Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-13
not e1tnguished-thoir functions suspended, but not

offices there is the more need that the General Gov
eminent should maintain all its authority, and,
soon as practicable resume the exercise of all its
functions. 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 thst
end Provisional Governors have been appointed for
the States, Conventions called, Governors elected,
Legislatures assembled, and Senators and Represen-
tatves chosen to the Congress of the United States.
At the same time the Courts of the United States
as far 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
houses reestablished in ports OF entry so that the
revenue Of the United States may be collected The
Post Office Department renews its ceaseess 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
industry and commerce; the post Office renews the
facilities OF social intercourse and of business And
is it not happy for Us ALL that herestoration of each
one of these functions of the General Government
brings with it i blessing to the State over which
they are extended Is it not sure promise Of har-
mony and renewed attachment to the Union that
after all that has happened the return of the Gen
eral Government IS known only as benefcenee
/ know very we'll that this policy is attempted
with some risk that for its success il REQUIRES ct
least the acquiescence of the States which it con-
ceras that it implies an invitation to those States
BY renewing their allegiance to the United States to
resume their functions as States of the Union But
it is q risk that must be taken in the choice Of diff
ficuties it is the smallest risk and to diminish and
if possible, TO remove all danger have felt il in
cumbent {. assert one other power of the Gen
| eral Government--the power Of pardon. As no
State throw defence over the crime Of treason
the power Of pardon is exclusively vested in the
Executive Government OF the United States. In
exercising that power, l have taken every precau-
ton to connect it with the cearet recognition Of the
binding force of the laws of the United States and
an unqualified acknowledgment Of the great social
change Of condition III regard TO slavery which has
grown out of the war.
The next step which l have taken to restore the
constitutional relations of the States has been an in
vitation to them to participate in the high office OF
amending the Constitution. Every patriot must
wish for general amnesty ut the earliest epoch con-
sistent with public safety For this great end there
is need Of a concurrence Of all opinions, and the
spirit of mutual Cancellation. All parties in the late
ter rible conflict must work together in harmony. 1t
is not too much TO ask, in the name Of the whole
people, that the side, the plan of restoration
shall proceed in conformity with a 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 amendment
to the Constitution which provides for the abolition
of slavery forever within the limits Of the country.
SO long as the adoption Of this amendment is de-
layed, so long will doubt and jealousy prevail. This
is the measure which will etfaCe the sad memory Of
the past this is the measure which will most Ger
tainly call population, and capital and security to
those parts of the Union that need them most In
deed it is not too much to 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. Until it Is done the past, however much we
may desire it, will not be forgotten The adoption
oil Of
disruption. 1t heals the wound that is still imper-
fecty closed it removes slavery, the element which
has SO long perplexed and divided the country; it
makes us once more a united people. renewed and
strengthened, bound more than ever to mutual af-
lection and support.
The amendment to the Constitution being adopt
ed, it would remain for the States, whose powers
have been so long in abeyance to their places
in the two branches of the National Legislature and
thereby complete the work of restoration. Here it
is for you felow-citizens of the Senate and for your
fellow-citizens Of the House of Representatives to
Judge each of you, for yourselves of the election
returns, and qualifications of your 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 pos
ture Of our public affairs, strong objections have
been urged to holding those courts in any of the
States where the rebellion had existed; and it was
ascertained by inquiry that the Circuit Court of the
United States would not be held within the District
OF Virginia during the autumn of early winter nor
until Congress should have IAN opportunity to con-
slider and act on the whole subject
To your deliberations the restoration oI this branch
Of the civil authority of the United States there
fore necessarily referred, with the hope that early
provisions will be made for the resumption 0f al its
functions. 1t is manifest that treason most fragrant
in character, has been committed. Persons who are
, charged with this commission should have fair and
impartial trials in the highest civil tribunals OF the
country, in order that the Constitution and its laws
may be fully vindicated the truth clearly establish
ed and affirmed that treason is crime that traitors
should be punished and the offence made infamous
and, at the same time, that the question may be l-
dciousy settled finally and forever, thpt no State
Of its own will has a right to renCunyc its place in
the Union.
The relations Of The General Government towards
he four millions Of inhabitants whom the war has
called into freedom, have my most serious consider
alton On the pr0priety Of attempting to make the
freedmen electors by the proclamation OF the Exec
utiVe- | took for my counsel the Constitution itself
the interpretations of that instrument by its authors
and Their contemporaries and recent legislation by
Congress When, at the first movement towards in
dependence the Congress Of the Un.gad States in
struced the several States 10 institute governments
OF their own, they left each State TO decide for itself
the conditions iUr the enjoyment Of the elective fran
Chise. During the period q the Conlederacy there
continued TO exist very great diversity N the quail
iCations Of electors in the several States and even
within I State distinction OF qualifications pre-
vailed with regard TO the officers who We're TO be
chosen. The Constitution Of the United State rec
Oguzes these dyersitie when il cuiOus that III the
choice Of members OF the House of Rapre=eutgLiv
of the United States the electors in each State
shall have the qualifications requisite for electors Of
the most numerous branch Of he State Legislature
After the formation Of the Constitutions 1t re
manned before the uniform usage Of each State to
enlarge the body Of its electors according to its own
judgment and under this system, one State after
another has proceeded to increase the number Of its
electors until now universal suffrage, or something
near it, is the general rule. So fixed this raser-
walton of power in the habits Of the people and so
unquestioned has been the Interpretation of the Con-
stituton, that during the civil war the late President
never harbored the purpose certainly never uvowed
the purpOse-Of disregardng it; and in the acts Of
Congress, during that period, nothing be found
which, during the continuance Of hostjties much
less after their close would have sanctioned any de-
parture by the Executive from policy which has
SO uniformly obtained. Moreover q concession Of
the elective franchise to the freedmen by act of the
President of the United States must have been eX-
tended to all COlored men, wherever found aud so
must have established change Of suffrage In the
Northern, Middle and Western States, not less than
in the Southern and Southwestern Such an act
would have created now class of voters and would
have been an assumption of power by the President
which nothing ia the Constitution or laws of the
United States would have warranted
On the other hand, every danger of conflict is
avoided when the settlement of the question Is refer
red to the several States They can each for itself
decide the measure, and whether it is to be dor
ted at once and absolutely. or introduced gradually
men, if they show patience and manly virtues. viii
sooner obtain a participatOD in the elective T.sr