Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-12-13

of any State to the contrary notwithstan-
ding. .-~
found the States suffering from the
effects of civil war. Resistance to the
General Government appeared to have
exhausted itself The United States had
recovered possession of their forts and ar.
senals; and their armies were in the oc.
cupatlon of every State which had at
tempted to secede. Whether the terrific.
ry within the limits of these States sbould
be held as the head of the army, was the
first question. ........ .'.......
Now, military governments, established
for an indefinite period, would have offer.
ed no security for the early suppression
OF dlsconrent; would have divided the peo.
pie into the vanquishers and the van.
qulohed and would have envenomed ha.
tired, rather than have restored affection
once established, no precise limit to their
continuance was conceivable. They would
have occasloned an incalculable and OK.
haustlng expense. Peaceful emigration to
and from that portion of the country is
one OF the best means that can be thought
OF for the restoration of harmony and
that emigration would have been prevent
ed; for what emigrant from abroad, what
industrious citizen at home, would place
himself willingly under military rule I?
The chief persons who would have follow.
ed IN the train of the army would have
been dependents on the General Govern
ment, or men who expected profit from
the mlseries Of their crring fellow-citizens.
The powers of patronage apd rule which
would have been exercised. under the
President, over vast, and populous, and
naturally wealthy region, arc greater than
unless under extreme necessity, i should be
wiling to entrust to any one man; thew
are such, as for myself, could never. nm.
less on occasions of great emergency, con.
sent to exercise. The willful use of sncb
powers, If continued through period of
years. would have endangered the purity
OF The general administration and the lib.
critics of the States which remained loval
The next step which i have taken to re.
store the constitutional relations of the
States has been an invitation to them to
participate in the high office of amending
the Constitution. Every patriot must
wish for general amnesty ut the earliest
epoch consistent with public safety. For
this great cad there is need of concur.
renee OF all opinions, aud the spirit Of
mutual Cancellation. 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
proceed in conformity with willingness
to h cast the disorders of the past into OBJ.
lIvlon, and that, on the other, the eyi.
dence ofsincerity in the future maipten.
ance of the Union shall Re put beyond anv
doubt by the ratification of the proposed
amendment to the Constitution which bro.
vldes for the abolition of slavery forever
within the limits of our country. So
long as the adoption of this amendment
is delayed, so long will doubt and ical-
ousy, and uncertainty prevail. This is
the measure which will effacc the sad
memory of the past; this is the measure
which will most certainly call population.
and capital, and security to those parts of
the Union that need them most. Indeed.
1t Is not too much to ask of the States
which are now resuming their places in
the family of the Union to give this
pledge of perpetual loyalty and peace.
Until 1t IS done, the past, however, much
we may desire it, will not be forgotten.
The adoption of the amendment reunites
us beyond all power of disruption. 1t
heals the wound that is still imperfectly
closed it removes slavery, the element
which has so long pcrplexed and divided
The country; it makes of US once more a
united people, renewed and strengthened
bound more than ever to mutual affection
1ud support.
The amendment to the Constitution be.
ng adopted, it would remain for the
states, whose powers have been so long in
'beyance. to resume their places in the
wo branches of the Nstioual Legislature,
md thereby complete the work Of restora-
ion. Here it is for you, fellow citizens of
he Senate, and for you. fellow-citizens of
he House Of Representatives, to Judge,
zach of you for yourselves, of the elec.
ions, returns, and qualifications of your
'wD members.
The full assertion of the powers of the
ieneral Government requires the holding
# Circuit Courts of the United States
within the districts where their authority
las been interrupted In the present
posture of our public affairs, strong objec-
ions have been urged to holding those
ourts in any of the States where the re.
,ellion has existed: and il was ascer-
aimed. by inquiry, that the Circuit Court
4 the United States would not be held
s.t - II \