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~FRtm\n MESSM
Fellow Citizens of the Senile and House of
Representatives :
In the midst of unprecedented political trou
bles, we have cause of great gratitude to God
for unusual good health and most abundant har
vests. You will not be surprised to learn that
in the peculiar exigencies of the times our in
tercourse with foreign nations ha* been attend
ed with profound solicitude, chietly turning
upon our own domestic affairs. A disloyal
portion of the American people have during
the whole year been engaged in an attempt to
divide and destroy the Union. A nation which
endures factious domestic divisions is exposed
to disrespect abroad, and one party, if not both,
is sure sooner or later to invoke foreign inter
vention. Nations thus tempted to interfere are
not always able to resist the counsels of seem
ing expediency and ungenerous ambition, al
though measures adopted tindeV such influences
seldom fail to be unfortunate and injurious to
those adopting them.
The disloyal citizens of the United States, I
who have offered the ruin of our country in re- j
turn for the aid and cumtort which they have j
invoked abroad, have received less patronage !
and encouragement than they probably expect
ed. If it were jus', to suppose, as the insur
gents have seemed to assume, that foreign na
tion:, in ibis case, d'sturctfmr .. n:us
and treaty obligations, would act solely and sel
fishly for the most speedv restoration of com
merce, including especially the acquisition of
cotton, those nations appear, as yet, not to have
seen their *vay to their object more directly or
clearly through the destruction than through
the preservation of the Union. If we could
dare to believe that foreign nations are actuated
by no higher principle than this I am quite sure
a sound argument could be made to show them
that they can reach their aim more readily and
ea*ily bv aiding to crush this rebellion than by
giving encouragement to it The principal le
ver relied on by the insurgents for exciting for
eign nations to hostility against us, as already
intimated, is the embarrassment of commerce.
Those nations, however, not improbably, saw
from the first that it was the union which made
as well our foreign as our domestic commerce.
They can scarcely have failed to perceive that
f!ie effort for disunion produces the existing dif
ficulty, and 'hat one strong nation promises
more durable and more extensive, valua
ble and reliable commerce than can the same
notion broken into hostile fragments. It is not
my purpose to review our discussions with for
eign states, because whatever might be their
wishes or dispositions, the integrity of our coun
try and the stability of Government mainly de
pend, not upon them, but on the loyalty, virtue,
patriotism and intelligence of the American
people. The correspondence itself, with the
usual reservations, is herewith submitted. I
venture to hope that it will appear that we have
practiced prudence and liberality towards for
eign potvers. averting causes ol irritation, and
with firmness maintaining our own rights and
honor. Since, however, it is apparent that here
as in every other state, foreign dangers neces
sarily attend domestic difficulties I recommend
that adequate and ample measures be adopted
for maintaining the public defenses on every
side. While under this general recommenda
tion provision for delending our sea coast line
already occurs to the mind, I also, in the same
connection, ask the attention ot Congress to our
great lakes and rivers. It is believed that some
fortifications niyj depots of arms and munitions,
wth harbor and navigation improvements, all
at well selected points upon these, would be of
great importance to the national defence and
preservation.
T ask attention to the views of the Secretary
ot War expressed in his report upon the same
general subject. I deem it of importance that j
the loyal regions of East Tennessee and West- J
ern North Carolina should be connected with j
Kentucky and other faithful parts of the Union
by railroad. I therefore recommend, as a mil
itary measure, that Congress provide for the
of such a road as speedily as pos
sible. K-ntucky no doubt will co-opeiate, and
through her Legislature make the most judicious
selection ol a line. The northern terminus j
muct connect with some existing railroad, and
whether the route shall be from Lexington or j
Nicholasville to the Cumberland Gap, or from j
Lebanon to the Tennessee line in the direction
of Knoxville, or on some still different line, can
easily be determined. Kentucky and the gen
eral government co-operating, the work can be
completed in a very short time, and when done
it will be not only cf vast present usefulness, !
but also a valuable permanent improvement,
worth its cast in all the temporary future.
Some treaties, designed chietly for the inter
ests of commerce, and having no grave politi
cal importance, have bepn negotiated and will
be submitted to the Senate for their considera
tion. Although we have failed to induce some
of the commercial Powers to adopt desirable
melioration of the rigor of maritime war. we
have removed all obstructions from the way of
this humane reform, except such as are merely
of an accidental occurrence.
I invite your attention to the correspondence
between her Britannic Majesty's Minister, ac
credited to this Government, and the Secretary
of State, relative to the detention of the British
ship Perthshire, in June last by the United
Slate* steamer Massachusetts, for a supposed
breach of blockade. As this detention was
p< "casioneiJ by an obvious misapprehension of
the facts, and as justice requires that we should
commit no belligerant act not founded on strict
right, as sanctioned by public law, I recommend
that an appropriation be made to satisfy the
reasonable demand of the owners of the vessel
for her detention.
I repeat the recommendation of mv prede
cessor in his annua! message to Congress in De
cember last, in regard to the disposition ol the
surplus which will probably remain after satis
fying the claims o! American citizens against
China, pursuant to the awards of the commis
sioners, under the act of the 3d of March, 1859.
. 11, however, it should not be deemed advisable
to carry that recommendation into effect, I
, would suggest that a'uthority be given for in
vesting the principal over the proceeds of the
surplus referred to, in good securities, with a
view to the satisfaction of such other just claims
of our citizens against China as are not unlike
ly to arise hereafter in the course of our exten
sive trade with that Umpire.
By the Act of the sth of August last, Con
gress authorized the President to instruct the
commanders of suitable vpssefs to defend them
selves against and to capture pirates. This au
thority has been exercised jn a single instance
only. For the more effectual protection of our
extensive and valuable commerce, in the East
ern seas especially, it seems to me that it would
a' c o be advisable to authorize the commanders
of sailing vessels to recapturp any prizes which
pirates may make of United States vessels and
thpir cargoes, and the Consular Courts now es
tablished oy law in Eastern countries to adju
dicate the cases in event that this should not be
objected to by the heal authorities.
If any good reason prists why we should per
severe longer in withholding our recognition
of the independence and sovereignty of H.ayti
and Liberia, fam unable to discern it unwil
ling, hotvever, to inaugurate a novel policy in
gress.
I submit, for your consideration, the expedi
ency of an appropriation for maintaining a
charge-de-affairs near each of those new States.
It does not admit of doubt that important com
mercial advantages might he secured by favor
able treaties wi.h them.
The operations of the Treasury during the
period which has elapsed since your adjourn
ment have been conducted with signal success.
The patriotism of the people has placed at the
disposal ol the government the large means de
manded by the public exigencies. Much of th?
National Loan has been taken bv citizens of the
industrial classes, whose confidence in their
country's faith and zeal for their country's de
liverance from present oeril have induced them
to contribute to the support of the government
the whole of their limited acquisitions. This
fact imposes peculiar obligations to economy in
disbursement and energy in action.
The revenue from all sources for the finan
cial year ending on the 30th of June, 1861,
was eighty-six millions eight hundred and thir
ty-five thousand nine hundred dollars and twen
ty-seven cents, and the expenditures for the
same period, including payments on account of
the public debt, were eighty-four millions five
hundred and seventy-eight thousand eight hun
dred and thirty-four dollars and forty-seven
cents, leaving a balance in the treasury on the
Ist of July, of two million two hundred and
fifty-seven thousand and sixty-five dollars and '
eighty cents. For tlie first quarter of the fi
nancial year, enJing on the 30th of September
JB6l, the receipts from all sources, including
the balance of Ist of July, were one hundred
and two million five hundred and nine dollars,
and twenty seven cents, and the expenses nine
tv-eight millions two hundred and thirty-nine
thousand seven hundred and thirt.-three dol
lars and nine cents, leaving a balance on the
Ist of October, 1861, of four million two hun
dred and ninety-two thousand seven hundred
and seventy-six dollais and eighteen cents.
Estimates for the remaining three quarters of
the year, and for the financial year 1863, to
gether with his views of ways and means for
meeting the demands contemplated by them,
will be submitted to Congress by the Secretary
of the Treasury. It is gratifying to know th3t
the expenditures made necessary by the rebel
lion are not beyond the resources of the loyal
people, and to believe that the same patriotism
which has thus far sustained the government
will continue to sustain it till peace and union
shall again bless the land.
I respectfully refer to the report of the Sec
retary of War for information respecting the
numerical strength of the army, and for recom
mendations hav : rig in view an increase of its I
efficiency and the well being of the various
branches of the service entrusted to his care.
It is gratifying to know that the patriotism of
the people has proved equal to the occasion, and
that the number of troops tendered greatly ex
ceed the forces which Congress authorized me
to call into the field. I refer with pleasn-e to
those portions of his report which make allu
sion to the credible degree of discipline al
ready atlained by our troops, and to the excel
lent sanitary condition of the entire army.
The recommendation of the Secretary for an
organization of the militia upon a uniform ba
sis is a subject of vital importance to the future
safety of the country and is commended to the
! serious attention of Congress. The large addi
tion to the regular army, in connection with
BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER, 13,1861
: the defection that has so considerably diminish
ed the number ot its officers, gives peculiar im
portance to his recommendation for increasing
the corps of cadets to the greatest capacity of
the military academy. By mere omission, I
presume, Congress has failed to provide chap
lains for hospitals occupied by volunteers. This
subject was brought to my notice and I was in
duced to draw up the form of a letter, one copy
I which, properly addressed, has been deliv-r
--ed to each of the persons, and at the dates re
spectively named, and stated in a schedule con
taining also the form of the letter marked A,
aod herewith transmitted. These gentlemen, I
Understand, entered upon the duties designated
at the time respectively stated in the schedule,
and have labored faithfully therein evei since,
and therefore recommend that they be compen
sated at the same rate as chaplains in the army,
and further suggest that general piovision be
made for chaplains to serve at hospitals as well
as with regiments.
The report of the Secreta-y ol the NavV
piesents in detail the operations of that branch
of the s-rvjee, the activity and energy which
have characterized its administration, and the
resui'3 of measures to increase its efficiency and
power. Such have been the additions, by con
struction and purchase, that it mav almost be
said a navy has been created and brought into
service since our difficulties commenced. Be
sides blockading our extensive cost, squadrons j
larger than ever before assembled under our flag
have been put afloat, and performed deeds
which have increased our r.3val renown.
1 would invite special attention to th<* re
commendation of the Secretary for a more per- j
feet organization of the navy, by introducing!
addi.ional grades in the service. The present j
organization is defective and unsatisfactory, and ,
the suggestions submitted bv the department j
will, it is believed, if adopted, obviate the diffi- ;
cutties alluded to ; promote harmony, and in- !
crease the efficiency of the navy.
There are three vacancies on the bench of
the Supreme Court, two by the decease of Jus !
ncs Daniel and McLean and one by thp resig- !
nation of Justice Campbell. I have so far for
borne making nominations to fill these vacan
cies, for reasons which I will now state. Two I
of the outgoing Judges resided within the States !
now overrun bv revolt, so that if successo-s |
were appointed in the same localities thev could ;
not now serve upon their circuits, and many of j
the most competent men there probably would i
not take the personal hazard of accepting to '
serve even here npon the Supreme Bench. I j
ments Northward, thus disabling myself from j
doing justice to the South on the return of peace, '
although T may remark, that to transfer to the i
North one which has heretofore been in the
South, would not, with reference to territory
and population, be unjust. During the long
: and brilliant judicial career of Judge McL°an, j
Ins circuit grew into an empire, although too
large for any one Judge to give the courts there- j
in more than a nominal attendance, arising in j
population from one million four hundred and I
seventy-five thousand and eighteen in 1830, to 1
; six mil lions one hundred and fifty-one thousand '
four hundred and five in 1860. Besides this
the country generally has outgrown our present 1
judiciary.
-If uniformity was at all intended, the system
requires that all the States shall be accomoda
ted with Circuit Courts, attended bv Supreme
Judges; while, in fact, Wisconsin, Minnesota, I
lowa, Kansas, Florida, Texas, California and j
Oregon have never had any such Courts. Nor !
can this well be remedied without a change of j
the system, because the adding of Judges to the j
Supreme Court, enough for the accommodation j
of ali parts ot the country with Circuit Coots, i
would create a Court altogether too numerous !
for a judicial body of any sort and the evil of i
it is one which will increase as new States come j
into the Union. Circuit Courts, too. are useful j
or they are not useful. If useful, no State j
should he denied them. If not useful, no State j
' should have them. Let them be provided for |
all, or abolished as to all. Three modifications j
occur to me, eith rof which. I think, would be j
an improvement on our present system : Let ;
the Supreme Court be of convenient number in j
every event ; then Ist, let the whole country >
he divided into Circuits of convenient size, the :
Supreme Judges to serve in a number ot them j
corresponding to their own number, and inde- |
pendent Circuit Judges be provided for all the .
rest ; or. secondly, let the Supreme Judges be i
relieved from Circuit duties, and Circuit Judges ,
provided for all the Circuits; or, thirdly dis- j
pens* with Circuit Courts altogether, leaving J
the judicial function wholly fo the District j
Courts and an independent Supreme Court.
I respectfully reccommend to the consid-ra
tion of Congress the. present condition of the
statute laws with the hope that Congress will be
able to find an easy remedy for many nfthe in- i
conveiences and evils which constantly embar- j
rass those engaged in the practical administra- I
lion of tlym. Since the organization of the j
government. Congress has enacted some five |
thousand acts and joint resolutions, which will
fill more than six thousand closely printed pa
ges, and are scattered through rnanv volumes
Many of the acts have been drawn in and with
the sufficient caution, so that their provision
are often obscure in themselves or in conflict
j with each other, or at least so doubtful as to
render it very difficult for even the best
informed person fo ascertain precisely what the
statute law really is. It seems to me very
important that the statute laws should be made
as plain and intelligible as possible, and be re
duced to as small a compass as may consist
with the fullness and precision of the will
of the Legislature, and the perspicuity of its j
language. This, well done, would, I think, j
! greatly facilitate the labors of those whose duty !
| it is to assist in the administration of the laws, j
and would be a lasting benefiit to the people by j
placing before them in a more accessible and j
i intelligible from the laws which so deeply con- j
cern their interest and their duties. Tarn in-
Freedom of Thought and Opinion.
| formed by some whose opinions I*respect that
; ali the Acts ol Congress now in force, and
of & permament and general nature, might be
revised and rewritten so as to be embraced in
one volume or at most two volumes of ordinary
and convenient size, and I respectfully recom
end to Congress to consider the subject, and if
my suggestion be approved, to devise such plan
as to their wisdom shall seem most proper for
tfi attainment of the end proposed. One of
unavoidable consequences of the present insur
rection is the entire suppression in many places
of all ordinary means of administering civil
ju. ;■ * by the officers and rn the forms ot exis*
ti; aw; this is the case in whole or in part in
all ibe insurgent Stairs, and as our armies ad
vance upon and take possession of parts of those
States, the practical evil becomes more apparent.
There are no courts nor officers to whom the cit
izen ol other States may apply for the enforce
ment of their lawful claims against citizens of
the insurgent Slates, and there it a vast amount
of debt constituting such claims, some have es
timated it as fiizh as two hundred million
dollars, due in a large part from insurgents in
open rebellion to loval citizens who are even
now making great sacrifice in the discharge
of their patriotic duly to support the govern
ment. Unr'er Ihese circumstances I have been (
urgently solicited to establish by military pow- !
er courts fo administer summary justice in such
j cas-j. I thus far declined to do it, not because
f bad any doubt that the -nrl proposed, the col
lection of the debts, was just and rignt in itself,
but because I have been unwilling to go beyond
the pressure ol necessity in the unusual exer- j
j else of powers: but the powers of Congress, ij
j suppose, are equal to the anomalous occasion,
; and therefore I the whole matter to Con- |
i grefs, with the hone that a plan mav be devised j
: for 'he administration of justice in ali such parts
of the insurgent states and territories as mav
I under the control of this govpi nment, whether
jby a voluntary return to allegiance and order,
jor by the powet of our arms. This, however,
to b-a temporary substitute, and to cease as soon
!as the ordinary courts can be re-Ps-tablished in
peaee. It is important that some more conve
nient means should be provided, if possible, for
the adjustment of claims against the govern
ment especially in view of the increased num
ber by reason of the war. It is as much the
duty of government to do prompt justice against
itsell in favor of citizens as'it is to administer
the same between private individuals. The
inv itigation and adjudication ot claims in their
tanrvot i v h<?-
gress will be more than*usually engaged for'
some time to come with great National ques- j
tions. It was intended bv the organization of
the Court of Claims mainly to remove this
branch of business from the halls of Congress,
but while the Court ha* proved to he an effec
tive and valuable means of investigation, it in
a great decree fails to effect the object of its
creation, for want of power to make if* judg
ments final. Fully aware of the delicacy, not
to say the danger of the subject I commend to
your careful consideration, whether this power
of making judgments final may not properly
he given to the court, reserving the right of
appeal on questions of iaw to the Supreme
Court, with such provisions as experience may
have shown to be necessary.
I ask attention to the report of the Postmas
ter General, the following being a summary
statement of the condition of the Department,
The revenue from all sources, during the fiscal
vrar ending June 30, 1861, including the annu
al permanent appropriation of seven hundred
thousand dollais for the transportation of free
mail matter, was nine million forty-nine thou
sand two hundred and ninety-six dollars and
forty cents, being about two per cent. less than
the revenue for 1860. In the same time the
expenditures were thirteen million six hundred
and six thousand seven hundred and fifty nine
dollars ar.d eleven cents, showing a decrease of
more than eight per cent, as compared with
those of the previous year and leaving an ex
cess of expenditures over the revenue for the
las! fiscal year ol four million five hundred and
fifty-seven thousand four hundred and sixty-two
dollars and seventy-one cents. The gross
revenue for the year ending June 30th, 1863,
is estimated at an increase of four per cent, on
that of 1861, making six million six hundred
and eighty-lhrep thousand dollars, lo which
should be added the earning of the depart nent in
carrying free matter, viz; seven hundred thou
sand dollars, making nine million three hun
dred and eighty-three thousand dollars. The
total expenditures for 1863 are estimated at
twelve million five hundred and twenty-eight
thousand dollars, leaving an estimated deficien
cy of three million one hundred and forty-five |
thousand dollars, to be supplied from the Treas- j
ury in addition to the permanent appropriation.
The present in*urrection shows, I think, that
the extension of this District across the Poto
mac river at the time of establishing the Capi
tal hpre was eminently wise, an consequently
that the relinquishment of that portion of it
which lies within the State of Virginia was un
wise and dangerom. I submit for your con
sideration the expediency of requiring the
restoration of the original boundaries thereof,
through negotiations with the State of Virgin
ia.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
with the accompanying documents, exhibits
the condition of the several branches of the
public business pertaining to the Department.
The depressing influence of the insurrection
have been especially felt in the operations of
the Patent and General Land Offices. The
cash receipts from the sale of public lands dur
ing the past year have exceeded Ihe expenses
of our land svstem only about two hundred
thousand dollars. The sales have been en
tirely suspended in the Southern States, while
the interruptions to the business of the coun
| try, and the diversion of large numbers of men
from labor to military service have obstructed
settlements in the new States and Territories
of the Northwest.
The receipts of the Patent Office have de
clined ia oine months about one hundred
thousend dollars, rendering a large reduction
'of the force employed necssary to make it
i self sustaining. The demand upon the Pen
! sion Office will be largely increased by the
! insurrection. Numerous applications for pen
i sions, based upon the casualties of the existing
j wir have already been made. There is rea
j soon to believe that many who are now upon
the pension roils and in receipt of the bounty
of the government are in the ranks of the in
surgent army, or giving them aid and comfort.
The Secretary of the Interior has directed a
suspension of the payment of the pendens of
such persons upon proof of their disloyalty. I
recommend that Congress authorize that officer
to cause the names ot such persons to be strick
en from the pension rolls. The relations of the
government with the Indian tribes have been
greatly disturbed by the insurrection, especi
ally in the Southern superinfendency and in
that of New Mexico.*—The Indian country
South of Kansas is in the possession of insur
gents from Texas and Arkansas. Agents of
j the United States, appointed since tne 4-lti of
j March for this superinfendency, have been un
j able to reach their posts, while the most of
those who were in office before that time have
espoused the insurrectionary cstvse and assume
to exercise the powers of agents, by virtue of
commissions from the insurrectionists. It has
been stated in the public press that a portion of
! thes-' Indians have been organized as a milita- ;
!ry fore, and are attached to the army of t/:e ,
j insurgents-. Although the government has no j
j official information upon this subject, letters j
have been written to the commissioner of In- ,
dian Affairs, by several prominent chiefs, giv
ing assurance of their loyalty to the United
States, ami expressing a wish for the presence j
of Federal troops to protect them. It is be
lieved that upon the repossession of the coun- j
try by the Federal forces, the Indians will
j readily cease all hostile demonstrations and re- j
surae their former relations to the government. >
Agriculture, confessedly the largest inter- j
e9t of the nation, has not a depart men; nor a i
bureau, but a clerkship assigned to t in the j
government. While it is fortunate that this
great interest is so dependent in its nature as
to not have demanded and extorted more from j
the govei nraent, I respectfully ask Congress to !
consider whether something more cannot be i
Annua*! reporis exhibiting fiie' condition 0!'
our agriculture, commerce and manufactures j
would pr< sent a fund ol information of great j
practical value to the country. While I make
no suggestion as to details, I venture the opin
ion that an agricultural and statistical bureau ;
might profitably be organized. The execution |
of the laws for '.he suppression oi the African \
slave trade has been confined to tbe Depart- i
mentof the Interior. It is asubj-ct ol gratula
tion that the efforts which have been made for j
the suppression of this inhuman traffic have ,
been recently attended with unusual success, j
Five vessels being fitted out for the slave trade
have been seized and condemned. Two mates
of vessels eugaged in the trade and one person :
in equipping a vessel as a slaver have been
convicted and subjected to the penalty of fine
and imprisonment, and one captain taken with
a cargo of Africans on board his vessel has |
been convicted of the highest grade of offence j
under the laws, the punishment which is death.
The territories of Colorado, Dakotab and Ne
vada, created by the last Congress have been
organized, and civil administration has been
inaugurated therein, under auspices especially
grtifying, when it is considered that the leav- :
en ot treason was lound existing in some of i
these new countries when the Federal officers
arrived there. The abundant natural resour- !
ces of 'bese Territoiies, with the security and ;
protection afforded by organized government, j
will doubtless fnvite to them a large iminigra- i
tion when peace shall restore the business ot i
the country to its accustomed channels.
I submit the resolutions of the Legislature of
Colorado, which evidence the patriotic spirit of
the people of the Territory. So far, the au
thority of the United States has been upheld in
all the Territories, as it is hoped it will be in !
future. 1 commend their interest and defence j
to the enlightened and generous care of Con
gress. I recommend to the favorable consider
ation of Congress the interests ol the District of
Columbia. The insurrection fias been the
cause of much suffering and sacrifice to its in
habitants, and as they have no representation
in Congress, that body should not overlook
their just claim upon the Government. At
your late session a joint resolution was adopted,
authorizing the President to take measures for
facilitating a proper representation of the indus
trial interests of the United States at the exhi
bition ol the industry of all nations, to be hold- j
en at London the year 1862.
I regret to say I havp been unable lo give
personal attention to this subject—a subject rrt
once so interesting in itself and so extensively ,
and intimately connected with the material pros
perity of the world. Through the Secretaries
of Slate and of the Interior a plan or system
has been devised and partly matured, and
which will be laid before >ou. Under and by
virtue of the act of Congress entitled "an act to
confiscate property used for insurrec'ionary
purposes"—approved August sth, 1861, the
legal claims of certain persons to the labor and
service of certain other persons have beeome
forfeited and numbers of the latter, thus libera
ted, are already dependent on the United
States and must be provided for in some way.
Besides this it is not irr.ossible that some of the
States will pass similar enactments for I heir
own benefits respectively, and byojieration of
which persons of the same class will be thrown
upon them for disposal. In such case I recom
mend that Congress provide for accepting such j
persons from such States, according to some t
VI HOLE JVOIBER, 3983.
s made of valuation in lieu pro lanto of direct
j taxes or upon some other plan to be agreed on
. with such states respectively, that such' pel sons,
I on such acceptance by the general Govrrti
i n,pn '> bt> al once declared free, and that in any
event, steps be taken lor colonizing both class
es, or the one first mentioned, if the other shall
. not be brought into existence, at some place or
. places in a climate congenial to them. It
might be well to consider, whether the dree
colored people alieady in the United States
could not, so far as individuals may desire, be
included in such colonization. "To carry
out the plan of colonization may involve the
acquiring of territory, and also the app: ,pria
tion of money beyond that to be expanded iu
the territorial acquisition. Having practiced
the acquisition of territory lor n irly sixty
years, ttie questions ot constitutional power to
do so is no longer an open one. With us the
power was questioned at first by Mr. Jefferson,
who however, in the purchase of Lousiana,
yielded his scruples on the plea of great ex
pediency. If it be siid that the only legiti
mate object of acq firing territory : s to furnish
homes for white men, this measure effects that
abject, for the emigration of colored men
leaves additional room for white men remain
ing or coming here. Mr. Jefferson, however,
placed the importance of procuring Louisiana
more on political and commercial grounds than
procuring room for population.
On the whole proposition, including the ap
propriation ol money, with the acquisition of
territory, does not the expendiency amount to
I absolute necessity that without which the gov-*
I ernment itseli cannot be prepetualed 1
The war continues. In considering the pol
i icy to be adopted for suppressing the insurrec
tion, I have been anxious and careful that the
inevitable conflict for the purpose shall not de
generate into a violent and remorseless revolu
tionary struggle. I have, therelore. in every
case, thought it proper to keep the integrity of
. the union prominent as the primary object of
the contest on our part, leaving all questions
j which are notof vital military importance to
j the more deliberate action of fh? Legislature.
In the exercise of my best discretion, I have
adhered to the blockade of ttie ports held by the
insurgents instead of putting in force by pro
clamation the law of Congres3 enacted at the
late session for closing these ports. So also
obeying the dictates of prudence, as well as the
obligations of laws, instead of tF&nscendng, I'
have adhered to the act of Congress to confis
cate property used for insurrectionary DurDoses.
proposed, its propriety will be duly consider
ed. The Union must be preserved, and hence,
all indispensible means must be employed.
We should not be in haste to determine that
radical and extreme measures, which may
reach the loyal as well as the disloyal, are in
dispensible. The inaugural address at the be
ginning of the administration, and the message
to Congress at the late special session, were
both mainly devoted to the domestic controver
sy out of which the insurrection and conse
quent war have sprung. Nothing now occurs
to add or substracl to or from the principles or
general purposes stated and expressed in thoi
documents. The last ray of hope for preser
ving the Union peaceably expired with the as
sault upon Fort Sumter, and a general review
ol what has occurred since may not be unprof
itable. What wa9 painfully uncertain then ia
much better defined and more distinct, and the
progress of events is plainly in the right di
rection. The insurgents claimed a strong sup
port from north of Mason and Hue, and.
the friend of the Union were not free from ap
prehension on that point. This however was
soon settled definitely and on the r:ght side,.
South of the line, noble little Delaware led off
right from the first, Maryland was made to
seem against the Union, and our soldiers were
assailed, bridges were burned and railroads
were torn up within her limits, and we were
many days at one time without the ability to
; bring a single regiment over her soiliotne
1 capitol. Now her bridges a.id railroads ar9
repaired and open to the government. She
already gives seven regiments to the cause of
the Union, and none to the enemy, and her
people, at a regular election, have so iained
the cause ofthe Union by a larger majority
and a larger vote than thev ever be
tore gave to any candidate on any question.
Kentucky, too, for some time in doubt, is now
decidedly, and, I think, unchangeably ranged
on the side of the Union. Missouri is compar
atively quiet, and, I believe, cannot again be
overrun by the insurrectionists. These three
States, ol Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri,
neither of which would promise a single sol
dier at fiist, have now an aggregate of not less
thalt foity thousand in the field for the Union,
while of their citizens certainly not more thin
a third of that number, and they of doubllul
whereabouts and doubtful existence, are in
arms against it. After a somewhat bloody
struggle of months, Winter closes on the Un
ion people of Western Virginia leaving them
masters of their own country. An insurgent
t force of about 1,500 for months dominating,
the narrow peninsular region constituting the
counties ot Accomac and Noithampton, and
known as the eastern shore of Virginia, togeth
er with some contiguous parts of Maryland,
have laid down their arras, and the people
there have renewed their allegiance and ac
cepted the pro'ection of our old flag. This
leaves no armed insurrectionists north of the
Potomac, ror east of the Chesepeake. Also we
have obtained a footing at each of the isola
ted pmnts on the southern coast of Halteras,
Port Royal, Tvbee Island, near Savannah, and
Ship Island, and we likewise have some gen
eral accounts of popular movements in be
half of the Union in North Caiolina and Ten
nessee. These ihings demonstrate that l|fr*
cause of the Union is advancing steadily south
ward.
I Since vour last adjournment Gen. Scott
1 has retired iron, the head ot the army. Du-
VOL. 5. NG. 19.