Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-12-14

sofoeu tue lndirluual III the State. preScrlh,
his religion, aud controlled his activity. II
American system rests ON the assertion of ii
equal right Of every IMAM of life, liberty, al.
the pursuit of happiness; to freedom of co,
SC cnce, to the culture and exercise of all
his faculties. AS consequence the Sta
Government is limited, as To the Gener.
! Government in the interest of Union, as
the individual citizen in the interest Of ire,
dom.
States, with proper limitations of power
are essential to the existence of the Constiiu
tion of the United States. At the very com
menccI!nent, when we assumed u place anon
the powers OF the EARTH the Declaration q
Independence was adopted by States 50 ais
were the Articles of Confederation and vile,
g the people of the United States" or,iaiue,
and established the Constitution, it was tn.
assent of the States, one by one. which gave
it vitality. In the event, too, of any amend
ment to the Constitution, the proposition o
Congress needs the confirmation Of States
Without States, one great branch Of the lie.
gislntivc Government would be wanting
And, if We lock beyond the letter Of the Con
stitntlcn to the character Of o Country, it,
capacity for comprehending within its iu,s-
diction vast continental empire is due to
the system of States. The best security for
the perpetual existence Of the States is the
"suprene authority Of the Constitution of
the United States. The pcrpetuiiy Of the
Constitution brings with it the pervrtuty of
the States their mutual reatiul, makes us
what we are, and in our political system their
connection i. indissoluble. The whul. cannot
exist without the parts, nor the parts without
the whole. So long IS the Constitution of
the Cnied States endures the States will en-
dure the destruction of the one is the de-
siruction Of the other; the preservation af the
one is the preservation of the other.
have thus cxp.aincd my views Of the
mutual relations ot the Constitution aud the
States, because they unfold the principles on
which | have sought to solve the nlon,cntous
questions and overcome the appalling difficult
ties that met me at the very commencement
of my administration. 1t has been my stead
fact object to escape from the sway Of mo-
mcntary passions, and to derive u healing
policy from the fundamental and upclanrine
principles of the Constitution.
found the States suffering from the effects
of IA civil war. liesslancc to the General
Government appeared 10 have Exhausted ITSELF
The United States had recovered possession
OF their forts and ursenals and their armies
were in the occupation OF every State which
had attempted to seccdc Whether The terri
tory within the limits Of those States should
be held as conquered territory, under military
authority cmanal;ng from the President as the
head of the army. WIS the first question that
presented itself for decision.
Now. the military governments, established
for an indefinite period, would have offered no
security for the curly suppression Of discon-
tent; would have divided the people into the
and vanquislcd and would have /
hatred. rather than have restored !
affection. Once established. no precise limit /
tn their continuance was concpvcable Thcy |
w"nid have occasioned an ucalculabe and .
eXhnustng expense. Peaceful emigration [
to and from the portion Of the country is one
Of the best means that can be thought of for
the restoration of harmony and that cmigra-
ton would have been prevented for what
mi :rant from abroad, what industrious citi
zen at home. would place himscf willingly
Indcr military rule? The chief persons who
would have followed in the train Of the army
gould have been dependents on the General
Government, "r men who cxpecte profit from
he miseries of their erin. flow citizens
The powers of patronage and rule which
would have been exercised under the Presi-
lent. over vast and p"pu!ous and naturally
renlthy region. are greater than. unless un-
Ter extreme necessity, | should be wiling to
ntrust to any one man; they are such
$. for myself, could never, unes on occa-
ions OF great emergency. consent to exercise.
The wiful use ct such powers. it continnel
trough period of years, woull have entlan.
erred the purity of the general administra-
ion and the liberties of the 5tates which re-.
NAMED loyal.
Besides, the policy of military rule over
onGnered territory would have implied that
he States whose inhabitants NAV have taken
art in the rebellion had. by the act of those
ceased to exist. But the true
hepry il, that all pretended acts Of secession
'ere, from the beginning. null and void.
he States cannot commit treason. nor screen
he individual citizens who mav have con-
lifted treason, any more than they can make ,
aid treaties or engage in lawful commerce
nth any foreign bower. The States ut. {
,mpting to sccede placed themselves in =
ond't!on whore their vitality was impaired.
ut not extinsaished functions sus.
ended. but not destroyed.
But if any State ncglccts or refuses to per-
'rm its Offices, there is the more ncel that )
ne General Government should maintain ali ,
S authority. and as s"on as practicable, re- ,
nne the exercise ofall its functions. On i
,is principle have acted and have gra lu- !
|ly aud quietly. and b. almost imprrceptibl.
eps. sought To restore the f"ishtful energy :
the General Government and of the States
o that cnd. Provisional Governors have been {
rpointed for the States, Conventions called
Governors elected. Legislatures assembled. ,
nd Seuators and Representatives chosen to t
he Congress Of the United States. At the :
lme time the Courts of the United States, as
IT as could be done. have been rsopened, 30 I
lat the laws Of tho United States may be en- |
'rced through their agency. The blockade l.
as been removed. and the custom houses re- I
in ports of entry. SO that the rev. t
nue. Of the United States may be collected j
he Poet Office Department renews its cease.
ss activity. and the General Government is /
hereby enabled to 'mmunicate promptly q
th its officers aud agents The courts bring s
,curity to persons and property the opening /
the ports invites the restoration of industry /
nd commerce the post Office renews the ia I
ities of social intercourse md of h,,s;nes. r