Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-12-09

recommendation Of this plan. lis timely
adoption, doubt not, would bring restora-
ton, and thereby stay both. And, not
withsialding this plan, the recommends
ton that Congress provide by law for COM
pensating any State which may adopt the
emancipation, before this plan shall have
been acted upon, is hereby earnestly re-
newed
Such would only be an advance part Of
the plan, and the same arguments apply
to both. This plan is recommended as a
means, not in conclusion of, but additional
to all oilers for restoring and preserving
the national authority throughout the
Union. The subject is presented excu-
siyely III its economical aspect.
The plan would, | am confident, secure
peace more speedily than can be done BY
force alone, while it would lose less, con-
siderng the amounts and manner Of pay
nent, and the amounts would be easier paid
than will be the addit onal cost of the war,
if we rely solely upon force. 1t is most
likely that it would cost no blood at all.
The plan is proposed as permanent eonstitu-
tional law. 1t cannot become such with
cut tbs concurrence, first, o. two-thirds Of
Congress and afterwards, threefourths Of
the States.
The requisite three-quarters ofthe States
will necessarily include seven Of the slave
STATES. If obtained, it will give assuran-
ces Of their sevelaIly adopting emancipation
at no distant day, on the new constitutional
terms. This assurance would end tie
strugglp now, and save the Union forever.
l do not forget the gravity Of paper
addressed to the Congress of the nation by
the Chief Magistrate of the nation, nor do
forgeI that some few are my seniors, or
that maay of you have more experience
than | in the conduct of public affairs, yet
trust that, in view of tho great response
bility resting upon me, you will perceive
no want of respect to yourselves in any I'M
due earnestness | may seem to display.
Isit doubted, then, that the plan l pro-
pose, if. adopted, will shorten the war, and
thus lessen its expenditures Of money and
blood Is it doubted that it would restore
tie national prosperity, and perpetuate it
indefinitely? Is it doubted that We here,
Congress and Executive can secure its
adoption! VIII not the good people res
pond 10 a united and earnest appeal from
us2 Can we-can they-by another
means,eo certainly or SO speedily assure
these vital objects
We can succeed only by concert. 1t is
not, can any of us imagine better? But
can any Of us do better? Object whatso-
ever is possible, still the question recurs,
Can we do better? The dogmas Of the
quiet past are inadequate to the stormy
present.
The occasion is piled high with diffical-
ty, and must raise with the occasion. As
our case is new, so we must think and act
anew. We must disnthrall ourselves, and
we shall save our country.
Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history.
We Of this Congress will be remembered
in spite of ourselves. No personal signiii
cance or insignfcance can spare one or
another of us. The fiery trial through
which we pass viii light US down in honor
or dishonor to the latest generation. We
say wa are for the Union. The world will
not forget that, while we say this, we know
how to save the Union The world knows
we do know how to save it. We-esen
we-hold the power and bear the response
bllity. In giving freedom to the slave we
ensure freedom to the free,-honorabIe
alike 10 what we give aud what we pre-
serve. We shall molly save or meanly lose
the best hose of the earth.
Other means may succeed. This could
not fail. The way is plain, peaceful, gen
erous, Just--a way which if followed, the
world will applaud, and God must Forever
bless.
(Sgned,) ABRAHAM LINcoLS.
Washington, Dee. /, 1862.