TEP3 BEDFORD GAZETTE
l PUBLISHED EVERT FRIDAY MORMWG
111 D. F. MEYERS,
At the following terms, to wits
$2 00 per cnnum, if paid strictly in advance.
$2.50 if paid within 6 months; $3.00 it not paid
within 6 months.
CT-No subscription taken to r less than six months
paper discontinued until all arrearages are
paid, unless at the option of the publisher, it has
been decided by the United States Courts that the
stoppage of a newspaper without the payment of
arrearages, is prima facie evidence of fraud and is
a criminal oflence.
courts have derided that persons are ac
countable for the subscription price of newspapers,
if they take them from the post office, whether they
subscribe for them, or not-
The i'misbiifs jH-essiige,
mow Citizens of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives :
Again the blessings of health and abundant
harvests claim our profouudest gratitude to Al
mighty God.
The condition of our foreign affairs is reason
ably satisfactory. Mexico continues to be a
theatre of civil war; while our political rela
tions with that country have undergone no
change, wo have at the same time strictly main
tained neutrality between the belligerents.
At the request of the States of Costa Rica
a id Nicaragua, a competent engineer has been
authorized to make a survey of the river San
Juan and the port of San Juan.
It is a source of much satisfaction that (he
difficult'- s which at one moment excited politi
cal apprehensions and caused a closing of the
inter-oceamc transit route, have been amicably
adjusted, and that there is a good prospect that
the route will soon be re-opened with an in
crease of capacity and adaptation. We could
not exaggerate either the commercial or politi
cal importance of that great improvement.
The new liberal Constitution of Venezuela
having gone into effect with the universal ac
quiescence of the people, the government under
it has been recognized and diplomatic inter
course with it has opened in a cordial and friend
ly spirit. The long deferred AIIX Island claim
has been satisfactorily paid and discharged.—
Mutual payments have been made of the claims
awarded by the late joint committee for the set
tlement of claims between tho United States
and Peru.
An earnest and cordial friendship continues
to exist between the two countries, and such
effort as were in ray power have been used to
remove an j avei q a threaten
ed war between and Spain.
Our relations are of *.' l ° most friendly nature
with Chili, tho Argentine Republic, Bolivia,
Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salvador Hayti.
During the past year ro differences of any L\ Q d
have arisen with any of those Republics, and
on the other .hand, their sympathies vv.th the
United States are constantly exp-essed with
cordiality and earnestness.
It would be doing injustice to an important
•South American btate not to acknowledge the
directness, frankness and cordiality with which
the United States of Colombia have entered in
fo intimate relations with this Government. A
claims convention has been constituted to com
plete. the unfinished work of ihe one which
■closed its session in 1861.
'The claim arising from the seizure of the
;argo of the brig Maeaoman, in 1821, has been
paid in full by the government of Chili.
Civil war continues in the Spanish part of
San Domingo, apparently without prospect of
an early close. Official correspondence has been
freely opened with Liberia, and it gives us a
piea-ing view of social and political progress in
that Republic. It may be expected to derive
new vigor from American influence, improved
by the rapid disappearance of slavery in the
United States.
I solicit your authority to furnish to the re
public a gunboat at moderate cost, to be reim
bursed to the United States by instalments.
Such a vessel is needed for the safety of that
State against the native African races, and in
Liberian hands it would be more effective in ar
resting the African slave trade than a squadron
in our hands. The possession of the least or
ganized naval force would stimulate a generous
ambition in the republic, and the confidence
which we should manifest by furnishing it would
win forbearance and favor towards the colony
from all civilized nations.
The proposed overland telegraph between A
meriea and Europe, by the way of Bcliring's
Straits and Asiatic Russia, which was sanction
ed by Congress at the last session, has been un
dertaken under very favorable circumstances by
an association of American citizens, with the
cordial good will and support as well of the
Government as of those of Great Britain and
Russia.
Assurance lias bean received from most of the
South American States of their appreciation of
the enterprise, and their readiness to co-operate
in constructing lines tributary to that world en
circling communication. I learn with much
satisfaction that the noble design of a telegraph
ic communication between the eastern of
America and Great Britain has been renewed,
.with full expectation of its early accomplish
ment. Thus it is hoped that with the return
of domestic peace, the country will be able to
resume with energy and advantage its former
high career of commerce and civilization""
Our very popular and estimable J live
in Egypt died in ApriUhwtr- "An U)Vg„.'.Sant al
tercation which arose between the ' porary in
cumbent of the office and the Government of the
Pacha resulted in a suspension of intercourse.
The evil was promptly corrected on the arrival
of the successor in the consulate, and o%r rela
tions with Egypt, as well as our with
the Barbary powers, are entirely satisfactory.
The rebellion which has so long been flagrant in
China has at last been suppressed under the do
operating good olfices of this Government anS
of the other Western commercial States.
The Judicial Consular establishment has be
come very difficult and onerous, and it will need
legislative revision to adapt it to the extension
of our commerce, and to the more intimate in
tercourse which luis been instituted with Gov
ernment and people of that vast empire. Chi
na seems to be accepting with hearty good will
the conventional laws which regulate commer
cial and social intercourse among the western
nations.
Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan, and
the anomalous form of its government, the ac
tion of that empire in performing treaty stipu
lations is inconstant and capricious. Neverthe
less good progress has been effected by the VV est
crn powers moving with enlightened concert.
Our own pecuniary claims have been allowed
VOLUME CO
NEW SERIES.
ami put in course of settlement, and the inland j
sea lias been re-opened to commerce. There is
reason also to believe that these proceedings
have increased rather than diminished the friend
ship of Japan towards the United States.
ihe ports of Norfolk, Fernandina and I'en
sacola have been opened by procla.nation. It i
is hoped that foreign merchants will uow con- :
sidcr whether it is not safer and more profitable
to themselves, as well as just to the U. States, |
to resort to these and other open ports than it
is to pursue, through many hazards, and at vast'
cost, a contraband trade with other ports which
are closed, if not by actual military occupation, 1
at least by a lawful and effective blockade.
I'or myself, I have no doubt cf the power
and duty of the Kxecutive, under the law of
nations, to exclude enemies of the human race
from an asylum in the United States. If Con- j
gross shall think that proceedings in such cases
lack the authority of law, or ought fo be fur
ther regulated by it, I recommend that provi
sions be made for effectually preventing foreign
slave traders from acquiring domicil and faciii
ties for their criminal occupation in our country.
It is possible that if it were a new and open
question, the maritime powers, with the rights
they now enjoy, would not concede the privile
ges of a naval belligerent to the insurgents of
the United States, dc.-titute as they are, and al- j
ways have been, equally of ships of war and i
of ports and harbor. j j
Disloyal emissaries have been neither less as
siduous nor more successful during the last year |
than they were before that time in their efforts
under favor of that privilege to embroil our;
country in foreign wars. The desire and deter- I :
ruination of the Governments of the Maritime
States to defeat that design arc believed to be i
as sincere as, and cannot be more earnest than | 1
our own. Nevertheless unforeseen political j <
difficulties have arisen, especially in Brazilian
and British ports, and on the northern bound- i
ary of the United States, which hare required t
and are likely to continue to require, the prac- I
tice ct constant vigilance and a just and corieil- ;
iatory spirit or. the part of the Urited States! :
:;a - v>'oi as of the nations concerned and their j i
Urovernrcents.
Commissioners have bee;, appoinfed under
the treaty of Great Britain on the adjustment
of the claims of li,? Hudson Bay and Pugitt
Sound Agricultural companies iu Or?£on, and
now .proceeding to the trust assigned to litem,
in view of the insecurity of life and property
in the region adjacent to the Canadian border
by reason of recent assaults and depredations
*>■ i4l tj> t i.O*I 1-j miiiiieal uu<!
who are harbored there, it has been thought
proper to give notice that after the expiration
of six months, the period conditionally stipula
ted under the existing arrangement with Great
Britain, the United States must hold themselves
at liberty to increase their naval armament up
on the Lakes if they shall find that proceeding
necessary. The condition of the border will
necessarily come into consideration in connec
tion with the question of limiting or modifying
the rights of transit from Canada through the
United States, as well as the regulation of im
posts, which were temporarily established by
the reciprocity treaty of oth of June, 1864. 1
desire, however, to be understood, while mak
ing this statement, that the Colonial authorities
ot Canada are not deemed to bo intentionally
unjust or unfriendly towards the United States ;
but, OB the contrary, there is every reason to
expect that, with the approval of Her Majes
ty's Government, they will take the necessary
measures to prevent new incursions to cross
the borders.
The act passed at the last session for the en
couragement of emigration has, so far as was
possible, been put into operation.
It seems to need amendment, which will en
able the officers of the Government to prevent
the practice of frauds against the emigrants on
their way ami on their arrival in the port?, so
as to secure them here, a free choice of avoca
tions and places of settlement. A liberal dis
position towards this great national policy is
manifes'ed by most of the European States, and
ought to be, especially on our part, of giving
the emigrants effective national protection. 1
regard our emigrants as one of the principal re
plenishing streams which arc appointed by Prov
idence to repair the ravages of internal war,
and its wastes of national strength and health.
All that is necessary to secure the flow of that
stream in its present fulness and to that end the
Government must everywhere make it manifest,
that it neither needs nor designs to impose in
voluntary military service upon those who come
from other lands to cast their lot in our country.
The financial affairs of the Government have
been successfully administered. During the last
year the legislation of the last session of Con
gress has beneficially effected the revenue, al
though sufficient time Las not yet elapsed to ex
perience the full effect of several of the provi
sions of the Acts of Congress imposing increas
ed taxation.
The receipts during the year from all sources
upon the basis of warrants signed by the Sec- ■
retary of the Treasury, including loans, and the
balance in the Treasury on the first day of July
1803, were $1,894,796,007 02, and the aggre
gate disbursements upon the same basis were
$1,298,056,101 89, leaving a balance in the
Treasury, as shown by warrants, of $96,734,-
905 78. Deduct from these amounts the a
nounts of the principal of the public debt re
deemed and the amount of issues in substitution
therefor, and the actual cash operations of the
Treasury were:
lleeeipts, $884,076,646 57. Disbursements,
$865,234,087 86; which leaves as the cash
balance in the Treasury, $18,842,558 71. Of
the receipts, there were derived from customs,
$102,316,152 09: from lands, $588,332 29;
from direct taxes, $475,648 96; from internal
revenue, $109,741,131 10: from miscellaneous
sources, $17,511,448 10, and from loans, ap
;iied to actual expenditures, including former
balances, $623,443,929 13. There wore dis
bursed for the civil sen ice, $275,055,994 40;
Freedom of Thonget and Opinion.
BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 18, 1864.
| for pensions and Indians, $7,517,030.87; for
the War Department, $690,791,812 97; for
the navy department, $75,833,291 77; for in
terest on the public debt, $53,685,421 68,
making an aggregate of $855,23-1,087 Sfi, and
leaving a balance in the Treasury of $10,482,-
j 558 71, as before stated.
For the actual receipts and disbursements
from the first quarter, and the estimated receipts
and disbursements for the three remaining quar
ters of the current fiscal year, and the general
operations of the Treasury in detail, I refer
you to the report oi the Secretary of the Treas
ury. I concur with him in the opinion that
the proportion of moneys required to meet the
expenses consequent upon the war, derived
from taxation, should be still further increased,\
and I earnestly invite your attention to this
subject to the end that there may be such ad
dition:,! legislation as shall be required to meet
(he just expectations of the Secretary.
The public debt on the first day of July last,
as appears by the books of the Secretary of
the Treasury, amounted to one billion seven
hundred and forty thousand millions, six hun
dred and ninety thousand four hundred and
eighty-nine dollars and forty-nine cents. Prob
ably, should the war continue for another year,
that amount may oe increased by not far trom
five hundred millions. Held as it is for the
most part by our own people, it has become a
substantial branch of national though private
property, I<or obvious reasons, (he mora near
ly this property can be distributed among ail
the people the better.
lo favor such a general distribution greater
inducements to become owners might perhaps,
with good effect, and without injury, be presen
ted to persons of limited means. With this ;
view, 1 suggest whether it might not be both
competent and expedient for Congress to pro
vide that a limited amount of sonic future is
sue of public securities might he held bv any j
bona fide purchaser exempt from taxation and j
from seizure for debt, under such restrictions
and limitations as might lie necessary to guard I
against abuse of so important a privilege. This i
would enable every prudent person to set aside
a small annuity against a possible day of want.
IVivihgi s like these would render the posses-.
.-ion of such securities, to the amount limited,
roost desirable to eve:y person of small means
who might be able to have enough for the pur-
The Secretary reiterntes Lis rccommcnda
tiuas, and to them the intention of Congress is
inviteJ.
Tin srvrt-irti \yj\ -
paying pensions to invalid soldiers and *at'o"3 ;
of the Republic, and to the widows, orphans (
and dependent mothers of those who Lave fai-;
leu in battle or died of disease, contracted, or
wounds received in the service of the country, ;
have been diligently administered.
The great advantage of citizens being credi- \
tors as well as debtors with relation to the pub- j
lie debt is obvious. Men readily perceive that
they cannot be much oppressed by a debt which j
they owe ;o themselves.
The public debt on the first day of July last
although somewhat exceeding the estimate of
the Secretary of the Treasury made to Congress '
at the commencement of the last session, falls 1
short of the estimate of that officer made in
the preceding December, as to it 3 proCablc a- )
mount at the beginning of this year by a sum ■
of $3,795,097 Hi, This fact exhibits a satis- j
factory condition and conduct of the operations
of the Treasury.
The National banking system is proving to
fie acceptable to capitalists and to the people. '
On the 25th day of November 574 National
Banks had been organized, a considerable nuin- !
her of which were conversions from State banks. !
Changes from State systems to the National sys
tem are rapidly tukiftg place, and it is hoped I
that very soon there will be in the United I
| States no banks of issue not authorized by Con- j
! gress, and no note circulation not seemed by I
I the Government. That the Government and !
| the people will derive great benefit from this'
| change in the banking system of the country I
. can hardly be questioned. The National sys- j
tern will create a permanent and reliable in
licence in support of the National credit, and
protect the people against losses in the use of j
paper money.
Whether or not an}' further legislation is ad
; visable for the suppression of State bank issues,
l it will be for Congress to determine. It seems !
to be quite clear that the Treasury cannot be
satisfactorily conducted unless the Government
' can exercise a restraining power over the bank
I circulation of the country.
The report of the Secretary of War and the '
j accompanying documents, will detail the cam- I
; paign of the armies in the field since the date
| of the. last annual message, and also the oper
ations of the several administrative bureaus of
the War Department durißg the last year. It
j will also specify the measures deemed necessary
j for the national defence, and to keep up and
: supply ihe requisite military force.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy pre
j sents a comprehensive and satisfactory exhibit
of the officers of that Department and of the
j naval service.
It is a subject of congratulation and lauda
ble pride to our countrymen that a navy of such
j vast proportions has been organized in so brief
■ a period, and conducted with so much efScien
|cy and success. The general exhibit of the
navy, including vessels under contract on - the
Ist of December, 1864, shows a total exhibit
of six hundred and seventy-one vessels, carry
ing four thousand six hundred and ten guns,
and of 510,390 tons being an actual increase
during the year over and abo r e all losses by
shipment or in battle of 83 vessels, 167 guns
and 4,247 tons.
The total number of men at this time in the
naval service, iucluding officers, is about fifty
one thousand. There have been captured by
the navy during the year, three hundred and
twenty-four vessels, and the whole number of
' naval captures since hostilities commenced, is
r j thirteen hundred and seventy-nine, of which
r two hundred and sixty-seven are steamers.—
• | The gross proceeds arising from the sale of con
, denined prize property, thus far reported, amount
i' to $14,396,250,51. A large amount of such
. i proceeds is still under adjudication and yet to
Ibe reported. The total expenditure of the Na
! val Department of every description, including
the cost of the immense squadrons that have
been called into existence since the 4th day of
March 1860 to the first of November 1864, are
§238,617,262 35.
lour favorable consideration is invited to
t j the various recommendations of the Secretary
ij of the Navy, especially in regard to a navy
yard and suitable establishment for the con
struction and repair of iron vessels, and the
. machinery and armature for our ships to which
reference is made in mv last annual message.
, y t o
lour attention.is also invited to the views ex
pressed in the renort in relation to the legisla
tion of Congress at its last session :n respect to
prizes m inland waters. 1 cordially concur in
the recommendation of the Secretary as to the
! propriety of erecting the new rank of Vice Ad
miral in our naval service.
1 our attention is invited to the report of the
Postmaster General tor a detailed account of
the operation and financial condition of the
| Tost Oliice Department. The postal resources j
for the j r car ending Juue 30, 1864, amounts to
$12,438,253 78, and the expenditures to $12.-
641,786 20. The excess of expenditures over
j receipts being §20,665,242.
1 he views presented by the Postmaster Gen
eral on the subject of special grants bytheGov
| ernment iri aid of the establishment of now lines
ot ocean mail steamships, and the policy he
recommends for the development of increased
commercial intercourse with adjacent an 1 neigh
boring countries, should receive the careful con"
i sideration of Congress. Jt is of noteworthy
interest that the steady expansion of popula
tion, improvement and governmental institu
tions over the new and unoccupied portion of
i our country have scarcely been checked, much
less impeded or destroyed by our great civil
war, which, at first glance, would seeme to
have absorbed almost the entire energies of the
. nation. I'he organization and admission of the
State of Nevada has been completed in con
formity with law, nnd thus our excellent sys
tem is lirmly established iu the mountains which
were ouce deemed a barren and uninhabitable
waste between the Atlantic States and those
which have grown up on the coast of the Pa
cific ocean. The territories of the Union are
id growth. Idaho and Montana, by reason
of their great lb-dunce and the interruption of
with them by Indian hostilities,
have been only partially organized. But it ;s
understood these difficulties are about to disap
pear, which will permit their governments, like
those of the others, to go into speedy and full
operation, as intimate and connected with and
pr lrno' ive of this material growth of the nation.
I ask the attention of Congress to the valua
ble information and important recommendations
relative to (he public lands, Indian affairs, the
Ihieitic railroad, and mineral discoveries, con-1
tained in the report of the Secretary of the
Interior, which is bore with transmitted, and
which report also embraces the subjects of pat
ents, pensions and other topics of public inter
est pertaining to his Department. The quan
tity of public land disposed of during the five
quarters ending 30th December last, was 4,-
221,342 acres, of which 1,538,614 acres were
entered under the Homestead law. The re
mainder was located with military land war
rants, agricultural scrip, certified to States for
railroads and sold for cash. The cash received
from sales an 1 location fees, was $1,016,466,
and the income from sales during the fis
cal year ending June 30th, 1864, $678,007 21,
against $ I 30, 077 95 received during the pre
ceding year.
The aggregate number of acres surveyed dur
ing the year, has Lean equal to the quantity
disposed of, and there is open to settlement a
bout 138,009,000 acres of surveyed land.—
The great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic
with the Pacific States by railways and tele
graph lines, has been entered upon with a vigor
which gives assurance of success. Notwith
standing the embarrassment arising from the
prevailing high prices of materials and labor,
the route of the main line of the road has been
definitely located for one hundred miles west
ward from the initial point at Omaha city, Ne
braska, and a preliminary location of the Pa
cific railroad of California has been made from
Sacramento to the great bend of the Trace ri
ver, in Nevada.
Numerous discoveries of gold and silver, and
similar mines, have been added to the many al
ready known, and the country occupied by the
Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, and the
suburban ranges, now teein with enterprising la
bor, which is richly remunerative. It is be
lieved that the product of tiie mines of precious
minerals in that region lias already reached, if
uot exceeded one hundred millions in value.
It was recommended in my last annual mes
sage that our Indian system be remodelled. —
Congress, at its last session, acting upon the
recommendation, did provide for a reorganiza
tion of the system in California, and it is believ
ed that under the present organization the man
agement of the Indians there will be attended
with considerable success. Much romaius to
be done to provide for the proper management
of the Indians in other parts of the country to
render it secure for the advancing settler, and
to provide for the welfare of the Indians.
There has been added to the pension rolls
during the year ending the 30th day of June
last, the names of 16,770 invalid soldiers, and
271 disabled seamen, making the present num
ber of army invalid pensioners, 22,767, and of
navy invalid pensioners, 7,121. Of widows,
orphans, and mothers, 22,198 have been placed
on the army pension rolls, and 248 on the na
vy rolls. The present number of army pen
sioners of this class is 25,433, and of navy
WHOLE NUMBER, 3088
pensioners, 793. At the beginning of the year,
the number of revolutionary pensioners was 1,-
430. Only twelve of them were soldiers, of
whom seven have since died. The remainder
are those who, under the laws, receive pensions
because of relationship to revolutionary sol
diers. During the year ending the 30th ot June,
1864-, £4,004,61t> 92 have beeu paid to pen
sioner of all classes.
I cheerfully commend to your continued pat
ronage the !>cnevolent institutions of the Dis
trict of Columbia, which have hitherto been
fostered by Congress, and respectfully refer for
information concerning them, and in relation
to the Washington Aqueduct, the Capitol and
other matters of local interest, to the report of
the Secretary of the Interior.
The Agricultural Department, under the su
pervision of its present energetic and faithful
head, is rapidly commending itself to the great
and vital interest it was created to advance.
It is particularly the department in which the
people feel more directly concerned than in any
other. I commend it to the continued atten
tion and fostering care of Congress.
| The war continues. Since the last annual
| message all the important lir.es and positions
\ then occupied by our forces, have been main
tained,and our armies have steadily advanced,
thus liberating the region left in /he rear, so
that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and parts
of other States have again produced reasona
bly fair crops.
The most remarkable feature in the military
operations of the year is <5; ueral Sherman's at
tempted march of three hundred utiles directly
through tile insurgent region. It tends to show
a great increase of our relative strength that
our General-in-Chief should fee! able to con
front and hold :n check every active force of
the enemy, and yet to detail a well appointed
large army to move on such an expedition
The result not yet being known, conjecture in
regard to it is not here indulged.
Independent movements have also occurred
during the year to the effect of modelling soci
ety for durability in the Union.
Although it is much in the right direction
that* twelve thousand citizens in each of the
.States of Arkansas and Louisiana have organ
ized loyal State Governments with Free Con
stitutions, aud are earnestly struggling to main
tain and administer them, the movements in
the same directions, more extensive though less
definite, in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee
should not be overlooked.
. Bu' Maryland presents the ex impleof complete
the Union for all the future. The genius of
rebellion will no more claim Maryland. Like
another foul spirit, being, driven out, it may
sock t' tear her, but it will woo her no more-
At the last session of Congress a proposed
amendment to the Constitution, abolishing sla
very throughout the United States, passed the
Senate, but failed for lack of the requisite two
thirds vote in the House of Representatives.
Although the present is the same Congress and
nearly the same members, and without ques
tioning the wisdom or patriotism of those who
stood in opposition, I venture to recommend
the reconsideration and passage of the measure
at the present session.
Of course the abstract question is not chang
ed, but an intervening election shows almost
certainly that the next Congress will pass the
measure, if this one does not; henoe it is only
a question of time when the proposed amend
ment vviil go to the States for their action, '
as it is to go at all events, may we not a *
the sooner the better? It is not claimed t
the election has imposed a duty on members
change thtir views or their votes, any furt
than as an additional element to be consideN U
how far their judgment may be effected bj
It is Ibc voice of the people for the first t
heard upon the question.
In a great national crisis like ours, nnan
ity of action among those seeking a conn
end is very desirable, almost indispensable,
vet no approach to such unanimity is attai
ble unless some deference shall be paid to
will of the majority, simply because it is the
will of the majority. In thiscase the common
end of the maintenance of the Union, and a
mong the means to secure that end such will,
through the election, is most clearly declared in
favor of such constitutional amendment. The
most reliable indication of public purpose in
this conntry is derived.
Through i>ur popular elections, judging by
the recent canvass and its results, the purpose
of the people within the loyal States to main
tain the integrity of the Union was never more
firm, nor more nearly unanimously than now.
The extraordinary calmness and good order
with which the millions of voters met and
mingled at the polls, give strong assurance of
this. Not only all those who supported the
Union ticket, so called, but a great majority of
the opposing party also, may be fairly claimed
to entertain and tn be actuated by the same
purpose. It is an unanswerable argument to
this effect, that no candidate for any office
whatever, high or low, has ventured to seek
votes on the avowal that Le was for giving up
the Union. There has been much impugning
of motives, and much heated controversy as to
the proper means and best mode of advancing
the Union cause, but on tho distinct issue of
Union or no Unton, the politicians have shown
their instinctive knowledge that there is no di
versity among the people.
In affording the people the fair opportunity
of showing one to another and to the world
I tho fairness and unanimity of purposes, the e
i lection lias been of vast importance to the na-
I tional cause.
The election lias exhibited another fact not
less valuable to be known. The fact that we
do not approach exhaustion in the most im
portant branch of our national resources—that
of having men! —while it is melancholy to re
flect that the war has filled so many graves,
and carried mourning to so many hearts, it is
some telief to know that, compared with tlw
surviving, the fallen b&ve been so few.
When corps and divisions and brigades and
regiments have formed and fought, and dwin
dled and gone out of existence, a great major
ity the men who composed them are stiil
living. The same is true of the naval service.
The election returns prove this. So many vo
ters could not be found. The States regular
ly holding elections, both now and four years
ago, to wit: California, Connecticut, Delaware,
Illinois, Indiana. lowa, Kentucky, Maine, Ma
ryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey. New
York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Is
land, Vermont, West Virginia nnd Wisconsin,
cast 3,982,011 votes now, against 8,870,222
cast then, showing an aggregate now of 3,982-
011.
VOL. 8, NO. 20
To this is to be added 33,702. cast now in
the new States of Kansas and Nevada, which
States did not vote in 1800, thus swelling the
aggregate to 4,015,773, and the nett increase
during the three years and a half of war to
145.551. A table is appended showing par
ticulars. To this again should be added tho
number of all soldiers in the field from Massa
chusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware,
Indiana, Illinois and California, who, by the
laws of those States, could not vote away from
their homes, and which number cannot be less
than 90,000. Nor yet is this all; tho num
ber in organized territories is triple now what it
; was four years ago, while thousands, white and
I black, join os as the National arms presfi back
the insurgent lines. So much is shown affirma
tively and negatively of the election-
It is not material to inquire how the increase
has been produced, or to show that it would
have been greater but for the war, which is
probably true. The important fact remains
demonstrated, we have more men now than wc
had when we began; we are not exhausted rtor
in process of exhaustion but we are gaining
strength, and may, if need be, maintain the
contest indefinitely, and that as to men, our
material resources are now more complete and
abundant tbren ever.
The Natioaal resources, then, are unexhaust
ed, and, as we believe, inexhaustible - The
public purpose to re-establish and maintain the
National authorities is unchanged, and we be
lieve, unchangeable. The manner of continu
ing the effort remains to choice. Oa careful
consideration of all the evidence accessible, it
seems to me that no amicable negotiation with
the insurgent leader would result in any good.
Ha would accept nothing short of a severance
of the Union, precisely what we can not an 1
will not give.
His declarations to this effect are explicit and
often repeated, fie does not attempt to deceive
us; he affords no excuse to deceive ourselves,
lie caunot voluntarily re-accept the Union, we
cannot voluntarily yield it. Between him and
us the issue is distinct, simple, and inflexible. It
is an issue which can only be tried by war, and
decided by victory.
If we yield we are beaten If the South
ern people fail him he is beaten. Either way,
it would be the victory and defeat following
war. What is true, however, of him who
heads the insurgent cause, is not necessarily
true of those who follow.
Although he cannot re-accept the Union,
they can. Some of them, wa know, alreadv
desire peace and Union. The number of such
ua , Ci( f .
by laying down their arms and s! jfc'm\tiß
the National authority under the Constitution
After so much the Government C.JUIJ not, if it
would, maintain war against them.
Loyal people would not sustain or allow it
If questions should remain, we would adjust
theni by the peaceful means of legislation, con
ference, courts and votes, operating only in
constitutional and lawful channels. Some cer
tain and other possible questions are and would
l>e beyond the Executive power to adjust; as,
for instance, the admission of members into
Congress, and whatever might require the ap
propriation of money. The Executive power
itself would be greatly diminished by the ces
sation of actual war. Pardons and remis
sions of forfeitures, however, would still be
within the Executive control. In what spirit
and temper this control would be exercised,
can be faitly judged by the past.
: i t/wm rrx.x.j-:KS, ar al pardon and amnesty,
J CIDER MILLS,
CLOVER HULLERS,
GRAIN DRILLS,
MOWING t* REAPING MACHINES,
which I will sell during the winter at much Isu
than they will be sold for next season.
SAUSAGE MEAT CUTTERS,
Alius prai-i.ioai. J
year open to all except such as were not in con
dition to make free choice—that is, such as
were in custody or under restraint. It i 3 so
still open to all. But the time may come, prob
ably will come, when public doty shall demand
that it be closed, and that in lieu more vigor
ous measures than heretofore shall be adopted
Iu presenting the abandonment of armed re
sistance to the national authority on the part
of the insurgents as the only indispensable con
dition to the ending the war on the part of the
Government, I retract nothing heretofore said
as to slavery. I repeat the declaration made a
year ago, that while I remain in mv present po
sition, I shall not attempt to retract or modify
the emancipation proclamation ; nor shall I re
turn to slavery any person who is free by the
terms of that proclamation, or by any act of
Congress.
If the people should, by whatever inodo or
means, make it an Executive duty to re-enslavn
such persons, another and not I must be then
instrument to perform it.
In stating a single condition of peace, i mean
simply to say thai the war wiii cease on the part
of the Government whenever it shall have coas
ed on the part of those who began it.
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Washington, Dec. G, 18G4.
cy.Tohn Leech, the artist of the London
Punch, ia dead. His loss is greatly mourned
by the English litterateur*.
fcyWisconsin shows a large Democratic gain
over last year. Lincoln's majority will be
auiall.
An exchange, whose editor has not the
fear of Abraham before his eyes, thus defines :
"Treason—digging your way to Richmond
Strategy—sitting down l efore Petersburg Vic
tory—overaweing New Ifork"