Charles City intelligencer., 1865-12-14

Il
self willingly under military rule
The chief persons who would have fol-
lowed in the train of the army would
have been dependents ON the General
Government, oo or men who expected
profit from the miseries of their erring
fellow citizens. The powers of patron
age and rule which would have been
exercised, under the President, over a
vast and populous, and naturally
wealthy region, are greater than, un-
less under extreme necessity, should
be willing to entrust To any one man
they are such as, for myself, could
never, unless on occasions of great
emergency, consent to exercise. The
wilful use of such powers, if continued
through period of years, would have
endangered the purity of the General
Administration and the liberties of the
States which remain loyal.
Besides, the policy Of military rule
over conquered territory would have
implied that the States whose inhabi-
tants may have taken part in the re-
bellion had, by the act of those inhabi-
tants, ceased to exist. But the true
theory is, that all pretended acts of
secession were, from the beginning,
null and void. The States cannot com.
init treason, nor screen the individual
citizens who may have, committed
treason, any more than they can make
valid treaties to engage in lawful COM
mercc with any foreign Power. The
States attempting to secede placed
themselves in a condition where their
vitality was impaired, but extinguish-
ed--their functions suspended, but not
destroyed. can ~
But if any State neglects or refuses
to perform its Offices, there is no more
need that the General Government
should maintain all it's authority, and,
as soon as practicable, resume the
exercise of all its functions. On this
principle | have acted, and have grad
ually and quietly, and by almost i'm
perceptible steps, sought to restore the
rightful energy of the General Govern
ment and of the States To that end,
Provisional Governors have been APP
pointed for the States, Conventions
called, Governors elected, Legislatures
assembled, and Senators and Repre-
sentatives 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 reopened,
so that the laws of the United States
may be enforced through their agency.
The blockade has been removed and
the Custom Houses rc-established in
the port of entry, so that revenue of
the United States may be collected.
The Post Office Department renews its
Ceaselcss activity, and the General
Government is thereby enabled to
communicate promptly with its Off.
GERS and agents. The Courts bring
security to persons and property the
opening of the ports invites the resto-
ration Of industry and commerce the
Postofice renews the facilities of So
cial intercourse and of business. And
is it not happy for us all. that the re-
storation of each one of these func-
tions of the General Government
brings with il blessing to the States
over which they are extended 2 Is it
not sure promise of harmony and re.
newed attachment io the Union that,
after all that has happened, the return
of the General Government is known
only as benefcence? ...
/ know very well that this policy is
attended with some risk that for its
success it requires at least the acqui.
escence of the States which it concerns
that it implies an invitation to those
States, by renewing their allegiance
to the United States, to resume their
functions as States of the Union. But
it is risk that must be taken in the
choice of difficulties, it is the smallest
risk and to diminish, and possible,
to remove all danger, ! have felt it in.
cumbent on me to assert one other pow.
er of the General Government-the
power of pardon. As no State can
throw defence over the crime of trea.
son, the power of pardon is exclusive
ly vested in the Executive Govern,
ment of the United States. In exercis-
ing that power, I have taken every
precau,ion to connect it with the
clearest recognition of the binding
force of the laws of the United States,
and an unqualified acknowledgment
of the great social change of condi.
tion in regard to slavery which has
grown out of the war. -ua.
The next step which have 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. Every
patriot most wish for general amnes-
ty at the earliest epoch consistent with
public safety. For this great end there
is need of concurrence of all opin.
ions, and the spirit of mutual concilia.
tion. All parties in the late terrible
conflict must work together in harmo
ny. 1t is not too much to ask, in the
name of the whole people, that, on the
one side, the plan of restoration shal
proceed in conformity with willing
ness to cast the disorders of the past
into oblivion and that, on the other
] the evidence Of sincerity in the future
maintenance of the Union shall be put
beyond any doubt by the ratification
of the proposed amendment to the Con
stitution, which provides for the aboli
ton of slavery forever within the linn
it's Of our country. So long as the
adoption of this amendment is delayed
so long viii doubt, and jealously, and
uncertainty prevail. This is the mea
sure which will efface the sad memory
of the past; this is the measure which
will most certainly call population
and capital. and security to those part'
of the Union that need them most. In
;, deed, it is not too much to ask of tn,
Il States which are now resuming thei
places in the family of the Union t
give this pledge of perpetual loyalt.
!, and peace. Until it is done, the past
however much we may desire it, viii
not be forgotten. The adoption Of tn,
amendment reunites us beyond al
power Of disruption. 1t heals tn