The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-12-11

cause of much suffering and sacrifice to its
/ inhabitants, and as they have no representa-
tires in Congress, that body should not over
1 look their Just claims upon the Government
+ At your late session, joint resolution was
adopted authorizing the President to take
measures for facilitating proper representa-
+ tcn Of the industrial interests Of the United
States at the Exhibition Of the Industry of all
Nations, to be holden at London in the year
1862. | regret to say have been unable to
give personal attention TO this subject; sub
iect at once so interesting in itself, and so ex-
tensiyely and intricately connected with the
material prosperity of the world. Through
the Secretaries Of State and Of the Interior a
plan or system has been devised and partly
matured, which will be laid before you.
Under and by virtue Of the act of Congress,
entitled an act to coniscate property used for
insurrectionarY purposes, approved Aug. 6,
1861, the legal claims Of certain persons to the
labor and services Of certain other persons
have been forfeited ana numbers Of the lat
ter thus liberated, are already dependent on
the United States, anil must be provided for
in some way Besides this, it is not impossi-
BE that some of the States will pass similar
cnactmcnts for their own benefit respectively,
and bv the operation Of which persons of the
same class will be thrown upon them for dis
posal In such case, recommend that Con-
/ grcss pIoyide for accepting such persons from
/ States according TO some mode of valuation
/ in UeH pyol0nio of direct taxes, or upon some
| other plan to be agreed upon with such States
respectively that such persons en- such ac-
/ ccptauce 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 ether shall not be
! brought into existence, at some place or places
in q climate congenial to them. / might be
( well 10 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 ont the plan
/ Of colonization may involve the acquiring Of
territory, and also the appropriation of money
! beyond that to be expended in the territorial
! tacqUisiton. Having practised the acquisition
Of territory for nearly so years, the question
| of constitutional power to DO so is no longer
/ an open one with US. The power was at first
questioned bv Mr.. Jefferson, who, however,
! in the purchase Of Louisiana, yielded his scru-
1 pies on the plea Of great expedency If it be
said that the only legitimate object Of acqur-
ing territory is to furnish homes for white men
this measure effects that object, for the emi
grafton Of colored 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 ground, than on providing room
for population On this whole proposition,
including the appropriation Of money with the
acquisition Of territory, does not the expedi-
ency amount to absolute necessity that with
out which the Government cannon be pcrpet-
uatcd if the war continues.
In considering the policy to be adopted for
suppressiug the nsurrection, have been anx-
ious and careful that the inevitable conflict fer
this purpose shall not degenerate into a violent
and remorsclcss revolutionary struggle | 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 my best discretion have
adhered to the blockade Of the ports held by
the insurgents, instead of putting in force by
proclamation the law of Congress enacted at
the late session for closing these ports. So
alsc obeying the dictates Of prudence as well
the obligations Of law, instead Of uanScending
have adhered to the act Of Congress to con
tiscate property used for insurrectonary pur-
poses. If new law upon the same subject
, shall be proposed, its prupriety will be duly
considered.
! The Union must be preserved, and hence all
| indispensable means must be employed. We
/ shall not be in haste to determine that radical
and extreme measure. which may reach the
/ loyal as well as the dislCyal, are Indispensable
! The Inaugural address at the beginning Of
/ the Admins ration and the message to Con-
gress at the late special session, were botl
mainly devoted to the domestic controversy
out of which the instruction and consequent
war have sprung.
Nothing more occurs to add or subtract K
or from the principles of general purposes stat
} ed and expressed in that document. The las
ray of hope for preserving the Union, peacea.
BY, expired at the assault upon Fort Sumter
and general review Of what has occurred
since may not be unproftabe
What was painfully uncertain then, is mucl
better defined and more distinct now, and tht
+ progress Of events is plainly in the right di
rcction. The insurgents confidently claimed
a strong support from North Of Mason and Dix
on line, and the friends of the Union were
not free from apprehension on that point
This, however, was soon settled definitely ant
on the right side.
South of the line, noble little Delaware lcC
off right from the first. Maryland was made
to seem against the Union. Our soldiers wer
assaulted, bridges wer burned, and railroad
torn up within her limits, and we were man,
days at one time, without the ability to brin!
a single regiment over her soil 10 the Capital
Now her bridges and railroads are repaired
and open to the Government. She already
i gives seven regiments to the cause of the Uniol
and none TO the cnomy, and her people at
regular election have sustained the Union b,
a large majority, and a larger aggregate vot
than they ever before gave to any candidate
on any question.
f Kentucky too, for some time in doubt j
now decidedly, and, I think, unchangcably
/. ranged on the side of the Union. Missouri i
comparatively quiet and believe cannotagail
be ovcrrun by the lnsurrectonists Thes
three States of Maryland, Kentucky and Mis-
souri,, neither Of which would promise sin
i,