The Indianapolis daily herald. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1865-1868, 1865-12-06

hr-tNfr " ttt' 0AAife MNlrh rem aimed LOYAL.
Besides, the policy 81 mihtsry raie oser
conquered territory would have implied thai tbs
states whose iohaoitants may have taken par.
"a the rebellion bad. by to acf AZ tho inhab-
ttsnu, ceased 20 erist. Blf tie true theoff -,
that all pfstsnded acts OF secession wsrc. from
the beginning nail and void The STATE. e.p
DOT commit Treason, noe screen gbc indfsptutl 4
eiufens sho may have comnitiei trasot. auy
more than they eau NIKE valid treaties on ca
gage 10 lawful eommeIcs -.th an eossirn D.. I
81. The Sales auenpilag % sccede placed /
themselve- - cocdihon whore their vt.l1, /
sss impslfed. but not eIiiug lished-thef iunc- /
tons snsfenisd bui bot desuo,ed
But II any state ncglccts % refuses % per- !
form IL oilees there l. the more need that the I
General Government should malntain all IT, |
authority, and, A. soon a. practicable, resume !
The exercise ~ oil IT, functions. ON this pfinci-
pie have acted. and have gradually andquiei. /
| ~, and By almost inpcrccptible steps. sought I
10 restore the riyhtful energy Of the General
Government aud VI the states. To that end, !
/ Provisional Governors have been appointed
I FOR the statcs, Conventions called. fsoysrnOrs
elected, Legislatures assembled, md senator's
| and Representatives chosen o. the Congress OF
| the United states. Al the same time the
Courts Of the United States. ~ FAR as could De
done, have been rc-0pcncd, 70 that the laws Of
the United states my be enforced through
| their agency. The blockade has been removed
/ and the custom houses rc-cstablishcd In ports !
/ % entry, 20 that the revenue 81 the United
states may be collected. The Post Office De-
partment rencws it, ceaseless activity, and the
General Government IL thereby enabled 70
communicate promptly with IT, officers and
agents. The courts bring security 10 persons
md property; the opening Of the ports Invites
/ the restoration Of Industry aud commerce.; the
Post Oftce rcnews the facilities Of social In
tercourse aud Of business. Aud il IL not hap
| ny for Us all, that the restoration of each one
OF these functions Of the General Governments
brings with IL blessing 10 the States over
which they are extendedi l. IL not sure
promise Of harmony aud renewed attachment
10 the Union that, after all that has happened,
the return Of the General Government Is
known only rs a bcnehccnce,
know very well that this policy Is attended
with some risk; that for its success IL requires
at least the acquiescence Of the states which
II concerns that II implies an invitation TO
those States, by renewing their allegiance %
the United States, 10 resume their functions as
states OF the Union. But IL Il a risk thatmuS
be taken; In the choice Of difficulties, IL l. the
smallest risk; and 10 diminish. and. If possible.
10 remove all danger. have felt IL incumbent
on me 10 assert one other power Of the General
GoyeTnment--the power. OF pardon. As no
State can throw defence over the crime Of
treason. the power OF pardon Is exclusively
vested In the Executive Government Of the
United States. In exercising that power, |
have taken every precaution 10 connect 1t with
the clearest recognition Of the binding force Of
the laws Of the United States. and an unqual-
ited acknowledgement Of the great social
change Of condition in regard 10 slavery which
has grown out Of the war.
The next step which have taken 10 restore
the constitutional relations Of the States. has
been an invitation 10 them 10 participate In the
high office Of amending the Constitution.
Every patriot must wish for general smRes-
" at the earliest epoch consistent with public
safety. For this great end there Is need OF
concurrence Of all opinions, and the spirit OF
mutual Cancellation. All parties in the late
terrible conflict must work together In harmo-
ny. IL IL not too much 10 ask, ia the name Of
the whole people, that, on the one side, the
plan Of restoration shall proceed In conformity
with a willingness 10 east the disorders a the
past into oblivion; and that on the other, the
evidence Of sincerity In the future maintenance
Of the Union shall be put beyond any doubt
by the ratification Of the proposed amendment
to tho Constitution, which provides for the
abolition OF slavery forever within the limits
Of our country. 30 long as the adoption Of
this amendment is delayed, SO long will doubt
and jealousy and uncertainty prevail. This is
the measure which will efface the sad memo
, ry Of the past; this Is the measure which will
most certainly call population, and capital and
security 20 those parts Of the Union that need
them most. Indeed, IL 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 10y atty and peace. Until
|, IL is done the past, however much we may de-
|. sire IL, will not be forgotten. The adoption Of
the amendment reunitcs Us beyond all power
Of disruption. Ii heals the wound that is still
imperfectly closed; II removes slavery, the ele
ment which has so long pcrpleXed and divided
the country; 10 makes Us once more a united
people, renewed and strengthened, bound
more than ever 10 mutual affection and sup
port.
The amendment to the Constitution beng
adopted, II would remain Tor the ) tatss whose
powers have been so long in abeyance, to re-
sume their pla ces in the two branches OF the
National Legislature, ani thereby complete the
work of restoration Here II il Tor you, fellow
ctizens OF the Senate aud Tor YOU, fellow cili-
zsns Of the House of Represent .tives, to Judge.
each of sou Tor yourselves. of the elections re-
turns. and qualifications of your own members
The full assertion OF the powers of the Gene
raj Government requires the holding of Circuit
Courts OF the United States within the districts
where their authority has been interrupted ln
the present posture OF our public affairs. strong
objections have been urged to holding those
courts in any Of the States where rebellion has
existed; ana it was ascertanej, by inquiry that
the Circuit Court OF the United States would not
be held in the District of Virginia during the
autumn winter, nor until Congress sboulJ
have an oppo ii ~ TO Econ ide ami { upon the
whole subject" / your deliberations the re stor
alton of tais branch of the civil authority of the
United States Is therefore necessarily referred,
With the nope that early provision will be made
Tor the resumption OF ali its functi ms IL Is
|
CO mitted. Persons " no are charge ed With its
CON mission should have fair and impartial trials
In The highest civil tribunals of the country. in
order that the CODsttut on aud the laws may lie
fully INDICATED; the truth clearly established and
affirmed that treason is a crime. that traitors
should be punished and the offence made in
famous: and. at the same time. that the ques-
ton may be judieislly settled. finally and for
ever. that no State OF ts own will has the
/ ig 10 L. nl ace IN nio
The relations OF the General Government to-
ward the four millions Of inhabitants whom
the war has called into freedom, have engaged
my most serious consideration. on the pro-
priety OF attempting 10 make the freedmen
electors by the proclamation Of the Executive.
| took for my counsel the Constitution itself
the interpretations of that instrument by it,
authors and their contemporaries, and recent
legislation by Congress " hen, at the first
movement towards independence. the Congress
Of the United states instructed the several
states 10 institute governments Of their own
they left each state 20 decide for itself the con-
ditions for the enjoyment Of the elective fran
| chise.
During the period Of the Confederacv. there
continued TO exist a very great diversity in the
qualifications Of electors in the several states:
| and even within state a distinction Of quail
heations prevailed with regard TO the officers
who were 10 be chosen. The Constitution of
the United States recognizes these diversities
when II enloins that, in the choice of members
Of the House Of Representatives Of the United
states, "the electors In each state shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors Of the
! most numerous branch OF the State Legisla-
tuTe."
After the formation Of the Constitution. il
/ remained. rs before. the uniform usage for each
state TO enlarge the body Gifts electors accord
my 10 It's own judgment, and, under this svs-
I TEN, one State after another has proceeded 10
! increase the number Of its electors, until now
universal suffrage. or something very near il,
IS the general rule. 80 liked was this reserva-
ton Of power In the habits Of the people and
30 unquestoned has been the interpe-
/ tration Of the Constitution that during
the civil war the late President never
/ aaroored the purpose-certainly never
( aNowed the purpose-of diSregarding il:
and IN the acts Of Congress, during that De
ROD, nothing can be found which. during the
continuance OF hOstilities much less after their
4 close, would have sanctioned any departure
/ 10y the Executive from policy which has 20
uniformly obtained. Moreover. a concession
Of the elective franchise 70 the freedmen. bv I
act Of the President Of the United