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The Presidents Message

The Presidents Message image The Presidents Message image
Parent Issue
Day
16
Month
December
Year
1864
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Fei.t.ow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Reprbsentatives : Agaiu the blessinga of lualth and abuudant harvests claim our profoundest gratitude to Almighty God. íhe condition of our foreiga afiairs is reasouably satisfactory. MEXICO. Mexico continúes to be a theater of civil war. While our political relations with that country have undergone no cbange, we have at the samo time strictly maintained neutrality betweeu the belligerents. At the requcst of the States of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, a competent engineer bas been authorized to make a eurvey of the river San Juan, and the port of San Juan. It is a source of much satisfaction that the difficulties, which for a rqomer.t excited Borne political apprehensions, and caused a closing of the interoceanic transit route, have bjen amicably adjusted, and tbat there is a good prospect that the route will soon be reopened with an increase of capacity and adaptation. We could öot exaggerate either the commercial or the political importance of that great improveoaent. It would be doiDg injustice to an iüiportant South Americau state not to acknowledge the directness, frankness, and oordiality with which the United States of Columbia have entered into intímate relations with this Government. A claim couvention has been constituted to complete the uufinished work of the oue which closed its session in 1861. VENEZUELA. The new liberal constitution of Venezuela having goue into effect with the universal acquieseence of tha people, the government under it has beeu reorgan ized, aud diplomatic intercouse with it has been opeued in a cordial and fritndly epirit. SOUTH AMERICAN IUSPUBLICS. The long deferred Aves Island claim has been satisfactorily paid aud discharged. Mutual payments have been made of the claims awarded by the late joint commission for the sttlement of claims betweeu the United States and Peru. An earnest aud cordial frieadship continúes to exist between the two countries, and such efforts as were in njy power have been used to remove misunderstanding, and avert a threaten ed war between Peru and Spain. Our relations are of the most frieudly nature with Chili, tho Arentine Kepublic, Bolivar, Costa Rica, Paraguay. Sen Sal vador, and Hayti. Daring the past year uo differeuces of any kind have ansen with any of thesu república. Aud, oü the other hand, their sympathies with the United Statca are constantly expressed with cordialiiy and earnestness. The claim arising from the seizure of the cargo of the brig Macedoniun, in 1821, has been paid in full by the gov eminent of Chili. Civic war coutinued in the Spanish part of San Domingo, apparently without prospeet of au early close. LIBERIA. Official correspoLdence has been frcely opened with Liberia, and it gives us a pieasing view of social and polltioal progress in that republic. It may be ex pected to derive new vigor from American influence, improved by the rapid disappearance of slavery in the United States. PROTBCTION TO THE COLONT. I eolicit your authority to furniah to the republic a gunboat, at a moderate cost, to be reirabursed to the Uuited States by instnlltnents. Such a vesscl is needed for the safety of that state agaiust the native African race, and in Liberian bands it would be more effective in arresting the African slavetrade than a squadron in our own hands The possession of the least organized naval force would stimulate a generous ambition in the republie, and the confidence which we should manifest by furnishing t, would win forbearance and favor toward the colony from all civilized nations. The proposed overiand telegraph between America and Europe by the way of Behrin's siraits and Asiatic Rus sia, which was sanctioned by Cougre.s at the last sestuou, has been undertaken under very favorable circumstances by an association of American ciüzeus with the cordial good will and support as well of this government, as of those of Great Britain and Rusrüa. As8urances have been received from most of the South American stutes, of their high appreciation of the enterprise and their readiuess to co-operate in conBtructing Hoes tributary to ihat worldencircling commuuication, TUE GUEAT TELEORAPIT. I learn with mueh saiisfaction that the noble de6gn of n telegraphic cotnniunication between the eastern eoast of America and Great Britain, has been renewed with full expectation of ita early acomplishuient. Thus it is hoped that with the return of doujestic peaue tlie country will be able to íesuine with enjrgy and advantage h&r former high earflr of commerce and civilization. Our very popular and estimable representative in Egyptdied in April last. An uu pleasaut altercation, which arose betweou the ti.'iuporary iucumbent of the office, and the goverument of the Pacha, resulted in a suspension of iutercourse. The evil was promjitly correcled on the an ival of the successor in the consulate, and our velatious with the Barbary powers are eutirely eatisfactory. CHINA. The rebellion which bas bo long been flagrant in China; has at, laat been supppessed with the eö-operating goyd offices of this government aud the other western commercial states. The judicial consular establishment has become very difficult snel onerous, and it will need legislativo requisition to adapt it tu the extensión of our comraerco, and to tbe more intímate intercourse whieh has been instituted with the governinent and people oí tbat vast empire. China seems to be accepting, with hearty good will, the conventional laws vvhioh regúlate commercial and social intercourse amoug the western natioua. JAPAN. Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan, and tha anomalous forin of its governmeut, the action of that empire in porforming stipulations is inconsistent and capricious. Nevertheless, good progresa has been effected by the Western powers moving wiih enlightened concert. Our own pecuniary claims have been allowed or put in course of settlemeut, and the Inland sea has been re-opened to comraeroe. There is roason also to believe tliat these proceediogs have increased rather than diminished the friendship of Japan toward the Uuited States. SOUTHERN PORTS. The ports of' Norfolk, Fernandina, and Pensacola have been oponed by proclamatioD. It is hoped that foreign merchante will now cousider whether it is not saier and more profitable to themselves, as well as just to the United States, to resort tn these and other open ports, than it is to pursue through many hazards and a' vast cost a contraband trade with other ports which are closed, if not by actual military operations, at least by a litful and efiectivo blockade. For myself, I have no doubt of the power of the exceutive uuder the law of nations, to exclude enemies of the human race from an asylum in tho Uniled States. If Congress should think that proceedings in such cases lack the authority of law, or ought to be further regulated by it, I recomraend that provisión be made for effectually preventing foreign elave tradera from acquiring domicile and facilities for their criminal occupation in our country. It is possible that if it were a naw and open ques'ion, the maritiine powers. with the Hght they now enjoy, would . not concede the privileges of a naval belligerent to the insurgents of the United States, destitute as they are, and ilways have been, equally of ships and of ports and harbors. Disloyal emissarïes have been neither less assiduous nor more suceessful during the last ten years than they were beforo that time in Jtbeir efforts under favor of that privilege to erubroil our country in foreign wars The desire and deterruination of tho martime states to deleat that design, are aelieved to be a3 sincere as, and caunot je more earnest than our own ; nevertheless uuforeseen political difficulties lave ariaen, especially in Brazilian and British ports, and on the northern bound ary of the Uuited States, which have rejuired and f.re likely to continue to require the practice of constant vigilance and a jut and conoihatory spirit on the part of the United States as well as of the nations concerned and their governmeuts. Coiumissioners have been appointed under the treaty with Great Britain on the adjuslmeut of the claims of tho Hudson Bay and Pugot's Sound Agricultural Conip;inies in Oregon, and are now proceeding to the execution of the trust assigned to them. In view of the insecurity of life in the región adjacent to the Oanadian border, by receut assaults and depredations committed by iniinical and desperate persous who are harbored there, it has been thought proper to give notiee that after the expiration of six months, the period conditionally stipulated in the existiug arrangetneuts with Great Britain, the Üuittd States must hold themselves at liberty to iucrease their naval armament upon the lakes, if they shall fiud that proceeding necessary. The coudition of the border will necessarily coma into considerátion in connection with the question of continuing or modifying the right of transit from Canada through the United States, as well as the regulation of imposts which were temporarilv estab'ished by the Reciprocity Treaty of the 5th day of Juue 1854. I desiro, liowever, to be uuderstood, while making this statement, tbat the colonial authorities are not deemed to be intentionally unjust or uufriendly toward the Unitud States, 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 iucursions across the border. IMMIORATION. The act passed at the last session for the encourageiuent of immigration has, as far as was possible, been put into operation. It seems to need amendmcnt, which will enable the officers of the government to prevent the practice of frauds I against t-he immigrante white on their way, and on their arrival in the ports, so as to secure them here a free choice of avocations and plac s of settlument. A liberal dispositiou toward this great national policy is manifestcd by must of the European states, and-nught to be reciprooated on our part by giving the immigrante i-lfective uatioaal protcetion. I regard our iininigrants as oue of the principal replenishing stro;nns which are appointed by Provideuce to repair the ravages of iuterual war and its waste of natioual strength and health. All that is uecessary is to secure the flow of that ] stream in its presunt fullness, aüd to that end the goverunient must in every way make it manifest that it neither needs noi designs to imposö involuntary military service upon those who come from other lands to cast their lot in our country. REVENUB AND TAXATIOIÍ. The financial affairs of' the governmeut have been successfully adnainistercd. During the ladt year the legislation ; of the last session of Congress bas fieially affeeted the revenuc, altliough suffioient timo has not yct elapsed to experience tho full effect of several of the provisions of the acts of Congresa imposing increased laxatiou. The recoipts during the year frotn all sources upon the basis ot warrants signod by the Seoretary of the Treasury, iuoluding loans, and tho balance ti the troasury, on tho first day of July, 1863, were $1.394,796, ■ 007 02, and the aggrogato disbursements upon ttie samo basis were $1,298,056,101 89, leaving a balance in tlio treasury, as shown by warrants, of $96 739,905 73. Deduct frora these a"iounts tho araount of the principal of tho public debt redeemed, aud the amount uf ia suea in substitution therefor, and the actual cash operalionsof the treasury were : Ueoeipfs,$884,070,646 77; disbureinent, $865,234,087 86, which leaves a cash balauce in the treasury of $18,842,558 71. Of the receipts, there wero derived from customs, $102,316,152 99; froin lands, $588,333 29 ; from direct t;.xes, $475,648 96; from internal revenue, $109,741,134 10; from miscellaneous sources, $47,511,348 10; and from loans applied to actual expenditures, including forme" balance, Í623,443,929 13. There wero disbursed for the civil service, $27,505,599 46 ; for pensions and Indiaus, $7,317.930 97 ; for the War Department, $690,791,842.97: for the Navy Department, $85,733, 292 78 ; for interest of the public debt' $53,685, 421 59 ; making an aggregate of $865,234,087 86, and leaving a bal anco ia the treasury of $18,842,588 71, as above stated. THE TREASDRY. For the actual reoeipts aud disbursements for the first quarter, and the estimated receipts and disbursements for the three remaiuing quartera of the current fiscal ycar, and the general operations of the Treasury -in detuil, I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury. I concur with him in the opinión that tho proportion of the monevs required to meet the expenses consequent upou the war, derived from taxation, should be still further increased, and I eurnestly invite your attention to this subject to the end tlrt thoro may be suoh additional legislation as shall be required to meet the just expectation of the secretary. - The public debt on the first day of July last, is appears by the books of' the treasury, amounted to one billion seven hundred aud forty thousand miliions, sis hundred aud ninety thousand, four hundred and cighty-nine dollars and foftyniue cents (?) Probably, should the war continue for anothor year, thit amount may bc inereased by not far from fi9 huudred miliions. Held as it is for the most part by our own pcople, it has becorae a subftantial branch of uationul, though private properfy. Por obvious reasons the moro nearly this property can be distributed among all the poople tli8 better, To favor such general distribution, greator inducemotits to becoine owners might, perhaps, with good effect, and without injury, ba presented to persons of limited means. With this view, 1 suggest whether it might not bo both expedient and competent for Congress to próvido that a limited amount of souie future Issue for public socttritïea might be held by any bonafide purj,haser exempt from taxation, arid from seizure (or debt, under such restrictions and limita(ion as might be necessary to guard agaiust abuse of so important; a privilege. Tbis would enable prudent persons to set asido a small annuity against a possible day of want. Privileges like these would reneter the possessioa of such securities to the amount limited most desirable to evory person of small means who might be able to savo enough for the purpose. The great advantage of citizens being creditors as well as debters, with relation to the public debt, is obvious. Mcu readily perceive that they can not be much oppresaed by a debt which they owe to theuiselves. The public debt on the Ist day of July last, althongh Pomevvhat exceeding the estimato of the Secretary of the Treasury made to Congress at the commenoenient of last sessiou, falls short of tho estímate of that officer made in the preeeding December, as to ts probable amount at the beginning of this year, by the turn of $3,995,079,33. This fací, exhibits a satisfactory condition and couduct of tho operations of the Treasury. NATIONAL BANKS. The national banking system is proving to be acceptablo to capitalists aud to the people. On the 25th day of November, 584 national banks had been orgaoized, a considerable nuiuber of whieh were convei'sious from state bauks. Chauges from the state systtm to the natiuual system aro rapidly taking place and it is hoped that very koou ihere will be iu Ihe United States no banka of issue not authoriz'.'d by Cocgress, and no bank uote cireulation not Bccured by the goverument. That the government and tho peoplo will derive general beucflt froui this ohange in the banking system of tho I country eau hardly bo quostioned. Tho national gystam will créate a riliable aud permanent inHuence ia support of the u.-.tiouul credit, aud proteel the puople agniust losses in the use of pupcr money.. Whether or tiot 'any further eg:slation is advisable for thu suppression of state bank iosues, it will be for Congress to ! determine. It seeuis quitfl clear that the treasury canuot be satisfactorily conductcd unless tho goverument can oxer ci-e a restraitiing power over the banknote cireulatiou of the country. TUE WAR DEPARTMENT. The report of the Secretary of War, and tho accompanying documenta, will detail tho eampaigns of the armies iu the field siuce the dato of the last annual mossage, and also the operations of the ] several administrativo bureaus of the I War Department during the last year. It will also specify the moaaures deern j ed esseotial for Iho national dcfense, iuid t) keep up and supply the requisito military force. The report of the Beoratarv ; uf tho Navy presenta a comprehensivo ! and satisfactory eihibit of llio affairs of tliat departmont, aud of the naval service. It is a subject of cougralulution and laubablo prido to our oouutrymen that a novy of such vast proportio;is bas boen orgauized in 30 brief a period and conducted with so much offioieuey aud sucoess. CONDIÏION OF THE NAVY. Tho general exhibit of tho navy, including vesseU ander construction ou the lst of December, 1861, hIiows a total of! 671 vessels carryiug 4,GlO gui:s, and 510,396 tons, being an actual iticreaso duriiii; the year, over and above a!l losara by shipwreck or in battle, of 83 vessols, 167 guns, and 42,427 toiis. The total BUmbor of men at this timo in the naval service, iucludiug oiBcers, is abcHft 51,000. There havo boon êaptureu by tho navy duriug tho year i24 vessels, aud the w.holo uumber of navul oaptures since hostilitiös commenced is 1,379, of which 207 are steamers. The gross proceeds ariaing froni tho sale of eouderuned prizo property, tbus reported, amounts to $1-1,396,250 51. A large arcount of such proceeds ia etül under adjudicación, aad yet to bc reported. The toial expenditures of the Navy Departtrxéiit, of every doscriptioo, includius; the cost of ' the iinnieuso squadrons that havo beoo caliecl into existeuce from the 4th of Murcli, 1861, to the lst of Novomber, 1864, are $238,647,202.85. Your ! able consideraron is invited to tha ! ious recoinmeudatious of the Hecvetary of the Navy, especially in renard to a navy-yard and suitablo establishment forthe construction aud repair of iron vesseis and tha ïuachinery and annature for our ships, to which refeieuco was made in my last annual message. Your atteutiou 3 also invited to the views oxpressed iu tho report in relation ;o the legislation of Oougress at its last sessiou, iu respect to prizes ou our iuland waters. TUE TICE AD11IRALTY. I coidially concur iu the recomraendation of the secretary, as to the .ropriety of creatiog tha new rank of vicü-admiral in our naval service. THE POSTOFFICE. Your attentiou i inviíedto the report of the Postulaste General for a de tai led account of tho optrationa and finnnoial oondition of the Postoffice Department. The postal rovenue for the year cnd.ng Juno30.li, 1861, amo-unted to 12,438,253 78, and theexponditures to $ 12,644,786 20 ; tho excess of expondilures over roceipts boing $206,652.42. The vieT3 presontod by the Postraaster-Goneral on tho subject of special gratits by the government in aid of the esUblbhraent of now Unes of oofian m:iil stof.mghips, and tho pohoy he recommends tot tho áeve'lopmeirt of iiicransed eommeroial intercourse with adjaceut and ueighboriti oOBütriöij should leocive tho caret'ul ctj..sidoratiou of Cangrosa. It is of noteworthy interest that the I steady expansión of' population, improve ment, and iroverumeutal iuBiitutioiu ovor tho uew and uuoccupied portiou of our country, havo scarccly been checked, nnicli leí impeded or destroyed, by our great civil war, which at first glance would sot-m to have absorbed al most the entire energies of the nation. NEVADA. The organization and admission of the State of Nevada has been oompletud, in conforniity with law, and thus our excelleDt system is firuily establihed iu tho raouatains, which once seemed a barren and uninhabitable wnsta, between the Atlantic States and those .whic'i havo grown up on the coast of tha Pacific ooean. THE TF.RRITORIE9. Tlio territorieíi of tho Union are generally in a oonditiou of prosperity and rapid grow th. Idaho and Montana, by reason of their great distanoo aud ihe interruption of communication with them by Iudian hostilities, have been only partiaüy orgauized ; but it ia ui:dortooil that (hese difficultics are about to disnppear, which wal permit tlie'r governments, liko tliose oí the othors, to go into speedy and full operation. A-: intiiiiately connected with aud promotive of this material gvowth of the naüon, I aak rhe attenlion of Congrts to the valuablo iuforraation and important recommendations relating to the public latid, In dian afl'nrs,. tho Pacinc r:u!roads, and miueral diícoveries, contaiticd in the report of the Sfcretary of the Interior, which is hfrewiih truriamitied, and which report also embraces the subjects oí patente, pensions, and other topics of public iuterest pertaining to bis dopartment. The quautity of public laud disposed of diïring tho üve quarters ending on the ihirtieth of Sepiembor last, was 4,221,342 acres, of which, 1,538, 614 acres were cntered under the homoÍ stead law. The runniinder was locatud Yitl) luiiitiiry land warniui.3, OgricUltural' scrip cer.tilicd to states lor raihoads, and soM f'Jr cash. Tiio cash rtxv-ivcd from sales aad locatiou fees was $1,019,440. i Tho income from sales dnring tho tisoal year, eadiog June iü, 1864, wiih $678,007 21, against $136,077.95, received duriug the preceding yc:ir. The aggrogate number ot aeriw survcyed during tho year bas been cqual to tlio quantity disponed of, and there is open to sottlement about 133,000,000 aeres of surtreyed lfind. PACIFIC KAILWAY AND TEI.KUKAI'IJ. Tho great tíiitt)rprHO of coiuiccting the Atlantic with the Paciüc states by railways and telegraph liucs has beun untered upon with a vigor tliai gives assurunce of snecess, nolwiihstandiug the erubar rassments arising from thu prevailiiig high prices of uiaterials and labor. The route of the main line of the road bas heen defioitely , Icraated for ono bundred i miles westward from tho initial point at Omaha City, Nebraska, and -i prolimiuarv location of the Pacific Kiiiioai ot' Cal ifornii lias been mado frora e ooranieqtá oastward to the great bend of Mucker river in Ncvn.ia. Numrtrous discovories of gold, silver, and cinnibar inines, have been added to tlie mauy heretoforo lniowD, and the country oceuped by ths Sierra Nevada and the Eo-ky Mouutains and the subordínate rangr, uow teems with enterprising labor, which 8 richly remunerativo. It is believed ihat the producía of the miucs of precious metala in that región lias durini; tho yoar reached, if not exceedod, $HW,ü)n,000 in value. It was recornmeuded in my last annual messago that our Indian system be remodelod. QQÚjgrSí? at ita last session, acting upon tho recom nenda.tioo, did próvido rooi gaiiiüiug tho ystom in California ; and it is bohevod ; tliat under the present organization the management of tho Indiana thcro will be Httended wilh reasonable succes. Mueh et remanís to be doue to próvido for tho propor governtnent of tlie Indiana iu jthur parts of tho country, to ronder it oeuro for the advnneing pettier and to jrovido for the welfare of the Indian. - The secretar}' reiterated bis rcoommeniations, and to them the attentlcn of Jongress is invitod, The liberal prorisions mide by Congress for paymg penlions to invalkl soldier and sailors cf the . ■epublic ; and to tho widows and , ihaus, aud depoudeul mothers of those ifho havo fallen in battlo er died of , :ase eoutracted, or of wounds reooived, n the servieo of their couutry have been liligenlly adrainistered. : PENSION BUREAU. There have been added to the pension olls duriug thu year eadir.g the 30th day f June last, the nacne3 of 16,770 ' alid soldiers, and of 271 disabled seaTien, makitig the present numbar of arinj ] nvalid peusioners 22,767, and of navy ■ ïnrolled ponsioners 712 Ot widovvs, ' jrphans, and mothera 22,193 have bfléa ( ilaced on the arniy pcasiou rolls, auJ ] 248 on the navy rolis. Thu present ] lumber of army pensioners of this o!a3s ' s 25,433, and of navy peosiocevs 733. At the boginuing of tho jear the ( ser of revolutioniiry pensioners was ' 1,430. Ouly twelve" of them were sj!liers, cf whom seven have sinco diad - The remainder are those who, under tho aw, receive pensions because of reiatioDhip to revolutionary soldiors. During tho year oiidir.n; tbs oCth Tune, 1864, 84,o04,eiG.92 hnvo naou 3aid to pensiouora of all claásci. DISTRICT Oï C0LDM5IA. I choc-rfully oomméita '.o your "":!(!-)- ïed patronfigo tho bendvolënt iuaíiiíations of tlie District of Götutóbia, wtiicü javo hitherto been (1 er iistprid by Congress, aud re-:pccíí'a!Sy vsfer for nforwütiou eonceruing thoni. aud iu reiatioi; to the Washington bqüedaet, the sapitol, f.nd other matters of local ieicrsst to the report of ike sccietary. ASmCT3IiT0BX. The Agrlcultr.ral DJpartoient, uder Lhe supervisión of its present energetie and faithful heüd, is rapidly commending iteelf to the great and vital interest it was craated to advanee. It 3 peouliarly the People's Departmant, in which they feel moro direatiy eoncerüod tkan in any öther. I eoianend it to tho crntinued attention aud fostsring care of Congress. ÏOE WAR - PROQRKSS MADE. The war continúes. Since the last annual message all the important liucs and positions then oocupied by our forcea bave been raaintained, and our armics have steadily advaneed, thus liborating tho regions left in the rear, so that Missouri,- Kentucky, Tennesseo, and parts of other states, have again produced reasonably fair crops. GUN ERAL SHKRMA's ADVANOE. The most remarkable feature in the military operations of the year, is tien. Sherman's uteinptod maroh of three hundrud miles directly through the insurgent región. It teiida to show a great increase of our relativo streugth, that our geueral-in-ehief sliould fael able to coiifi'ont and hold in check every active foreo of the enemy, and yet to detach a well appointiid large army to move on such an expedition. The result not yet being known, conjecture in regard to it is not hero indulgod. Impoitaut movoments have . also oeourrfd claring the year to tlie effect of moulding society for durabi'ity in the Union although short of rompióte tuecess ; it is so mueh in the right diicction that tvvelve thousand citize'ns in caeh of tho States of Arkansas and Louisiaua have orgauizcd loyal eta'B governments with freo eonstitutions, and aro earnestly struggling to iuaiutain aDd ad minister them. ïhc uiovcaicnt in tho same direct'on, moro extensivo though loss defiuita in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tcnneasee, ehould Dot bu overlooked. MARYLAND. But Maryland HPsents tho cxaruple of complete BUCC.esa, Jiaryland is secure to liberty and unio for all tho future. - The gp'.'ius of rebellion will uo more claim Ma.'yland. Like auotber foul spirit, being driven out, it uiay seek to toar her, but it will woo hor no more. Ilfi: AllOLITlON OF SLAVKRY. At tho lant eessiou of Cnngress propased amendment of tho Cen.s.t'itu't'idnj aboli-hing sl'ivcry tbroughout the United States, pr.ssed tho Senato, but failed for laek of t!m rebMitte two-third vete in the House oi .Representativos. Altliongh tho present is the same Oongress, and neaily the same liieuibers, and without qties'tïon'iDg the wisdom or pritriotiwui of those who stood in opposition. I vrriture to recommeud the roconsider:iti.)n and pa't-eage. of the mojsure at the present session Of couise tho abti.jtt jusstiou is not ohanged, but an interveniüg oleetion show almriêt ecrta:n!y that tho nest Congres will pass the mensure, il' this does not. Henee, thcre is ouly a qusstiou of timo as to when the proposed amenimoot will go to the sta'cs for their aotion, and as it ia to so go at all events, tmj we not agrue that the sooner the better. It is not claimod that the election bas imposed a duty on members to chango their views or their votes and further tban os idditioruü element to be consi'lored as thuir jiidgrnent tnay bo affected by it, It is ihe voico of tho people, now for the first time heard upou tho question. I a groat national crisis like ours, unatiimity of aotion among those seeking a common end ia very dosirable, ülraost indispeusablo, and yet no p.pproaeh to such uaaaimity is attainable unless some del'erOToe shall be paid tothe will o: the majority, simp'y bocause it is the will of the majority. THE RECENT ELECTION. In this case, the conimon end is tb maiutenance of the Union, and among the means to secure that end, such will, through the electiou, is most clearly dec'ared in favor of such constitutional ainondinent. ïhe most reliable indicadon of pubiic parpóse ia this country derived througb. o.ur popular elections. Judgmg by tho recont eanvass and its result, tho purpose of tho people witbin the loyal atates to maintain theintegrity of thu Uaion vas never more firm nor more neuriy unanuaous than now. Tho extraordinr.ry calmness and good order with which the millions of voters met and rrsiqgled at the polls, giv strong assuranee cf thia, Not only all íhose who supported the "union ticket" (30 called), but a great majority of tha cpposiug pai'Ly also may be fairlj cliumed to entertain and to be actuated by the same purpose, it is an unanswerable argument to this effect, tbat no candidato for any office whatever, high or low, haa ventured to seek vote on the avowal that he was for gmng up the Union. Thcre hava been muoh impugniog of motives and much heated controversy as to tho proper means and best modo of advanclng the Union causo, but ia the distinct issuo of Union or no Union, the politieians have shown their instinctivo kcowledga that there is no diversity among the people. In affording the people the fair opportunity of showing one to another, and to tho woWi!, this firmnes3 and unaoimity of purposu, the election bas been of vast value to the national cause. The election has eXhibitad another fact not lesi vaiuablo tb be knovvn, the fact that wo do not approach exhaustion in the most important brsnch of the national resources - that cf living men. Whilo it is melanchoiy to rañect that the war Las fillod co many graves ard carriad mourning to so raany hearts, it is soma relief to know that, compared with tho surTÍ'fing, tho i-J.lun have been so few. While co;ps, and divisions, and brigadi_s, aud regiraent9, have formed and fought, and dwiadled, and gone out of existöueo, a great majority of the mea who composed thera are slill living. Tho aame is trjie othe naval servico. The election returns prove thia. So y;ir,v voters could noi else be found. Tho state's regularly ho.ldmg eleotions, both now and f'our yearu ago, towit : California, OonaWtjout, Delaware, Illi)oia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maino, Maryland, Massuchussetts, Michigao, Minoefota, New .Harepshire, New Jersey, New York, Öhio, Oregon, Pennsylania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Weit Virginia, and Wiscojisip cast 3,932,011 votes now against 3,87 0,222 cast then, showing au inerjasod voto of 112,789, to which is to be added 33,762 caet now in the new staies of Kansas and Nevada, which states did not vot in 1860, thua swelling the aggregate to 4,015,773, and the net iocteas during ;bo three yeara and a half of war to 145,751. A table is appended, showug particulars. To this aruin should ae adaèd thu number of a'l soldiers in the ÍU'id frotn Massachusetts, Bhodo [sland, New Jersey, Delawaro, Indiana, [ilinois, acd California, who, by the .aws o! ffcqse states, could not vote away fmui tlmir homes, acd which number can not be less than 90,000. Kur yet is this all. The number in orgauizcd torriloriea is triple now what t waa four yeavs ago - while thousandi - white and blackj- jfSn us as the national arms po:j Luck tho insurgent linea. So much is shown afEnnatively i'.ml ncgativuly by the election. It is úot material to in i.iiro how theincreaso has been prodiiced, or to show that it would have b-een gic-.iter but for the ■,v,:r, which is probally true ; the important íact reinuiní di-inonatritted, that wo have in ro men uow than we had when the war beg.ui, that wo are not exbausted ndr iti p-ocess of exhaustion ; that we oré g.iining streugth, and may, if ned bo, rpsihrtain the contest indefinittly. Tiiis as to men. Material resources are now more complete flud abuudant than ever. Tlie national resources, then, are unexhaiisted, a:d, as we bolieve, inexbaustible. The puUlic pt;r, ose to ro-eetablifb ismd inaiutaiu tho imtional authority u:ichang;-d, and, as we believe, tineha'ig-oaDlo. Tlie m.-tnoerot coutinuiog the effort remains to cboose. KECOTIATION. On dariful consideration of all the uvidence accessible, it seems to me that no attempt at negotiation with tho insurgent leader could result i:i any good. He wonld accept of nothing short of the severance of the Uuion. Hisadeclarations to this effuct are eji p{; oit nnd oft repeuted. líe does aot attempt to decoive lis. Fio afford ui no excufe to deceive ouriêHw! We cannot volnntarih' yioid it. BoiW'. eu him and us the ipsue ie distinct, pimple, and inflexible. It i an isbüc wbich f Rn only be triod by wur, and decided by viatory. lf ïvo yi:ld we are be.iton. ïf ilia bouthern poplo f.iil him, he gti beatón Eirher wuy it wroild be the . victury and defeat fojtofcring war, WLt true, büwert-t, oí hiui wíio leads j the insurgen! enc, ia not necowsarily j true of tbcxe whn follow. Although he ear.iwt reocoept tho Union, they can. Bome cf ibtin wu knnw already dueire penco hnd reunión. The R.umher of joh may iuorense. ïiiey enn at auy , tno:veiit have pcnce, siniply bv faying down their anus atid mhmitting to the natiüijul rtiitlidnilj. aiidar tho Coustitu tion. Afítr í mueh, tho gorernniont couid nit, if it would, mainUiin the war gainst th ra. Tlio loyal peoplu would not Niistain or allow it. If questions should remain, we would adjnst them by. the peaeoiul means of legislalion, conference QWMts and voten, operating only in constitivtiona} and lawful channols. Somf cerlaiu and other ponsible Cjuesticir.s nro, and would be beyond tbc Fxccutive pover to adjust, as, for instinxv, the admis.sion oí niembers irato Congreps, and whatever might re quire the appropriatinu of möuoy. AMNESTV. Tho expcutivo power stself would be greatly dimiuislied by the ces6ation of actual tvar. Pardons aod remissionB of forfeiture, howevor, would still be withiu éxecutivo control. In what spirit and temper thïs oontrol would ba oxeruisod can be fairly judged of by the pat. A yer ago general pardon and arnn?sty upou epaci6od terms weie offered t') all, excopt certain desiguated classoa, and ït was at the aame time made knowu that the escepted classes were 6tiü wiihin oontemplation of speoi:il clemenoy. During tha yc ar many avüiled thertirtelves of tho general provisión, and man}' more wou ld, ouly that the of bad fitith in some led to such precHutionary measures a rendéred tbo praotioal procesa lesa easy and oertain. Duriüg tho samo time ako speoial pardoas have been granted to individuáis oí excepted classes, aod no voluutary app.ioatiou búa been deaiod. k TH RE AT. Thus praotically the door hns been for a full year opn to all, e.t;ept sueh as weie not in oondiiion t muke free choioe ; that is, auoh as ware in ousrtody or nder restraint. It is atill so opon to all. But the time inay come, probaWy will come, when publiu duty shall deiuand that it be clotied, and th:U iu lieu moro igoroug measurea than beretoforo shall im udopted. CONPITiONfl OP PBAOB. In presenting the abandonment of armed raiistanca to the natiopal authority on the part of the insurgeuts as the only iodicpeiisuble condition to ending the war on the part of the government, I retract nothing beretofore said as to elavery I rpe.it the declaration made a year ago, that wliile I remain in my prtaent position, I shall not attempt to retract or modify the Emancipation Proolamation. Nor shall I return to ■Uvery any porson who ia freo by the termí nf that proclama tioo, or bj any of the acts ol Oongress. I f the people hould, by whatever mode or means, maka it n exeeutivs duty to re-enplave ach persons, another, nd not I, must be thair instrument to perform it. ín itatirg a single oondition of peaoe, I men simply to say, that tho war wilí ceae on the part of tbo govtirnrnent wbenever it hall bsrs ce&std on ího part of those who beffao it.

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Old News
Michigan Argus