Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-07

one is the destruction of the other the
preservation of the one is the pres
ervation of the other.
/ have thus explained my views of the
mutual relations of the Constitution and
the States, because they unfold the prin-
ciples on which l have sought to solve
the momentous questions and overcome
the appalling difficulties that met me at
the very commencement OF my admins
tration. 1t has been my steadiast OBJECT
| to escape from the sway OF momenta4y
passions, and to derive healing policy
from the fundamental and unchenging
principles of the Constitution
found the States suffering from the
effects of civil war. Resistance to the
General 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 at
tempted to secede Whether the terri:
tory within the limits of those States
should be held as conquered territory,
under military authority emanating from
the President as the head of the army,
was the first question that presented it
self for decision.
Now, military governments, estab-
Hshed for an indefinite period, would
have offered no security for the early
suppression of discomfort; would have
divided the people into the vsnquishers
and the vanquished; and would have
envenomed hatred, rather than restored
affection Once established, no precise
limitto their continuance was coneeiva--
BILE. They would have occasioned an
incalculable and exhausting expense.
Peaceful emigration into that portion of
4 the country is one Of the best means
that can be thought of for the restora-
ton 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 would have been de-,
pendents on the General Government,
or men who expected profit from the
miseries Of their erring fellow 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 be willing to intrust 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, il continued
| through period of years, would have
endangered the purity of the general
administration and the liberty of the
States which remained loyal.
Besides, the policy of military rule
over conquered territory would have
implied that the State 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 treason, 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 secede
placed themselves in condition where
their vitality was impaired, but not ex
tinguished-their functions suspended
but not destroyed. :,
But if any State neglects or refuses to
perform its offices, there is the more
need that the General Government
should maintain all its authority, and,
as soon as practicable, resume the exer-
else of all its functions On this princi-
pie ] have acted, and gradually and
quietly, and by almost imperceptibIe
steps, sought TO restore the rightful en-
ergy of the General Government and of
the States. To that end, Provisional
Governors have been appointed for the
States, Conventions called, Governors
elected, Legislatures assembled, and
Senator'S and Representatives 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 re-opened, 80 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-ofice Department
renews its ceaseless activity, and the
General Government is 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 in
dustry and commerce the post-ofice re-
news the facilities of social intercourse
and of business. And is it not happy for
us all, that the restoration of these fune-
tions of the General Government brings
blessing to the States over which they
are extended Is it not sure promise
of harmony and renewed attachment to
the Union that, after all that has hap
pened, the return of the General Gov
eminent is known only as bene6cencei
/ know very well that this policy is
attended with some risk; that for its
success it requires at least the acqui-
escence 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 func-
tons as States of the Union. But it is
risk that must be taken; in the choice
of difficulties, it is the smallest risk; and
to diminish, and, if possible, to remove
all danger, / have felt it incumbent ON
me to assert one other power of the
General Goyernment-the power of par
don. As no State can throw q defense
over the crime of treason, the power oil
pardon is exclusively vested in the Elk
ecutive Government of the United States.
In exercising that power, | have taken
every precaution to connect it with the
clearest recognition of the binding force
of the laws of the United States, and al
,, unqualified acknowledgment of the greal
social change of condition in regard te
slavery which has grown out of the war.
The next step which I have taken tc
restore the constitutional relations of the
, States has been an invitation to them to
participate in the high office of amend
ing the Constitution. Every patriot
must wish for general amnesty at the
earliest epoch consistent with public
safety. For this end there is need of q
concurrence of all opinions, in the spirit
of mutual conciliation. All parties in
the late terrible struggle must work to-
gether in harmony. 1t is not too much
to ask, in the name of the reople, that,
on the one side, the plan of restoration
shall proceed with willingness to cast
the disorders of 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 amend.
ment to the Constitution, which provides
for the abolition of slavery forever with
in the limits of our country. So long as
the adoption of this amendment is de-
layed, so long will doubt, and jealousy,
and uncertainty prevail. This is the
measure which will efface the sad mem
DRY of the past; this is the measure
which will most certainly call population
and capital and security to those parts