New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-06

ndef IN the train of the army would have been
dependents on the General Government, or mn sun
expected profit from the mseres OF ,nc and rus which
world have been exercised under the President o,el
vast and populous and naturally wealthy rcsio' az,
greater than, unless under extreme h 40 snb ne
for myself could never unless on Occasions Vi sreat
emergency consent to,exercse. The wfl use OF such
powers if continued through Per'oo %,
ton and the liberties OF the sta'eS winch ren''neu
loyal ,,, . ,,,,,...,
,errorv would have implied that the States whose in
habants nay have taken part in the Rebellion had by
the ac Of those inhabitants, ceased to exist But the
,no .bcnrv il that all pretended acts OF secession
80 ran tina beginning null aud void. The States
cannot commit treason, screen the individual eiti
Gems who NAV have committed treason any more than
they can make valid treaties or engage IN iaWini com
n1efce with any foreign Power The states attempting
En- secede placed Themselves in condition where their
vitality was impaired. but not cXtingushed-their iunc
| tions suspended, but not destroyed. .,
DN if any State neglects or refuses 10 perform It's
offices there is the need that the General Govern
men should maintain all its authority and as soon as
practicable resume the exercise oi all IT'S iunctlons o
Ibis principle have acted aud have gradually ana
onietv and by almost imperceptibe steps, sought 10
restore the righfu energy Of tie General Government
and OF the States To that end Provisional Governors
have been appointed for the States Cow called
Governors elected, Legislatures assembled and Sena-
tors end Representatives chosen II the Congress OF ie
United States Al the same time the CoHrts OF the
opened so that the laws of the uncd States may be
enforced through their agency The blockade has Decn
removed and the Custom Houses rosablished In ports
Of entry that the of the United States may
be collected The POst-Ohico Department rchcWs IL
ceaseless activity and the General Government is
thereby enabled communicate promptly WIN lts oii
GERS aud agents The courts bring security o persons ana
property opening ofthe ports invites TIE 10
Of industry and commerce; the post-olee fche"s 'nv
facilities Of social Intercourse ana ol business.
is il not happy for all that the restoration OF eac
one of these functions of the General government
brings with II blessing TO the States over when they
are o1endcl Is il not sure promise OF harmony anu
renewed attachment 60 the Union that. aiter all that
has bappened the return Of the General Government
is known only as q benefcmcet
| know very well that this policy IL attended win
soma risk that for IL requires at least TIE
acduescence OF the States which 1t concerns that IL
inpes an invitation 10 those States by renewing then
allegiance Ia the United States 10 resume their func
tons as States of The Union But II is risk that must
be taken IN the choice of difficulties II Is the sinhlesl
risk; and 10 diminish and. If possible, to remove All
danger have felt It incumbent on Inc TO assert on.
other power Of the General GoVernment-tho power oi
pardon. As no State can throw defense over the
crime Of treason. the power OF pardon Is ercusvel.
vested in the Executive Government oi the united
States In exercising that power. have taken ever!
precaution to connect il with the cearest recognition
of the binding force Of the laws of the United states
and an unqualified acknowledgment OF the great socia
change OF condition IN regard 10 slavery WHICH h''
grown out OF the war. -,
The next step which have taken 10 restore the Con
siitutonal relations oftbe states has been an Invitation
the Constitution. Ivory patriot must wish for genera
amnesty at the earliest epoch consistent with pune
safety For this sreat end there is need o concur
renee OF all opinions, and the spirit OF mutual conca
ton \ II parties in the late terrible connlot must WORK
together in harmony. IL IL NOT too much 10 ak In tb'
name of the whole people that on the one side The ai
of restoration shall proceed in conformity with a
willingness 10 east the disorders OF The past into OBJ
vioB mud that, the other the evidence OF sincerity
tho future manenhee o. s mon 10 ,s seS ~
amendment 70 the Constitution. which provides for The
abolition OF slavery forever within the limits OF oui
country SO long as the adoption Of this amendment Is
DELAYED so long will donb, and jealousy and uncer
tanty prevail This iG the measure which wiz enace
the sad memory Of The past; TINS Is the mea-prt
which will most certainly call population md
capital aud sccariy to those parts Of the Union that
need them most. Indeed il Is not too much TO AK o.
the States which resuining their places IN th'
family of the mon 10 give this pledge Of perpetual 10y
atty and peace Until j. is done, The past. however
. much may desire il, will not be forgotten: TIT
adoption Of tho au endncnt rcuni,cs beyond all pow
or disruption. 1t heals the wound that is stl imper
eety closed it re'aoyes sa'sry ,he element who
lr makes Of us united people, renewed an
Is strengthened bound moIe than ever TO mutual ane'
10 ton and support.
~ would remain for the States whose powers have bee
long in abeyane 10 resume hor places in the Nv
branches of the National LegiGlaurc aud thereby CON
20 piee the work Or restoration Here II IS Tor y0u. Eel
low citizens of the Senate and for yOD. fellow citizen
al OF the House Of Representative To Judge each OF yo
or yourselves OF the elections returns and quahca
IN tons OF your members.
Of The full assertion OF the Of the General Gov
eminent requires the holding Of Circuit Courts OF t
rs United States within the districts where their auhOTi
has been interrupted Ia the Present posture OF gu
public affairs. strong objections have been urged &
holding those courts in any Of the states where the e
beOn has existed; aud II was a.ccrained, by inquiry
that the Circuit Court Of the United States would no
10 be held within the District OF Virginia during III
Autumn early Winier,nor until Congress should ha
" an opportunity 10 consider sR1 act on the Who'll
10 subject" To your deliberations the restoration
to this branch OF the civil authority OF the Unite
IL States is therefore necessarily referred WIN u
a hope that early provision VIII be made Tor u
\ resumption of all It's functions IL Is manifest tha
treason. most fragrant in character, has been CON
Of mitted Persons no charged with its cOnwssio
a. should bsye fair and impartial trials In the highest cis
tribunals Of the country in order that the Censttu'o
and the laws may be fully yindcaed the truth cearl
es established and affirmed that treason Is crime tia
ne traitors should bc punished and the oiense made in
famous and at The same timc that tho question ma
y be uoically settled finally and forever that 10 Stat
Of will has the right 10 renounce its place III th
Unicn.
The relations of the General Government tos ard III
ut four millions Of inhabitants whom the war has callc
IN into freedom have engaged my most serious cOnsidera
Il. alton On the propriety OF attempting 10 make IA
freedmen electors BY the proclamation Of the Eieeu
Of tive took my counsel the Consultation ITSELF th
al interpretations of that instrument by ito authors ant
il their contemporaries. and recent Legislation by Con
N gress When. at the first movement toward Icspeni
ence the Congress OF the United States instructed til.
several States TO institute Of their owe
they left each State to decide for itself the condition
!. for the eDjOyment OF the elective franchise. Durnj
tho period of the COnfedeacy there continued 10 exs
very great diversity in the qualifications OF eector
j. In the several states; and even within a State dis
tinctou Of qualifications prevailed with regard TO thu
officers who were 10 be chosen. The Constitution o
the United States recognizes these dyerities when II
enjons that in the choice of Members Of the House
Representatives Of the United States. the electors IN
each State shall have the qualifications requisite fol
electors OF the most numerous branch OF the
State Leeislature.' After Oh; formation Of the
Constitution, il remained, before. the Uniform
usage for each State 10 enlarge the body
Of its electors according 70 its own judgment;
and under this STEM State after another has pro-
IA ,T