The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

STATE PAPERS OF ABRAIIAM LINCOLN

481

CHAPTER XVI.
MOVEMENTS TOWARDS RECONSTRTCTION
STATE GOVERNMENTS IN LOUISIANA AND ARKANSAS. ---I DIFFERENCE OF VIEW8
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.-THE REBELLION AND LABOR.THE PRESIDENT ON BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS.-A.DVANCING ACTION
CONERING THE NEGRO RACE.-FREE STATE CONSTITUTIONS.
THE proclamation which accompanied the Annual Message of the President for 1864 embodied the first suggestions of the Administration on the important subject of reconstructing the Governments of those, States whi'ch had
joined in the secession movement. The matter had been
canvassed somewhat extensively by the public pretss, and
by prominent p)oliticians, in anticipation of tlie ove-rthrow
of the rebellion, and the view taken of the( subject lund
been determined, to a very considerable extent, by tlhe
sentiments and opinions of the different parties as to the
object and purpose of the war The supporters of the
Administration did not all hold precisely the samen ground
on this sulbject. As has already be'^n seen, in the( debates
of the Congress of 1862-3, a considerable number of the
friends of the Government, in both houses, maintained
that, by the act of secession, the revolted States had put
themselves outside the pale of the Constitution,, and were
henceforth to be regarded and treated. not as members of
the Union, but as alien enemies: *-that their State organ
* President Lincoln's view of this position is stated in tlhe following note addressed by him to the publishers of the North American Review, whlichl contained
an article upon hlis policy of administration:CRO & NICOLS EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON-,.Jantuary 16, 1SG4.
a MBRs.8s CROSBY & NCIosOL ~
"GzETs..MN:-The number for this month and year of the )Xcrth A merican Reriew was
duly received, and for which please accept my thanks. Of coiirs,. I am not the most implartia
ludge; yet, with due allowance for this, I venture to hope that the article entitled 'The Presi.,J