The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-03-13
Special Message of the President 10 Com


Special Message of fhe President 10 Com
gross.
WASHINGTON, March g. 1861.-The Presi-
dent to-day transmitted to Congress the follow
ing message:
FclEo,o Citizens Of the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatiUes
recommend the adoption of joint resolu-
ton by your honorable bodies which shall be
substantially as follows:
ResoLUed, That the United States ought TO
eo-operate with any State which may adopt
Gradual adjustment of slavery, giving TO such
State pecuniary aid to be used by such State in
its discretion to compensate for the ineonve
niences, public and private, produced by such
change of system.
If the proposition contained in the resolution
does not meet the approval of Congress and the
country. there is the end brt il it does com
maxd such approval, deem it of Importance
that the States and people Immediately inter
ested should be at once distinctly notified OF
the fact so that they may begin to consider
whether to accept or reject it. The Federal
Government would find its highest interest in
such a measure as one of the most efficient
measures of selfpreservation. The leaders OF
existing instruction entertain the hope that the
Government will ultimately be forced TO acknowi-
edge the independence OF some part OF the dis
affected region, and that all the slave States north
OF such point will then say the Union for which
we have struggled being already gone, we now
choose to 90 with them. To deprive them of
this hope substantially ends the rebellion, and
the initiation of emancipation completely de-
prives them of it as to all the States initiating
The point is not that all the States tolerahng
slavery would very soon, If at all, initiate eman-
cipatIon. but that while the offer is equally made
to all the more northern shall, by such initis-
tx oIxo II To ha that
in no event shall the former join the latter in
their proposed Confederacy.
| say Limitations" because in my Judgment
gradual and not sudden emancipation is better
for all, In the mere financial or pecuniary
view, any member of Congress, with the census
tables and the Treasury reports before him, can
readily see for himself how very soon the cur
rent expenditures of the war would purchase,
at fair valuation, all the slaves in any named
State.
Such proposition on the part of the General
Government sets up no claim or right by Fed
eral authority to interfere with slavery within
State limits, referring as it does, the absolute
control of the subject in each case to the State
and its people Immediately interested. 1t is
proposed as matter of perfectly free choice
! with them. In the annual message last Deem
Der, thought fit to say the Union must be pre-
served and hence all indispensable means must
be employed. | said this not hastily, but de
liherately. War has been, and continues to be
an indispensable means to this end. A practica
re-acknowledgm of the national authority
would render the war unnecessary, and it woulC
at once cease, If, however, resistance contin
ues, the war must also continue; and 1t is i'm
possible to foresee all the incidents which may
attend, and all the ruin which may follow. Sucf
as may seem indispensable, or may obviously
premise greater efficiency towards ending the
struggle, must and will come.
The proposition now made is an offer only.
hope it may be esteemed no offence to ash
whether the pecuniary consideration rendered
would not be Of more value to the States anC
private persons concerned than are the institu
ton and property in it, in the present aspect o
affairs? While it is tue that the adoption
the proposed resolution would be merely inltia
tory, and not within itself practical measure
it is recommended in the hope that 1t woul(
sooner lead to important results.
In full view Of my great responsibility to M
God and to my country earnestly beg the at
tention of Congress and the people to the SUP
ject.
TSipnedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN.