The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1865-12-14
> CONCLUDED from First Paqe.l

hauSted ltScl1. In9 Ohitou ''U"'oo ns'N
recovered possession Of theirforts and ar
senals; and their armies were in the oc
cupati0n of cEery State which had at
tempted te8ecedo. Whether the terri
tory within the limits of those State;
should be held as conquered territory
under military authority cmanating from
TIE President as the head of the army
was the first question that presented itsel
for decision.
MILITARY GOVERNMENTS.
Now, military governments, established
for an indefinite period, would have OF
fcred no security for the carly suppress
sion of discomfort; would have divided
+, tho people into the vanquishcrs and the
vanquished; and would have envenomed
= hatred, rather than have restored affec-
ton. Once established, no precise limit
to thoir continuance was conceivable.--
They would have occasioned an incalcu,
liable and exhausting expense. Peaceful
emigration to and from that portion OF
the country is ono Of tho best means that
can be thought of for the restoration OF
harmony; and that emigration would
have been prevented; for what emigrant
from abroad, what industrious citizen ct
homo, would place himself willingly un-
der military rule? The chief persons
who would have followed in the train OF
the army would have been dependents on
thegenoral government, or many who ox-
peeted profit from the miserics of their
erring follow citizens. The powers OF
patronage and rule which would have
been exercised, under the President, over
a vast and populous, and naturally wealthy
region, are greater than, unless, under
extreme necessity, should bo willing to
entrust to any one man; they are such
as, for myself, could never, unless, on
occasions of great emergency, consent to
exercise. The wilful use of such powers,
if continued through period of years,
would have endangcl ed the purity of the
general administration and the liberties
of tho States which remained loyal
Besides, the policy of military rule over
a conquered territory would have implied
that the States whose inhabitants may
have taken part in the rebellion had, by
the act of these inhabitants, ceased to cx-
list. But the true theory is that all pre-
tended acts of secession were from the
beginning null and void The States
cannot commit treason, nor screen the IN
dividual citizen who may have committed
treason, any moro than they can make
valid treaties or engage in lawless COM
merce with any foreign Power. The
States attempting to secedc placed thcm-
solves in condition where their vitality
was impaired, but not extinguished-thcir
functions suspended, but not destroyed.
TIE PLAN OF RECONSTRUCTION.
But if any State neglects or refuses to
perform it's Offices there is the more need
that the general government should main
tain all it's authority, and, as soon as
practicable, resume the exercise of all its
functions. On this principle have acted,
and have gradually and quietly, and by
almost imperceptiblc steps, sought to re-
store the rightful energy of the general
government and Of the States. TO that
end Provisional Governors have been ap-
pointed for the States, conventions called,
Governors elccrod, Legislatures assembled
and Senators and Representatives chosen
to the Congress of the United States. AT
tho same time, the courts of the United
States, as far as could be done, have been
rcopened, so that the laws of the United
States may be enforced through their
agency. The blockade has been removed
and the custom houses re-established in
ports of entry, so that the revenue of the
United States may be collected. The
Post offico Department renews it's cease
less activity, and the general govern
mont is thereby enabled to communicate
promptly with its officers and agents
The courts bring security to persons and
property; the opening OF the ports in
yites the restoration of industry and
commerce, the Post Office renews the IA
cilities of social intercourse and OF bust
moss. And is it not happy for us all that
tho restoration Of each one of these func-
tions of the general government brings
with it a blessing to the States over which
thoy are extended? Is it not sure
nromise of harmony and renewed attach