The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-16 00:00:00

: -.747.e.---..-••:-....w.,..-.........,,,.........•
the following being a summary statement of the condition -'_-,the'd77;7seion for closing those"" ports.-- '-iOalso obeying the
of the Department : ;.,dictates of prudence as well as the obligations of law, insteadi
"The revenue from all sources during the fiscal year, l 'of transcending, I have adhered to the act of Congress tor``'
ending June 30, 1861, including the annual permanent:: confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes. Ii
appropriation of $700,000 for the transportation of free' a new law upon the same subject shall be proposed its pro-
mail matter, was 1,t9, 019,206 40c., being about 2 per'eent. 1e,,; priet y will be duly considered. The Union must be preserved.
than the revenue. - and hence, all disposable means must be employed. We
"For 1860 the expenditures were thirteen millions six hull-;,should not be in haste to determine that radical and extrenn
dred and six thousand, seven hundred and fifty-nine dolls, e: "measures, which may reach the loyal as well as the disloyal.
and eleven cents, showing a decrease of more than eight p, i._ are indispensable. The inaugural address at the beginning:
cent,, as compared with those of the previous year, and of the Administration, and the Message to Congress at the
leaving an excess of expenditures over the revenue for the= late special session, were both mainly devotedito the domes-
last fiscal year of over five hundred and fifty-seven thousand_- tic controversy out of which the insurrection and con-
tour hundred and sixty-two dollars and seventy-one cent-% x sequent war have sprung. Nothing now occurs to add
The gross revenue for the year ending June 30, 1863, is esti- or subtract to orfrom the principle, or general purposes
mated at an increase of four per cent. on that of 1861, , stated and expressed in these documents. The last ray of
making eight millions six hundred and eighty-three thou- ;;hope for preserving the Union peaceably expired at the
sand dollars, to which should be added the earnings of the ' assault on Fort Sumter, and a general review of what has,
department in carrying free matter, viz., seven hundred occurred since may not be unprofitable. What was pain-I
thousand dollars—making nine million three hundred fully uncertain then is much better defined and more distinct!
and eighty-three thousand dollars. The total expenditures now, and the progress of events is plainly in the right direc-1
for 1863 are estimated at twelve million five hundred and 1,1 tion. The insurgents confidently claimed a strong support!
'
twenty-eight thousand dollars, leaving an estimated de- ',. from north of Mason's and Dixon's line, and the friends oft
.
ficiency of three millions one hundred and forty-five' the Union were not free from appehension on the point.;
thousand dollars to be supplied from the treasury in addi- -. This, however, was soon settled definitely and on the right!
tion to the permanent appropriation. t - side, South of the line noble little Delaware led off right!,
"The present insurrection shows, I think, that the exten kg. from the first. Maryland was made to seem against the,
Sion of this district across the Potomac River at the time of'!-Union, our soldiers were assaulted, bridges were burned and[
establishing the Capital here was eminently wise, and con-t':railroads torn up within her limits, and we were many days
sequently that the relinquishment of that portion of it whiche4 at one time, without the ability to bring a single regiment
lies within the State of Virginia was unwise and dangerous,: :over her soil to the capital. Now her bridges and railroads,
I submit for your consideration the expediency of regaining: are repaired and open to the Government. She already;
that part of the district and the restoration of the originagives seven regiments to the cause of the Union I
boundaries thereof through negotiations with the State ofis and none to the enemy, and her people at a
'Virginia. it
A., regular election have sustained the Union by a
" The report of the Secretary of the Interior with ths.:::glarger majority, and a larger aggregate vote than they ever
accompanying documents, exhibit the conditions of the r before gave to any candidate or any question.
oseveral branches of the public business pertaining to that Kentucky, too, for some time in doubt, is now decidedly,
department. The depressing influences of the insurrections that=
I think unchangeably, ranged on the side of the Union, I
have been especially felt in the operations of the patent and{-
" Missouri is comparatively quiet, and I believe cannot
general land offices. The cash receipts from the sale of public ~ ii-Again be overrun by the insurrectionists. These three Statesi
lands during the past year have exceeded the expenses ot" ,
Af Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri, neither of which,
our land system only about two hundred thousand dollars,
would promise a single soldier at first, have now an aggrel
(200,000 dots.) The sales have been entirely suspended in
trate of not less than 40,00 a men in the field for the Union ;
the Southern States, while the interruptions to the business
vhile of their citizens, certainly not more than a third num-
of the country and the diverting largo numbers of men from !
ber, and they doubtful whereabouts, and doubtful existence,
labour to military service, have obstructed settlements in the
hew states and territories of the north-west. , ire in arms against it. After a somewhat bloody struggle of
months, winter closes on the Union of Western Virginia,
" The receipts of the Patent-office have declined in nine cleaving them masters of their own country.
inonths about 100,000 dots., rendering a large reduction of N,
-. . . "An insurgent force of about 1,500 for months dominating!
the force employed necessary, to make it seli-sustaining.
the narrow peninsular region constituting the counties of
" The demands upon the Pension-office will be largely in-
r Accomac and Northampton, and known as the eastern
creased by the insurrection. Numerous applications for pen-f,'
shore of Virginia, together with some contisuous?
Sion;, based upon the casualties f the existing war, have al- ~.
Parts of Maryland, have laid down their arms and they
ready been made. There is reason to believe that many who' • - • )
, people there have renewed their allegiance to, and accepted I
are now upon the pension roll and in receipt of the bounty,
of the Government are in the ranks of the insurgent army,' the protection, of the old flag. This leaves no armed insur-
,
rection north of the Potomac or east of the Chesapeake.
or giving them aid and comfort.
'' "Also we have obtained a footing at each of the isolated 4'
" The Secretary of the Interior has directed a suspension.
of the payment of the pensions of such persons, upon proof.,
Points on the southern coast of Hatteras, Port Royal, Tybeeh
of their disloyalty. I recommend that Congress authorise!' Island, near Savannah, and Ship Island ; and we likewises
have some general accounts of popular movements in behalql
that officer to cause the names of such persons to be strickenl-
front the pension roll. . of the Union in North Carolina and Tennessee. Thesehq
demonstrate that the course of the Union is ad vanc-rg
" The relations of the Government with the Indian tribes!;' things
r-ing steadily southward. ?
have been greatly disturbed by the insurrection, especiallyp c
in the Southern Superintendency and in that of New Mexico. Since your last adjournment, Lieut.- General Scott hasp!
The Indian country south of Kansas is in possession of the..-,,retired from the head of the army. During his long life theg
insurgents from Texas and Arkansas. The agents of the 4
,4„,nation has not been unmindful of his merit, yet in calling totl
United tui States, appointed since the 4th of March for this 3,. nii
~;nd how faithfully, ably, and brilliantly he has served the
Superintendence, have been unable to reach their posts,[icountry from a time far back in our history, when few of the
While the most of those who were in office before that haveii!,,now living bad been born, and thence forward continually,
p:
esPollsed the insurrectionary cause, and assume to exereise,t< cannot but think that we are still his debtor. I submit
0
the powers of agents by virtue of the commissions from thet.= therefore for your consideration what further mark of recog.
rnition is due to him and ourselves as a grateful people. -i,
insurrectionists. It has been stated in the public press that
a Portion of these Indians have been organised as a military With the retirement of General Scott came the executive -;
force,A and are attached to the army of the insurgents.Vduty of appointing in his stead a Generab e.,,
in• Chief of the
",,hhough the Government has no official information upo4?army. It is a fortunate circumstance that neither in coup-
the
e subject, letters have been written to the Commissionereil nor country, was there, so far as I know, any differenceP.
4
Of Indian Affairs by several prominent chiefs, giving tlof opinion as to the proper person to be selected.
assurance of their loyalty to the United States, and express- ; The retiring Chief repeatedly expressed his judgment in
ing a wish for the presence of the Federal troops to protect A - in
„favour of General McClellan for the position, and this the
them.
It is believed that upon the re-possession of the Ination seemed to give a unanimous concurrence. The de• i
country by the Federal forces, the Indians will readily cease ignation of General McClellan is therefore in a consider-
all hostile demonstrations and resume their former relations Able degree the selection of the country and the Executive,
With the Government. and hence there is better reason to hope there will be given ;
, "Agriculture, confessedly the largest interest of the union. him the confidence and cordial support thus by fair implica• •
aas not a department, nor a ,bureau, but a clerkship only .: tion promised, and without which he cannot with so full
s assis.ited to it in the Government. While it is,
fortunate that „
:efficiency serve the country.
this interest is so independent in its nature as not to :It has been said that one bad General is better than two vi
thave demanded and extorted more from the Government, I - 'good ones, and the saying is true, if taken to mean no :11
respectfully ask Congress to consider whether something 'snore than that an army is better directed by a single
more cannot be given voluntarily with general advantage, as
s :nind, though inferior, than by two superior ones at i-:'.
all annual report exhibiting the condition of our agri- variance and cross purposes. And the same is true
cultural, commerce and manufactures, would present a fund s. .
of ',in all joint operations wherein those engaged can have '
information of great practical value to the country. ,
1 none but a common end in view, and can differ only as
While I make no suggestion as to details, I venture the ;
to the choice of means. In a storm at sea no one on board
°Pillion that an agricultural and statistical bureau might s
profitably be organized. s can wish the ship to sink, and yot not unfroqucntly all go
- ;-1
„ % down together because too many will direct, and no single ,
A ` The execution of the laws for the suppression of the ;losind can be allowed to control. It continues to develops,:
'tl,`
i .
African slave trade has been confided to the Department of *- that the insurrection is largely, if not exclusively, a war upon
thev Interior. It is a subject of congratulation that the efforts .-. the first principle of popular government—the rights of the
raffle
have been made for the suppression of this inhuman
~- people. Conclusive ev dence of this is found in the most'`.
l have been recently attended with unusual success. 7 ;-rave and maturedly considered public documents, as well as
Five vessels being fitted out for the slave trade have been ' -in the general tone of the insurgents. In these documents A,
:e_ized and condemned. Two mates engaged in the trade and q't we find the abridgment of the existing right of suffrage, and 'd
e.Personin equipping a vessel as a slaver have been convicted ss the denial to the people of all right to participate in the se- -,.
e.
aand subjected to the penalty of fine and imprisonment, and one .r. locum, of public officers, except the legislative body, advo-
a 'ft
ci
ePtain for taking a cargo of Africans on board his vessel has - sated with laboured arguments to prove that large control of ,W.
en convicted of the highest grade of offence under our t.p the Government by the people, is the source of all political
1°
4VB, the punishment of which is death.
i„.., evil. Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted at as a possible
e "The territories of Colorado, pacotah and Nevada, ' refuge from the power of the people. In my present positions.
created by the last Congress, have been organised, and civil I could scarcely be justified were Ito omit raising a warning. '
administration have been inaugurated therein under auspices 'l.
1 voice against this apppoach of returning despotism.
treason
gratifying, when it is considered that the leaven of
- "It is not needed nor fitting here that a general argument .1
easen was found existing in some of these new countries, -s. should be made in favour of popular institutions, but there .-
When the Federal officers arrived there. The abundant na- Z
s one point with its connections, not so hackneyed as most'
rural
te_resources of these territories, with the security and pro- .
others, to which I ask a brief attention. It is the effort to motion afforded by organised government, will doubtless -
Unite to them a large emigration, when peace shall restore , place capital on an equal footing with, if not above labour,l
the business of the country to its accustomed channels. I ..,,, in the structure of government. It is assumed that labour ..,
lis available only in connection with capital ; that nobody
"91'44 the resolutions of the legislature of Colorado, which
r labours unless somebody else owning capital somehow by.
ace the patriotic spirit of the people of the territory. So ...
'
~r the authority of the United States has been upheld in all s
the use of it induces him to labour. This assumed, it is
the territories, as it is hoped it will be in the future. I com-
abourers and thus induce them to work by their own con-A,
mend their interests and defence to the enlightened and -4next considered whether it is best that capital shall hire
~'. sent, or buy them, and drive them to it without their con- '.
generous care of Congress. I recommend to the
. sent. Having proceeded so far, it is naturally concluded
favourable consideration of Congress the interest of
th . that all labourers are either hired labourers, or what we call ~
bee e District of Columbia. The insurrection has ..
slaves, and further it is assumed that whoever is once a hired ;;;'
11. the cause of much suffering and sacrifice';
labourer is fixed in that condition for life. Now there is no .:
to its inhabitants, and :as they have no representative in -
•
''llgress, that body should not overlook their just claims-1 such relation between capital and labour as assumed, nor is
1113°12, the Government. At your late session a joint resolu-
, there any such thing as a free man being fixed foray
tlOll was adopted, authorising the President to take mea• ;;• life in the condition of a hired labourer. Both of these
es for facilitating a proper representation of the indus- assumptions are false, and all inferences from them ,
trial interests of the United States at the Exhibition of the are groundless. Labour is prior to, and independent -
try of all Nations, to be holden at London, in the year of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labour, and s,
1862. s - could never have exised if labour Thad not first existed.
" I regret to say I have been unable to give personal at- Labour is the superior of capital and deserved much the
.ration.!"
to this subject, a subject at once so interesting in higher consideration. Capital has its rights which are as .
itself, and so extensively and intricately connected with th worthy of protection as any other rights. Nor is it denied A`
, 4
material prosperity of the world. Through the Secretaries that there is, and probably always will be a relation between
Of State and of the Interior, a plan or system has been de- i labour and capital producing mutual benefits. The error is
N'ised, and partly matured, which will be laid before you. _in assuming that the whole labour of the community exists
"Under and by virtue of the act of Congress, entitled anl within that relation. A few men own capital, and that few
act to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes, '.: avoid labour themselves, and with their capital hire or buy'.
approved August 6th, 1861, the legal claims of certain per- - another few to labour for them. A large majority belong to
B°Us to the labour and service of certain other persons have neither class ; neither work for others, nor have others .
,-s
"come forfeited, and numbers of the latter thus liberated';, working for them. In most of the Southern States a majo-4,
Zte already dependent on the United States, and muss ~ rity of the whole people of all colours are neither slaves norms
,"'a provided for in some way. Besides this, it is not': masters, while in the Northern a largo majority are neither
impossible that some of the States will pass similar enact. ' hirers nor hired. Men, with their families, wives, sons;'
meats for their own benefit respectively, and by the opera- and daughters, work for themselves on their farms, in their
itliet-.
of which persons of the same class will be thrown upon . houses and in their shops, taking the whole product to
-.then for disposal, In such case I recommend that Congress" themselves, and asking no favours of capital on the on -.
hand, nor of the hired labourers or slaves on the other
provide for accepting such persons from such States, accord- A,
;
It is not forgotten that a considerable number of persons ins to some mode of valuation in lieu prstanlo of direct -"s'
- mingle their own labour with capital, that is, they labour ,
„`aes, or upon some other plan to be agreed on with such
' with their own hands, and also. buy or hire others to
St es,
respectively, that such persons on such acceptance by
labour for them ; but this is only a mixed,:andnot a distinct
the general Government be at once deemed free, and that in Is'.
an class. No principle stated is disturbed by the existence of
--Y event steps be taken for colonisins. both classes, or the .
°ne first mentioned, if the other shall not be brought into this mixed class.
existence, at some place or places in a climate congenial ti ,: " Again, as has already been said, there is not of neces-
them- It might be well to consider, too, whether the fret sity any such thing as the free hired laborer being fixed for,
coloured people already in the United States could not, se 's that condition for life. Many independent men everywhere
far as individuals may desire, be included in such coloniza- 7, in these States a few years back in their lives were hired
tion, To carry out the plan of colonization may involve the ' - laborers. The prudent, penniless begins the world by labor-
b acquiring of territory, and also the appropriation of money i' ing for wages awhile, saves a surplus by which to buy tools
eYcnel that to be expended in the territorial acquisition.' -or land for himself, then labors on his own account another
11,-, •
-.1.1ng practised the acquisition of territory for nearly sixth •,.; while, and at length hires another new beginner to help him.
Years, the question of constitutional power to do so is no: This is the just and generous and prosperous system which,
longer an open one with us. -:f opens the way to all, gives hope to all, and consequent energy
" The power was at first questioned by Mr. Jefferson, F'l and progress and improvement of their condition to all. No
Who, however, in the purchase of Louisiana, yielded his " men living are more worthy to be trusted than those who
°elalples on the plea of great expediency. If it be said that;:.; toil up on from poverty, none less inclined to take or touch
that the only legitimate object of acquiring territory is t( aught which they have not honestly earned. Let them'
furnish homes for white men, this measure effects that ob- :4 beware of surrendering a political power which theyi
feet; for the emigration of coloured men leaves additional t already possess, and which, if surrendered, will surely be!
,00n for white men remaining or coming here. used to close the door of advancement against such as they,!
" kr. Jefferson, however, placed the importance of pro,.; and to fix now disabilities and burdens upon them till
I
than
Louisiana more on political and commercial grounds, c, all of liberty shall be lost.
en providing room for population. • " From the first taking of our national census to the last,:
I.l' On the whole proposition, including the appropriation ::.are 70 years, and we find our population at the end of the
al l'lcney with the acquisition of territory, does not the expc- i period eight times as great as it was at the beginning. The,
O°7Y amount to absolute necessity, that without which the increase of those other things which men deem desirable has
Nrernment cannot be perpetuated. The war continues. '=been even greater. We thus have, at one view, what the
In. ' " .
thoinsurrectionconsidering the policy to be adopted for suppressing Popularprinciple, applied to Government
PoPu through the
machinery of the States, and the Union, has produced in a
th , I have been anxious and careful that
es.'s' a
_ I
4 given time, and also what, if firmly maintained, it promises
inevitable conflict for this purpose shall not de
gen 4.s into a violent and remorseless revolutionary" .
for the future. There are already among us those who, i i
, ruggle. I have, therefore, in every case thought''. the Union be preserved, will live to see it contain 250,000,000.
i
.The struggle of to-day is not altogether for to-day. It is
Pant
to keep the integrity of the Union proud-,
Part, asthe primary object of the contest. On our for a vast future also.
,_ leaving all questions which are not of vital military ' " With a firm reliance on Providence, all the more firm
~.1'? te nee to the more deliberate action of thel'Legislature. ;Nand earnest, let us proceed in the great task which events-
'n
blockadeth exercise of my best discretion, I have adhered to the, have devolved upon us.
~.of the ports held by the insurgents, instead of put-. " ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
_ Lug al force by proclamation the law of Congress enacted at (i Washington, Dec. 3, 1861,,