Year: 1865

OLucE power OF the d60efa1 dOVef0uGnt
the power of parden-as no State Can


throw defense over the crime of treason


1oe power of pardon is exclusively


vested IN the Executive Government oi
the United States. In exercising that


power, have taken every precautlon tc


connect it with the clearest recognition


OF the binding force of the laws of the


United States, and unqualified acknowl'


edgment of the great social change oi


condition in regard to slavery. which has


grown out of the war.


The next step which I have taken to


restore the Constitutional relations OF


the States, has Leen an invitation to


them to participate in the high office OF


amendment to the Constitution. Every


patriot must wish for general amnesty


at the earliest epoch consistent with pub


lie safety. For this great end, there is


need OF concurrence of all opinions


and the spirit of mutual conciliation in


harmony. 1t is not too much to ask, In


the name of the whole people, that, on


the one side, the plan of restoration shall


proceed in conformity with q willingness


to cast the di ,order of the past into OBJ


livion, and that, on the other, evidence


OF sincerity in the future maintenance OF


the Union shall be put beyond a doubt,


by the satisfaction of the proposed amend


ment to the Constitution, which pro-


vides for the abolition of slavery forever


within the limits of our country. So


long as the adoption of this amendment


is delayed, so long will doubt and jeal-
ousy and uncertainty prevail. THIS is


the measure which will efface the sad


mmory of the past. This is the meas


ure which will most certainly call popu-
alton and capital and security to those


parts of the Union that needs the IN most.


Indeed, it is not too much to ask of the


States which are now Iesuming their


places in the family of the Union, to


give this pledge of perpetual loyalty and


peace. Until it is done, the past, how


ever much we may desire it, will not be


be forgotten. The adoption of the
amendment reunites us beyond all pow
er of disruption. 1t heals the wound


that is imperfectly closed. 1t removes
slavery, which has so long perplexed and


divided the country. 1t makes of US,
once more, a reunited people-renewed
and strengthened, and bound more than
ever to mutual affection and support.


The amendment to the Constitution be-
ing adopted, it would remain forever in


the States whose powers have been so
long in abeyance, to resume their place
in the two branches of the National Leg


islature, and thereby complete the work
of restoI alton. Here it is for you, fellow


citizens of the Senate, and for you, fel-


low citizens of the House OF Representa-
tives, to judge, each of you for your
selves, of the election returns and quail


fcations of your own members.


The full assertion of the powers of the
General Government requires the hold
ing OF Circuit Courts of the United
States within the Districts where their
authority has been interrupted. In the
present posture of our public affairs,
strong objections has been urged to hold>
ing these courts in any of the States
where the rebellion has existed, and it
was ascertained by inquiry that the Cir
cult Court of the United States would not
be held within the district of Virginia
during the autumn or early winter, nor
until Congress should have an opportu
nifty to consider and act on the whole
subject. 10 your deliberations the resto
ration of this branch of the civil author,
ity of the United States is, therefore,
necessarily referred with the hope that
early provision will be made for resump-
tion of all its functions. 1t is manifest
that treason most fragrant in character
has been committed. Persons who are
charged with its commission should havel
fair and impartial .rials in the high and
civil tribunals of the country in order
that the Constitution and the laws may
be fully vin3icated, the truth clearly ess
tablished and affirmed that treason is a
crime, that traitors should be punished,
and the offense made infamous, and at |
he 4 hat he h.
judiciously settled finally and forever |
that no State o. its own will has the right
to renounce its Place in the Union.


The relation of the General Govern
ment towards the four million of inhabi
tants whom the war has called into free
dom, have engaged our most serious con-
sideration. On the propriety OF attempt


ing to make the freedmen voters by the
of the Executive, took for
my counsel the Constitution itself, the
Interpretation of that instrument by it's
authors and their contemporaries, and re-
cent legislation by Congress. When at
The first movement toward independence,
he Congress of the United States in
'tructed the several States to institute
of their own, they-left each
State to decide for itself the conditions of
he employment of the elective franchise
During the period of the Confederacy,
here continued 10 exist very great
diversity in the qualifications of electors
n the several States, and even within
state distinction of qualification pre-
'ailed with regard to the officers who
we're to be chosen. The Constitution of
he United States recognizes their diver
tiles; when it enjoins that in the choice
II members OF the House of Represent
atives of the United States, the electors
n each State shall have the qualifications
equisite for electors of the most numer-
us body Of the State Legislature. After
he formation of the Constitution, it re-
NAMED as before the uniform usage for !
ach State to enlarge the body of its elece
ors according to its own judgment, and .
nder this system one State after another {
las proceeded TO increase the number of
% electors, until now universal suffrage,
r something very near it, is the general
uie. So fixed was this reservation OF ,
over in the habits of the people, and so
nquestioned has been the Interpretation I
the courts, that during the civil war, Z
he late Presiden4 never harbored the {
urpose-certainly never 2avowed the i
urpose-of disregarding it,, and in the .
cts OF congress during that period, moth |
1g can be found which; during the con- II
nuance OF hestilities, much less after. (
heir close, would have sanctioned anYt
eparture, by the Executive, from pol /
" which was so uniformly obtained.zA=l d
borrower, 4o@ concession of the elective | !