When the war ceased, the pretext on which it had been waged could no longer be alleged.

The emancipation proclamation of Mr.Lincoln, which, when it was issued, he humorously admitted to be a nullity, had acquired validity by the action of the highest authority known to our institutions--the people assembled in their several State Conventions.

The soldiers of the Confederacy had laid down their arms, had in good faith pledged themselves to abstain from further hostile operations, and had peacefully dispersed to their homes; there could not, then, have been further dread of them by the Government of the United States.

The plea of necessity could, therefore, no longer exist for hostile demonstration against the people and States of the deceased Confederacy.

Did vengeance, which stops at the grave, subside?
Did real peace and the restoration of the States to their former rights and positions follow, as was promised on the restoration of the Union?
Let the recital of the invasion of the reserved powers of the States, or the people, and the perversion of the republican form of government guaranteed to each State by the Constitution, answer the question.