The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1865-12-14

is the destr uction of the other; the pres
ervation Of the one is the preservation
Of the other.
l have thus explained my views Of
the mutual relations Of the Constitution
and the States, because they unfold the
principles on which I have sought to
solve the momentous questions and
overcome che appalling dificulties'that
met me at the very commencement Of
my administration. 1t has been my
steadfast object to escape from the sway
Of momentary passions, and to derive q
healing policy from the fundame ntal
and unchanging principles of the Con-
stitution. A.' ..' 'ria '.,is"H. b.
found the States suffering from tho
effects Of civil war. Resistance to the
General Government appeared to have
exhausted itself. The United States
had recovered possession of their forts
and arsenals, and their armies were in
the occupation of every State which had
attempted to secede. Whether the ter
ritory within the limits of those States
should be held as conquered territory,
under military authority emanating
from the President as the head Of the
army, was the first question that pre-
sented itself for decision.
Now, military Governments, estab-
lished for an indefinite period, would
have offered no security for the early
suppression of discomfort ; would have
divided the people into the vanquishers
and the vanquished and would have
envenomed hatred, rather than have
restored affection. Once established, no
precise limit to their continuance was
con ceivable. They would have occa-
stoned an incalcuIablc and exhaustiug
expense. Peaceful emigration to and
from that portion of the country is one
Of the best means that can be thought
Of for the restoration of harmony
| and that emigration would have been
prevented; for what emigrant from
abroad, what industrious citizen a,
3 home, would place himself willingly
under military rule ? The chief per.
sons who would have followed in thu
r train of the army would have been de.
! pendents on the General Government
! or men who expected profit from the
niseries of their erring fellow citizens.
The powers of patronage and rule which
would have been exercised, under the
President, over a vast, and populous
and naturally wealthy region, are great,
er than, unless under extreme necessity,
should be willing to eRtrust to any
one man I; they are such as, for myself
I could never, unless on occasions o.
great emergency, consent to exercise
The wilful use of such powers, if con.
tinued through a period Of years, would
have endangered the purity of the gen
eral Administration and the liberties OF
the States which remained loyal.
Besides, the policy of military rule
over conquered territory would have
implied that the States whose inhabi.
tants may have taken part in the rebel
lion had, by the act of those inhabi.
tants, ceased to exist. But the true
theory is, that all pretended acts of Sc,
cessiOn were, from the beginning, nul
t and void. The States cannot commi
treason, nor screen the individual citi
Eens who may have committed treason
o any moro than they can make valiG
treaties or engage in lawful commerct
q with any foreign power, Tbs States at
f tempting to secede placed themselves il
condition where their vitality was i'm
q paired, but not extinguished-thei
functions suspended, but not destroyed
: But if any State, neglects or refuse
to perform its Offices, there is the NOR
need that theI General Gegsrppsr
should maintain all its authority, ant
! as soon as practicable, resume the ez
i ercise of all it's functions. On thi
: principle 1 have acted, aud have gradu
10 ally aud quietly, and by almost impel
i ceptible steps, sought to restore Il
9 rightful energy of. ths General GOverr
l. ment and of the States. To that en-
!, Provisional Goyerpprs have been al
o pointed for the States, Convention
D. sailed Governors elected, Legislator,
: assembled, and, Senators and Repress
= tPtiyes chosen 70 the Congress of Il
70 United States, Az the same tine, Il
20 Courts Of the United States, as far
ls could be done, have been reOpened,
t. that the laws of the United States mi
a. be enforced through their agency. II
pr blockade has been removed and the cu
a. tom, houses re established in ports
b. entry, so that the revenue Of the Unit
he States may be collected, The Postofi
Of apartment renewsits ceaseless aetiyit
es aud the General Governm ment Is therel
MI o. u Ia.