Year: 1863

"
tiou in any State aud for long time it had been hoped
that the rebellion could be suppressed without esortng
To it ms military IL was all the while deemed
possible that the necessity for it might come, and that
il should the crisis OF the contest would then be pre-
sented It came, and anticipated, ii was followed
by dark and doubtful days


Eleven months having now passed we are permitted to
take another review The rebel borders ssed still
further back and by the complete opening of the Msss
spp the country dominated by the rebellion is divided into
dstnct parts, with no practical communication between
them. Tennessee and Arkansas have been substantially
cleared of nsurgent control and influential citizens in
each of slaves and advocates of slavery the be-
ginning OF the rebellion, now declare openly for emancpa
tion in their respective States OF those States not in
Guided in the emancipation proclamation MARYLAND and
Mssui neither of which three years ago would tolerate
any restraint upon the extension Of slavery into Ter
rOres only dispute to the best mode of removing
it within their limits OF those who were slaves at
the beginning of the rebellion full hundred thousand
in the United States military service alb ut one
half of which number actually bear in the ranks
thus giving the double advantage Of taking much labor


from the insurgen cause and supplying the places which
otherwise must bs filed with many white men So
far tested it is difficult to say they not good sol
disrs any. No serve insurrection, tendency
lence cruelty has marked the Of emancipation
and arming the blacks These have been
discussed 10 foreign countries and contemporary with such
discussion the tone Of public sentiment there much
proved At home the have been fully dis.
cussed, supported criticised, and denounced, and the
annual elections following highly encouraging to those
whose official duty it is to bear the country through this
great trial. Thus have the reckoning. The
crisis which threatened to divide the friends of the Union
is past.


Looking now to the present and future aud with re-
ference TO resumption Of the national authority within
the States wherein thai authority has been suspended
have thought fit to issue prOcamationa copy Of which
is herewith transmitted.


On examination Of this proclamation it will appear, as
is believed that nothing s attempted beyond what is am
ply justified by the Constitution True, the form of
oath is gwen but man is coerced to take it, The
only promised pardon in voluntarily takes the oath
ntorNy
hold the pardon at his own absolute discretion and this
cludes the power to grant terms fully established
by Judicial and other authorities 1t il also profered
that it, any of the States named, State Government
shall be- in the mode prescribed set up such Government
eha be recognised and guaranteed by the United States
aud that under it the State shall the constitutional
conditions be protected against iuvason aud domestic
violence. The constitutional obligation of the United
States to guaranty to every State in the Union republ
form of government aud to protect the State in the
stated, is explicit and full.


But why tender he benefits this provision only to State
Government set up 10 this particular way Tbs sectioa
of the Constitution contempates wherein the ele
mrnt within State, iayorableto republican government


in the Union, may be tco feeble for opposite and
tile element external to within the State and
such are precisely the Gases with Wh ch ara deal
ing An attempt to guaranty and protect revived State
Government constructed in whole or in pFepo0derating
part from the very element against whose hostility and
violence II is u be protected is simply absurd There
must be test by which TO separate the opposing elements
TO Guild oaly from the sound and that test is suf


ciently liberal one which accepts SQUAD whoever vii;


make sworn recantaton of bis former unsoun unaness.


But It be proper to require test admission to the
political body, nm oatl OF aegance TO the Constitution of
the Uted States and to the Union under it why als, Ia
the laws and procamaons in regard to slavery Those


laws aud procamatons enacted and put forth for the
purpose of aiding the Of the rebellion l.,
give them their fullest effect there had to BIZ pledge fo:
their msnt-nance In my Judgment they have aided and
will further aid, the for which they were intended
To now abandon them would be not only to elnqush


lever Of power but would also be cruel and astounding
breach of faith.


l may aid at hI7 point that while remain in my pre-
sent position shall not attempt to etract modify the
emancipation pr0cianaon shall return to slavery
any person who is free by the terms a that proclamation
by any of the acts # Congress For tn and other


reasons It thought best that support of these
shall be Included IN the oath and 1t believed the Execu


tive may lawfully claim it return for pardon and resta.


ration of forfeited rights which he has clear constitutional
power to Withhold altogether grant upon the terms
which he shall deem wsest for the public interest 1t
should be observed aso that this psr the sub.
ect to the modifying and abrogating power oc legislation
and supreme Judicial decision,


The proposed acsussoence Of the National Executive
10 any reasCnabs temporary State arrangement for the
freed people made with the view of possibly modifying
the confusion aud desution which mu.t at best attend
all classes by total revolution of labor throughout whole
States 1t hoped that the already deeply afflicted peo.
pie in those st ties be somewhat more readu to give
up the Of their s cton to this extent THE vial
matter be left to themselves while power Of the IA


onal Executive to prevent "a abuse is abridged by the
proposition.


The suggestion in the proclamation to maintaining the
political frame work Of the States on what called recon
structGn made the hope that may do good without
danger Of harm 1t will labor and avoid great
fusion.


But why any proclamation now upon this subjsct1 This
question is beset with the conflicting views that the
might be delayed too long be taken soon La some
States the elements for resumption ready for action
but remain inactive, apparently for want of rallyng
p0int-a plan Of action Why shall sdopt tbe plan of b.
rather than that of Al And il and should agree how
they know bat that the General Government here will
reject their plan BY the proclamation plan il presented
which may be accepted by them a raying point and
which they assured in aivanes will not bs rejected
here This my bring them to than they other
wise would.


The Obj -cons to premature presentation of plan by
the National Executive st in the danger of commit
tails points which could be more safely Left to further
Developments Care has been taken t. so shape the doc
ment as to avoid embarrassments from this source Say


ing that on certain terms certain classes will BE- pardOned
with rights restored it is not said that other classes
other terms will never be included Saying that recon.
structon will be accepted if presented in specified way


10 il not said 1t will be accepted in any other way


The movements by State action for emanc patton in
several OF tho States not included IN the patton
proclamation are matters OF profound graduation And
while do not repeat in detail what hzve herot fore
earncsty urged upln this subject my general and
feelings remain unchanged aud trust that Congress will
omit fair opportunity of aiding these important steps
to great consummatiOn.


In the midst of other cares however important wa must
not lose sight O the fact that the power is st our
main reliance. To that power alone we lock yet for
a time give c0nfdence to the people in the cnnte sted
regions hst the nsurgsnt power will not again oyerru
them.


Until that confidence shall be- established little can be
done any where for what is called demonstrations Hence
our cheles st be directed 10 the army and
navy who have tn far borne their harder bart so noby
and we'll Aud 1t may be esteemed fortunats that ia