Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1865-12-23
... P1cKENs G. H, s. G., SATURDAY. DECEMBER %, 1865

sOf civil war. Resistance to the geficral gov
gornment appeared to have exhausted itself
S|The United States had recovered possession
ySOf their forts and arsenals and. their armies
were in the occupation>of every State which
Ind attempted to secede. Whether the terri
tory withinthe limits of those States should
sbe' held as conquered territory, under military
lauthority emanating from the President as the
head Of the army, was the first question that
presented itself for decision.
81 Now, military governments, established for
s0n indefinite, period, would have offered no se7
sctirity} for the early suppression ofdiscontent;
gould have divided the people into the van
Sgnishers apd the .vanquished and would have
hatred rather than have restored
Affection. Once established, no precise limit
ptheircontinuance was conceivable. They
Would have occasioned ain incalculable and ex-
expense. Peaceful emigration to and
from that portion of the country is one of the
best means that can be thought of for the res
koration of harmony; and thut emigration
would have been prevented; for, what emf
gfant from abroad, what Industrious citizen
atshone, would place himself willingly under
nilitary rule? The chief pe&sons who would
shayeSf followed in the train of the army would
have been dependents on the general. GOVERN
lleINs s0r,,men who expected profit from the
Mlseffes of their erring fellow. citizens. The
powers Of patronage and rule which would
sIaYo, beent6x under the President, over
vast, and populdus. and naturally wealthy
regio ion, are greater than, unless under extreme
lscessity,I 4 should be,willing to entrust to any
one man they are such as, for myself, I could
never, pniess on occasions of great emergency
eonsent TO exercise. The wilful use of such
i coptinaea through q period Of years.
would have endangered the purity Of the gen
eral administration and the liberties Of the
States which remained loyal. 4.
Besides, the policy of military rule over
conquered territory would hive implied that
the States whose Inhabitants may have taken
part inthe rebellion had, by the act of those
inhabitants, ceased to exist. But the true
theory is, that all pretended acts of secession
were, from, the beginning, null and void
The States cannot commit treason, nor screen
the eindividual citizens who may have commit
ted treason, any more than they can make val
i'd treaties or engage in lawful commerce with
any foreign power. The States attempting to
,secede, placed themselves in condition where
their vitality was impaired, but not extin-
guished-thcir functions suspended, but not
destroyed.
But, if any State neglccts or refuses to per-
form its Offices, there is the more need that
the general government should maintain all it's
authority, and, as soon as practicable, resume
the exercises. of all its functions. On this
principle | have acted, and have gradually and
quietly, and by almost imperceptible steps,
sought to restore the rightful energy of the
genera! government aud Of tile Stetes. TO
that end, Provisional Governors have been ap-
pointed forthe States, Conventions called, Gov
ernors elected, 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
as could be done, have been re.opened, 80 that
the laws of the United States may he enforced
through theiragency. The blockade has been
removed and the custom houses re.established
imports of entry, so that the revenue Of the
United States may be collected. The Post
Office Department renews it's ceaseless>activis
ty, and the general government is thereby en-
abled to communicate promptly with its off
GERS and agents, The courts. bring security
to persons and property; the opening Of the
ports invites the restoration of industry and
commerce the post Office rcnews the facilities
of social intercourse and of business. And is
it not happy for us all, that tho restoration of
each bne of these functions Of the general gov
ernmcnt brings with it q blessing to, the States
ovor which they arc extended Is it not suro
promise Of harmony and renewed attachment to