Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-12-12
Presidents Message.

Presidents Message.
The President opens his message with ex-
sion of gratitude to God for the preservation
Of the United States. y
lie explains his views Of the mutual relations
Of the Government and the States, and says this
government of the United States is limited gov
eminent, and States with proper limitation of
power are essential TO the existence of the Con-
etitution of the United States. After the closing
o fhostities, the first question that presented it.
self for his decision was, whether the terri
tory, within the limits of the recovered States
should be held as conquered territory,
under military authority emanating from the
President as the head Of the army. He opposed
the policy Of military rule, for various reasons
The true history is, that all pretended acts of
secession were from the beginning, null and void.
Ifany State neglects or refuses to perform its
Offices, there is more need that the general gov
eminent should maintain all its authority, and
as soon as practicable, resume the exercises Of
all it's functions which, happily for US all, brings
with it blessing to the States over which they
are extended. He has felt it necessary to as
sert one other power Of the general government,
the power of pardon, connected with the cleares'
recognition of the binding force of the laws Of the
United States, and an acknowledgement of the
change in regard to slavery. The next step which
he says he has 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. The adoption OF the proposed
amendment re-unites us beyond all power OF dis
runtion 1t will efface the sad memory OF the
mast. and bind us more than ever to mutual affec-
tion and support. Every patriot must wish for
general amnesty at the earliest epoch CONSISTENT
with the public good. For this great end there
is need of concurrence of all opinions, and splr-
it of mutu al Cancellation. The amendment to The
CoDsti tuition being adopted, it would remain 1or
the States whose powers have been so long IN a.
beyance to resume their places in the two prancn-
n. affho ln;slaturo and thereby complete
the work of restoration. Here" says the President
sit is for you, fello w-citizens of the Senate and
House of Representatives, to judge each for your
selves, of the election returns and the quallhca-
tons of your own members"
He refers to the unwillingness Of the Chief JUS
tics to hold term of the United States Circui
Court in Richmond, "until Congress should hav
an opportunity to consider and act the whole
subject" He hopes that Congress may make an
early provision for the resumption of all its judi
cial functions. Persons charged with treaso n
should have fair and impartial trials in the high
est civil tribunals of hecountry. The truth should
be affirmed, that treason is crime, and traitors
should be punished, and the offence made infa-
NOUS, that the question should be judicially set
tled that tate has the right of its own will TO
renounce its place in the Union.
In relation to the question of extending the
right of suffrage to the freedmen emancipated by
the war, and of necessity to the free coored men
in all the States of the Union, the President ex-
presses his well known views and policy of refer
ring it to the several States He says it may
prove that the colored men will receive the kind
Hest usage from some of those on whom they have
heretofore most closely depended. But while he
has no doubt that now, after the close Of the wal,
it is not competent for the general government to
extend the elective franchise in the several States,
il is equally clear that good faith requires the
security of the freedmen in their property, their
right to labor and to claim the just return OF their
labor. Now that the monopoly of slave labor has
been removed from the States nearest the Gulf
of Mexico, the influx of free labor will people
those regions with a numerous and enterprlslng
population which will vie with any in the Union
in compactness, inventive genious, wealth and in
dustry. The constitutional freedom Of commerce
between the States is referred to- and the right OF
any State to tax the transit between States oe-
MED. 1t constitutes one Of the worst forms oil
monopoly and the evil is increased if coupled with
o denial of the choice of the route. Every such
obstacle ought to be sternly guarded against by
approprite legislation within the limits OF the
Constitution. These remarks, it will be supposed,
have q bearing on such railroads as are burdened
with consolidation tax, passing from one State
to another.
The report of the Secretary OF the Interior pre-
cents evidence of the successful operation Of the
homestead act, over one million and half acres
having been entered the past fiscal year and oc-
cupied by Industrious settlers. The business
of the Pension Bureau has largely inoreas-
ed, the number Of pensioners being now
s5,9986, requiring for their annual pay over S8,-
10000 He says grateful people will not hes
itate to sanction any measures for the relief of
soldiers Tor their wives) who have assisted to
preserve national existence.
The report of the Postmaster General presents
an encouraging exhibit, leaving surplus OF re-
CENTS over expenditures. Progress has been
made in restoring the postal service in the South
ern Stat es He also refers to the report of the
Secretary of War, which states that the volunteer
force has already been reduced by the discharge
of over 100000 troops. 1t is proposed to reduce