The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-06

ana The liberties Of the ntes which re-
NAMED loyal.
Besides, the policy Of military rule over |
conquered territory would have implied that |
the States whose inhabitants may have
taken part in the rebellion had, by the act
OF those inhabitants, ceased 10 exist. But
the true theory is, that all pretended acts Of
secession 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 OF eueage 10
Lawful commerce with any foreign Power.
Toe States attempting 30 secede placed
them, elves in condition where their vital
ity was impaired, bgL not extinguished-
their functions Suspended, bot not de
stroyed.
But if any sta'e negiects or refuses 10
perform its Offices, there is the more need
that the General Government should main
tain al its authority, and, o. soon ~ praeti-
cable, resume the exercise Of all its Juno
dous. On this principle have acted, and
have gradually end quietly, and BY almost
imPerceptible steps, sought 70 restore the
rightiul energy Of the General Government /
snd Of the States. TO that end, Provisional /
Governors have been Appointed for the i
States, Conventions called, Governors elect
ed, Legislatures assembled, and Senator's 1
and Representatives chosen to the Congress
Of the United Suites. Al the same time, the |
Courts OF ihe United States, as lar Is could /
be done, have been reopenrd, 30 that the /
laws Of the United States may be entered /
through the agency. Tbs blockade has /
been removed and the custom houses re-es- |
tublished 10 ports Of en'ry, % that the rev
euue Of the United States nav be collected. |
The Post Office Department reuews its cease
less sctivity, end the General Government |
is thereby enabled to communicate prompt
" with iis officers snd agents. r e courts
bring security 10 persons aud property the
opening Of tie port, invites the restoration
OF industry and commerce the post Office
rehews the facilities Of sOGssl intercourse
and Of business. And Is il not happy for US
all, that the restoration Of each one Of these
functions Of the General = Government bEngs
with 1t blessing 70 the States over which
they are extended Is il not q sure promise
OF harmony and renewed attachment 10 the
| Union that, aft Gll that has happened, the
return Of the General Governments is known
] only IS q bcnehcenee
know very ~ell that this policy is at
tsmped with some risk; that for lis success
/ il requires al least the acquiescence Of the
Stutes which a. eoncsrnsi thai q implies an
| ia giiatioa 90 those States, by renewing their
allegiance 10 the Unied States, 20 re ume
! their functions ~ States OF the Union. But
/ Il is risk that must be taken IN Inc
choice OF difficulties, il is the smallest rick
and to diminish, and, If possible, 10 remove
all danger, have felt II incumbent on me
90 sssert ore other power Of the General
! GOvernment- he power Of pardon. As no
/ State can throw defence over the CRIME OF
treason, he power OF pardon Is exclusive y
yes ed in the Executive Government OF tue
United States. In exercising that power,
have taken every prccautiOn TO connect Il
with the clearest recognition Of the binding
/ force OF the laws OF the United States, aud
an unqualified ack Bowledg nent vi tbs great
| social change Of condition in regard 20
/ slavery which has grown cut OF the Wsr.
/ The next step which have taken 10 re
store the constitutional relations Of the
/ States, has been an invitation 10 them 70
/ partieipate In the high Office Of amesding
/ the Constitution. Every patriot must Wish
| for a general amnesty a. tue earliest epoch
consistent with public safety. For this
| great end there Is need Of a concurrence OF
| an opinions, and the spirit OF mutunl Goa
riliation All parties IN the late terrible
ronHict must work together IN harmony.
ID Is not too much 10 ask, ia the name Of
| the whole people, that, pn the one side, ths
plan uf restoration shall proceed in CON
| formity with q willingness TO cast the DIS
orders of the past into oblivion and that,
ON the other, the evidence Of sincerity IL
| the future maintenance Of the Oniok shall
b, nut beyond any doubt by the ratification
, | of the proposed amendment 10 the COnstl-
tuition, which provides for the abolition OF
slavery forever within the limits OF our
J country. SO long as tho adopt on OF this
amendment Is DELAYED, 50 long will
1ouat and jealousy and uncertainty
prevail. This is the measure VII Oh
b viii efiace the sad memory Of tue
nast; Ga > is the measure which will most
p certain call population, and capital, aad
p security to those parts Of the Union that
= need them most ftdeed, il Is not TOO much
3 10 ask Of the states winch are now rrsum-
ing their places la the family OF the Union
to give this pledge OF perpetual loyalty and
B peace Until il Is done, The past, however
O much We NAV desire IL; wall not BE- forgot
/ ten. The adoption OF the amendment re-
unitcs us beyond all pJwer ct disruption.
b ID heats tee wound that Is still imPerf city
, close s: it removes slavery, The element
which has ~ long pefpleAed and divided
the eouutry; il makes Of us once more a
united people, renewed aud strengthened,
bound more than ever 20 mutual affection
add support.
The amendment 10 the Constitution being
ndupted, il would remain for the STATES,
wh5-e powers have been 30 long in abey-
4 aurs. ~ resume their places Ia the Two
/ brauehss of the National Legislature, and
1 thereby ealpplste the work Of RESTORATION.
! Here d is f3T you, lellow-citizens o. the
senate, aud for y9u, fellow -eitizens OF the
House VI keprssenil tiyes, ~ judge, each Of
yea for Yourselves, on elesiiOns, returns,
aud qualifications uf youF oWa meWbers.
The full assertion Of powers, u the Gene
/ raj Government reQUJes the boiling II
Circuit Courts Of the Lpi'ed stqtes Wi'hln
tbe Districts where their sHtbority has Reap
interrupted. In the pr-sent posiure 81 tslr
public affairs, strong pblecti0us have been
urged o. holding those courts la any Of the
States where the rebellion has existed Rnd
j. was aseeriained, BY inquiry, that the CIR
, I cait court Of The United States would not
be held within the District Of Virginia dur
ing the autumn OF early WINTER, nor until
Congress should hQVe IAN opportunity 70
consider spd act ~ ihe ybols subject" To
/ YOUR del befations the reltorQtlon Of this
branch OF the civil Authority % ~ United
States Is therefor necessarily relerred, 9th
the hope thai early PfeS2siQps will be 1852
TOR Che resumption V hli 10 functions. II
il manifest that treason, NEST 8sgraQt in
I character, has been committed. PeTsoas
who ore charged with this commission
shQQld hsye iair and impartial tFials IN the
4 highest .riyl tribunals Of the country, in
order that the Cessi1ution aud the lava
may ~ iepy yipdieR;fs ibe truth clearly
eltablishad aud aihrnee thai trcasoE Is
crime, that traitors should be'pFnlske3 Fpd
the offence made igislaQRs 5; aad, - tse ssa.ee
time, that the qusstiaa " be lpdleiaily
settled, Gnally aud forever, tbes 40 atgte 81
4 is QNp will has the right 10 Teaopncs is
l place IN tbe Union.
The relations VI the 6 eneral Government to-
Wfads the lQpr mill pns inhabitants whom
the " ar has calleq iutg irf- dom have enc gagged
my most serious c2pslaergtion. On the pro-
pretty Of attempting b mqks tie frcedueu
r'ect9rs by the proelainai 81 81 iIas E}ecu-
h tiNe. took Tor my counsel the CoaslL,tla
T itseii, ~ interpretations Of taat instra.
meut BY az sqthors aud their coutcmpora
Tlfs. and yeespt iegislation by Congress.
Sh,su, az the trst nl9veEssnt towards lnde-
| peucs Nc, the Congress ol tie Jailed atas
instructed tke several States 70 institute
governments of thsy oWn, they let each
State TO decide Tor keel 70 conditions Tor
the ,ajoymsnt 81 tke elsesfvs franchise.
During the period o. she ClpieeeTRCy, there
continued 20 exist very Ffsst diversity 10
tkc qualifications OF electors ~ tie several
Stet6s s2d evca within State a disiiEolisp
OF gv@idgS,gns prevailed with regard 20
the ot ccrs Vko yere 10 be chosen. The
Constitution y abe listed States recognises
there diFcrsitisf Wh0E 4 eRi2ins that, "a tbs
I choice OF members Of abs Ea-r1 of Repre-
septatives Of the United states, = she eiee-
tors h each State shall have the qssiiEss-
TOES rrqs4sbe ior electors of The in0sl ~
l tAeNNAr NFaACA - AAe - AtN LEXIS AZURE"
Amer The iorwatieE II the Constitution,
re12uiued, ~ befoe, the uniform
| usHgs ~ eGch State 10 enlarge 80 BODY OF
iu ciestoTss Rosgrding 10 its own igtgpie-t;
and, under tbs system, one State Rfter az
other has ptonneded X ihs-aase the humber
% as electors, unBl aeV Ep;EeFssl suffrage,
y something nesr Il. D. the ge1crpl rue.
- -,ea Nas tbs reservation u pgst- "a !
Tie haois OF the people, and - rnsues- ]
honta has y ~ the Interpretation 81 .he /
t3usltnt'on, thst elrng ,ne civil war The /
| lsS = sideki never hErtprcd the purt,ase- /
csriaaRig psNe, svow,e ne - po.e-of ai.- !
I regurdtFg y aHd ID 3thc aus OF = onrress.
/ during that TsFy9s, nggh,ng can be fsupa /
| which, dunaR tbs e8niiugsnce n hostih /
/ ties. much less af'er ibais 1859, Eaulf ,nsve 1
sanctioned auy depattafs by the EEscpuvs /
/ q - q policy uhish has - gni t. az > u. /
taiaFG. Moreover, . concsssisa N ths i
elective iEEachiae % the freedmen, Dr. a. i
Of abe Presidags 81 the United states. inssi
have been cxtenao3 D. an coloisd men.
D hsrsycr fsupd, and A. must have estsb-
iishet change Of sntirsgs y The Northern.
Middle asd q esteem statss. uot ssrs than IA
the SuEthaFu and Southwestern. Sleh an |