Year: 1863

cTutllN mas marKeu Tue lucdSuTc OF em2u-
alton among the blacks.


These measures have been much dis


sed in forei gn countries, and contempo-


with such discussion the tone Of public


timent there is much improved At


y ne the same measures have teen fully


sussed, supported, criticised and de-
nounced, and the annual elections following
are,high'y encouraging to those whose Off
cial duty \ is TO bear the country through
this great rial Thus we have the new
reckoning she crisis which threatened to
divide the friends Of the Union is past.


PLAN FOR RECONSTRUCTION,


Looking now to the present and future,


and with reference to resumption of the


national authority within the states where


in that authority has been suspended, ! have


thought fit to issue proclamation, copy


of which is herewith transmitted. In ex-


animation of this proclamation, it will ap.


pear, as is believed, that nothing is attempt


ed beyond what is justified by the constitu
/ ton. True the form of an oath ia given,
I but no man is coerced TO take it. The man


is only promised a pardon in case he vol
unfairly takes the oath. The constitution
authorizes the executive TO grant or with
hold the pardon at his own absolute dscre-
ton, and this includes the power 70 grant
on terms, as is fully established by Judicial
and other authorities. 1t is also proffered
that, if in any of the States named State
government shall be in the mode prescribed
set up such government shall be recognized
and guaranteed by the United States, and
that under it the State shall, on the cons;i-
tulional conditions, be protected against in
vasion and domestic violence. The consti-
tutional obligation of the United States to
guarantee to every State in the Union a
republican form of government, and to pre-
tect the State in the cases stated, is explic-
| il and full


/ But why tender the benefits Of this pro-
vision only to State government set up
in this particular way! This section of the
constitution contemplates a case wherein
the element within a State favorable to a
republican government in the Union may
be too feeble for an opposite and hostile ell
ement, external to or even within the State ;
and such are precisely the cases with which
we are now dealing. An attempt to guar
antee and protect revived State govern
ment, constructed in whole or in preponder-
ating part from the very element against
whose hostility and violence it is TO be pro-
tected, is simply absurd. There must be a
test by which to separate the opposing ele-


ments, so as to build only from these that
are sound, and that test is q sufficiently lib.
eral one which accepts as sound whoever


will make a sworn rccantation of his former


unsoundness. But if it be proper to re
uuire as a test of admission TO the politica


body an oath Of allegiance to the constitu


ton of the United States, and to the Unior


under it, why not also to the laws and proc
! lamations in regard to slavery Ihoss


laws and proclamations were enacted ant
put forth for the purpose of aiding in th'


suppression Of the rebellion. To give then


their fullest effect, there had to be q pledg
for their maintenance. In Ey Judgment
they have aided and will further aid tn


cause for which they were intended. i


row abandon them would be not only t
reHnquish lever Of power, but would ais


be cruel and astounding breach of faith


| may add, at this point, that while l re
: main in my present position ] shall not al
tempt to retract or modify the emancipa
ton proclamation, nor shall | return t
, slavery any person who is free by the term
| of that proclamation or by any of the ACT
l of Congress. For these and other reason:
: il is thought best that support cfthese meas
5 ures shall be included in The oath, and it
] believed the executive may lawfully clair
: it in return for pardon and the restoratio
of forfeited rights which he has clear cor
d stitutional power to withhold altogether, c
| grant upon the terms he shall deem wise:
!, for the public interest. 1t should be oil
t served, also, that this part of the oath
: subject to the modifying and abrogatin
5 power of legislation and supreme Judicial d,
: cision. The proposed acquieseuce of tn
t national executive in any reasonable ten
n porary state arrangement for the freed PEI
! pie is made with the view of possibly mo'
j flying the confusion and destitution whic


must at best attend all classes, by tot
e revolution of labor throughout the who
e of these States. Ii is hoped that the a
(, ready deeply afflicted people in those Stat
J. may be somewhat more ready TO give U
/ the cause of their afiiiction if, TO this c.
b tent, this vital matter be left TO themselve
4. while no power of the national executiv
y to prevent an abuse, is abridged by q
/ proposition. The suppositOn in the pro
d lamation as to maintaining the polite
IF framework of the States, on what is call
l. reconstruction, is made in the hope that
;e may do good without any danger of hari
N 1t will save labor and avoid great confusio
i But why any proclamation now upon Il
J. subject: This question is beset with {
of conflicting views that the step might be d
te layed too long or taken too soon. In sol
it States the elements for resumption see
re ready for action, but remain inactive, q
Ill parently for want of a rallying point OF
: y :. 4 ILL A n.lr,rnl