The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-12

acknowledgement of the greats social change of
condition 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 invitation to them to participate in the
high Office of amending the Constitution. Every
patriot must wish for general amnesty at the
earliest epoch consistent with public safety. For
this great end there is need Of concurrence of
all opinions, and the spirit of mutual Cancellation.
All parties in the late terrible conflict must work
together in harmony. 1t is not too much to ask,
! in the name of the whole people, that, on the
one side, the plan of restoration shall proceed in
! conformity with a willingness to cast the disor-
I ders of the past into oblivion; and that, on the
| other, the evidence of sincerity III 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 our country. So long as the adoption
of this amendment is delayed, SO long will doubt
and jealousy and uncertainty prevail. This is
the measure which will efface the sad memory of
the past; this is the measure which will most GER
tainy call population, and capital, and security
to those parts of the Union that need them most.
Indeed it is not too much to ask of the States
which are now resuming their places in the fami-
! ly Of the Union to give this pledge OF perpetual
loyalty and peace. Until it is done, the past,
/ however much may desire it, will not be for
gotten. The adoption of the amendment reuntes
Us beyond all power Of disruption. 1t heals the
wound that is still imperfectly closed; it removes
slavery, the element which has so long perpIexed
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
adopted, it would remain for the States, whose
powers have been so long in allegiance, to resume
their places in the two bra inches of the National
Legislature, and thereby complete the work of
restoration. Here it is for you, felIow-citizens
of the Senate and for you, fellow-citizens of the
House of Representatives, to judge, each of you
for yourselves, Of the elections, returns, and quail
fications of your own members.
The full assertion of 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 posture of public affairs, strong
objections have been urged to holding those
courts, in any of the States where the rebellion
has existed; and it was ascertained bv inquiry,
that the Circuit Court,of the United States would
not be held within the District Of Virginia during
the autumn or early winter, nor until Congress
should have IAN opportunity to consider an act
on the whole subject" To your deliberation 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 fragrant III character,
has been committed. Persons who are charged
with its commission should have fair and Impair
tial trials in the highest civil tribunals of the
IN tl,otf ho
laws may be fully indicated; the truth clearly
established and affirmed that treason is a crime,
that traitors should be punished and the offence
made infamous; and, at the same time, that the
question may be judically settled, finally and
forever that State of its will has the right
to renounce its place in the Union.
The relations of the General Government towards the
four millions of Inhabitants whom the has called
into freedom have engaged my most serious consdera
ton. On the propriety of attempting to make the
freedmen electors by the proclamation of the Executive
took for my counsel the Constitution itself the inter-
pretatons of that instrument by it's authors and their
contemporaries and recent legislation by Congress.
When at the first movement towards independence,
the Congress Of the L. States instructed the several
States to institute governments of their they left
each State TO decide for itself the conditions for the
joymen of the elective franchise During the period
OF the Conftderacy, there continued to exist very
great diversity in the qualifications of electors in the
several States; and even within State distinction of
qualifications pre- vailed with regard to the officers who
to be chosen The Constitution of the U. States
recognizes these dversties when it enons that, in the
choice of members of the House of Representatives of
the u States, 1.-THE electors i'll each State shall have the
qualifications requisite for the most branch
of the State Legislature After the formation of the
Constitution it remained before, the uniform usage
tor each State to enlarge the body of its electors accord
ing to its own Judgment; and, under this system,
State after another has proceeded increase the
Der ct its electors, until now, universal suffrage, or
something near it. is the general rule So fixed
this reservation OF power in the habits of the people,
and unquestloned has been the Interpretation of the
Constitution that during the civil the late President
the purpOse-ot dsregardng it, and in the of Con-
greSs during that period, nothing be found which,
during the continuation of hostlities much less after
their close, would have sanctioned any departure by
the Executive from policy which has SO universally
obtained Moreover, a concession of the elective fran
chise to the freedmen by act of the President T.
States. must have been extended to all colored
wherever found. and must have established change
OF suffrage in the Northern M ddle and States,
not less than in the Southern and Southwestern. Such
an act would have created class of voters, and
would have been assumption of power by the Presi-
dent which nothing in the Constitution or laws of the
L. States would have warranted.
On the other hand every danger of conflict is avoid
ed when the settlement of the question is referred the
several States. They cam each tor itself, decide
the measure, and whether it is to be adopted at once
and absolutely, or introduced gradually and with
ditions In my Judgment the freedmen, if they show
patience and manly virtues, will sooner obtain par
cipatlon in the elective franchise through the States
than through the General Government even if it had
power to intervene. When the umult of emotions that
have been raised by the sddenness of the social change
shall have subsidel may prove that they will receive
the kindlinst usage from of those on whom they
have heretofore most closely depended
But while have doubt that now, after the close
of the it is not competent for the General Govern
men extend the elective franchise in the several
States it is equally clear that good faith requires the
security OF the freedmen in their liberty and their pro-
perry their right labor and their right to claim the
lust return of their labor cannot strongly urge