The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-12-05

adjustment of slavery in this District
last spring?
What l have said of the proportion of
free colored persons to the whites in the
District is from the Census Of 1860, hav-
ing no reference to persons called con-
trabands, nor to those made free by the
Act of Congress abolishing slavery here.
The plan consisting of these articles is
recommended, not but that a restoration
of the national authority would be ac-
cepted without its adoption, nor that the
war, nor the proceedings under the
proclamation of September 22d, 1867,
will be STAYED because Of the recommen-
dalton of this plan. Its timely adoption,
/ doubt not, would bring restoration, and
thereby stay both And Notwithstanding
this plan, the Recommendation that Con-
gress provide by law for compromising
any State which may adopt emancipa-
ton 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 arguments apply
to both.
This plan is recommendedas means,
not in exclusion of but additional to, all
others for restoring and preserving the
national authority throughout the Union.
The plan would, l am confident, secure
peace more speedily than can be done
| by force alone, while it would cost less,
considering amounts aud manner of pay
ment, and times of payment, and the
amounts would be easier paid than will
be the additional cost of the war, if we
rely solely upon force.
is most likely-very ikely-that it
would cost no blood at all. The plan is
proposed as permanent constitutional
/ law. 1t can not become such without the
/ concurrence Of first, two-thirds of Con-
gress, and afterward three-fourths of the
! States. Therequisite three fourths OF the
States will necessarily include seven of
I the Slave States. Their concurrence, If
obtained, will give assurance of their
severally adopting emancipation at no
distant day upon the new constitutional
! terms. This assurance would end the
struggle now and save the Union forever.
l do not forget the gravity which
should characterize paper addressed to
the Congress of the nation by the Chief
Magistrate of the nation; nor do | forget
that some Of you are my seniors, nor that
many of you have more experience than
/ in the conduct of public affairs; yet l
trust that, in view of the great RESPONSE
bility resting upon me, you will perceive
no want of respect to yourselves in any
undo earnestness | may seem to display,
Is it doubted, then, that the plan
| propose, if adopted, would shorten the
war, and thus lessen its expenditure of
money and of blood? Is it doubted that
it would restore the national authority
and national prosperity, and perpetuate
both indefinitely?
Is it doubted that we here, Congress
and Executive, can secure its adoption?
Will not the good people respond to
united and earnest appeal from us? Can
we, can they, by any other means, 50 GER
tainly or so speedily assure these vital
objects? We can succeed only by con-
cert. 1t is not "Can any of us imagine
better" but Can we all do betterY
Object, wheresoever it is possible, still the
question recurs, "Can we do better?
The dogmas of the quiet past are in
adequate to the stormy present. The
occasion is piled high with difficulties,
and we must rise with the occasion. AS
our case is new, so we must think anew,
and act anew. We must disenthrall
ourselves, and then we shall save our
country.
Fellow citizens, we cannot escape his
tory We of this Congress will be re-
membered in spite of ourselves. No
personal significance or insignifcance
can spare one or another of us The
fiery trial through which we pass will
light us down in honor or dishonor to the
latest generation.
We say that we are for the Union.
The world, will not forget that while we
{ say this, we do know how to save the
Union The'world knows we do know
how to save it. We, even we here, hold
, the power, and bear the responsibility
In giving freedom to the slave, we as
sure freedom to the free, honorable alike
in whaS we give and what we preserve.
We shall nobly save or meanly lose
the last, best hope of the earth
/ Other means may succeed. This
could not fail
The way is plain-peaceful-g
-just-a way which, if followed, the
world will forever. applaud, and God
? must forever bless. r L.-E -.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WASHINGTON Dec |, 1862.