Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-06

would present q fund of info NATION of grea
practical value to the country. While max
no suggestions as to details, 7 venture tn
opinion that an agricultural and statistica
bureau might proftably be organized
The execution of the laws for the suppress
sion of the African slave trade has been con
fined to the Department of the Interior.
is subject of congratuatlon that the effort
which have been made for the suppression O
this inhuman traffic have been recently atten
ded with unusual success. Five vessels be
ing fitted out for the slave trade have bee,
seized and condemned. Two masters engar
ed in the trade, and one person equipping th,
vessel as SLAYER, have been convicted ant
subjected to the penalty of fine and imprison
ment, and one captain for the taking up
Africans on board his vessel, has been convic
ted of the highest grade of offense under ou,
laws, the punishment of which is DEATH
The Territories of Colorado, Dakotah and
Nevada, created by the last Congress, have
been organized, and civil administration
been inaugurated therein, under auspi ce.
especially gratifying, when it is considered
that the leaven oftre4so was found exist.
| ing in some of these new countries when ti.e
Federal officers arrived there. The abundan,
natural resources Of these Territories, with
the security and protection afforded by an
organized government, will doubtless invite
to them large emigration, when peace shall
restore the business of the country to its ac-
customed channels.
submit the resolutions of the Legisla-
ture of Colorado, which evinced the patriotic
spirit OF the people of the Territory So far
the authority of the United States has been
upheld in all the Territories, as it is boped it
will be in the future. commend their interest
and defense to the enlightened and generous
care Of Congress-
l recommend to the favorable considera
ton Of Congress the interests of the District
of Columbia. The insurrectIon has been the
cause of much suffering and sacrifice to the
inhabitants, and as they have no repre-
sentatives in Congress that body should not
overlook their just claims upon the Govern
ment.
At your last session, Joint resolution was
adopted authorizing me to take measures for
facilitating proper rep, esentation of the IL
dustrial interests of the United States at the
exhibition of the Industry of all Nations, to
be held in London in the year 1862. | re.
gret to have been unable to give personal
attention TO this subject-a subject at once
so important in ITSELF SO extensively and in
tricately connected with the industrial an
material prosperity of the world. Through
the Secetarics of State and the Interior, Il
plan or system has been devised and partly
matured which will be laid before you
Under, and by virtue of the act of Con-
gress, enti led AN Act to confiscete prop
erty used for insurrectlonary purposes"
approved August 9th, 1861, legal claims
OF certain persons to the labor and services
OF certain other persons have become forfeit
ed. and numbers of the latter thus liberated,
are already dependent on the United States
and must be provided for in some way.
Besides this, It is not impossible that some
of the States will pass similar enactments for
their own benefit, respectively, by the opera
ton of which persons of the same class will
be thrown upon them lor disposal In such
case, | recommend that Congress provide for
accepting such persons from such States
accor ding to some mode of valuation, in lieu,
pro tanto, of direct tax, or upon some other
plan to be agreed upon with each State
respectively; that such persons, on such
acceptance 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
brought into existence at the same place or
places-in climate congenial to them. 1t
might be well to consider, too, whether the
free colored people already in the United
States could not, so far as individuals may
desire, be included in such colonization.
To carry out the plan of colonization may
involve the acquiring of territory, and also an
appropriation of money beyond that to be
expended in territorial acquisition Having
practiced the acquisition of territory for near
ly fifty years, the question of constitutional
power to do so is no longer an open one
The power was first questioned by Mr.. JEFF
ferson, who, however, in the purchase of Lou
isiana, yielded his scruples, on the plea of
great expedience IF it be said the only le-
gitimatc object of acquiring territory is to fur
nsh homes for white men, this measure ef-
fects that object-for the emigration of color
ed men leaves additional room for white men
remaining or coming here Mr.. jefferson,
however, placed the Importance of procuring
Louisiana more on political and commercial
grounds than on providing room for popula-
tion. On this whole proposition, including
the appropriation of money and the acquisi-
ton Of territory, does not the expediency
amount to absolute necessity THAT without
which the Government cannot be perpetuated
In considering the policy to be adopted for
the insurrection, have been anx-
ious and careful that the inevitable conflict for
this purpose shall not degenerate into violent
and remorselesss revolutionary struggle. Il
have, therefore, thought proper to keep the
integrity of the Union prominent, as the pri-
mary object of the contest on our part, leav-
ing all questions which are not of vital mill
tary Importance to the more deliberate action
of the legislature. In the exercise of my best
have adhered to blockade of
the ports held by the insu1g gents instead of
putting in f,rce by proclamation the laws of
Congress, enacted at the late session, for clos
ing them.
Also obeying the dictates of prudence, as
well as the obligations of law, instead of trans
cending have adhered to the act of Congress
to confiscate property used for insurrectionary
purposes. If new law upon the same sub
ject shall be proposed, its propriety will be
fully considered. The Union must be pre-
serusd, and hence all defensible means must
be employed. We should not be in haste to
determine what radical and extreme measures,
which may reach the loyal as well as the dis
loyal, are Indispensable, The inaugural ad-
dress, at the beginning of the Administration
and the message to Congress at the la:e
special session, were both mainly devoted to
the domestic controversy out OF which the in
surrection aud consequent war have sprung
Nothing now occurs to add to or subtract
from the principles or general purposes stated
and expressed in those documents.
The last ray of hope for preserving the
Union peaceab!y expired at the assault UPON
Fort Sumter, and general review of what
has occurred since may net be unproE'shle
What was painfully uncertain then is much
better defined and more distinct now, aad
progress of events is plainly in the rghe di-
rection. The insurgents confidently clai l,.d
strong support from North of Masou's aud
Dixor's line, and the friends Of the Tn on
were not free from apprehension on this
point. This, however, was soon settled def
nitely, and on the right side. South of the
line, noble little Delaware led off right from
the first. Marylaad was made to serve
aga nSt the Union. Our soldiers were rs