The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-12-14

in the high office of amending the
Constitution. Every patriot must
wish for u general amnesty at the
earliest epoch consistent with pub
lie eaf,ty. For this great end
there is need OF q recurrence of
all opinions, and the spirit Of mu
tual conciliation. All parties in
the late terrible conflict must work
together 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 pro-
coed in conformity with II willing
ness to cast the disorders of the
past into oblivion and that, on
the other, the evidence of sinceri.
ty in the future maintainancc of
the Union shall be put beyond any
doubt by the ratification OF the
proposed amendment to the ton-
stitution, which provides for the
abolition of slavery forever within
the limits Of our country. So long
as the adoption of this amendment
/, delayed, so long will doubt, and
jcalous!y. AMI uncor ainty prevail.
Th 8 is III me sure which will eff.
face the sad memory of the past /;
this 8 the measure which will most
certainly call population, and capi.
al AMI security t. those parts OF the
Union that need them most. In
deed, it is not too much to ask of
thc States which are now rcsuming
their places in the family of the
Union to give this pledge of per
pctual loyalty and peace. Until it
is done, the past, however much
we may desire it, will not be for
gotten. The adoption of the
amendment reunitcs us beyond all
power of disruption. 1t heals the
wound that is still impertectly
closed it removes slavery, the ell.
ement which has so long divided
and perpleXed the country; it
makes of us once more united
people, renewed and strengthened,
bound moro than ever to mutual
affection and support.
The amendment to the Consti.
tuition being adopted, it would re.
main for the States, whose powers
have been so long in allegiance, to
resume their places in the two
branches of the National Lcgisla-
ture, and thereby complete the
work Of restoration. Here it is
for you, fcllow-citizens of the SEN
ate, and for you, fellow citizens of
the House of Representatives, to
Judge, each Of YOU for yourselves,
the elections, returns, and qualifi
cations OF your own members.
The full assertion of the powers
of the General Government re.
quires 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 hold
ing these courts in any of these
States where the rebellion has eX.
isted and ii was rtained, by
inquiry, that the Circuit Court of
the United States would not be
held within the District of Virgin
ia during the autumn, or early
winter, nor until Congress should
J have san opportunity to consider
, and act on the whole subject. "
To your deliberations the restora
tion of this branch of the civil au
, thoriry Of the United States is
, therefore necessarily referred, with
= the hope that early provision wi3
be made for tho rss"mPtion OF all
ice functions. 1t is manifest that
treason, most flagrant in character
has been committed. Persons who
are charged with its commission
should have fair and impartial
trials in the highest civil tribunals
, of the country, in order that the
, Constitution and the laws may be
, fully vindicated; the truth clearly
established and affirmed that trea-
son is crime, that traitors should
be punished and the offence made
, infamous ; and, at the same time,
that the question may be jrdi tally
settled, finally and forever, that no
: State ofits own will has the right to
= renounce its place in the Union.
, The relations of the General
Government towards the four mil
. lions of inhabitants whom the war
: has called into freedom, have en-
] gagged my most serious considera-
t tion. On the propriety ofattenpt,
4 ing to make the freedmen electors
by the proclamation Of the Execu,
. tive, | took Tor my counsel the
t Constitution itself, the interPreta
I tions of that instrument by its an
b thors and their contemporaries, end
/. recent legislation by Congress =
: When, at the first movement to-
wards independence, the Congress
s of the United States instructed The
A several States to institute govern
e ments of their own, they lett eacl
/. State to decide for itself the condi
{ tions for the enjoyment of tho elec
| tive franchise. During the period
o of the Confederacy, there continu
/. ed to exist a very great diversity
# in the qualifications of electors il
a the several States; and even with
/, in a State distinction of qualifi
y cations prevailed with regard tc
I the officers who were chosen. The
: Constitution Of the United State;
n recognizes these diversities wher
n ljt enioins that in the choice M