The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-12-13
The President,s Mess.ge.

The Prestdent's Messages
The brevity Of, the Message will ensure
its ca reful perusal by everybody who feels
an interest in public affairs, and therefore
we shall not give general synopsis Of all
its points, but con6ne ourselves to resume
of what is said upon the vital question of
slavery, as affected by the war. Upon this
subject the President is remarkably conser-
vative, in some respects. The various pro.
positions of ultra politicians, that have been
foreshadowed in party organs for month
past--such as to arm tie slaves, to enrol
them as troops, and to declare general
emancipation--the President does not even
dignity with notice. We suppose, there
fore, that there is no longer any doubt but
the policy of the President henceforward is
that so pointedly declared in the proclama-
tion Of Gen. Sherman to the people of South
Carolina, in the proclamation of Gen. Dix
to the people of the Eastern shore OF VIr"
ginia, and in the orders issued by Gen.
Halleck in Missouri.
The President states that under the act
of the last session, providing for the con6s-
cation of the slaves employed by the rebels
in military works, a large number of slaves
have been con6scated; he expects that as
the war progresses, and as state legislatures
shall enact similar laws, this number OF
slaves, thrown upon the hands of the gov.
eminent, will be so largely increased that
some provision for them will be absolutely
necessary. He suggests that the slaves
thus copiscated bystate authority, be taken
by the United States and paid for; that
these. negroes, thus accepted by the United
States, as we'll as those confscated directly
by the federal government, be declared free,
and that both classes be sent out of the
country, and colonized in some congenial
cline. In connection with this proposition,
his urgent recommendation for the immedi
ate recognition Of the independence of Hayti
and Liberia, may have some significance as
part ois the scheme for the deportation Of
the liberated Africans. The President, not
content with recommending that the eman-
cipation of confscated cbattels should be
followed by their removal from the country,
boldly suggests, that the free negro
population of the country, as far as may
be practicable, should be included in any
scheme Of colonization that may be adopted
His suggestions and recommendations on
this point look to riddance of the negro
population as necessarily part of any and
every plan of their con6scation. If no other
colony be open fof the reception of these
negroes be suggests the purchase OF some
territory for that purpose. He avows that
his policy has been and will be during the
wal, I" to keep the integrity of the Union
prominent as the primary object OF the con-
test" leaving all questions, not of vital mil
itary Importance to the deliberate action Of
the legislative department of the govern
ment. And with the single admonition to
Congress that we should not hastily deters
mine what radical or extreme measures are
indispensable, particularly when such meas
ures may affect the loyal as we'll as the dialoy-
al, be closes all reference to slavery, and the
confscation of slave property. The present
act of Congress authorizes the confscation
of slaves employed in the military service Of
the rebels, and by emitting to ask for larger
powers, and declaration that that author
ity will throw upon the hands OF the Gov
ernment more negroes than can be provided
for, tacitly advises that the law be left as it
now is.
The message is remarkable for its omis-
sion to notice, in even the remotest manner,
the tariff, the direct tax the exchange OF
prisoners, the trials of the privateers, the ar
rest of Mason and Slidell. To neither of
these subjects does the President refer, and
it is to be regretted that he has thought
proper to withhold his views.
On the whole, the message will be gen.
orally approved for its moderation, and for
its calm review of our national affairs.