The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-12-12

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Ra0,e oauaol sx.st without the parts. nor ID,
FAft- wltheut The whole, 80 long a. tbs Coasu
fution of the Unstei states endares the state,
I will enduFe--tho des rueiiuu u the ons is ih,
destruction of ibc othef, the prsserya ion II Is,
one : tic preservaiian u the other
7 have thus explained my views of the mutua
relations u ihe Constitution and the States, b.
cause they unfold the principles On whioh have
sought to solge the moment0us questions and
overcome the appalling difficulties that me, me Al
the yery eommepcemcni Of my administration -
II has been my steadiast object 10 escape FROM Tia
sway Of momeut ~ passions aud 60 derive 1
healing policy from the fundamental AMI 40.
changing principles Of the Constitution. fouad
the States suffering from the ELECTS u civil war
Resistance 10 the general Government appeared
70 have exhausted itself The Uusied States bad
recovered possession Of their forts Gud afsenals
aud their armies were 10 the occupation u every
State which had attempted 10 secede whether
the territory within lhe limits o. those States
should be held as conquered tprgiioys under mil.
iiary authority emanatng from the President as
the head Of the army was the FIRST question that
presented itselffor decision, Now military gov.
eruments established for indefinite period wou d
have offered no security for the carly suppression
OF ofdsooGtent, would have divided the people inio
the yanquisher, aud the yanquishej, and would
have euyeuomened hatred rather dau restored
affection, Once established no precise limit TO
their continuance was conceivable. They would
have oceasiunel an IHcalcuabe and exhausting
expense. Peaceful emigration TO aud from that
portion Of lie country is one Of best means tia I
can be thought Of FOR the restoration Of harmony,
aud tlrt emigration would have been prevented
for what emigraut from abroad. what industrious
citizen at home 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 the Gcueral Government. or
men who expected to profit from the niseries Of
their erring iellowctizens The powers Of pa
patronage aud rule which would have been exer-
cisel under the president over vast, popuous,
aud natural wealthy region are greater than,
unless under extreme necessity. | should be will
lux 10 eutrust 70 any one man. They are such as
for myself could never consent unless on occas-
ioks Of great emergency, 10 exercise for Tie wiful
use Of such, power II continued through period
Of years, would have endangered the purity OF the
general administration, aud the liberties Of the
States which remained loyal. Besides, the policy
OF military rule over q conquered territory would
have implied that the States, whose inhabitants
may have taken part in the rebellion, had, by the
act Of those laha haoitants, ceased to exist But the
true theory is that all prelen led acts of secession
were from the beginning null aud void The
states cannot commit treason nor screen the IN
diyidual citizens who my have committed treas
or, any more than they can make valid treaties
on engage in lawful commerce with any foreign
power The States attempting to sec3do placed
themselves IN condition where their vitality was
impaired but not extingushed - their fuuctions
duspeIded but not destroyed But if any State
,of,, ..4E, H.. az
the more need that the general government
should main tain all its authority, and as soon as
practical resume the exercise Of all its functions
On this principle have acted, and have gradu-
ally and quietly, aud by almost impreceplibe
steps, sought y restore the rghlfu cuergy uf the
general government aud OF the Siates 10 that
end provisional Governors have been appointed
for the Stltes, Conventions called Governors
elected, Legislatures assembled aud Senators and
Representatives chosen 10 the Congress Ut the
Uultcd states. a the same time the Courts of
The United States, 50 far as could be done, have
been reupcnel, SO that Fie uws Of the United
States may be enforced ..ll.rouga tlcir aaency.-
lie bocaade has been removed and the Custom
Houses re-established IN ports Of entry, SO that
the revenue Of the UnitedStales may be collected
The Posi- Office Department rencNs its ceaselese
activity. and the general Government is thereby
enabled TO communicate promptly With its officers
and agents, The Courts bring security to per-
sons and property, the opening Df the ports iu-
yitcs the restoration Of industry aud eommonce
the Post Office renews the facilities Of social in-
tereourse and ot business, And is il not happy
for us all that the restoration of each one Of these
functions oi the general Government brings with
it blessing to the States over which they are ex-
tended! Is / not sure promise Of harmony
ann rauewed attachment to the Unian, thai, after
a II that has happened. the return Of the general
GOyernm nj is known oply as a benefcience.
] know very well that the policy is attended
with some risk, that for It's success il needs the
acquescence Of the States which it concerns, and
that il implies an invitation TO those states by re-
uewng their allegiance to the United States to
resume their functions as States of the Union
But II is risk that must be taken in the choice
Of difficulties, il is the smallest risk and to di-
min sh, and, il possible, 10 remove all danger, |
have felt lr incumbent upon me to assert one
other power OF the general government The
power of pardon is exclusively vested in the exc
cuiye government Of the United States IN ex-
ercsing that power haze taken every precau-
sion to connect it with the cearest recognition of
the binding force of the laws ofthe Uuited States,
aud an unqualified Acknowledgement 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 restore the
relations Of the states, has been an
invitation to them to participate In the high oif:e
Jf amending the constitution. livery Intr.ot
must wish for general amnesty at The earliest
epoch consistent with the public safety For this
great end there is need ot concurrence o. ul
opinions, and the spirit ol mutual coneiatj0n.--
fll parties IN the ate terrible conflict must work
ogether in harmony IL IS hot nuGn 10 ask 10
lie name ei ihe Whole people hat on the Une side
he piAu OF restoration sbaH proceed IA cOBlo m
~ Hith "A Willingness 20 cast the disorders Vi hc
ias lniu ogitgo,; aual that On the other the e,-
tgnce u sincerity 10 tie future maintenance Il
the Uuiub, sll,i be pat beyond any Doubt by iAr
atihcat ou 81 ibe proposed amendment 10 lbe
.5usiIiuN0a, NIacb Df, lIIes ior Tie apDiiiou u
IANt:y fJ4eytr within tie limits of Ogr country
lou- lie adoption fbe amendacuf Is delay
j, 70 cong vii loa1t ani JraUusly aud uncer-
ainty prv,aIL Ihi, Is me measure Kniuu wi
bosi eettlibly call population auI capital snd
nnty 10 thyse pafs u the Un.un tieli u ID tb-sn .
4ost. Indeed, 81 Is not too buch to u tAe 1
t4tess which are DDN iesuiums fbv1 liAats ~ i
be imify " tue Ualon, " gtc fbIs f,1gdss u
"a tPetut, isytiiy aal peA5e. Lutll o is dOne,
he AL, henetrg muuh ne may desire i, ~
gt us ltf gotten. ihe aI0PuVu =. tae auend-
seai fvuhues us beyvni AZ p.aer y di5rDpfiOu.
het.s ias "ound l1at i slIa laptficctiy ctyred,
removes efJ. Tie element sAicA las - long
erye1si aAd litileI tAe se8ltry, il ustses as
ice alvre a uHtgd p,ep.e iebenrl and strength
neJ. bound mote tish ever % Biu affection
iid support Ihe amendment ~ uis c9bsutu-
30 tsti6g adopted IL noula fen.la "a be otaies
i4,.ss l.oue egeia base tvsn e. l.rg ~ ste5-
a. 8 tFsF fs5t