Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-05
rHE PnooLA4ArroS..r1.s FrKpoRT.

THE PB0eLAsfATr0kIF1i PtKP0RT.
The doubt suggested in Yesterdays issue
in regard TO the meaning and effect Of the
Executive proclamation declaring the re-es-
tablishment Of peace, is removed by more
careful reading of the corrected copy. 1t
means, so far as the Executive authority can
accomplish it. restoration of the Union of
the States upon the basis of equality, and
revival Of all the rights, privileges, and
powers which attach to States, or pertain to
individual citizens Of States It officially
declares the war ended, and the war powers
exercised by the Government, during and
for the suppression Of the rebellion, as no
longer in force. It asserts that the pro-
claimed object Of the war was the mainte-
nance Of the authority of the Constitution,
and the preservation of the Union, with the
dignity, equality, and rights of the several
States unimpaired, and thai this has been
accomplished; and also, that the lately re-
voting States have given satisfactory evil
dence" that they acquiesce in the result of
the war, and that they have or will conform
their domestic legislation to the amendment
Of the Constitution prohibiting slavery. 1t
afirms the Statehood OF the various States
comprising the Federal Union, and denies
the power of the Government to hold them
as territories, or provide protectorates for
them in state Of peace. 1t urges political
equality Of States and citizens as right and
just in ITSELF and as tending to promote and
preserve the due allegiance Of the citizen TO
the Government. 1t deprecates standing ar
mics and military rule as expensive, danger
us TO public and individ ual liberty, contra
ny TO the genius Of free government, and only
admissible in a state of war, and for the pur-
pose ofsuppressing insurrection or repelling
invasion. By formally and authoritatively
declaring the war closed and the rebellion
overcome, it restores the privilege of the
writ Of habeas coTpusin accordance with clause
I'd, Of section 9thof article LIST of the Con-
stitution Of the United States, and thereby
revoles the proclamation Of September Is,
1853, suspending the privilege of the writ,
and authorizing the Executive order as a
sufficient an swer in the case of its issuance.
II concludes by avowing that these principles
have constituted the policy of the Govern
ment of the United States from the COM
mencement 10 the close Of the war.
This is great work, and its importance
cannot be over estimated. While we think
that it was but the simple performance of
duty on the part Of the President, and that
those who, in after times are to judge his
official conduct would not hold him blame
less il he had done less, yet, in considera-
ton Of the fact that he is opposed by de-
termined and formidable organization, which
denies every position assumed in this procla-
nation, and which has control Of the legisla-
tive department Of the Government it ex-
hibits his moral courage and fidelity to re-
publican institutions in q striking light,
and entities him to the support of every
truly conservative man in the nation.
Itlmposes, however, upon the people of the
States enumerated in the proclamation an
other duty. By this act of the Government
they are restored to their civil rights as
they existed before the war, and the mill
tary power which the Government may
think it necessary to maintain as police
force, and means of protection, is rendered
subordinate TO the civil authority. This
should not transport them beyond the
bounds of discretion, or lead them into a
course of conduct at variance with the poll
cy of the Government, or their duty as ODE
dent and law-abiding citizens. On the
other hand, il should animate them to a
more scrupulous performance of every duty
devolving upon men truly adherent to the
Government. Such a course will best sus-
tain the President in his efforts to consum-
mate the noble work in which he is engaged,
and will tend to disarm the blinded and
furious partisans who by their factious hos
tility to restoration are proving themselves
the common enemies of the Government, the
Southern people and the President.
All this may be, as we have said, only the
Presidents duty, and their right, but in
these degenerate times, when the infdelity
Of public servants is the rule, the people
should be grateful to their just and upright
Chief Magistrate, and demonstrate by their
conduct that his official course is marked
by wisdom, and that it is only by clinging
to the Constitution that the State can be
saved, and popular liberty be preserved.