The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-05
The Proclamation and its Consequence
From the Times


From the Times.
1t is difficult to conceive of any rational and
Just ground upon which objection may be
urged to the decisive step just taken by the
President. In formally declaring the nsur-
rection at an end and proclaiming tine recon-
struction of the Southern States, and their title
10 the rights and immunities belonging to III
tegral parts of the Union, he has simply exer-
cised the authority belonging to his Office
under the Constitution. The question to be de-
cided was one of fact and time, and the law
and the Constitution have made him the sole
responsible judge of both. His action in the
premises is equally free from the opposite
errors of precipitancy and procrastlnation. He
has delayed 1t long enough to satisfy his own
Judgment and the Judgment of the country, as
TO the accuracy OF the representation upon
which his decision depends for its justification.
To have promulgated it much earlier, or in the
absence OF ample evidence as to the complete
ness Of the work achieved by the war, and the
suffciency OF the terms acknowledged by the
rehabilitated States, would have been blunder
pregnant with the gravest consequences. On
the other hand, having become satisfied that the
results aimed at in the prosecution of the war.
had been accomplished, and that the reorganIza-
tion of the State Governments on loyal basis,
is complete, he could not have indefinitely de-
ierred the Proclamation without nullifying all
that he has said and done since his advent to
power, or without fomenting sectional discon-
tent, and strengthening a policy which, un-
checked would have led to disruption of the
Union.
The proclamation setting forth national peace
and unity, the equality OF all the States as men,
bers OF the Union, the subordination of military
to civil authority, and the restoration OF the
great guarantees OF personal liberty for a time
| suspended to meet The eMgences of war, was
| essental-and essential noW-to perfect the
! well considered policy to which the President
| is irreyocably committed 1t is evidence that,
come what may, he Is resolved to give effect to
the principles and conclusions by, which hls
| official course has been guided. 1t is fulfil
ment of his pledge that in his path there shall
| be no going back wards-that every step he
| takes shall be a step forward-that all he has
done shall be upheld, and all he has promised
| fulfilled despite the maledietons OF disunionsts
| North or South.
The issuing of the proclamation at this mo-
ment is especially imoortant, IN view of the
! briet pause in the Congressional struggle, and
the anxiety with which the country watches
| Tor its renewal in the Senate. The President
has now cleared the ground as thoroughly as
possible. The manifold pleas for exceptional
legislation, predcated upon the continuance
of state Of war; and its alleged constitution
ality under the war-making power, will be
henceforth inadmisible. There will be no
tenable pTetense for talking of or dealing with
the South as still in Rebellion; for the Presi
dent. in the exercise of an incontestable
authority, has declared the Rebellion ended
There can be no excuse for debating terms tC
Southern States as conquered provinces, OF
imposing conditions upon their people as
subiugated Rebels, at the mercy of the con
queror; TOR the Executive OF the nation ha
proclaimed that the rights of States in the
South are as valid as those Of States in th'
North; that the civil authority of Georgia il
as perfect in its sphere as that OF Massachusetts,
and that the Southern people are as a whole
loyally intent upon doing their duty as citizen
of the United States. There can no longer b
a decent pretext for excluding Southern Repre-
sentatiVes from Congress, or Tor enactng law
> applying peculiarly TO the Southern States, an
2 enforcing provisions which their authors dar
} not attempt TO enforce in their own States. I
I this extent, therefore, the proceeding OF th
4 | President cannot fail TO exercise potent inAl
e ence upon the sayings and doings OF Congress
T 1t deprives the agitators and mischlefmakers {
0 their only apology, and blunts the weapon wit
, which they have hitherto fought; They mui
8 either accept the fact promulgated by the Pres