principle have acted, and have
gradually and quietly, and by almost i'm
perceptible steps, sought to restore the
rightful energy of the General Government
and Of the States. To that end Provision-
81 Governors have been appointed for the
States, conventions called, Governors cleo
ted, Legislatures assembled, and Senators
and Representatives chosen to the Congress
Of the United States. At the same time
the courts Of the United States, as far AZ
could be done, have been reopened, so that
the laws Of the United States may
be enforced through their agency
The blockade been removed, and the Gus
tom Houses re established in ports Of entry,
80 hat the revenue Of the United States
may be collected. The Post Office Depart
mcnt renews its duties actively, and the
general Government is thereby enabled to
communicate promptly with its officers and
agents. The courts being security to per-
son and property. the opening Of the ports
invites the restoration Of industry and com
merce. The Pos. Office rcnews the facili
a. r. - s..ex, al nj
And il it not happy for us all that the restor-
alton OF each one Of these functions Of the
general Government brings with it = bless
ing to the States over which they are ex-
tendedg Is it not a sure promise Of har
mony and renewed attachment to the Union
that, after oil that has happened, the return
of the general Government is known only
rs . b,nificences l know very we'll that
this policy is attended with some risk
that for its success it requires at least The
acquieseance Of the Sta,es which it con
| Germs that it implies an Invitation to those
the executive Government Of the United
States. In exercising that power | have
taken every precau,ion to connect it with
| the closest recognition Of the binding force
| States, by renewing their allegiance to the
United States, to resumes their functions
| rs States Of the Union but it is risk that
must be taken: in the choice VI difficulties
| It is the smallcs. risk and to diminish, and,
| il possible, to remove all danger, have felt
it incumbent on me to assert one other
power Of the general Government the
power Of pardon. Al no State can throw
defence over the crime Of treason, the
power OF pardon is exclusively vested in
Of the laws Of the United States, and on
unqualified acknowledgements Of the great
social change Of condition in regard to sla
very which has grown out Of the war. The
next step which have taken to restore the
conditional 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 genera Atm
ncsty ct the earliest epoch consistent with
public safety. For this great end there
is need Of concurrence Of all opinions and the
spirit Of mutual Cancellation. All parties
in the late terrible conflict must work to-
gethcr 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 . willingness to
cast the disorders Of the past into oblivion,
and that on the other, the evidence Of SINGER
ity in the future maintenance OF the Union
shall be put beyond any doubt, by the rati-
ficatiOn Of the proposed amendment to the
Constitution, which provides for the boil
ton Of slavery forever within the limits Of
our country. So long IS the adoption Of this
amendment 10 delayed, 90 long will doubt
and 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 ., curity to those parts Of the
Union that need them most. Indeed, it is
not too much to ask o, the States which
are now resuming their places in the family
Of the Union to give this pledge Of perpe;-
ual loyalty and peace. Until it
is done, the past. however much
VIC may desire it, will not he
forgotten.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The adoption Of the amendment
III 4.