Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-12-15
DURBORROW ITTz Editors and ProprIetors.


tuition Of the United States. At the very
commencement, when we assumed a place
among the powers Of the earth, the Decara-
ton of independence was adopted by states;
so also were the Articles of Confederation;
and when the people Of the United State"
ordained and established the Constitution it
was the assent of the States, one by one,
which gave it vitality In the event, too, Of
any amendment to the Constitution the
proposition of Congress needs the conirma-
tien of States Without States, one great
branch Of the legislative government would
be wanting. And, if we look beyond the
letterof the Constitution to the character OF
our country, its capacity for comprehending
within its jurisdiction a vast continental en-
pire is due TO the system of States. The best
security for the perpetual existence Of the
/ States u the Asnpreme authority of the
Constitution of the United States. The per-
petuity of the Constitution brings with it
the perpetuity Of the States their mutual
relation makes us what we are, and in our
/ political system their connexion is indissolu-
bic. The whole cannot exist without the
parts, nor the parts without the whole. So
long as the Constitution ofthe United States
endures the States viii endure; the destruc-
tion of the one is the destruction of the 9th
er; the preservation Of the one is the pres
ervation OF the other
| have thus explained my views Of the
mutual relations of the Constitution and the
States, because they unfold the principles
on which / have sought to solve the mo-
mentous questions and overcome the appal-
| ling difficulties that met me at the very com
mencement of my administration. 1t has
been my steadfast object to escape from the
sway OF momentaTy passions, and to derive
a healing policy from the fundamental and
unchanging principles of the Constitution
| found the States suffering from the ef-
| fects of civil war. Resistance to the Gen
eral Government appeared to have exhaust
ed itself The United States had recovered
possession of their forts and arsenals; and
their armies were in the occupation of every
| State that attempted to secede. Whether
the territory within the limits of those
States should be held as conquered terrific
Ty, under military authority emanating from
the President as the head of the army, was
the first question that presented itself for
! decision
Now, military governments, established
| for an indefinite period, would have afford
ed no security for the early depression of
discomfort; would have divided the people
into the Yanquishers and vanquished; and
would have envenomed hatred, rather than
have restored affection. Once established,
no precise limit to the continuance was con
ceivable They would have occasioned an
| incalculable and exhausting expense. Peace
| ful emigration to and from that portion Of
| the country IS one of the best means that
can be thought of for the restoration of har-
mony; and that emigration would have been
prevented; for what emigration from abroad
/ what industrious citizen at home, would
| place himself willingly under military rule?
| The chief persons who would have followed
/ in the train of the army would have been
/ dependents on the General Government, or
men who expected profit from the miseries
/ of their errina fellow citizens The powers
| of patronage and rule which have been exer-
/ cised, under the President, over a vast, and
popUlous and naturally wealthy region, are
greater than, unless under extreme necessi-
/ ty, | should be willing to entrust TO any one
man they are such as, for myself, | could
/ never, unless on occasions Of great enlergen-
| cy, consent to exercise The wilful use of
such powers, if continued through a period
of years, would have endangered the purity
Of the general administration and the liber
/ ties Of the States which remained loyal.
Besides, the policy of military rule over
conquered territory would have implied
| that the States whose in 'labitants may have
| taken part in the rebellion had, by an act of
those inhabitants, ceased to exist. But the
| true theory is, that all pretended acts of Sc
cession were, from the beginning, null and
| void. The States cannot commit treason,
nor screen the individual citizens who may
have committed treason, any more than they
can make valid treaties or engage in lawful
commerce with any foreign Power. The
States attempting to secede placed them
| selves in a condition where their vitality was
impaired, but not extinguished-their func-
tions suspended, but not destroyed
But if any State refuses or neglects to per-
form its offices, there is the more need that
the General Government should maintain all
Its authority, and, as soon as practicable, re-
sumo 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 General
government 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 Representatives chosen to
the Congress of the United States. AT the
same time, the Courts of the United States
as far as could be one, have been re-opened,
so that the laws Of the United States may
be enforced through their agency The
blockade has been removed and the custom
houses re-establishel in ports Of entry, so
that the revenue Of the United States may
be collected The Post Office Department
renews its ceaseless activity, and the Gene
raj Government is thereby enabled to COM
municate promptly with its officers and a.
gents. The courts bring security to persons
and property; the opening of the ports in
vites the restoration of industry and COM
merce; the postoflice renews the facilities of
social intercourse and business. And is it
not happy for us all that the restoration of
each one of these functions of the General
Government brings with it a blessing to the
States over which they are extended Is it
not a sure promise of harmony and renew
ed attachment to the Union that, after all
that has happened, the return of the Gen
eral Government is known only as a benef-
cence?
know very well that this policy Is at
tended with some risk that for its success
it requires at least the acquieseenee 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, if possible, to remove all
danger, | have felt it incumbent on me to
assert one other power of the general Gov
ernment-the power of pardon As no
State can throw defence over the crime of
treason, the power of pardon is exclusively