Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-12-13

with its officers and agents, The Courts
bring security to persons and property
the opening Of the ports invites the restora
ton of industry and commerce; the Post
! OGce renews the faculties of social inter-
course and OF business. And Is 1t not hap
py for US all, that the restoration of each
one Of these functions of the General
/ Governments brings with it a blessing to
the States over which they are extended ?
/ Is it not q sure promise of harmony and
1 renewed attachment to the Union that,
after all that has happened, the return Of
/ the General Government is known only as
| a benefconce?
/ | know very well that this policy is at
( tended with some risl, thai for its sue
| cess it requires at least the acquiescence
Of the States which it concerns; that it
implies an invitation to those States, by
renewing their Gllegiarce to the United
states, TO resume their functions as States
/ OF the Union. But it is a risk that must
be taken in the choice Of difficulties, it
| IS the smallest risk; and to diminish, and,
If possible, to remove all danger, | have
felt it Incumbent on me to assert one other
power Of the General Government--the
power Of pardon As no State can throw
n defence over the crime of treason, She
power of pardon is exclusively vested in
lhe Executive Government of the United
States, In exercising that power, haze
taken every procautiou to connect It with
the cIearest recognition Of the binding
force Of the laws of the United States,
and an unqualified acknow edgement of
the great social change of condition in re
gard to slavery which has grown out of
the war
The next step which have ia on to re
store 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 Il general amnesty at the earliest epoch
consistent with public safety For this
great end there Is need Of concurrence
Of ali opinions, and the spirit Of mutual
Cancellation. All parties in the late ter
rible conflict must work together in har-
mOny. 1t is not too mach to ask, in the
name OF the whole people, that on the ono
side, the plaG of restoration shall proceed
in coniormit- with a willingness TO cast
+ the disorder, 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 anv doubt bv
the ratification of the proposed amend.
men5 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 viii doubt, and jealousy, anil un~
certainty prevail. This Is the measure
which will etiace the sad memory of the
past TINS IS the measure which viii most
! certainly call popE alton and capital, and
securIty to those parts Of the Union that
need them most Indeed, it is not too
( oh ~ 81 r,I +l,a
rcsumin@ their places in the family Of the
Union to give this pledre Of perpetual
loyalty and peace Until 1t is done. the
past, however much we NAV desire It. will
not be forgotten The adoption of the
amendment rtInites Us beyond all power
0C disruption II heals tho wound that is
still imPerlectIy closed it removes slaves
ry, the element which has so long per-
picked and divided the country it makes
Of us once more n united people, renewed
and strengthened, bound more than ever
TO mutual affection and support
The amendment TO the Constitution be-
ing adopted, it would remain for the
States, whose powers have been so Iongin
Allowance. to resume their PAGES in the
TWO branches Of the National Legislature.
and thereby complete the work Of restor-
alton. Here it is for Won, fallow~citiZans
of tho Senate, and for vGu, fellow citizens
oC the House Of Representatives, to Judge,
each Of YOU for yourselves. of the elec-
tons, returns and qualifications Of your
own members.
The full assertion of the powers oC 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 70 holding those courts
/ in any Of the States where the rebellion
4 has existed and 1t was ascertained, by
I inquiry, that the Circuit Court Of the
/ United States would not be held within
/ the district OF irginia during the autumn
or early winter nor until Congress should
I have ." an opportunity to consider and act
! on the whole subject To your delihcr-
atians the restoration Of this branch Of
/ the civil authority of the United States Is
therefore necessarily referred with the
( hope that early provision viii be made
I for the resumption Of al its functions
/ II is manifest that treason. most fragrant
I in character, has been committed. Per-
sons whoare charged with its commission
should have fair and impartial trials in
| the highest c.gil tribunals Of the country.
/ in order that the Constitution and the
/ laws may he fully vindica-cd Inc truth
clearly established and affirmed that treas
] son is crime that traitors should be
punished, and the ofIense made Infamous
and. at the same time that the question
NAV be judiciaIly settled. finally and for
ever. that no State Of It's own viii has the
right to renouncc its place in the Union.
The relations OF the General Govern
mcnt towards the four millions of inhabi-
4 tants whom the war has called into free
. dom. have engaged my most serious CON
si,leration On the propric5y OF attempt.
inc To make the freedmen electors by the
nroclamalion of the Executive, ! took for
INV counsel the Constitution itself the IN
ternrstati8us OF chat instrument by It's
authors and their c0-emPoraries. and re
cent legislation by Congress. y hen, at
the first movement towards independence,
the Congress of the United States instruc-
ted the several States TO institute govern
mrnts af their own, they left each State te
decide for itself the conditions for the en-
i1vmcnt OF the elective franchise. Daring
the ueriod Of the Conlederacy there con
tinue1 to exist a very great diversity I'D
the qualifications of the eleotor7 IN the
several States and even within state 2