Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-14

thority' of the Constitution OF the Initct
States. The pcrpetuity of the Constitution
brings with it the pcrpctuity ofthc States
their mutual relation makes us what We arc
g and in our political system their connection
9 is indissoublc. The whole cannot exis
= without the parts, nor the parts without
the whole So long as the Constitution o
: the United States endures, the States viii
endure; the destruction of one is the de
struction of the other; the preservation oI
the one is the preservation ofthc other
| have thus explained my views of the
mutual relations of the Constitution and
the States, because they unfold the princi
pies ON which l have sought to solve the
momentous questions and overcome the ap-
palling difficulties that met me at the very
commencement of my administration. 1t
has been my steadfist object to escape from
the sway of momentary passions, and to
derive a healing policy from the lundament-
al and unchanging principles of the Constl-
tuition
| found the states suffering from the cf.
fects of civil war Resistance to the Gen.
crai 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 eve
| ry State which had attempted to secede -
! Whether the territory within the limits Of
those States should be held as conquered
! territory, under military authority emanat-
/ ing 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 offered
no security to the early suppression of dis
content would have divided the people in
to the vanquishcrs and the vanqushed; and
would have cnvcnomcd hatred, rather thai,
have restored affection. Once established
no precise limit to their continuance was
conceivable. They would have occasioned
an incalculablc and cxhausting 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 prevented: for what emi igrant from
abroad, what industrious citizen at home,
would place himself willingly under militia
ry rule? The chief persons who would have
tollswed in the train Of the army would
have been dependents on the General Gov
ernmcnt, or men who expected profit from
the mlserlcs Of their crring fellow citizens
The powers OF patronage and rule which
would have been exercised, under the Pres
ldGnt, over vast, and populous, AMI natu.
rally wealthy region, are greater than, unless
under extreme necessity, should be willing
to cntrust to any one man. they are such a.,
for myself, ] could never unless on occa-
,lonS OF great emergency consent tOcXercisc.
The wIlIul use Of such powers, il continued
through period of years, would have en-.
dangercd the purity Of the general admins
uation and the liberties Of the States which
remained 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 to exist But
the true theory is that all pretended acts
OF secession were, from the beginning, null
and void. The States cannot commit trca-
son, 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 scccdc placed
themselves in a condition where their vital
ity was impaired, but not extinguished-
their functions suspended, but not destroy
ed
But if any State ncglccts or refuses to
perform its offices, there is the more need
that the General Government should main.
tam all its authority, and, as soon as prac.
ucablc, resume the exercise of all its tunc-
! tlons. On this principle | have acted, and
have gradually and quietly, and by almost
lmperccpt,bla stops, sought 10 rostorc the
. rlghtiul energy Of the General Government
F.. and OF the States. Toihat end Provisional
Governors have been appointed for tn,
/ States, Conventions called, Governors elect.
ed, Legislatures assembled, and Senators
: and Representatives chosen to the Congress
, Of the United States. At the same time,
, the Courts Of the United States, rs far ~
could be done, have been reopcned, so tha,
!, the laws OF the United States may be en-
, forced through their agency The blockad,
has been removed and the custom house,
re- cstabI- he'd IN ports Dt entry, 80 that the
revenue OF the United States may be collect
ell. The Post Oihce Department rcncwc,
o. Its ccasclcss activity, and the General Gov
| crnment is thereby enabled to cOmmunirat,
f promptly with its officers and agents. Th,
| The courts bring security to persons anl
, property; the opening Of the ports invite
, the restoration Of industry and commerce
/ the post Office rencws the facilities of suoia
, intercourse and business. And is it no
- happy for us all, that the crcstorationo Of eacl
one Of these functions of the General Gov
% crnmcnt brings with it Il blessing to TIA,
, States over which they are extended. l. i
not Il sure promise Of harmony aud renewed
'''''' Nv w Nil' lul, diitl All llll
has happened, the return Of the Genera
, Government j. known only n u hcncicencr!
| know very well that this policy is at
. tended with some risk; that for its success,
, It requires at least the acuuicsccncc of the
} State, which It concerns; that it implies ar
Invitation to those States, by renewing thci
, allegiance to the United States, to reSum,
their functions as States of the Union But
, 1t Is n risk that must be taken; in the choic,
of difficulties, it il the smallest risk; and {,
/, diminish, and, il possible, to remove al
danger have felt it incumbent on me tl
assert one other power Of the General Gov
crnmcnt-thc power of pardon. As NJ
STATE can throw Il defence over the crime OF
treason, the power Of pardon is exclusively
vested IN the Executive Government OF the
United States, ncXerci,ing that power, |
have taken every prccaution to connect it
with the cIcarcst recognition of the binding
force of the laws OF the United States, and
an unqualified Acknowledgement of the great
social change of condition in regard to slave
/ ~ which has grown out of the war
The next step which | 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
Tor general amnesty at the earliest epoch
consistent with public safety. For this great
end there is need of "A concurrence oi all min