Litchfield enquirer., 1862-12-04
Meirs nf tIse sTefs.


 interest-we shall print it in full in our next. Its chief points may psrhaps be succincsiy stated as follows: Our foreign relations remain undisturbed; the treaty with Great Britain for the suppression of the African slave trade has been put in operation with good prospect of complete success; complaints in which the en- forcenent of the blockade has done injustice to foreign natious, have been heard, as far as possible, redressed: applications have been made by many free Americans, of African des- cent, to favor their emigration, with view to such colonization as was conterpate by recent Acts of Congress, and propositions have been submitted to the several States situated in the tropc., to favor the voluntary emigration of such persons and classes to their respective territo ries upon conditions which shall be equal, j.st and humane; the new Atlantic telegraph IS comnende the mineral resources of our Ter ritoriss are recommended for rapid development 1 the fDaneial condition of the country receives careful attention, and general banking associa- tons are recommended for the relief of our financial troubles, to be organized under gene ral Act of Congress, carefully guarded in its provisions; the reports of the Navy, War, Pos tai and Interior Departments are presented i; the Indian troubles are alluded to; Internal I'm provements and the new Department of Agri culture are noticed; and then the Message pro ceels to grapple witt! the great question of the day, Slavery. without which. the President says the rebellion never could have existed. ard without which it could not continue. h thc discussion the President proposes the outlines of an Act of Congress. which pro yides for the adoption of Amendments to the Constitution proposing that in every State in which Slavery exists, and which shall abolish the ga me therein before the lst of January, l900 the owners shall be compensated for the value of their slaves by the United State4. All slaves who have enjoyed actual freedom by the chances of the war at any time before the end of the re belon sauN ba .forerer free, but all owners of such, who shall not have been disov.l. shall be compensated for them:
 "The pan consisting of these articles is re comment ed. not iut that a restoration of tie national authority would tc accepted without it's adoption ncr will the proceedings under t!a proclamation of Sept. 22d 1862 be stayed be- cause of the recommendation of this plan It's timely adoption, doubt not, would bring resto ration. and thereby stay botl notwithstanding this plan, the recommendation that Congress provides hy la" for conlrensating any State which may adopt emancipation before this plan shall have been acted upon, is hereby ear .I ,,..ulI only h.. J Jt-an part of the plan, and tie same arguments apply to both.
 This plan is recommended as a means not in exclusion of, bat additional to ali others, for restoring and preserving the national authority throughout the Union. The subject is present. ed exclusively ill its economical aspect The plan would, am confident secure peace more speedily than can be done hy force alone. It Is propl sad as constitutional law. lt can not be come such without the concurrence of first. two thirds of Congress and afterwards thre"'lourths of the States The requisite three fourtEs of the States will necessarily include seven of the Slave States. Their concurrence, if obtained, will give assurance ot their severalIy adopting emancipation at no distant day up"n the new l constitutional terms. This assurance would end tie struggle now, and save the Union for ever.'
 The Message closes with the following noble eloquent, and patriotic utterances :
 Fellow Citizens-We cannot escape history.
 We, of this Congress, will be remembered n spite of ourselves.
 No personal significance. ST insi icniicance can spare one or aG"ther of us.
 The fiery trial through witch we pass, will light us down in honor or dishonvr to the latest generation.
 We say that we are for the Union The world will not forget that while we say thls, 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 respons- LiIity.
 in giving freedom to the slave, we assure 1 freedom to the free. honorable alike in what 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 paia-peaceful, generous, just way which. if followed the world will ever applaud, and God must forever bless. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
 Washington, Dec. l, 1862.
 CoSGREss.--The second session of Congress met at noon Monday. The Senate was called to order by Senator Foot, the president proiena, after which prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Sunderland. The following appointed senators appeared, and took tie snt onlary oath : Richard S. Fields, Of New Jersey; Ben namin r. Harding, of Oregon; Samuel C. Arnold, of Rhode Island. X committee was appointed to inform the President that the Senate was req dy to receive any communication from him. After taking recess the Presidents message was received, which having been read, tho Sen ate adjourned.
 The proceedings of tie House were opened with prayer hy Chaplain Stockton. after which the roll was called and a quorum answered to their names. A committee was then appointed to inform the Senate that the House was ready fer business. and. together with a Senate com- mttee, to inform the President that,hoth Hou ses of Congress were ready to receive any com manication he might have to make. On mo- ton of Mr. Roscoe Conkling the naval commit tee were instructed to ascertain the best mode of placing vessels of war on Lake Ontario and of establishing water communication from oth- waters to the lakes, and report to the House the result of their investigations. Mr. Valan- afghan uffel red resolution, which was adopted | that the Committee on the Judiclarv inuuire