New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-07
MESSAGE FROM The PRESIDENT,
HIGHLY IMPORTANT PROPOSITION
The Gradual Abolition Of Slavery
A VIGOROUS BLOW At THE HOPES Of THE REBELS

wA,HrSoros, Thursday. March 6, 1867
The President to-day transmitted to Congress the
following message:
F'eilop-eitisens Of the Senate and Hou~ Of Rep
resentatires.
l recommend the adoption Of joint resolution by
your honorable bodies, which shall DO substantially
as follows
Resolred, That the United States ought to CO.
operate with any State which may adopt gradual
abolishmeut of Slavery, giving to such State pecu-
mary aid TO be used by such State in its discretion to
compensate for the inconvenieDces public aud pri.
vate produced by such change Of system.
II the proposition contained in the resolution does
not meet the approval Of Congress and the country,
there is the end; but if it does command such ap-
prevail deem Of importance that the States and
people Immediately interested should at once be dis
tinc.y notified Of the fact that they may begin to
consider whether to accept or reject it.
The Federal Government would find its highest in
terea in such measure as Of the most efficient
means of sefpreSvation. The leaders Of the ex.
sting insurrection entertain the hope that the Gov
ornmen, will ultimately be forced TO acknowledge
the independence Of some part Of the Unaffected re-
gon, and that all the Slave States north Of such
parts will then say "The Union for which we have
struggled being already gone, We now choose to go
with the Southern section"
To deprive them Of this hope, substantially ends
the rebellion, and the initiation Of emancipation COM
ple.cly deprves them Of it. As to all the States
initiating it, the point is not that all the States tolsr
a,ing Slavery, would very soo'. il at ALL initiate
emancipation, but that, while the offer is equally
made to all, the more Northern shall by such initia-
ton, mako 1t certain to the more Southern, that in
no event will the former join the latter in their
proposed Copfedersey.
say " initiation because, in my judgment, grnd
ual, and not sudden, emancipation is better for ALL
In the mere financial pecuniary view, any Mem
Der Of Congress, with the census tables and tho
Treasury reports before him, can readily for him
self how very soon the current expenditures Of this
war would purchase at fair valuation, all the slaves
in any named State. Such a proposition on the part
Of the General Government sets up no claim Of u
right, by Federal authority, TO interfere with Slavery
within State limits referring, as il does, the abso-
lutte control Of the subec, in each case to the State
and ia people Immediately interested.
1t is proposed rs a matter Of perfectly free choice
with them. In tho Annual Message, last December,
thought fit to say: 1.-THE Union must be preserved
and hence all indispensable means must DO en-
ployed." said this not hastily, but deliberately
War has been and continues to be, an indispensable
means 10 this end. A practical ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
the national authority would render the war unneces
cary, and it would at once cease.
H. however, resistance continues, tho war mus
incidents which may attend and all the ruin whicr
may follow it. Such may seem indispensable, OF
may obviously promise great efficiency toward ending
tho struggle, must and will come
The proposition now made, though All offer only
~ HlaI 10 Nv ""'''N w ''"- ''
the pecunary consideration rendered would not be Of
more value to tho States and private persons con-
cered, than are the institution and property IN IT, IN
the present aspect Of affairs
While il Ia true that the adoption OF the proposed
resolution would 10 merely initiatory, and not WITHIN
h.slf a practical measure. it Is recommended IN the
han. That |, would soon lead to important results
In full view Of my great responsibility to my d0d
and to my Country earnestly beg the attention OF
Congress and the people to the subject.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The Presidents Message excited deep interest III
the House to-day. 1t was evident that q document
., .ucb an important character was not generay
.oticipatsd. The reading was called Tor oy MI.
Stevens of Pennsylvania ind on his motion re'erreu
>" ,hs Committee Of the Whole on the State OF tho
Tnon in which it will be discussed.
Some Of the members, apparently not fully under,
.,.ndiuu Il ns pronounced from the desk, psrnsed
,hs manuscript at their seats The subject therein
G.cu,.ed forms to. night theme Of earnest CONVEX
sa,;on,. The Message of similar Character trans
,,;,,ed 70 the Senate WINS not read.