Year: 1864

and organized by the election Of Democratic officers
that party having very decisive msjory in both Houses


The annual message of Governor PARKER, communi-
Gated to the Legislature Wednesday presents clear
aud comprehensive view Of the affairs of the State,
which generally in hourishing condition. We
tract at length much Of this able document rea to
national affairs:


NATIONAL AFFAIRS.


Having presented tho various subjects interest
nected with the administration of State Government
during the ast esent year. and made such suggestions
and recommendations 10 reference thereto appeared
necessary your attention s Invited to the consdera
ton Of national affairs While proper respect for const-
tued authority should always be observed the free
preston OF opinion upon topics connected with the
should be exercised The issues involved in the contest
too great and the consequences of mistaken policy
too serious to suffer to be governed by the spirit of
faction on the one hand, Influenced by bod subsar-
viency to power on the other 1t is only in the light Of
free discussion that the path Of duty be discovered


The nature OF complex system of government, the
rights of the States under the Constitution the that
induced secession the ushabe character of the rebel


on the unwarrantable encroachments the rights Of
citizens of loyal Btates under the plea Of military
sity were among other Subjects fully discussed upon my
induction to Office 1t is not necessary to repeat the opn
ions then expressed Time has not changed but strength
ened them.


We have arrived at that stage the progress the
when forced TO consider questions connected
with restoration of peace During past year the
national armies achieved important victories.
large part of the territory originally occupied by the in
surgen forces has been wTesed from their grasp and the
military power Of the enemy, with uncomfortable
exceptions 10 confined within the Narrow compass of
the Southern Atlantic States The failure to obtain fo-
reign and the deranged condition of the nan
have crippled the energies Of the rebel Government
The greatest suffering exists among all classes and while
large and powerful armies still in being, and deter


ination continue the to the last extremity mani
ested by those n power there is to believe that
general dissatisfaction and pervade


and that in some localities tbe people anxious
to renew their allegiance to the Federal Government if
conciatory terms be extended to them The plan Of
stoa,ion proposed by the National Executive his late
annual Congress- accompanied by the
that it would be abandoned if better way could b, de-
vsed the question Of paccaton to the peoples and
invites discussion.


lhe great question to be considered s oo can oe hare
pcace and the Union the shortest For however
desirable peace be- should be united la the deter
mnation that it it should bring with the
Union of the States under the Federal Constitution and
the re-essb shment OF the national authority the
whole country The prosecution OF the by all const
utiona for the purpose OF destroying the military
power the rebellion accompanied by amnesty Offer
ing to the people thu rebel States concatory terms
constitutional ust aud practicable, will soonest
produce peace and the Union What terms should be
tended to the peope In what way should the States
sume the functions of government long in abeyance in
consequence Of the rebellion, and again become active
members of the Federal Ui,n7 These the absorb
gu, stions Of hour, and upon the depends
speedy peace the prolongaton of this terrible strife


To determine the right basis of peace, should
the purpose for which the commenced
the plan of paccaton should conform to the declared ob
ject of the This object the part of Govern
ment explicitly stated by resolution passed unani
mousy by the House of Representatives after the
nce2ent of hositles, and which still stands the
authoritative declaration OF the popular branch of Con
gress. That resolution declares that the is not


waged for the purpose of overihrowlng Interfering
with the rights and estabshed institutions of the States


but to defend aud maintain the supremacy of the Consti
tuition and to preserve the Unioo with all the dignity
equality and rl Of the several States and
that these objects accomplished the war
ought ceae" In the published Trespondence Of the
State Department the idea is forciby expressed
the following language The rights Of the States and the
condition OF every human being n them will sub
Sect exactly the laws and forms of admins
whether the revolution should succeed whether il
shall fail. In the the States would be
federally connected with the confederacy in the
other they would be- now, members of the United
Ststa but their constitutions aud laws customs habits
institutions in either would remain the same"
In repudatng Indignantly intention the part of the
Executive to disturb the domestic institutions of the States
writer adds "Any such Effort his part would be
aud all his actions 10 that direction would
be prevented by the judicial authority Of the United
States though assented to by Congress and the
people"


According to the principles thus deliberately announced
On behalf of the executive and legislative branches of the
Government, the States to be regarded in the
Unon and the rebellion considered as revolt of the
pie az individuals and whenever they shoud lay down
heir ms aud their allegiance to the Federal CIV
ernment the States bodies polite to the
exercise Of the functions that had lain dormant





and institutions az before the began.


An amnesty has been offered to the insurgents Do its
terms and conditions accord with the declarations volun
tariy made TO the people of the loyal States, and pub
hshed to the world Is restoration of the State Gov
ernments to their position under loyal atmnsra
lions invited Indeed any provision made for such
return? Does not the pan the contrary ignore the
existence of the with their constitutions aud forms
of administration and provide only for the creation Of
new States with new forms Of government, founded
new principles dictated in advance by the central power
Are the conditions such calculated to divide
enemies and draw the hearts of the repentng people of
the decaying Confederacy towards Government,
will they not be likely to unite them and give their
crafty leaders material III me their hatred aud mpe
them to renewed resistance Under the at pre-
seut extended if the entire population Of certain States
should to-day lay down their for peace aud take
the oath of allegiance TO the Constitution and laws OF the
United States, Of the number, loyal dis.
Ioyal could be received pardoned unless he should
also surrender his State Government il existed when
oys before the outbreak of the rebellion besides yielding
the greater portion of his property and virtually acknow
edgiug by oath that he thought right to do


s Ii the kind Of Cancellation to accompany and strengthen
the arm Of power7


This plan the natural fruit Of the emancipation pro-
camaton and is predicsted the idea that the abolition
of slavery OF primary Importance 1t is not In accord
ance with the declared object of the The Union ia
the almporant object and slavery should be subor-
dnste question


It's acknowledged that as matter of civil administra
ton the General Government has lawful power to
effect emancipation in any State but the right to do is
claimed the ground OF military necessity" The line
of argument which ustes the emancipation proclamation
as military measure renders the Constitution nopera-
tive in time OF war, aud makes all rights bect to
Executive discretion IL this be so the trainers Of our
Constitution mistaken in supposing they had created


.l.A.. tx.w.xx II