Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-03-26
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4 MESSAGE FROM LINCOLN.
WASHINGTON, March, 1867.
rr<zp.-,.;ao,,. - A., ..,;...,, 70 Ennpress the

ASHiNGTOAa 1aTClts yafs $50
TIE President to. day transmitted to Congress the
NBoying nlslasl ~ ssslss
{slLoF CtuzEM OF fasx sEsAsE As0 HossE OF
M RafREsEi6A rIyEs - Il "a
"a Tecomsnentf sshe adoption q joiat resolution
by your honorable bodies which Shall De soos'a"'
TALLY MS follows
Resolred That the United States ought to coop,
crate with any State which may adopt gradual
abolishment of slavery, giving to such State Peeq-
fisry Aid to be; used BY sach Statein its discretion
to comnensate for the nconvenerices, puolIc anu
private. produced by such change OF system:
sIe te propositio coIssned in the resolution does
not meet the approval of Congress and the country
there is the end; busif it does command such APP
nroyal deem it of Importance that the States ana
neonla immetiately interested should bc at once
distinctly notified Of the fact so that they may 1e-
o;n to consider whether TO- accept or reject it. Ihe
feaerals 20 vernmsnt would find It's highest interest
ia such measure one of the most etsclent means
Of, sef,preseEvation ' IL ssass TFsF ssst4 ~ s.'
The leaders Of the existing ipsvrectien entertain
the hope that the government Will ultimately, &c
forced to acknowledge the independence OF some
mart Of the isatfected region and that all the slave
states north of such part will say, Ihe Union, for
which we have struggled, being already gone, We
now choose 10 90 with the Southern section 10
deprive them of this hope substantially ends the re-
b.flion, and the mutation of emancipation complete
lv derives them of it, As to all the States isitia
ting it. the psint is not that all the States decorating
slavery would very soon, if at all initiate .emane'pa-
ton, but that while the offer is equally MADE 70 a'.
the more northern shall, by such initiation make ~
certain to the more southern that in no event WIN
the former ever Join the latter in their proposed
conf.deracy, Isay initiation" because, in my judg-
ment. gradual and not sudden emancipation is bet
ter for all. s..a $50. .r.tes i>'.r." - ~ l@5 =
In the mere financial Or pecuniary view any
member of Congress, with the census tables ana
the Treasury reports before him. can readily see Tor
himself how very soon the current expenditures Of
the war would purchase, at fair valuation, all the
slaves in any named State Such proposition on the
part of the general government sets up no clalm o.
right by federal authority to interfere with slavery
within State limits, referring it does, the a6so
lutte control Of the subject in each case to the STATE
and its people Immediately interested. 1t is pro
posed as matter of perfectly free choice with them
| In the ANIMAL message last December, thought
to =" The Union must be preserved, and hehe'
all Indispensable means must be employed sait
this not hastily, but deliberately. War has besl
! and continues to be an Indispensable means to thu
end practical acknowledgement Of the nationa
authority would render the war unnecessary, and a
would at once cease. If, however, resistance con
tinueS, the war must also continue, and it is impos
sblc to foresee all the incidents which may atten
and all the ruin ~ hich may follow it, Such as ma.
seem indispensable may obviously promise grea
efficiency towards ending the struggle must an
Will come r. r -s.
The proposition now made though an offer oaly
hope it may be esteemed no offence TO ask whelh
er the pecun;ary consideration rendered would nc
be of more value to the States and private person
concerned than are the institution and property /
it, in the present aspect Of affairs? While it is tru
that the adoption of the proposed resolution woul
be merely initiatory and not within itself pract
ca! measure, it is recommended in the hope that
would soon lead to important results.
In full view of my great responsibility to my Go
and to my Country, l earnestly beg the attention
Congress and the people to the subject.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The resolution suggested above by Mr.. Lincoln
passed the lower House Of Congress by large nj
jorlty, ..-..-