Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-07
LATEST NEWS.
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-The president.
to-day, transmitted to congress the following
MESSAGE
FeAoO Citizens Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives. IL recommend the adoption
OF joint resolution by your honorable bodies,
which shall be substantially as follows =
Resolved, That the United States ought to
co operate with any state which may adopt
gradual adjustment of slavery, giving to such
state pecuniary aid, to be used by such state
Ia its discretion, to compensate for the ncon-
Veniences, public and private, produced by
such change Of system
Ii the proposition contained in the resolu-
ton does not meet the approval of congress
and the country, there is the end. But if 1t
does command such approval, deem it o i'm
porlance that the states and people immedi 4te-
ly Interested should be al once distinctly mott.
fed OF the fact, 50 that they may begin 10
slider whether 10 accept or reject. The federal
government would find its highest interest in
such measure, as one of the most efficient
means Ot sell preservation. The leaders of
the existing insurrection entertain the hope
that the government will ultimately be forced
to acknowledge the independence OF some part
of the dIsaffected region, aud that all the slave
states north Of such parts will then say-The
Union Tor which we have struggled being al
ready gone, we now choose to go with the
southern section.
70 deprive them of this hope substantially
ends the rebellion, and the initiation of eman
cipati0n completely deprives them of it, and
10 ali the states initiating it, their point is not
that all the states tolerating slavery would
very very soon If at all initiate emancipation,
but that while the offer is equally made 20 ali,
hall
make it certain TO the more southern that in
no event will tue former ever join the latter
in their proposed contederacy. l say initia-
ton, 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
aud the treasury reports before him, can read
lily see for himself how very soon the current
expenditures of this 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 of a
right, by federal a thority, TO interfere with
slavery within state limits, referring, as do,
the absolute control OF the subject in each case
to the state and its people immediately inter
ested. 1t is proposed as a matter of perfectly
free choice with them.
In the annual message last December l
thought fit to say that the Union must be pre-.
served, and hence all indispensable means
must be employed l said this not hastily,
but deliberately. War has been and contin.
ues to be an indispensable means to this end.
A practical acknowledgment of national
authority would render the war unnecessary,
aud it would at once cease. 1t, however, re-.
sistance continues, the war must also continue
and it is impossible to foresee all the incidents
which may attend, and all the ruin which may
follow it. Such measures as may seem indis-
pensable, or may obviously promise great eff.
cheney towards ending the struggle, must and
will come. The proposition now made is an
offer only, but hope it may be esteemed no
ohense to ask, whether the pecuniary consid-
Grafton rendered would not be OF more value
to the state and private persons concerned than
are the slave institution and property in the
present aspect of affairs. While it is true that
the adoption of the proposed resolution would
be merely initiatory, and not within itself a
practical measure, it is recommended in the
hope that it would soon lead to important re-
suits. In full view of my great responsibility
to my God and my country, L earnestly beg
tie attention of congress and the people, to
the subject
Signed, ABRAHAM LINCOLN.