Litchfield enquirer., 1862-03-13
GRADUAL EMANCIPATION.
MESSAGE BY THE PRESIDENT.

The President on Thursday transmitted to Congress the following message:
 Feltoe citisems of tue Senate and House of Re presentatarcs: l rcGommend the adoption of a joint resolution hy your honorable bodies, which shall be substantially as follows: ' Resolved that the Unisfd States ought to cooperate with any state which may adopt gradual abolish
 ment ot slavery, giving to such state pecuniary aid, o be used by such state in its discretion to compensate for 14he inconSerieuees, public and private, produced by such change of system.''- If tho proposition contained in the resolution docs not meet the approval Of Congress, and the
 country, there is the end. But if it does com mand such approval deem it of importance
 that the states and people immediately interest
 ed should be at once distinctly notified of the
 fact, so that they may begin to consider whether
 to accept or reject it. The federal government
 would find its highest interest in such measure,
 as one of the most efficient means of lf-preser-
 vation. The leaders of the existing insurrec-
 tion entertain the hope that the government will
 ultimately be forced to acknowledge the inde-
 pendence of some part of the disafected region
 and that all the slave states north of such parts
 will then say, the Union for which we have
 struggled being already gone, we now choose to
 go with the southern section. To deprive them
 of this hope substantially ends the rebellion, and
 the initiation of emancipation completely de-
 prives them of it; and to all the states initiating
 tuo pOlHe IS HOI tudt tue StdteS tOleFatlUR
 slavery would very soon, if at all initiate eman-
 cipation, but that while the other is equally
 made te all, the more northern shall, by such in
 itiation make it certain to the more southern that in no event will the former ever join the latter in their prospered confederacy. say in
 itiation, 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 and hnfa him for himself how very soon the current expenditures
 of this war would purchase at a fair valuation l all the slavesjH any named state. Snch pro position on the part of the general government, sets up no claim of right by federal authority to interfere within state limits, referring as it
 does, the absolute control of the subject in each case to the state and its people immediately in- terested. It is proposed as matter of perfect ly free choice with them. In the annual mes sage last December, thought fit to say the Uni 1 on must be preserved, and hence all indispensa- ble means must be employed. l said this not
 hastily but deliberately. War has been and
 continues to be an indispensable means to this 1 end. A practical re- acknowledgement of the na-
 tional authority would render the war unneces- sary, and it would at once cease. If, however, l resistance continues the war must also continue
 and it is impossible to forsee all the incidents
 which may attend, and all the ruin which may
 follow it. Such as may seem indispensable or
 may obviously promise great efficiency towards 1 ending the struggle, must and will come.
 The proposition now made is an offer only. l hope it may be esteemed no offence to ask wheth- CT the pecuniary consideration rendered would not De of more value to the states and private
 persons concerned, than are the institutions and property in it? In the present aspect of affairs,
 while it is true that the adoption of the proposed 1 resolution would be merely initiatery, and not within itself practical measure, it is recom- mended in the hope that it would soon lead to important results.
 In full view of my great responsibility to my God, and my country, I earnestly beg the atten-
 ton of Congress and the people to the subject. -F fSigned,) ABRAHAM LINCOLN. HOW THE MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED.
 The message excited deep interest in the House. It was evident that document of such an important character was not generally anti cipated. The reading was called for by Mr. Stevens of Pa., and on his motion it was refer red to the committee of the whole on the state | of the Union, in which 1t will be discussed.- Someof the members, apparently not understand 1 ing it as pronounced from the desk, perused the imanuscript at their desk. The subject therein
 discussed formed, Thursday night, theme of earnest coHversations. The message of simi- i lar character transmitted to the Senate was not read. i.se=as a | The army correspondents of the Chicago and Cincinnati Journals, tells us to look out for an immediate movement against Memphis. Much 1 of the Union forces intended for the now no longer needed demonstration against Columbus,
 is to be brought into requisition for it. An im- mense number Of these troops would seem to be still pouring down the Tennessee and Cumber- land, but nobody knows what is their real strength or whatsthey are going to do, or if knowing, publication is strictly forbidden,