The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
TCmt;aued from First page.


Asia by San Francisco. But separate our
common country into nations, as designed
by the present rebellion, and every man in
this great interior region is thereby cut off
from some one or more Of these outlets,
not perhaps by physical barrier, but by
embarrassing and onerOus trade regula-
tons, and this is true wherever dividing
or boundary line may be fixed.
Place it between the now free and slave
country. or place it south of Kentucky, or
north of Ohio, and still the truth remains
that none south of it can trade to any port
or place north of it, and none north of it
can trade to any place or port south of it,
except upon terms dictated by Govern
ment foreign to them. These outlets East,
West, and South, are indispensable to the
well-being of the people inhabiting, and to
inhabit this vast interior region.
Which of the three may be the best is
no proper question. All are better than
either, and all of right belong to that peo-
pie and their successors forever. True to
themselves, they will not ask where line
of separation shall be, but will VOW rather,
that there shall be no such line
A COMMON INTEREST
Nor are the marginal regions less inter-
ested in these communications to and
through them to the great outside world.
They do and each one of them must have
access to their Egypt Of the West without
paying toll at the crossing of our national
boundary.
SOURCES OF OUR NATIONAL EXISTENCE.
Our national life springs not from our
permanent past, not from the lands we in
habit, not from our national homestead.
There is no possible swerving of this but
would multiply and mot instigate evils
among us. In all its applications and at
titudes, it demands union, and abhOrs Sc
paration. In fact it would ere long force
reunion however much of blood and trea-
sure the separation might have cost. Our
strife pertains to ourselves, to the passing
generations of men and it cannot without
CONFUSION be hushed forever, with the
passing of one generation.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
With this view / recommend the follow
ing resolution and articles amendatOry to
the Constitution of the United States:
Resolred, By the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatves of the United States of America in
Congress assembled twO-thirds Of both Houses
concurring that the following articles be pro-
posed to the Legislatures or Conventions Of the
several States as amendments to the Constitll-
ton of the United States, all, or any of which
articles, when ratified by three-fOurths of the
said Legislatures or Conventions. to be valid
as part or parts of the said Constitution.
namely:
COMPENSATED EMANCIPATION.
ARTICLE. Every State wherein slavery now
exists, which shall abolish the same therein at
auy time or times before the first of January, in
the year of our Lord 1900 shall receive cOmpen-
satiOn from the United States, bearing interest
at the rate of -, for each slave shown to have
been therein by the eighth census of the United
States said bonds to be delivered to such States,
by instruments or in one parcel, at the compile
ton of the adjustment, accordingly as the
same shall have been gradual or at one time
within such State, and interest shall begin to
run upon any such bond only from the proper
time of its delivery as aforesaid and afterwards.
ANY State having received bonds as aforesaid,
and afterwards introducing or tolerating slavery
therein, shall refund to the United States the
bonds SO received or the value thereof, and all
the interest paid thereon.
OF SLAVES FREED BY THE WAR.
ARTICLE ALI slaves who shall have en-
loved actual freedom by the chances OF war at
any time before the end of the rebellion, shall
be forever free; but all owners of such who
shall not have been dislOyal, shall be cOmpen-
stated for them at the same rates as is provided
for States adopting adjustment OF slavery, but
in such way that no slave shall be twice ac-
counted for.
VOLUNTARY COLONIZATION IN THE U. s.
ARTICLE. Congress may appropriate mon
ey or otherwise to provide for cOlOnizing free
colored persons with their own consent at any
place or places within the United States.
THE ARGUMENTS THEREFOR
beg indulgence to discuss these pro-
posed articles at some length. Without
slavery the rebellion should never have ex-
listed without slavery it could not contin-
ne. Among the friends of the Union there
is great diversity of sentiment and policy
in regard to slavery and the African race
amongst us. Some would abolish it sud-
denly and without compensation, and some
would abolish it gradually and with COM
pensation.
Some would remove the free people from
us. and some would retain them with US,
and there are yet other minor diversities.
Because of these diversities we waste much
strength in struggles amongst ourselves
By mutual concession we should harmon
ize and act together. This would be a
compromise among the friends and not
ticles arc intended to embody a plan of
such mutual concession. If the plan shall
be adopted, it is assumed that emancipa-
ton will follow, at least in several of the
States.
HARMONIZING DIFFERENCES.
In the first article the main points are
First, The emancipation. Second. The
length of time for concentrating, in years;
and, third, The compensation.
The emancipation will be unsatisfactory
to the advocates Of perpetual slavery, but
the length of time should greatly miti-
gate their dissatisfaction. The time saves
both races from the evils of sudden de-
rangement, while most Of those whose ha-
bitual course of thought will be disturbed
by the measure, will have passed away be-
fore its consummation. They will never
see it. Another class will hail the pros
pect of emancipation, but will deprecate
the length of time. They will feel that it
goes for little to the now living slaves, but
= roallv oives them much. 1t saves them