The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-12-13
.BLOOMSBURG. COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pa. .WEDNEsDA

OF the ports invites the restoration OF indus
try and Commerce; the post Office renews
the facilities of social intercourse and of
business.
j And is il not happy for us all, that the re-
sioraiion of each one of these functions OF
! the General Goverum enl brings with il a
blessing TO the States over which they are
extended Is it not a sure promise OF htr-
4 mony and renewed attachment TO the Union
that after all that has happened, The return
4 of the General Government is known only as
/ bene6cence
know very well that this policy is attend
ed with some risk thai Tor it's success it
requires al least the acquiescence of The
States which il concerns; that il implies an
/ invitation to those States, by renewing their
! allegiance TO the United States, to resume
1 their functions as States OF the Union. But
! ii is risk that must be taken; in ;he choice
! of diffic ul.ies il is The smallest risk; and TO
diminish, and, il possible, 10 remove all
danger, | have felt ii incumbent on me to
assert one other power OF the General Gov
ernmenl-ihe powe- OF pardon.
As no State can throw defence over the
crime OF treason, the power OF pardon is ex-
clus;vely vested in The Executive Govern
men. of the United States In exercising
that power, / have taken every precaulion
! 20 connect it with the clearest recognition of
| The binding force of he laws of the United
States, aud an unqualified acknowledgment
| of the great social change of condition In re-
| gard 10 slavery which has grown out OF the
| war. T-H
| The next step which have taken to re-
l store the constitutional relations OF the
States has been an invitation 10 them to par
| ticipate in the high Office of amending the
| Constitution. Every patriot must wish for
| general amnesty at the earliest epoch con-
| sistent with public safety. For this great
! end theie is need OF concurrence OF all
| opinions, and the spirit of mutual concilia-
| iion. All parties in he late terrible conflict
must work together in harmony.
| II is moi loo much to ask, in the name OF
| the whole people, that, on the one slde; the
! plan OF restoration shall proceed in conform
| ity with Willingness 10 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 be-
| yond any doubt by the ratification ofthe
! proposed amendment 10 the Constitution,
i which provides for the abolition Of slavery
! forever within the limits OF our country. So
long as the adoption of This amendment is
delayed, SO long will doubt, and jealousy,
I and unce rlaiuty prevail. This is the meas
ure which will efface the sad memory of
! the past; this is the measure which will
( most certainly call population, and capital,
and security TO those parts OF the Union that
need them most.
Indeed it is not too much 10 ask of the
/ States which are now resuming their places
! in the family Of the Union, to give this
! pledge OF perpetual loyalty and peace
I Until II is done, the past, however much
! We may desire it, will not be forgotten. The
| adoption of the amendment reuniies US be-
yond all power of disruption. II heals the
| wound thai is still imperfechy closed; il re-
/ moves slavery, the element which has so
7 long perplexed aud divided the counuy; it
makes of ue once more united people, re-
newed and strengthened, bound more than
ever TO mutual affection and support.
The amendment 10 the Constitution being
adopted, it would remain for the States,
whose powers have been so long in abey-
arce, 10 resume their places in the TWO
branches OF the National Legislature, and
thereby complete the work OF restoration.
Here il is for you iellow-citizens of the SEN
Re, and for you, fellow citizens OF The House
OF Representatives. 10 Judge, each Of you for
yourselves, of the elections, returns and
qualifications of Jour own members.
The full assertion OF The powers of The
General Government requires the holding
of Circuit Courts OF the United States within
the districts where their authority has been
interrupted In the present posture of our
public affairs. strong objections have been
urged 10 holding those courts in any of the
States where tha rebellion has existed; and
il was ascertained by inquiry. that the Ci.-
cult Court Of The Uniled States would not be
held within the District OF Virginia during
the autumn or early winter, nor until Con-
gress should have ian opportunity 10 con-
slider and act on the whole subject"
To your deliberations the restoration OF
this branch of the civil authority OF the Unit
Il g.
with the hope that early provision will be
made Tor The resumption of all its functions
II is manifest that treason, most fragrant in
character, has been committed. Persons
who are charged with IT'S commission should
have fair and impartial trials in the highest
civil tribunals oil the country, ia order that
the Constitution and the laws NAV be fully
vIndicaled the truth clearly established and
affirmed that treason is a crime, that traitors
should be punished and the offence made
Infamous aud, al the same lime, that the
question may be judicialy settled, finally
and forever, that no State of it's own will has
the right TO renounce It's place 10 the Union.
The relations of the General Government
towards the four millions of Inhabitants
whom the war has called into freedom have
engaged my most serious consideration
On the proprieiy of attempting to make the
freedmen electors by proclamation of the
Executive, took for my counsel the Consti-
tn lion itself, The interpretations OF that in
s:rument by It's authors and their colempo-
raries, and recen; legislation Of Congress-
When, at the first movement towards inde
Pendence Ihe Congress OF the United States I
instructed the several States to institute gov
ernments Of their own, they left each Stale |
10 decide for Itself the conditions for The |
enjoyment of the elective franchise.
During the period oil The Cohfederacy there |
continued 10 exist very great diversity 10
the qualifications Of electors in the several |
States; and even within State distinction !
oEqualiicalioas prevailed with regard to the |
officers who v ere 10 be chosen The Com |