Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-13
Tgr ppFs,,,FNTs MESSAGE ON GRAD


THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ON GRAD
UAL EMANCIPATION. ~.
w.sH1seros, March e.-The Presi-
dent to-day transmitted to Congress the
following message:
&c E.,,o,, e;t;zess of Tie Senate and House
of Representatives: g
recommend the adoption Of joint
resolution by your honorable bodies,
vbich shall be substantially as follows;
Rssolysd, That the United States
ouobt to cooperate with any State
wSich NAV adopt gradual abOlishment
Of Slavery, giving to such State pecu-
niary aid, TO be used BY such State IN
;ts discretion, to compensate for the in
conyeniences, public and private. pro-
duced by such change of system. II
tbs nronosition contained in the resolu-
tion does not meet the approval of Con-
oress and the country, there is the end,
but if it does command such approval,
deem it of importance that the States
and people Immediately interested
should be at once distinctly notified OF
the fact, so that they may begin to con-
slider whether to accept or reject it
The Federal Government would find its
highest interest in such measure, as
one of the most efficient measures OF
self.preservation. The leaders OF the
existing insurrection entertain the hope
that the Government will ultimately be
forced 10 acknowledge the independence
of some part of the disaffected region,
and that all the slave States north OF
such parts will then say: The Union
for which we have struggled being al
ready gone, we now choose to go with
them. To deprive them of this hope
substantially, ends the rebellion. and
the initiation of emancipation completely
derives them of it. AS to all the
States initiating it, the point is not that
all the States tolerating Slayery'would
very soon, if at all, initiate emancipation,
but that while the offer is equally made
to all. the more Northern shall by such
initiation make it certain to the more
Southern that in no event shall the for
mer ioin the latter in their proposed
Confederacy. Isay initiation, because.
in my jud dgment, gradual, and not sud
den, emancipation, is better for all. In
the mere financial or pecuniary view.
any member of Congress, with the CEN
sus tables and Treasury reports before
him, can readily see for himself how
very soon the current expenditures Of
the war would purchase at fair valu-
alton all the slaves in any named State.
Such a proposition on the part OF the
General Government sets up no claim
or right by Federal authority to inter
fere with Slavery within State limits,
referring as il does the absolute control
ofthe 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 December, l thought fit tc
saw that the Union must be preserved,
and hence all indispensable means mus
be employed. said this not hastily
but deliberately.
War has been and continues to be an
Indispensable means TO this end. A
practical re-acknowledgment of the
national authority would render the wal
unnecessary, and it would at once cease
If. however, resistance continues, the
war must also continue; and it is i'm
possible to foresee all the incident:
which may attend, and all the ruiz
which NAV follow. Such as may seen
indispensable or may obviously promise
great efficiency toward ending thu
struggle, must and will come. The
proposition now made, though an Ole
only, hope it may be esteemed no OF
fense to ask whether the pecuniary
consideration rendered would not be o
more value to the States and private
persons concerned than are the institu
tion and property in it, in the presen
aspect of affairs. While it is true tha
the adoption of the proposed resolution
would be merely initiatory, and no
within itself practical measure, 1t !
recommended in the hope that it woul'
sooner lead to important results. Ii
full view Of my great responsibility {
my God and to my country, | earnestl,
beg the attention of Congress and tn
people to the subject
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.