The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-12-13


our country, its capacity for comprehendin,
within its jurisdiction . vast continents
empire is due to the system of states. Thu
best security for the perpetual existence o
the states rs the "supreme authority" Of th'
constitution Of the United States. The per
pe'uity Of the constitution brings with il
the perpetuity Of the states; their mutua
relation makes us what we are; and in oul
political system their connection is indisso
lublc. The whole cannot exist without The
parts, nor the parts without the whole. So
long as the constitution Of the United States
endures, the states will endure; the destruc.
ton Of the one is the destruction of the
other; the preservation of the one is the
preservation of the other.
l have thus explained nv views of the
manifestations of the constitution and the
states, because they unfold the principles on
which have sought to solve the momentous
questions and overcome the appalling diff
cultics that met me at the very commence
ment OF my administration. 1t has been my
steadfast object to escape from the sway Of
momentary passions, ard to derive healing
policy from he fundamental and unchanging
principles of the constitution.
found the states suffering from the effects
government appeared to have exhausted
itself. The United States had recovered
possession Of their forts and arsenals; and
their armies were in the occupation of every
state which had attempted to secedc.
Whether the territory within the limits OF
those states should be held as conquered
territory, under military authority emanat-
ing from the president Us the head of the
the first inn Int tad
itself for decision.
Now military governments, established
for an indefinite period, would have offered
no security for the early suppression of dis
content; would have divided the people in
to the yanqnishers and the vanquishcd |:
and would have envenomed hatred rather
than restored affection. Once established,
no precise limit to their continuance was
conceivable. They would have occasoned
an incalculable and exhausting expense.
Peaceful emigration to and from that por-
ton 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 emigrant
from abroad, what industrious citizen at
home would place himself willingly under
military rule! The chief persons who wo'd
have followed in the train Of the army, would
have been dependents on thu general gov
eminent, or men who expected profits from
the miseries of their erring fellow-citizens,
The powers Of patronage and rule which
would have been exercised, under the pres
ident over a vast and populous, and natu-
rally wealthy region, are greater than, un-
less under extreme necessity, should be
willing to ntrust to any one man.; they are
such as, for myself, could never, unless in
cases Of great emergency, consent to exer-
else The wilfu: use of such power, if con-
tinued through 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
aconquered territory would have implied that
the states whose inhabitants had taken any
part in the rebellion, had by the acts Of
those inhabitants ceased to exist But the
true theory is that all prelenucu u.t, vf -
cessc~ we're from the beginning, null and
void. The states cannot commit treason or
screen the individual citizens who may have
committed treason, any more than they can
make valid treaties, or engage in lawful
commerce with any fore ign power. The
states attempting to secede. placed them
selves in acondition where their vitality was
impaired but not extinguished-their func-
tions suspcnped, but not destroyed.
But II any state neglects or refuses to
perform its Offices, there is the more need
that the general government should main
tain all its authority, and as soon as practi-
crble, resume the.exercise of all its func-
tons. On this principle have acted, and
have gradually and quietly, and by almost
imperceptible steps, sought to restore the
rightful energy Of the general government
and Of the states, TO that end, provisional
governors have been appointed for the states,
conventions called, governors elected, lcgis-
latures assembled, and senator's and repre-
sentatives chosen to the congress of the
United States. AT the same time, the courts
of the United States as far as could be done
have been reopened so that the laws Of the
United States may be enforced through their
agency. The blockade has been removed
and the custom-housc re established in ports
Of entry, SO that the revenue of the United
States may be collected. The post Office de-
partment renews its ceassless activity, 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 the
ports invites the restoration of industry and
commerce: the postoffice renews the tacli-
ties for social intercourse and business
And is it not happy for us all, that the res
toration Of each one Of these functions Of
the general government, brings with it q
blessing to the states over which they are
extended? Is it not a sure promise of har-
mony and renewed attachment to the Union
that after all that has happened. the return
OF the general government, is known only
as benefcences
know very we'll that this policy is at
tended with some risk that for its success,
it requires at least the acquiescence of the
states which it concerns; that it implies an
invitation to those States, by renewing their
allegiance to the United States. to resume
their functions as states in the Union. But
it is risk that must be laken in the choice
OF difficulties, this is the smallest risk and
to diminish, and if possible, remove all dan
ger, have felt it incumbent on me to assert
one other power Of the general gogernment
the power of pardon. As no state can
throw defence over The crime Of treason.
the power Of pardon is exclusively vestedin
the executive government of the United
States, and an unqualified acknowledgment
OF the great social change of condition in
regard to slavery, 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 for n general amnesty at the earliest
epoch consistent with the general safety.
For this great emu, there is need of con-
currence Of all opinions in spirit Of mutu-
nl Cancellation. All parties in the late ter