Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1865-12-14

fundef the President, ever a vast, /
land populeus, and naturally veal
THY region, are greater than, un-
less under extreme necessity, r.
should be willing to entrust to any
one man; they are such rs, for
myself, l could never, unless on
occasions of great emergency, con-
sent to exercise. The wilful use
of such powers, if continued
Through period of years, would
have endangered the purity of the
general administration and the lib
critics of the States which remain
ed loyal.
ACTS OF SECESSION VOID.
! Besides, the policy of military
rule over a conquered territory
would have implied that the States
Whose inhabitants may have ta-
ken part in the rebellion had, by
the act of those inhabitants, ceased
to exist. But the true theory is,
THAT all pretended acts of secess-
ion were, from the beginning, null
!, and void. The States cannot COM
nit treason, nor screen the indi-
! vidual citizens who may have
, committed treason, any more than
: make valid treaties or engage in
: lawful commerce with any foreign
Power. The States attempting to
, secede placed themselves in con-
dition where their vitality was i'm
5 paired, but not extinguished their
! functions suspended, but not de-
l stroyed.
FIRST MOVEMENTS TOWARD RECON-
STRUCTIoN.
But if any State neglects or re-
+, fuses to perform its Offices, there
2 is the more need that the General
: Government should maintain all
r its authority, and as soon as prac,
+ ticable, resume the exercise of all
r its functions, On this principle
: have acted, and have gradually
S and quietly, AID by almost ilnper-
e ceptible steps sought to restore the
: rightful energy of the General
: Government and of the States
: To that end, Provisional Govern.
e ors have been appointed for the
n States, Conventions called, Gov.
errors elected, Legislatures assem-.
n bled, the Senators and Representa-
r tives chosen to the Congress OF the
n United States. At the same time,
! the Courts of the United States
+ as far as could be done, have been
o re-opened, so that the laws of the
e United States may be enforced
S through their agency. The block.
e AIDE has been removed and custom.
:; HOUSES re-estabIished in ports Of
e entry, SO that the revenue of tie
United States may be collected
S Tie Post Office Department re.
e news its ceaseless activity, and the
: General Government is thereby en-.
s abled to communicate promptly
e with its officers and agents. I he
d courts bring security to persons and
IS property; the opening of the ports
l. invites the restoration Of industry
|. and commerce the post Office re
o news the facilities OF social inter
: course and of business. And is il
/ not happy for us all, that the res
Il toratior OF each one of these func
c tons of the General Government
brings with a blessing to the States
6 over which they, are extended
: Is it not sure promise of harmo
/ ny and renewed attachment of the
d Union that, after all that has hap
: lcned, the return of the General
S Government is known only as q
S benefcence
J PARD0NIEG POWER.
: | know very we'll that this pol
y icy is attended with some risk
> that for its success it requires at
: least the acquiesccnce of the States
which it concerns; that it implies
I an invitation to those States, by
: renewing their allegiance 10 the
l United States, to resume their
functions 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 dam
r ger, have felt it incumbent on
: me to assert one other power of
: Government-the power of par
= don. As no State can throw de-
: Tense over the crime of treason,
| the power of pardon is exclusively
: vested in the Executive Govern
5 ment of the United States. In
: exercising that power. | have taken