Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-03-27
Message f ON Lincoln.


WASHINGTON, March THE President today r.
mitted to Congress the following Message
Fellow citizens Of the Senate and House of Represent
ativeS Il recommend the adoption of joint resolution
by your honorable bodies which shall be substantially
Resolved, That the United States ought to coope
rate with any State which may adopt gradual abolish
ment of slavery giving to such State pecunary adto
be used by such State in its discretion to compensate
for the inconvenience public and private produced by
such change of system
If the proposition tanned in the resolution does
not meet the approval Of Congress and the country
there is the END but if it does command such aD
prevail, | deem it of Importance that the States and
people Immediately interested should be at distinct
~ notified of the ac so that they may begin to c0nsl
whether to accept reject it, The Federal Govern
ment would find its highest interest in such measure
of the most efficient means of se-preservaton
The leaders OF the existing nsurrection entertain the
hope that this Government will be forced to acknowledge
the independence OF some part OF the dsaected 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 eds tie
rebellion, and the initiation CT emancipation completely
deprlves them Of it as to all the States initiating it
The point is moi that all the States toerating slavery
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 1t rtan 10
the more Southern that, in no event, will tie former
ever join the latter in their proposed Confederacy
say initiation, because, in my judgment, gradual aud
sudden emancipation is better for all In the mere
financial or pecuniary view, any member OF Congress,
with the tables and treasury reports before him
can readily see for himself very the current
expenditures Of this would purchase, at fair vaal-
tion all the slaves in any named State.
Such proposition the part OF the general Gov
eminent up claim of right, by Federal author-
ty to interfere with slavery within State limits refer
ring as does the absolute control OF the subject in
each to the State and its people Immediately inter-
esed 1t is proposed matter OF perfectly free choice
with them. In the annual message, last December, |
thought fit to say The Union must be preserved aud
hence all indispensable means must be employed. /
said this not hastily, bat deliberately War has been
made, and continues to be an indispensable means to
this end. practical re-acknowled 3ment of the
tional authority would render the war unnecessary and
it would at once cease
IT, however, resistance continues, the must also
continue, and it is impossible to OreSee all the incidents
which may attend and all the ruin which may follow it
: Such may seem Indispensable, or may obviously
promise great efficiency towards ending the struggle
must and will come. The proposition now made al
offer only hope it may be esteemed offence to ash
whether the pecuniary consideration rendered woUl
not be of value the States ard private person.
concerned, than the Institution and proper
ty IN it, in the present aspect Of affairs -
While it is true that the adoption OF the proposed
luton would be merely initiatory and within tse
practical measure, it is recommended in the hope tb
it would soon lead to important practical results |
full view OF great responsibility to my God and to n
country, earnestly beg the attention of Congress an
the people to the subject.
(Signed,) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.