Maryland free press., 1862-12-05
!snt, canno. the North decide for itself

txent, cannot the North decide for itsel
neither to receive themf
Again, as practice proves more than theory
n any case, has there boon any irruption Q
1zIored people northward because of the abol
l11ment of slavery in this District last spring
What have said of the proportion Of frse FRI
oolered persons to the whites in the Distric
r rom the census of 1860, having no referenc
s. parsons called contrabands, nor to thos
m1de free by tho act of Congress abolishinl
tIavery here.
Tho plan consisting of these articles ia re
amended, not but that restoration of th,
nakisnal authority would be accepted without
ifs adoption.
Kor will the war, nor proceedings under tn,
Troclamation of Sept. %, 1862; be stayed be-
z4nse of the recommendation of this qlan. Its
timely adoption, doubt not. would bring
xeetoration, and thereby stay both
md, notwithstanding this plan, the recon.
Hendation that Congress provide by law for
E9mpensating any State which may adopt c.
mancipation, before this plan shall have been
aefed upon, is hereby earnestly renewed Such
Wonld be only an advance part of the plan,
md the same arguments apply to both
This plan is recommended as q means, not
iuexclusion of, but additional to, all others
zof restoring and preserving the national au-
4Aority throughout the Union. The subject
REPRESENTED exclusively in its economical as
nect. The plan would, I am confident, secure
Hermanently, than can be done by force alone
nile all it would cost; considering amounts,
md manner of payment, and times of payment,
Nould be easier paid than will be the addition
I cost of the war, if we rely solely upou force.
It's much.-vefy much-that itwould cost no
blood at ALL - ~. -.'
The plan is proposed as permanent consti-
fufional law. 1t cannot become such without
the concurrence of, first, two thirds of Con.
kr6ss, and, afterwards, three-fourths of the
Efntes. The reqnisite three fourths of the
kIaIes will necessarily include seven of the
1Iaye States. Their concurrencc, if obtained,
will give assurance of their severally adopting
emanci patton, at no very distant day, upon
the new constitutional terms. This assurance
would end the struggle now, and save the
Uuiou forever.
/ do not forget the gravity which should
eharacterize paper addressed to the Congress
of The nation, by the chief magistrate of the
netion. Nor do forget that some of you are
my seniors, nor that many of you have more
nxperienco than l, in the cbhdtct Of public af-
fairs Yet trust that in view of the great
rezponsibility resting upon me, you will per-
cefve no want of respect to yourselves in any
nndue earnestness may seem to display.
L it doubted, then, that the plan propose,
+ f1dopted, would shorten the war, and thus
1eseen its expenditure of money aud of bloodl
y i doubted that it would restore the national
anfhority and national prosperity, and perpet
3MIe both lnSumnlIely! 10 - donhtnd that we |
here-Congress and Executive-can secure
ffs adoptionl will net the good people respond
to = united and earnest appeal from usf Can
No. can they, by any other means, so certainly
or 80 speedily assure these vital objectsf we
can succeed only by concert. 1t is not "can
an4 of us imagine betterl" but scan we all DO
hafteri" Object whatsoever is possible, still
the question recurs, "can we do bettefi"-
The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate
% tho stormy present The occasion is piled
high with difficulty, and we must rise with the
session. As our case is new; SO VIC must
think anew, and act new We must disen-
thrall ourselves, and then We shall save our
eountry. ......,,,.s,.
i Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history.
We, of this Congress and this administration,
~=iu b" remembered in spite of ourselves No
spsre 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 we are for tho Union. The world Will
not forget that we say this. We know how
70 Have the Uniou. Tho world knows we do
know how to saveit We--even iSe hre-hold
the power and bear the responsibility. In
riring freedom to the Stare we assure freedom to
theJrec-honorable alike in what we give and
what we preserve. We shall nobly save or
nsanly loose the last best bope of GARTH
Other means may succeed; this could not fail.
The way is plain, peaceful, generous, Just-a
way which, if followed, the world will forever
applaud and God must forever bless. % =.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
December 1, 1862: