. .ii Zltc _ff;ttitietungtr. B. W. JONES. 1_ Editors. lis. S. JENNINGS,i "One Country, One Constitution, One Destiny." VAMMOVASS, It X? WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14, 1864. ! MONEY ! ! The vulva expenses of a newspaper olgoe in these war times are enormous, Wilful only be met by prompt pay minter on the part of patrons. We are itqw..nruig over THREE TIMES as much Ilisiver as we did three years ago, and orteisponding advances have been made hake price of other printing materials. .;I!..#sThk#lll to all this, the wages of labor lllMealighar than ever before since the ent of the paper, while the .! • aMomallotieo of life command equally ea t rates. Under these circum- eigieees 4 we must insist on our subscri- *el Pliviembering ns in a substantial wy ,by making prompt payments. VW every patron who knows himself arrears on our books immedi lay all and settle his account ! It Slam us from embarrassment and _4OVe Ili some heart for our work, whiet boa pays but a trifle and nothin 1111114 t well as any other business pur Vas Ifirlsinds, lose no time in SETTLING VP. The Message. if Uwe who voted for the re -e lection of fineekhost Lincoln did so for the purpose of gi~tiog the war indefinitely, they will yhogelets by his message that he proposes to eiew *at their views. He does not seem biiiilberpret the public sentiment, as de ed et the late electio-, in any other *Vital as manifesting a fixed purpose on alirto reject all other means than weed for the settlement of the quarrel the restoration of the Union. He as ps ~ po AA the South would accept of gisiking ahlwt of a severance of the Uniar! ; bear it idle to attempt the ascertain eitha efaheir views upon this important fries. After mogul consideration of all the esesnce, he thinks that no attempt at ne iyothtion with the insurgent leaders could !eget in any good. Why not try it? Why not ascertain, formally and positively, wheth er the Southern people would not come in to-the Union under the Constitution as it is? linty dose the door upon this grave quo time by the assumption that "it is not worth etihits." The President himself concedes lila some of the Southern people already & +e peace and re-union, and adds that "the number of such may' increase." Why hit take a step that would most lopurodly woos the number, perhaps to inch an es heie as to compel the authorities of the graisikeniq 4. listen to the "desire for peace and re-onion which Mr. Lincoln mys •igmegrow" to be entertained by at least some of thopreseut followers of these au -1111111difits? Briefly, the message means war, esetinned war—war, without a passe in its emery march, for thought, for de:iberation, he discussion, for negotiation, or for giving Beet to any "desire for peace and re-union" which the President "knows" to exist among the masses of the people in the South, "the fdlowers"—(as Mr Lincoln terms them, and as they really are and must continue to be while the pressureof active war is upon Mess)—of the "insurgent leader." Would Illsy centime to be "followers," if permitted lIIIIIIiew that they could return to the Union eileihiheir constitutional rights unimpaired? Iliseill they "follow," if it were made mani- Sistte them that the "insurgent leader" pre- TOO the consummation. of their "desire for *tee sad re-anion ?" These are interesting qneationsl but Mr. Limit thinks It could not result in any We to present an opportunity for their suites. So we mast' plod wearily on 'in Ike pm& we have trodden for more- than Ares yiterti•-•-the dreary monotony -of Our toy espy broken as some "prosperous" con bittar,,, Ma that sort of gratitude which hi beert.defiried as a "lively sense of favors IMOrine" shouts "God bless Abraham Lin offia.o.....Phika. Age. -.4lllllentalibre Tilton, editor of the Now" latispentient, and a friend of Mr. Lim*, ;poke night helloes last at Oeacere 14 **city. Iliad& "by a judicious tilieellaSioa of about 76, . 000 votes moons the General MeOlellaa "add have illikellieetity of the Eleatoral College." 'lwirs6l a guard" Is talker a largo at- Mc gear dt—Aga. THIRTY-MTH COMBS! Message of the President re the Swats and Hosts of Reprasentaiirts Again the blessinga t of health and abundant harvests claim our profoundest gratitudato Almighty God. The condi tion of our foreign affairs is reasonably satisfactory. Mexico contlinuen to be the theatre of civil war. While our cal relations with that country have un dergone no change, we have at the tame time strictly maintained neutrality be tween the belligerents. At the request of the States of Costa,Ries and Nicargutr a competent engineer has been authorized to make a survey of the river San Juan, and the port of San Jean. It is asr urea of much satisfaction that the difficulties which, for a moment, excited some politi cal apprehensions,and caused a closing the inter-oceanic transit route have been amicably adjusted, and that there is a good prospect that the route will soon be re-opened with an increase of capability and adaption We would exagerate ei ther the opmercial or political impor tance of that great improvement. It would be doing injustice to an important South Attier.can. State not to acknowl edge the directness, frankness and cordi ality with which the United States of Columbia have entered, into intimate re lations with this government. A claim convention has been constituted to com plete the unfinished work of the one which closed its sessions in 1861. The new liberal constitution of Venezuela having gone into effect with the univer= sal acquiescence of the people, the gov ernment, under it, has been recognized and diplomatic intercourse with it has been rimed in a cordial and friendly spirit. The long deferred Mini Island' claim has been satisfactorily paid and discharged. Mutual payments have been made of the claims awarded by the Joint Commission for the settlement of claims between the United States and Peru.— An earnest and cordial friendship contin ues to exist between the two countries and such efforts as were in my power have been used to remove misunderstand ing, and avert a threatened war between Peru and Spain. Our relations are of the - most friendly nature, with Chili, the Argentine Republic, Bolivar, Costa Ri ca, Paragua, San Salvador and Hate During the past year no differences of any kind have arisen with any of these republics, and on the other hand their sympathies with the United States are constantly expressed. The claim arising from the seizure of the cargo of the brig Macedonian, in 1861, has been paid in full by the gov ernment of Chili. Civil war continues in the Spanish coast of San Domingo, apparently without prospect of an early close. Official correspondence has been open ed with Liberia, and it gives us a pleas ing view of social and political progress In that republic. It is expected to derive new vigor from American influence, im proved by the rapid disappearance of slavery in the United States. I solicit your authority to furnish the republic a gunboat at a moderate cost,to be reimbursed to the United States by installments. Such a vessel is needed for the safety of that State against ! the African race, and in Liberian han.is, 1) would be more effective in arresting the African Slave trade than a squadron in our own hands. The possession of the least organized naval force should stimu late a generous ambition on the part of the Republic, and the confidence which we should manifest by furnishing it would win forbearance and favor towards the colonies from all the civilized nations. The proposed overland telegraph be tween America and Europe. by way of Behring Straits and Asiatic Russia,which was sanctioned by Congress at the last session, his been undertaken under very ' favorable circumstances, by an association of American citizens, with the cordial good will and support of this Govern ment, as well as those of Great Britian and Russia. Assurances have been re ceived from most of the American States of their high appreciation of the enter prise, and their readiness to cooperate in constructing lines tributary to that world encircling communication. I learn,wite much satisfaction, that the noble design of a telegraphic communication between the Eastern coast of America and Great Britian has been renewed with full ex pectation of its early accomplishment.— Thus it is hoped that. with the return of domestic peace. the country will be able to resume, with energy and advantage. their former high career of commerce and civilization. Our very popular and esti inable representative in Egypt died in April last. An unpleasant altercation, which arose between the temporary in cumbent of the office and the Govern ment of the Pasha, resulted in a suspen sion of intercourse. The error was promptly corrected on the arrival of the successor in the Consu late,and our relations with Egypt as well as the relation with the Barbary powers ire entirely satisfactory. The rebellion which has so long been flagrant in China has at last been surpressed with the co operating good offices of this Govern ment and of the other commercial States. The Judicial Consulor establishmeri has become very difficult, and onerous, and it will need Legislation to adapt it to the extension of our commerce and to the more intimate intercourse which has been instituted with the government and people of that vast empire. Ohina seems' to be accepting with hearty good will, the conventional laws which regulate commercial and social intercourse among the western nations. Owing to the pe culiar situation of Japan and the anom alous form of this government the action of that Empire in performing treaty stip ulations is inconsistent and capricious.— Nevertheless good progress has been effected by the Western powers, moving with enlightened concert, our own peer"- Ear claims hive been allowed or put in coarse of settlement, and • the Wand sea has been reopened to comm There' is reason, also, to Waive *t .f Prb eeedings have inerasied liabor *so di minished the friendship origin towards the United States. The phis of Nortolky ism Pensacola have, been operkedty prixda— maim% It is &loped that foreign chants will now consider whetherit is not safer and 'More profitable to them metre as well as more last to the 'United. States, to resort to these and other open ports. than it is to pursue through many hazzards and a vast cost, a contralsand trade with other ports which are closed, if not, by actual military operation, at least by a lawful and effective blockade. For myself, I 'rave no doubt of the pow- ter and _Opty of the Executive under the law i;if nations to: exclude the enemies of: the Immin facelin asylum in tile United . States. - It Congress should think that procee dings in such cases lack the authority of law, or ought to he further repudiated • by it, I recommend that provision be made for effectually preventing foreign elave traders from acquiring domicil and facilities for their criminal occupation in our country. It is possible that if it were a new and open question the mars- I time powers, with the light they now; enjoy, would not concede the privilegesl of a naval belligerent to the insurgents of the United States, destitute as they are, and always have been equally ofd ships and of ports of hat bars. Disloyal emmissaries have been neither less assid uous, nor more successful during the last year than they were before that time in I their efforts under- favor of that privilege I to embroil our rcomiti y in for'eignl wars. The -desire and determination of the maratime States to defeat that design are believed to be more earnest I than Europe. Nevertheless unforeseen) difficulties have arisen, especially in Bra zillian and British points. and on the northern boundary of the United States, I which have required, and are likely to continue to require the practice of con stant vigilance and a just and conciliato ry spirit on the part of the United States as well as of the nations concerned and their governments. Commissioners have been appointed under the treaty with Great Britian on the adjustment of the! claims of the Hudson Bay and Pugets' I Sound Agricultural Companies, in Ore. I gon, and are now proceeding to the ex ecution of the trust assigned to them.— In view of the insecurity of life in the region adjacent to the Canadian border, by recent assaults and depredations com mitted -by inimical and desperate peranus :who are harbored there. It has been thought proper to give notice that.after the expiration of six months, the period conditionally stipulated in the existing arrangements with Great Britian, the United States must hold themselves at liberty to increase their naval armernent upon the lakes if they shall find that proceeding necessary. The condition of the border will nec essarily come into consideration in con-, nection with the question of continuing or modifying the rights of transit from Canada through the United States, as well as the regulation of imports which were temporarily established by the re ciprocity treaty M the sth of June. 1864. I desire ; however, to be understood while making this statement, that colonial au thorities are not deemed to be intention ally unjust or unfriendly towards the Unitad Stites, but on the contrary,there is -every reason to expect that with the approval of the Imperial Government they will take the necessary measures to prevent new incursions across the border. The act passed at the last session for the encouragement of immigration has, as far as was possible, been put into op eration. It seems to need amendment which will enable the officers of the gov ernment to prevent the practice of frauds against the immigrants while on their way and On their arrival in the ports,and so as to secure them here a free choice of avocations and places of settlement.— A liberal disposition to this great nation al policy, is manifested by most of the • European States, and ought to be recip• rocated on our part by giving the mini grant: effective national protection. I regard our immigrants as one of the princpal replenishing streams which are appointed by Pr ividence to repair the ravages of internal war and its wanes of national strength and health. All this is necessary to secure the flow of that stream in its present fulness, and to that end the government must in every way make it manifest that it neither neAls nor designs to impose involuntary mili tary service upon those who come from other lands to cast their lot in our coun try. The financial affairs of the Govern ment I live been successfully administer ed. During the lase year the legislatition of the last session of Congress imposing increased taxation. The receipts during the year from all sources upon the basis of warrants signed by the Secretary of the Treasury, including loans, and the balance in the Treasury on the first day ofJi'ly, 1863,were 1,394,796,007 dollars a ndl62 cents and the aggregate disburse ments upon the same basis were, 1,295,- 056,101 dollars and 89 cents, leaving a balance in the Treasury as shown by warrants, of 96,739,905 dollars and 73 cents. Deduct from these amounts the amount of the principal of the public debt redeemed and the amount of issues in'substitution therefor, and the actual cash operations of the Treasury were : 1 receipts 884,066,646 dollars and 77 eta. ; l disbursments, 965.234,087 do ler , and 86 cents ; which leaves a cash balance in the treasury of 18,842,258 dollars and 71 cents. Of the receipts there were derived from customs, 102,316,152 dol's and 99 ; from lands 588,333 dollars and 28 ce_nts; _from direct taxes, 375,648 dollars and 96 cents ; from internal rev enne, 409,741;134 dollars and 10 cents ; from miscellaneous sources, 47;511,4431 dollars and. 81. cents ; and from loans' applied•to actual 'expenditures, including, former balances, 623,443,929 dollars and 13 cents. - There were disbursed tor the civil service, 27,506,599 dollars and 46 cents ; for pensions and Indians, 7,517,= . 930 dollars and 97 cents ; for the War Department, 60,791.84 . 2, dollars'and 97 cents ; for the Navy Department, 85,- 733.292 dollars and 79' cents ; for inter est of the public debt, 53,685,421 dollars and 69 cents, inking an aggregate'of 865,231,087 dollars and .88 cents, ipid leaving a balance in the Trearsry of 18.. 848.538 aollars and 71 cease, iwbsera stated. For the actual recipis di.narensepts for the that quarter, and' the estimatedllestipta skid' disberements for the three reibaining quarters of the surrent fiscal year and. the general ope rations of.the:Kressary In detail, I refer you to the reporeathii**itary of the ITreasury. 'Wither .eith - him in the' I opinion that . the nibtxietion.of the monies' I required tO...ineetithe expense bonseqeent upon the 'war,' -derived- from taxation, should be still Maher increased, and earnestly. invitesqpr,,ietention to this lembjeet to the end, that there may be each edditiOttaLlehristatioe stall be I required te:reeet thelnst expectations of I idle Secretary. - : :The peplic debt on the first - day:nfJnly :last, '-as appears by the books of the Treasury, amounted to one billion,seven hundred and.forty thousand million,six hundred and ninety thousand, four hetidred* . and eighty nine dollars and forty nine cents. Probably, should the war continue 'tor another year, that amount May be intreased.by not far from I five hundred millions. Held as it is for the most . part by our own people, it has became a - substantial branch of national through private property. For obvious reasons, the more easily this property can be distributed among all the people the better ; to favor such general distri bution, greater inducements to become owners might perhaps. with good effect, and without injury, be presented to persons of iimited- means. With this view, I suggest whither it might not be both expedient and competent for Con-- gress to provide.that a limited amount of some future blue et' public securities might be held by atiy.bona fide purchaier exempt from taxation and from seizure for debt, under srirt, f restrictions and limitations as might be necessary to guard against abnse-ofiiii-impertant a privilege. TVs would enable prudent persons to set aside a small annuity against a possi ble day of want. • Privileges like these would render the possession of such securities, to the a -1 mount limited, most desirable to every Iperson o f small . means who might be 'able to Isavesndhkli* for the purpose The great advantage of citizens being creditors as well` - sis debtors with rela tion to the public'debt ie obvious. Men readily perceive that they cannot be mach oppresied biy ft debt which they owe to thenitielves: The public debt on the first day of July last, although some what exceedin,o. the estimate of the 'Secretary 4 tilielTqeasury, made to Con gress at the commencement of last ses sion, falls short of the estimate of that officer, made in the preceding Decem ber, as to its probable amount at the beg giningot this yearhy the.euin of *3,995,- 079,33. This facrexhibits a satisfactory condition and conduct of t' e opertions of the Treasury. The National Bank ing aysteni is proving to be acceptable to capitalists and to the people. On the 25th of • Noyember, 584 National Banks had been organiied, a considerable num -1 tier of , which were conversions from State Banks. Changes from the State system to the National system are rapid ly taking place; . and it is hoped that very soon there will 4hi the United States no bank of issue not authorized by Con- Igress, and no bank note circulation not I received by the Government. That the Government and the people will derive general heuefit Rom this change in the banking 143ineti11..., of the country, can I hardly be questioned. The national sys will create a reliable and permanent in fluence in support of the national credit and protect the people against losses in the use of-paper: moi.ey.. Whether or rot any further - legislation is admissible for the SrippFeasion 'of State bank issues, will be for congress to determine. It seems quite clear that. the treasury cannot be satisfactorily conducted unless the government can exercise a rest.aiii ing power over. the, bauk.note circula tion of the conetry. The rrport oh he Sec retary of War and the accompriaying doctirrentswffi: - detail the campaigns of the arrinee in 'the field since the date of I the last, animal teessage, and also the 'operations of the several Administrative Bureaus of the War Department during the last year. It will also specify the Imeasures d'eelfecT essential for the na tional defence, and to keep up amid sup ply the requisite military force. The report - of the Secretary of the Navy presents a comprehensive and sat isfactory exhibit of the affairs of that Department and of the naval snvice It is a subject of congratulation and lauda ble pt ide. to our .countrymen, that a na vy of ouch vast proportions, has been organized in so brief a period and con ducted with so_rnaeli efficiency and suc cess. The general exhibit of the navy including vessels under construction on the Ist of December, 1864, shows a to tal of 671 vessela-carrying 4,610 guns and 510,3.96 ton s,., 'being an actual in crease during the year, over and above all lows by.shipwrecis or in battle of 83 vessels, 167 guns and 42.427 tons. The total numberdf men at this time in the naval service, including officers, is about 51,060. 'Mire have been captured -by the navy, during the year, 324 ves - eels, and the whole number of naval cap tures since hostilities commenced is one thousand three hundred, of which 267 are steamers. The gross proceeds aris ing from the Sale of condemned prize property thus far reported amount to $14,396,250, 51. A large amount of such proceeds is still under adjudication, and yet to be reported. The total expenditure of the Navy Department 4:descry -description, iuulu ding the cost of the immense 'squadrons that have been called into existence from the 4th of March, 1861, to the Ist of November, 1864 -are $23,864,726,235. Your favorable consideration is invi ted to the various recommendations of the Secretary of theavy, especially in regard to a.tiley.yalil and a suitable es ' tablishment for the construction and re' 'pair of iron veesigii`iied the machinery and armature foroor ships to which re ference was.niedis in my lust annual mes sage. • 'Year -attentinn 'is also invited to the viewsexpremain the repirt in re - gard to the ilegeelatiOn . Of Congress at its lastiseseiotithis': - respect to prizes on our inland water's.: I cordially* concur in tha'rti3ccoitiinenaation of the Secretaiy as to the propr iety . oh creating the rank ofVieek-alled , in - the nail! service: roiar'eltieatiOzi iented .to the re- Port Of the.fotositel *bend for a de teitia aim:eine of .Jl4 oporafjoaa and &anew owilifilh of eh, rat . fogioins , prumist, tbs postal revenue for the year ending, June 80th, 1884, amounted to $18,488,288.- 78, and the expenditures to $12,644,788.20 ; the excess of expenditures over receipts be ing $208,652.42. The views patented by the Postmaster- General on the subject of special grants by the government in aid of the establishment of new lines of ocean mail steamships, and the policy he recommends for the develop ment of increased commercial Intercourse with adjacent and neighboring countries should receive the careful consideration of Congress. It is of note worthy Interest that the steady expansion of population, improve ment, and govermental Institutions over the new and unoccupied portions of our coun try, have scarcely been checked, much less impeded or destroyed, by our great civil war, which at first glances would seem to have absorbed almost the entire energies or the nation. The organization and admission of the State of Nevada has been completed, in con formity with law, and thus our excellent system is finally established in the moun tains, which once seemed a barren and un inhabitable waste, between the Atlantic States and those which have grown up on the coast of the Pacific ocean. The territories of the Union are generally in a condition of prosperity and, rapid growth. Idaho and Montana, by reason of their great distance and the interruption of communi cation with them by Indian hostilities, have been only partially organized ; but it is un derstcod that these difficulties are about to disappear, which will permit their govern ments, like those of the others, to go as in timately connected with and promotive of this material growth of the nation, 1 ask the attention of Congress to the valuable infor mation and important recommendations re lating to the public lands, Indian affairs, the Pacific railroads,. and mineral liscoveries, contained in the report of the Secretary of the Interior, which is herewith transmitted, and which report also embraces the subjects of patents, pensions, and other topics of pub lic interest pertaining to his department. The quantity of public land disposed of du ring the five quarters ending on the thirtieth of September last, was 4,221,342 acres were entered under the homestead law. The re mainder was located with military laud warrants, agricultural scrip certified to states for rtilroads, and sold tor cash. The cash received from the sales and location of fees was $1,019,446. The income from sales during the fiAcal year, ending June 30, 1864, was $678,007,21, against 136, 077.95 received during the pieced_ ing year. Tile aggregate number of acres surveyed during the year has been equal to the quintity disposed of, and there is open to settlement about 133,000,000 acres of surveyed land. The great, euterprise of connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific states by railways and telegraph lines has been entered upon with a vigor that gives as trance to success. notwithstanding the embarrassments arising from the prevailing high prices of materials and labor. The mute of the main line of the road has been defiantly located for one hun dred miles westward from the initial point at Omaha City, Nebraska, and a preliminary location of the Pacific Railroad of California has been made :ruin Sacramento east wnril to the great bend of M icker river in Neva da. Numerous discoveries of gull, silver, and cinnibar mines, have been added to many heretofore ktio.vii, and the country occupied by the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains and the subordinate ranges, new terms with enterprising labor which is richly remunerative. It is believed that. the products of the mines of precious metals in that region has ll.iring the year reached, if not exceeded, $100,000,000 in value. It was recommended in my last annual mess age that cur Indian system be remodled.— Congress at its last session, acting 'won the recomineuilation, did provide for re-organ izing the system in California; and it is be lieved that under the present organization the management of the Indians there will be attended with reasonable success. Much yet remains to be done to provide for the proper governtnent.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 Indian. The secretary reiter ated his recommendations, and to them the attention of Congress for pensions on invalid soldiers and sailors of the republic, and,to the widows and orphans, and dependant mothers of those who have fallen in battle or died ,)f disease contracted, or of wounds re ceived, in the service of their country have been diligently administered. There have been added to the pension rolls during the year eliding the 30th day of June last the names of 16,770 invalid sol diers and of 271 disabled seamen, making the present number of army invalid pension ers 22,767, and of navy enrolled pensioners 712. Of widows, orphans, and mothers 22,- 198 have been placed on the army pension rolls, and 248 on the navy rolls. The pres ent number of army pensioners of this class is 25,433, and of navy pensioners 793. At the beginning of the year the number of revolutionary pensioners was 1,430. Ooly twelve of them were soldierA, of whom seven has since died. The remainder are those who, under the law, receive pensions because of relationship to revolutionary sol diers. During the year ending the 30th of June, 1864, $4,504,616.92 have been paid to pensioners of all classes. I cheerfully commend to your continued patronage the benevolent institntions of the District of Columbia, which have hitherto been established or fostered by Congress, and respectfully refer for information con cerning them, and in relation to the Wash ington aqueduct, the capitol, and other mat ters of local interest to the report of the secretary. The Agricultural Dapartment, under the ' appended showing particulars. re this supervision of its present energetic and faith- I again should be added the number of all tul head, is rapidly counneading itself to the soldiers' in the field trim Massachuretts, poet Mai vital interest k was created to ad- Mode Island, New Jemmy, Delaware, Indi willow It Isloseenatly the Peotide'btlepota-i ma, Simla and Oalifornis, who, by thi% wok fa vitifilk they fed Ns" tilmedY &1e. , : hors of timed- Mateo, code - not rote sway cerned tlintts in an/ other. I commend it to the continued attention and fostering of Con- The war cohtinues: Since the last an nual message all the important lines arid positions then occupied by our forces have been maintained, and our arwies have stead ily advanced, thus liberating the regions left in the rear, an that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of other states, have again produced reasonably fair crops. The moth remarkable feature in the mili tary operations of the year, is General Sher man's attempted march of three hundred miles directly through the insurgent region. It tends to show a great increase of our relative strength, that our general-in chief should feel able to confront and hold in check every active force of the ene my, and yet to detach 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. Important movements have also occured during the year to the effect of mouldering society for durability in the Union althe'igh short of complete success ; it is so much in the right direction that twelve thousand citizens in each States of Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal state governments with free constitutions, and are earnestly struggling to maintain and administer them. The movement in the same direction, more extensive though less deffinite - in Nlis rouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, should not be overlooked. But Maryland presents the example of complete success, Maryland is secure to liberty and union for all the future. The genius of rebellion will no more claim Mary land. Like another foul spirit, being driven out, it may seek to tear her, but it will woo her no more. At the last session of Congress a proposed amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery throughout the united States, passed the Senate, but failed for lack of the requi site two-thirds vote in the House of -Repre sentatives. Although the present is the same Congress, and nearly the same znPln hers, and without questioning the wisdom or patriotism of those who stood in opposition, I venture to reccommend the reconsideratioa and passage of the measure %t the present session. Of course the abstract question is not changed, but an intervening election shows ahnost to certainty that he neat Con gress will pass the measure, if this does not. Hence, there is only a question of time as to when the proposed amendment will go to the States tar their action, and as it is to so go at all evlnts, may we lot agree that the sooner the better. It is not claimed that the election has imposed a duty on members to change their views or their votes any further than as an additional element to be considered as thei r julgtnent may he affected by it. It is the voice of the people, now fur the first time heard upon the ques tion. In a great national crisis like ours, unanimity of action among those seeking a !common end is very desirable, almost indis pensable, and yet no approach to such unan imity is attainable unless some deference shall he paid to the will of the majority, simply because it is the will of the majority. In this case, the cooilnon end is the maintenance of the Union, and among the means to secure that end, such will, through the election, is most clearly dechired in tavor of such constitutional amendment. The most reliable indication of public purpose in this country is derived through our popular elections. Judging by the recent canvass and its result, the purpose of the people within the 10% al States to maintain the in legrity of the U 'don was never more firm nor more nearly unanimous than now. The extraordinary calmness and good order with hich the millions of voters met and min gled at the polls, give strong assurance of this. Not only all those who supported the "union ticket" (so called.) hat a great ma jority of the opposing tarty also may he fair ly claimed to entertain and to 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 yen tared to seek votes on the avowal that he was for giving up the Union. There have been mach heated controversy as to the proper means and best mode of advancing the Union cause, but in the distinct issue of Union or no Union thb politicians have shown their instinctive knowledge that there is no diversity among the people. In afford ing the people the fair opportunity of show ing one to another, and to the world, this firmness and unanimity of purpose, the elec !tion has been of vast value to the national curse. The election has exhibited another fact not less valuable to be known, the fact that we do not approach exhausta thy. in the most important branch of the national resources—that of living men.— while it is melancholy to reflect that the war bas filled Si) many graves and carried mourn ing to so many hearts, it is some relief to know that, compared with the surviving, the the falleirbave been so few. While corps and divisions and brigades and regiments have formed and fought and dwindled and gone out of existence, a great majority of the men who composed them are still living. The same is true to the naval service. The election returns prove this. So many voters could not else be found. The States regu larly holding elections, both now and four years ago, to wit : California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kentucky, Main, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New 'Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylw vnaia, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wiscon , sin, cast 3482,011 votes now against 3 870- 222 cast then, showing an aggregate now of 32,982,111, to which is to be .:dried 33,762 cast now in the new States of Kansas and Nevada, which States did not vote in 1860, thus swelling the aggregate to 4,015,773, and the net increase daring the three years I. and a half of war to 145,751. A table is from their homes, and which nuritber ca not be less than 90,000. Nor yetis this al:. The number in organized territories is triple now to what it Was foul' years ago— while thousands—white and black—join us as the national arms press back the insurgent lines so much is shown affirmatively and negative ly by the election. It is not material to in quire how the increase has been produced, or to show that it would have been greater but tor the war, which is probably true ; the important filet remains demonstrated, that we have more wen now than we had whin the war begsn, that we are not exhausted nor in process of exhaustatioa ; that we are gaining strength, and may, if need be, main tain the contest ihdetinitely. This as to. EMI Material resources are now more complete' and abundant than ever. The national re sources, then, are unexhausted, and, as we believe, inexhaustible. The public purpose to re establish and maintin the national au thority is unchanged, and, as we believe ( unchangeable. The manner of continuing the effort remains to choose. On careful consideration of all the evidence accessible, it seems to me that no attempt at negotiation with the insurgent leaders could result in any good. Ile would accept of nothing short of the service ot the Union.— His declarations to this effect are explicit and oft repeated. lie does not attempt to deceive us. He affords us no excuse to de ceive ourselves. 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 decid ed by victory. If we yield we are beaten.— If the Southern people fail him, he is beaten. Either way it would be the victory and de feat following war. What is true, however, ot hint who leads the insurgent cause, is not necessarily date of those who follow. Al though he cannot reaccept the Union, they can. Some of them we know already desire peace and reunion. The number of such.may increase. They can at any moment have peace, simply by laying down their arms and submitting to the national authority under the Constitution. After so much, the gov ernment could not, if it would, maintain war against them. The loyal people would not sustain or allow it. Tf questions should remain, we would adjust them by the peace ful means of legislation, conference, courts and votes, operating only in constitutional and lawful channels. - Some certain and other possible questions are and would be beyond the executive power to adjust, as, for instaice, the admission of members into Congress, and whatever might require the appropriation of money. The executive power itself would be great ly diminished by the cessation of actual war Pardons and remissions of fOrfeiture, hoW ever, would still be within executive control. In what spirit and temper this control would be exerci ed can be fairly judged of by the past. A year ago general pardon and am nesty upon specified terms were offered to all, except certain designated classes, andlt was at the same time made known that the excepted classes were still within contempla tion of special clemency. During the year many availed themselves ot the general pro vision, and many more would, only that the signs of bad faith in some led to such pre cautionary measurtss as rendered the practi cal process less easy and certain. During the same time also special pardons have been granted to individuals of accepted classes, and no voluntary application has been deni ed. Thus practically the door has been for a full year open to all, except such as were not in condition to make tree choice ; that is, such as were in ccstoday or under restraint. It is still so open to all. But the time may come, probably will come, when public duty shall de wand that it be closed, and that in lieu more vigorous measures than heretofore shall be adopted. In presenting the abandonment of armed resistance to the national authority on the part of the insurgents as the only indeapen sable condition to ending the war on the part of the government, I retract nothing hereto ford said as to slavery. I repeat the declare.: thin made a year ago. that while I remain in my present position I shall rot astempt to retract or rno‘lify the Emancipation Procla mation. Nor shall I return to slavery any persan ho is free by the terms of that.prs,p laination, or any of the acts of Congress.— If the people sh 111(1, by whatever mode or means, make it. an executiv.3 duty to re-en 7 slave such persons, another, and not I, must be their instrument to perform it. • Iss "Wing a single condition of peace, mean pimply to say, that the war will cease on the part of the government whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who • began it. (Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN. crA young and self-,onceited minister in a highly elaborate sermon which he - preached, said several times, "The commentators do not agree with me here." Next morning a poor woman calm to see him, with some thing in her apron. She said her husband heard his sermon, and thought it was a very tine one, and as he said "the common taters' . did not agreS with him, he had sent. hint some of the very best of kidneys.'" • A Max KILLS HIS BICOTHTIL—We learn from the Pa-is (Pl.) Blade that a man named • House Devers was shot and instantlyidle4 by his brother, Samuel Devers, in that coun ty one day last week. An old fend existed, between the brothers, which finally led to, this unhappy resrlt. The offenderdeltvered hitnselt up to the authorities, and is now in the Paris jail. Mr The report of the arrival of the - rebel Captain Semmes at Bagdad, Mexico, is.con finned. He arrived at that place on the 11th nit.,and immediately crossed the Rio Grande, on his way to Richmond. The minimum standard of height ter recruits for the volunteer service has been . fixed by the Secretary of War at five flat, instead of five feet three urthee.aikkafetslll isetalAished.
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