The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1865-12-15

ficulties that mel me at the very COM
n.oncemek ot< <my ADMINISTRATION
! It has BeJnsmY btsadtastobject to es-
cape from the sway of momentary pas.
sions, and to deriycNu healing policy
from the fundamental and unchang-
! ing principles of the Constitution.
/ / found the States, suffering from
the effects of a civil war. Resistance
to the General Government appeared
| to have exhausted itself. The Uni
ted States had recovered posassiou
of their forts and arsenals and their
armies were in the occupancy of every
State, which had attempted to secede.
| Whether the territory within the linn
! its Of those States should be held as
conquered territory, under military
authority rmanating from the Presi.
dent as the. Of the army, was the
first qucstkn that presented itself for
decision.
Now, military governments, estab-
flished fof eajndefnite period, would
have offered no security for the ear-'
ly suppression of discomfort; would
have divided the people into the van
quishers and the vanquished and
would hare envenomed hatred, rather
than have restored affection. Once
established, no precise limit to their
continuance was conceivable. They
would have occasioned an incalcula-
bic and exhausting expense. Peace
full emigration to and from that por-
ton of tie country is one of the best
means that can be thought Of for the
restoration of harmony; and that en-
igration would have been prevented /;
for what emigrant from abroad, what
industrious citizen at home, would
place himself willingly under mil
itary rule? Tho chief persons who
would have followed in the train
of the army wonld have been depen-
dents upon the General Govern
ment, or men who expect profit from
the miseries of their erring fellow.cit-
izens. The powers ofpatronage and
and rule which would have been ex
ercised under tho President, over q
vast, and populous, and naturally
wealthy region, are greater than, IN.
less under extrome 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 exercser The
wilful of such powers, if continued
through a period Of years, would have
endangered the purity of the general
administration and the liberties of the
States which remained loyal.
Besides, the policy of military rule
over conquered territory would have
implied that tho States whose inhabi-
tonts may have taken part in the re-
! -beHiats Lad, BY the act of those inhabl.
tants; ceased 10 exist. BuJ thc true
theory is, that all pretended acts OF
secession were, from the beginning, null
and void Tho States cannot commit
treason, nor screen the individual citi-
zens who may have committed troa-
son, any more than they can make
valid treaties or engage in lawful com
mcrce with any foreign Power. The
States attempting to secede placed
themselves in condition where their
vitality was impaired, but not extin-
guished-thcir functions suspended,
but not destroyed.
Butt if any State neglects or refuses
to perform its Offices, there is the more
need that the General Government
should maintain all it's authority, and
as soon as practicable, resume the ex-
ercise of all its functions. On this
principle / have acted, and have grad.
nally and quietly, and by almost i'm
pcrcoptibe steps, sought to restore
the rghtful energy Of the General
Government and Of the States To
that end Provisional Governors have
been appointed for the States, Con.
ventions called, Governors elected
Legislatures assembled, the Senators
and Representatives chosen to the
Congress of tho United States. Al
: the same time, the Courts Of the Uni
ted States, rs far rs could bo done
have been re-opened, so that tho law,
of tho United States may be enforced
through their agency Tho blockade
has been removed and custom.house'
, re.established in ports OF entry, Sc
that the revenue Of the United States
may be collected. She Post Office
Department ronews its ceaselcss ac
tivity, and the General Government il
thereby enabled to communicate
promptly with its officers and agents
The courts bring security to persons
and property; the opening of th'
, ports invites tho restoration Of indus
Try and commerce the post Office re
news tho faclitiesof social intercourse
and of business. And is it not happ,
, for us all, that tho restoration of eacI
, ono of these functions Of tho Genera
. Government brings with it blessing
10 the States over which they arc OK
tonded2 Is IL not suro promise o
. harmony and renewed attachment o
tho Union that, after all that has hap
D pcned, the roturnof tho General Gov
8 erpmont is known only as u beniil
s cencog
Q know very well that this policy
f ATTENDED with some risk, that for 1t
@ success IL requires at least the acquic'
conce Of tho States which IL concerns