Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-12-04

sons to the labor and service of certain
other persons have become forfeited. and
numbers of the latter thus liberated are al
ready dependant on the United States, and
must be provided for in some way. Besides
this, 1t IS not impossible that some of the
States will pass similar enactments for
their own benefit respectively, and by the
operations which persons of the sam class
will be thrown upon then for disposal
In such case l recommend that Congress
provide for accepting such persons from
such States, according 10 the same mode of
valuation, in lieu pr0 tgsi0 of direct t,yes.
or upon some other plan to be agreed upon
with such States respectively; and that
such persons on such acccptances By the
General Government, be at once deemed
free, and that in any event, steps be taken
for colonizing both classes. or the one FIRST
mentioned if the other shall not be brouobt
into existence, at som place or places in a
climate cOngenial to them. 1t might be
well to consider, teo, whether the free col
Ored people already in the United States
could not. so far as individuals may desire.
be included in such colonization. To car
~ cut the plan of colonizing may involve
the acquiring of territory, and also the an.
preparation of money beyond that to be ex-
pended in the Territorial acquisition. Hay.
ing Praeticcd the aquisition Of territory for
nearly fifty years, the question of Ccnsti-
~tutional power to do so is no longer an
open enc with US. The power was first
questioned by Mr.. Jefferson. who. how
ever, in the purchase of Louisiana Welded
his scruples on the plea of great expediepcy.
1t has been said that the only legitimate
object of acquiring territory is to furnish
homes for white men, This measure effects
that object, for the emigration of coIored
men leaves additional room for white men
remaining or coming here. Mr.. Jefferson.
however, placed the importance of procur-
ing Louisiana more on political and COM
mercial grounds than On providing room
for population. On this whole proposition.
including the appropriation of money with
the acquisition of territory, does not the ex-
pediency amount to absolute necessity that
without which the Government cannot be
perpetual.
TIE SUPPRESSION OF THE REBELLION.
In considering the policy to be adopted
for supprcssing the Instruction. I have
been anxious and careful that the inevita.
bic conflict for this purpose shall not de-
generate into a violent and remorseless rev.
olutionary struggle. l have, therefore. in
every case, thought it proper to keep the
integrity Of the Union prominent as the
primary object of the contest on our part,
leaving all questions which are not of vital
military Importance to the more deliberate
action Of the legislature.
In the exercise of ny best discretion. l
have adhered to the blockade of the ports
held by the insurgents, instead of putting
in force by proclamation, the law Of Con-
gress enacted at the late session. for clos
ing those ports, also obeying the dictates
Of prudence as well as the obligations of
law.
Instead of transcending. [ ha We adhered
TO the act Of Congress to confscate proper
ty used for insurrectionary purposes. If
a new law upon the same subject should
be proposed, its propriety will be duly con-
sldered. The Union must be preserved,
and hence all dispensable means must be
employed.
We should not be in haste to determine
what radical and extreme measures which
may reach the loyal as we'll as the disloyal.
are Indispensable.
The Inaugural address at the beginning
of the administration, and the Message to
Congress at the late special session, were
both mainly devoted to the domestic contro-
Yersy, out of which the insurrection and
consequent war have sprung. Nothing
now occurs to add or subtract to or from
the principles or general purposes stated
and expressed in those documents.
A REVIEW.
The last ray of hope for preserving the
Union peaceably expired at the assault up
on Fort Sumter, and a general review of
what has occurred since may not be IN
profitable. What was painfully uncertain
then, is much better defined and more dis
tinct now, and the progress of events is
plainly in the right direction. The insur-
gents confidently claimed q strong support
from north of Mason & Dixon's line, and
the friends of the Union were not free from
apprehension on this point. This, howev-
er, was soon settled definitely and on the
right side. South of the Line noble little
Delaware lea eff right from tie first
Maryland was made to seem against the
Union. Our soldiers were assaulted.
bridges were burned and Railroads torn up
within her limits, and We were many DAYS
at one time without the ability to bring q
single Regiment over the soil to the Capt.
tai. Now her bridges and Railroads are
repaired and opened to the Government
She already gives seven Regiments to the
cause Of the Union. and none to the enc
my, and her people at a regular election
have sustained the Union by a large major
lily, and a larger aggregate vote than they
ever before gave to any candidate or any
question. Kentucky too, for sometime in
doubt, is now decidedly, and l think IN
changeably ranged on the side of the Union.
Missouri is comparatively quiet, and 1 be-
lieve cannot again be overrun by the insur-
gents. These three States, Maryland,
Kentucky and Missouri, neither of which
would promise a single soldier at frst,have
now on aggregate of not less than 10000
in the field for the Union, while Of their
citizens not more than a third in number
are among the insurgents, and they of
doubtful whereabouts and existence.
After a somewhat bloody struggle of
months winter closes on the Union people
of Western Virginia, leaving them masters
of their own country. An insurgent force
of about 800, for months dominating the
narrow peninsular region constituting the
counties of Accomac and Northampton and
known as the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
together with some contiguous parts of
Maryland, have laid down their arms and