Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-12-05

whites of the whole country and there would be
Tut one eolored to seven whites. Could the one
Ia any way greatly disturb the severn There are
many communities now having more than enc free
coiored person to seven whites. and this without
any apparent Consciousness of evil from it. The
District OF Columbia and the States Of Mary.
land and Delaware are all in this condition. The
District has more than one free colored 20 six
whites, and yet IL its frequent petitions to Con-
gress believe it has never presented the presence
Of Tree eSlored persons as one of its grievances
But why should emancipation South send the freed
people North 7 People Of any color seldom run
unless there be something to run from. Hereto
iore coiored people to some extent have fed North
from bondage, and now, perhaps from both bond
age and destitutiOn, but if gradual emancipation
and deportation be adopted they will have neither
TO Zee from. Their OLD masters will give them
wages,at least ue III new laborers can be procured
and the freed men in turn will gladly give their
labor Tor the wages till new homes can be found
i9r them IN eongenisl chimes aud with people Of
their own blood and race.
This proposition can be trusted on the mutual
interests involved, and in fny event cannot the
North decide for itself whether 10 receive then;
again As practice proves more than theory in
any case has there been any irruption of colored
people northEard because Of the adjustment Of
slavery In TINS district last spring What have
SAID OF the proportion Of free eOlored persons TO
the whites in the District is from the census of
letV' having no reference to persons called con-
traoands, nor TO thJ-e made free BY the act Of
congress a6olishing slavery here. The plan con-
sistlng OF these articles is RECOMMENDED not but
tha- restoration Of the national authority would
be accepted without its adoption nor will the
war nor proceedings under the proclamation Of
sept. y, 1867, be stayed because of the recon-
mendation Of this plan. Its timely adoption
doubt not, would bring restoration, and thereby
stay both. And, notwiths standing this plan, the
Recommendation that Congress provide by law for
eompensating any State which may adopt emauci-
pauon before this plan shall have been acted upon
Is hereby earnestly renewed. Such would only be
an advance part Of the plan, and the same argu-
mehts apply to both. This plan is recommended
as means not In exclusion Of, but additional to-
all others for restoring and preserving the nation
al authority throughout the Union. The subject
IS presented exclusively in its economical aspect
The plan would, l am confident, secure peace more
speedily than can be done BY force alone, while it
would cost less, considering the amounts md man
ner OF payment, and times of payment, and the
amounts would Be easier paid than will be the ad.
ditional cost Of the war If we rely solely upon
force; 1t is most likely, very likely, that it
would cost no blood at all.
The plan Is proposed as permanent Cons,itu-
tional law. Il cannot become such without the
concurrence OF, first, two-thirds Of Congress. and
aiterward three-fourths Of the States. The requi-
si'e taree-iourths Of the States will necessarily
include seven Of the slave States Their concur
renee, If obtained, will give as urance Of their
seYeraily adopting emancipation at no distant
cay upon the new Constitutional terms. This as
sGTance would end the struggle now. and save the
Union forever. l do not forget the gravity which
should Characterize paper addressed to the Con-
gress OF the nation by the Chief Magistrate of
the natleni ror do l forget that some Of you are
ny seniors, nor that many OF you have more ex-
Perlence than | in the conduct Of public aflirs;
r-frzF hat va 80 81
fssting upon me you will perceive 10
want Of respect t. yourselves in any undue earn
estnes5 l nay seem 10 display. Is il
doubted then that the plan | propose if adopted
would shorten the war, and thus lessen the ex-
perditures Of money and blood? Is il doubted
that it would restore the national authority and
national prosperity, and peTpetuate both iudef-
nitely' Is it denoted that We here, Congress and
Executive, can secure its adoption VIII not the
good people respond 10 ! united and ea-ues. Gp-
peal from Us Can we, can they oy any other
means SO certainly or so speedily these vi
tai objects? We can succeed only by concert lis
Lot, eau any Of US imagine better, but can We all
do better whatsoever Is possible object, still the
question reeurs, can we DO better The dognas Of
the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy pre-
sent. The occasion is piled high with dificulty,
and we must rise with the occasion. As our case
is new, 50 we must think anew and act anew. We
must tisenthrall ourselves and then we shall sIye
cur country.
Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We |
Of this Congress will be remembered in spite OF 1
ourselves. No personal significance OF insignif- |
clace can spare one or another Of US. The fiery |
trial through which pass will light Us down in
honor CT dish0nOr to the latest generation. We 1
say that are for the Union. The world will |
not forget that while We say this, we do rot know
how 20 save the Union. The world 1
SHOWS we do know how TO save
T. We, even We here, hold the power and
bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the
lave, we assure freedom to the iree-hororable
dixie il what we give and what we preserve. We
hall nJbly save, OF meanly lose, the best hope Of
be earth. Other means may succeed; this could
lot fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous,
ust. A way which, if followed, the world will
brewer applaui and God must forever bless.
(Signei) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Washin-ton Dec l lssl