Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-12-12
NUMBER 80.

muCn suffering anu SdCiiuCo W ite iuuooit-
ants, and as they have no representation in
Congress, that body should not overlook their
lust claim upon the Government. At your
last session Joint resolution was adopted
authorizing the President to take measures
for facilitating a proper representation of
the industrial interests Of the United States
at the Exhibition of the Industry Ct all Ma
tions to be holden at London in the year
1862. Is
| regret to say have been unable to give
personal attention to this subject. A subject
at once so interesting in itself and SO ex-
tensively and intimately connected with the
material prosperity of the world. Through
the Secretary of State and Interior plan or
system has been devised and partly matursd,
and which will bc laid before you.
Under and by virtue OF the Act of Con-
gress entitled an act to confscate property
used for insurrectienary purposes, approved
August 9th, 1861, the legal claims Of cer-
tain persons to the labor and service OF cer-
tain othcr persons have become forfeited,
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 tho States will pass similar enactments
for their own benefits, respectively, and by
operation of which persons of the same class
will be thrown upon them for disposal /; in
such case | recommend that Congress
provide for accepting such persons from
such States according to some mode of VAL
uation in their pro tante Of direct taxes. or
refer some other plan to be agreed on with
each State respectively, that such per-
sons, on such acceptance by the General
Government be at once deemed free; and
that, in any event, steps be taken for colon
izing the other classes, or the one first men,
toned of the other shall not be brought into
existence al some place or places in cli-
mate congenial to them. .-..
1t might be we'll to consider, too, whether
the free colored people already in the United
States could not, SO far as individuals may
be concerned be included in such COLOMBIA
ton. TO carry out the plan of colonization
may involve the acquiring of territory, and
also the appropriation Of money beyond
that to be expended in the territorial scqui-
sition. .......l .-...5...-
Having prscticed the acquisition Of terri
tory for nearly sixty years, the question Of
Constitutional powers to do so is no longer
an open one with US. The power was ques-
toned at first by Mr.. Jefferson, who, how
ever, in the purchase Of Louisiana, yielded
his scruples on the plea Of great expediency.
If it be said that the only legitimate OBJ
iect of acquiring territory is to furnish homes
for white men, this measure effects that OBJ
iect; for the emigration of colored men leaves
additional room for white men remaining
or coming here. Mr. Jefferson, however,
placed the Importance of procuring Louisi-
ana more on political and commercial grounds
than on providing room for population.
On this whole proposition, including the ap-
preparation Of money with the acquisition OF
territory, does not the expediency amount to
absolute necessity-that, without which the
Government itself cannot be perpetuated. The
war continues. In considering the policy to be
adopted for suppressing the insurrection, have
been anxious and careful that tho inevitable
conflict for this purpose shall not degenerate in
TO a violent and remorseless revolutionary strug-
gle. l have, therefore, thought it proper to
keep the integrity of the Union prominent as
the primary object of tho contest on our part
leaving all questions which are not of vital mil
itary Importance to the more deliberate action
of the Legislature. Ihave adhered to the block
ade of the ports held by the insurgents, instead
of putting in force, by proclamation, the law Of
Congress enacted Mt the late session for closing
those ports. So, also, obeying the dictates Of
prudence, as well as the obi cations Of law, in.
stead of transcendiug have adhered to tho act
of Congress to confscate property used for in
surrectionary purposes. If a new law upon tho
same subject shall be proposed its propriety will
he duly considered.
Tho Union must be preserved, and hence all
indispensable means must be employed. We
should not be In haste to determine what radical
and extreme mea sures, which may reach the 10y
al as we'll as tho disoyal, are indispensable.
Tho Inaugural Address at the beginning Of
the Administration, and the message to Con-
gress at the late special session, were most main
ly devoted to the domestic controversy, out OF
which the insurrection and consequent war have
sprung. Nothing now occurs to add or substract
to or from the principles and general purposes
stated and expressed in those documents.
The last ray of hope for preserving the Union
peacenble, expressed al the assault upon Sum-
ter, and n general review of what has occurred
since may be improbable. What was painfully
uncertain then is much better defined and moro
distinct now and the progress of events points
plainly in tho right direction. The insurgents
confidently claimed strong support from north
of Mason's and DixOn's line, and the friends Of
tho Union were not free from apprehen sion mp
on the point. This, however, was soon settled
clearly and on the right side. -...
South of the line, noble little Delaware led OF
right from the first. Maryland was made to seem
against the UniOn-our soldiers were assaul ted
bridges were burned, and railroads torn up
within her limits, and we were many days, at
one time, without the ability to bring single
| regiment over her soil to the Capitol.
Now her bridges and railroads. are repaired
/ and open to the Government g she already give .
seven regiments 10 tne cause Oh Tue Union, uuu
mono to the enemy and her people at a.regu-
lar election have sustained the Union by o largo
majority and a larger aggregate vote than they
ever before gave to any candidate, or any ques-
ton. Kentucky, too, for some time in doubt, is
now decidedly and, think, uncha angea bly, rang
} ed on the side of the Union. Missouri is COM
| paratvely quiet, and beheve cannot again be
r overrun by insurrectionists.
Three States, of Maryland, Kentucky and
: Missouri, neither Of which would promise q sin
gle soldier at first, have now an aggregate OF
not less than forty thousand in the field for the
Union, while of their citizens certainly not more
than a third of that number, and they Of doubt
full whereabouts and doubtful existence, are in
arms against it. After a somewhat bloody
struggle of months winter closes on the Union
, people of Western Virginia, leaving them mas
s ters of their own country. An insurgent force
of about 800, for months dominating the mar
t row penin sula region constituting the counties
of Accomac and Northampton, and known IS
the Eastern Shore of Virginia, together with
, some contiguous parts of Maryland, have laid
down their arms, and the people thero have re-
! newed their allegiance to and acceptance of the
old flag. This leaves no armed insurrectionists
, north OF tho Potomac or east of the Chesapeake.