Year: 1863

, no practical communication between then


Tennessee and Arkansas have been clear.


ed of insurgents, and influential citizen.
in each, owners of slaves and advocates o.
. slavery at the beginning of the rebellion


now declare operly for emancipation in
their respective States and OF those
States not included in the emancipation
, proclamation, Maryland and Missouri,
neither of which, three years ago would
tolerate restraint upon the extension ol
slavery into territory, only dispute now as
to the best mode of removing it within
their own limits. OF those who were
slaves at the beginning Of the rebellion
full one hundred thousand are now in the
United States military service, about one
half of which number actually bear arms
in the ranks, thus giving the double nd-
vantage Of taking 50 much labor from the
insurgent cause and supplying the places
which otherwise must be filled with 50
many wnitc men. So far as tested, it is
difficult to say that they are not as good
soldiers as any. No servile instruction
or tendency to violence or cruelty has
marked the measures of emancipation and
arming the blacks. These measures have
been much discussed in foreign countries,
and contemporary with such discussion,
the tone of public sentiment there is much
improved. At home the same measures
have been fully discussed, supported, ,criti-
csed and denounced, and the annual elec-
tions following are highly encouraging to
those whose official duty it is to bear the
country through this great trial, Thus
we have new reckoning the crisis which
threatened to divide the friends Of the
Union is past.


Looking now to the present ;nd future
and with reference TO the resumption Of
the national authority within the States
wherein that authority has been suspend
ed, have thought fit to issue proeama-
tion, copy of which is herewith trans
mittcl. On examination Of this proc
lumation it will appear, as is believed,
that nothing is attempted beyond what is
amply justified by the Constitution true,
the form of an oath is given, but no man


is compelled to take it. The man is only
promised pardon in case he voluntarily
takes the oath. The Constitution author
ICES the Executive to grant or witohold
the pardon at his own absolute discretion:
and this includes to power to grant OH
terms, rs is fully established by judicial
and other authorities. 1t is also pro-
posed, that if i'll any of the States named
a State government shall be recognized
and guaranteed by the United States, and
that if the State shall on the constitution
al condition be protected against invasion
and domestic violence.


The constitutional obligation of the Unit
ed States to guaranty to every State IN


the Union republican form of govern
ment, and to protect the State in the cases
stated, is explicit and full. But why


tender the benefits Of this provision only


to State government set up in this par


ticular way This section Of the Con
stitution contemplates case wherein the
element within State favorable to re-
publican government in the Union may


be too feeble for an opposite and hostile
element, external to or even within the
State and such are precisely the cases


with which we are now dealing. An at


tempt to guarantee and protect revived


State government, constructed in whole
or in preponderating part from the very


clement against whose hostility and vio-
lcncc it is to be protected is simply absurd


There must be test by which to seperate


the opposing elements, so as to build only


from the sound and that test is a sut-


icicntly liberal one which accepts as sound


whoever will make sworn recantation Of
his former uusoundness.


Bat if 1t be proper to require as test


of admission to the political body an oath
of allegiance to the Constitution of the
E United States and to the Union under it.,
why not also to the laws and procama-
tions in regard to slavery? These laws


and problamations were enacted and put
, forth for the purpose of aiding i'll the
, suppression of the rebellion. To give
them their fullest effect, there had to be
pledge for their maintenance. In my
judgement they have aided and will fur
ther aid the cause for which they were
intended. To now abandon them, would
be not only to relinquish lever of pow
er, but would also be cruel and astoun-


ding breach Of faith. may add at this
point, that while remain in my present
position shall not attempt to retract or
modify the emancipation proclamation,
nor shall | return to slavery any person
who is free by the terms of that proca-
nation, or by any Of the acts OF Con-
| gress. For these and other reasons it is
thought best that support OF these meas
ures shall bo included in the oath and it
is believed that the executive may law
fully claim it in return for pardon and


restoration of forfeited rights-which he


has clear constitutional power to with
hold altogether, or grant upon the terms
! he shall deem wiser lor the public inter
est.


1t should be observed, also, that this
part Of the oath is subject to the molily-
ing and a abrogatins power of legislation
an supreme judicial decision.


The proposed acqaiesccnce Of the N =
tional Executive in any reasonable, tenn


porary State arrangement for the freed
people is made with the view Of possibly
modifying the confusion and destitatiou
which nast, at best, attend all classes, by
total lc3olution of labor throughout
whole States. 1t is hoped that the al
ready decpy-aAlicted people in those