Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-05

e it, and you increase the price ofit Reduce The
b supply of black labor by coonizing the black
- lahorer out of the country. and by precisely SO
4 much you increase the demand for and wages Of
v white labor.
But it is dreaded that the freed people will
warm forth and cover the whole land Are thsv
not already in the land Will liberation make
them any more numerous Equally distributed
among the whites of the whole country and
, there would be but one colored to seven whites.
seven?
There are many communities now having mora
han one free coored person to seven whites, and
this without any apparent consciousness of evil
from it. The District Of Columbia, and the
States of Maryland and Della ware. are ali in tbls
condition. The District has more than one
free eolored to six whites and yet in its reouent
petitions to Congress. believe it has never pre
aented the presence of free colorei persons as
one of its grievances.
But why should emancipation South send the
freed people North People Of any color seldom
run unless their be something to run from.
Heretofore, oolOred people, to some extent, have
| He'd North from bondage and now, perbaps
from both bondage and destitution But il
gradual emancipation aud depotaton be adopted.
they will have neither to flee from.
Their old masters viii give them wages at least
until new laborers can be procured, and the
freed meu, in turn, will gladly give thelr labor
Tor the wages till new homes can be found for
them IN eongenial climes aud with people of their
own blood and race
This proposition can be trusted on the mutual
interests involved and n any event cannot tho
North decide for itself whether to receive them
again. as practice proves more than theory in
any case has there been any irruption of colored
people nortward because Of the abolishment of
slavery in this District last spring?
what have said Of the proportion of free
colored persons to the whites in .he District. ia
from the census of 1860, having no reference
70 persons called eontrabands, nor to those made
Tree by the act Of Congress abolishing slavery
here.
The plan consisting of these articles is recom.
mended not but that the restoration sof the ma
tional authority would be accepted without its
adoption; nor will the war nor proceedings
under the proclamation of September %, 1865.
oe o., Stayed because Of the recommendation of
this plan Its timely adoption, doubt not,
would bring restoration, and thereby stay both.
anu Notwithstanding this plan, the recommen-
aauon that Congress provide by law for compen--
satlng any stale which may adopt emancipation
oetore this plan shall have been acted upon, ia
hereby earnestly renewed. Such would bc only
an advance part of the plan, and the same argu-
ments apply TO both. .l
This plan is recommended as means NOT in
exclusion OF, but additional to, all others for re-
storlpg and preserving the national authority
throughout the Union. The subject is presented
exclusively in its economical aspect
Inc plan would, am confident, secure peace
more speedily, aud maintain it more permanent
iy' than can be done by force alone, while all il
would cost considering amounts and manner oF
payment, and times of payment, would be easier
pala tnan Will be the additional cost of the war.
II we rely solely upon force. 1t is much, very
much, that 1t would cost no blood at all.
The plan is proposed as permanent constitu-
nohal law IL cannot become such without the
concurrence OF, first, two-thrds Of Congress- and
afterwards three.four,bs of the States. The
requisite three fourths of the States will neces-
sarlly include seven of the slave States.
Thelr concurrence, if obtained, will give assur-
anee OF their severally adopting emancipation at
no very distant day upon the new con nstitutonal
terms. This assurance would end the struOgle
now, and save the Union forever.
do not forget the gravity which should
eharaclerze paper addressed to the Congress-
oil the nation by the Chief Magistrate of the
nation Nor do l forget that some of YOU ara
my seniors nor that many of you have more OK
perishee than in the conduct of public affairs.
ie. Uus' tnat ia view OF tine great responsibility
resting upon me, you will perceive no want Of
respect to yourselves in any undue earnestuess /
may seem to display. Is it doubted then, that
the plan propose, il adopted, would short
en- the war, and lessen its expenditure of
money aud of blood?
Is II doubted that it would restore the national
both indefinitely?
Is il doubted that we here, Congress and
Executive, can secure its adoption
WIN not The good people respond to q united
and earnest appeal from US
Can we, can they, by any other means go GER
fanny or 30 speedily assure these vital obiects
we can succeed only by concert. 1t tisnot uCan
any OF us imagine better ?" but 'Can we ali do
bstter?n w o" w
Object whatsoever is possible still the oues-
ton reeurs, "Can we do better 2"
The dogmas of the quiet past are inadenunte
70 'he storm present. The occasion is piled high
with difficulty and we must rise with the occa-
SION AS our case is new. so we must think
anew and act anew We must disentbrall our
selves, and then we shall save our country.
Fellow -citizens: We cannot escape history.
we OF this Congress and this Administration viii
be remembered in spite of ourselves. No per-
sonal slgnihoance or nsignifcance 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 g." We are for the Union" The world
will not forget that we say this. We know how
70 save the Union. The world knows we do know
now to save it, We-even we here-hold the
power and bear the responsibility.
lu giving freedom to the slave we assure free
dom to the free--honorable alike in what ws
give and what we preserve. We shall noblv
save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth.
other means may succeed-this could not fail.
.Ihe way Is plain, peaceful, generous, just-a
way which, if followed the world will forever
applaud, aud God must forever bless.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
DECEMBER 1st 1862.
DTIRNT ANA