Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-06


and the General Government is thereby enabled Il
communicate promptly with its officers and agents
The courts bring security 10 persons and property
the opening of the ports invites the restoration of in
dustry and commerce. the post Office the IA
cilities of intercourse and of business. And is
it not happy d us all that the restoration of each
one of these functions of the General Government
brings with it blessing to the States over which
they are eXtendedl Is il not a promise of har
mony and renewed attachment to the Union that
after all that has happened the return of the Gene.
raj Government is known only a benefcencel
know very we'll that this policy is attended with
some risk that for its it requires AT least the
acquiescence OF the States which it concerns; that
it implies an invitation to those States by renewing
their allegiance to the United States TO resume then
function as States of the Union. But il is risk
that must he taken in the choice of difficulties, il
is the smallest risk and to diminish, and, If pos
sble, to remove all danger have felt it incumbent
on me to assert one other power OF the General Gov
| ernment-tEe power of pardon As no State car
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, have taken every precautiOn to connect
il with the cleares recognition of the binding force
of the laws OF the United States and an unqualified
acknowledgment of the great social change of con-
ditiOn in regard TO slavery which has grown out OF
! the war;
The next step which have taken to restore the
constitutional relations of the States, has been an
invitation to them to participate 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 there
| is need of a concurrence of all opinions, and the
spirit of mutual Cancellation. All parties in the late
| terrible conflict must work together in harmony. il
| is not too much to ask, in the name OF the whole
people that on the side, the plan of restoration
| Shall proceed in conformity with a willingness 10
cast the disorders OF the past into Oblvion and that
on the other the evidence OF sincerity IN khe future
/ maintenance of the Union shall be put beyond any
doubt By the ratification Of the proposed amendnfnt
| to the Constitution, which provides for the abOtbn
oil slavery forever within the limits OF our country.
SO long rs the adoption Of this amendment Is de-
laved so long will doubt and jealousy, and uncer-
tanty prevail This is the measure which VIII eilice
the sad memory of the past; this IS the measure
which will most certainly call population, and capt.
tai and security TO those parts OF the Union that
need them most Indeed, 1t is not too mnch to ask
of the States which resuming their places IN
the family of the Union TO give this pledge of per-
'pctua LOYALTY and peace. Until It is done, the past,
however much may desire It, will not be forgot
| ten. The adoption Oi the amendment reunites US
beyond all power of disruption. II heals the wound
that is still mperectly closed It removes slavery,
the element whc has so long perpleNed and divided
the country; it makes OF US once more united
people, renewed and strengthened, bound more than
ever TO mutual affection and support.
The amendment TO the Constitution being adopt
ed II would remain for the States, whose powers
in the two branches of the National Legislature and
thereby complete the work OF restoration Here IL Is
for YOU fellow of the Senate, and for you,
feOw-citizens of the House OF Representatives, to
judge, each Of you for yourselves, ot tie elections
RETURNS and qualifications Of your 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 pos ure
of our public affairs, strong objections have been
urged to holding these courts III any OF the States
where the rebellion has existed; and it was ascer-
tanned by inquiry that the Circuit Court OF the nj
ted States would not be held within the District Of
Virginia during the autumn OreaTly winter nOruntil
Congress should have "an opportunity to consider
and act on the whole subject. To your deliberations
the restoration of this branch of the civil authority
of the United States is therefore necessarily referred
with the hope that early provision will be made for
the resumption Of all its functions. 1t is manifest
that treason most ilagrant in character, has been
committed. Persons who are charged with ITS COM
mission should have fair and impartial trials in the
highest civil tribunals OF the country, III order that
the Constitution and the laws may be fully vnd-
Gated: the truth clearly established and affirmed
that treason Is crime, tnat traitors should be pun
ishcd and the offence made infamous; and NJ the
same time that the question may be ludically settled
finally and forever, that State of its own will has
the right 10 renOuncc lis place in the Union.
The relations of the General Government towards
the four millions OF inhabitants whom the wal has
called into freedom have engaged my most seilous
consideration. On the prOpreLy OF attempting 10
make the freedmen elections by the proclamation OF
the Executive, took for my counsel the ConStItn-
ton ITSELF the interpretations OF that instrument by
its authors and their contemporaries, ana recent lc
gislation by Congress- When at the first movement
towards independence the Congress OF the United
States instructed the several States to institute 60
vernments of their own, they left each state 10 de-
eide for itself the conditions for the enjoyment OF
the elective franchise. During the period OF the
Conederacy, there continued To exist very great
diversity IN the qualifications OF electors III the sew
eral states and even within State distinction of
qua!iic atoms prevailed with regard to the officers
who were TO he chosen. The Constitution OF the
United States recognises these dNeistles When IL en-
Joins that in the choice OF members OF the House oil
REPRESENTATIVES of the United States, the electors
in each State snail have the qualifications requisite
for electors OF the most numerous branch OF the
State Legislature" After the formation OF the Con-
stituton, il remained, before, the uniform usage
for each State to enlarge the body of Its electors ac-
corlng TO its own judgment; and, under tins sys-
enl one State after another has proceeded To III
crease the number of its electors, until now universal
suffrage, something very near It, is the general
rule. So fixed this reservation OF power m tile
habits of the people, and so unquestloned mas been
the Interpretation Oi the Constitution, that during
the civil war the late President never harbOred the
puposc-certainly never ayowed the purpose-ol
dsregardng it: and in the acts OF Congress, dGlng
that period nothing can be found which, during the
continuance OF hOstilites, much less atcrther close
wOuld have sanctioned any departure by the ENccu-
tive from policy which has 50 uniformly obtained.
Moreover, a concession of the elective franchise to
the freedmen by act of the President OF the United
States must have been extended to all c0ored men,
wherever found, and must have established Il
change of suffrage IN the Northern, Middle ana "es-
tern States not less than in the Southern and South
western Such an act would have created new
class of voters and wOnd have BEEN an assumption
OF power by the President which nothing IN The con
stitutiOn or laws of the United states would nave
warranted.
On the other hand, every danger of conflict Is
avoided when the settlement of tine question Is re-
ferred to the several States They can, each for IT.
self. decide on the measure, ana whether II IS 10 be
adopted at and absolutely, or introduced grad
ually and with conditions. In my judgment tie
freshmen if they show patience aud manly virtues
will sooner obtain a participation in the elective
franc hise through the States than through tile Ten
eral Government, even if IL had power to intervene
When the tumut of emotions that have been raised
By the suddenness of the social change snail have
snbsded, II may prove that they Will receive the
kindllest usage from some OF those on whom lhey
have heretofore most closely depended.
But while have no doubt that now, alter the
close of the war; it is not competent for the General
Government TO extend the elective franchise III the
several States it is equally clear that good lllti le-
quires the security OF the freedmen III thelr liberty
and their property, their right to labor, and Their
right to claim the Just return OF their labor can
not too strongly urge a dspassionate treatment OF
this subject which should b. carefully kept aOof
from all party strife. We must equally avoid hlsty
assumptions of any natural impossibility for the
two races TO live side by side, in a state OF mutual
benefit and good will. The experiment involves Us
in no inconsistency: let us, then, 20 on and make
that experiment in good faith, aud not be too easily
disheartenej. The country is in need oil labor, anu
the freedmen are in need of employment, culture
and protection. While their right Involuntary M,
grafton and eXpatratOn is not to be questioned /
would not advise their forced removal and colonial
ton. Let us rather encourage them to honorable
and useful industry, where it may be beneficial TO
themselves ana to the country; and, instead OF TASTY
antcipatons of the certainty OF failure let there be
nothing wanting to the fair trial of the experiment
The change in their condition is the substitution oil
labor by contract for the status of slavery. The
freedman cannot fairly be accused OF unwlllIngness
TO work, so long as doubt remains about his Tree.
dom OF choice IN his pursuits, and the certainty OF
his recovering his stipulated wages. In this the m
terests of the employer aud the employed coincide.
The employer desires in his wOrkmen spirit and
alacrity, and these can be permanently secured IN
no other way. And ii the ought 10 be able to
enforce the contract so ought the other. The pub
lie interest will be best promoted, If the several
States will provide adequate protection and rene
dies for the freedmen. Until this is in some way
accomplished. there is no chance for the advanta-
geous use of their labor; and the blame OF i'll success
will not rest on them.