Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-03-15
Message f,om the President.

message IL ON the president.
WAsu1NGToN, March 7,--The Presi-
dent 10 day ira nsmitted to Congress, the
following Message;
Eelto,O Citizens ofMe Seaete and House
Of RtprrSentc,fiucS--I recommend the ad-
option of joint resolution by your homo
rable bodies which shall be substantially
as follows,
RssolreT, That the United States ought
to cooperate with any State which may
adopt gradual adjustment of slavery, Civ
ing to such State pecuniary aid to be used
by such State in its discretion, to compen-
safe for the Inconvenience, public and
private, produced by such change of sys-
TEN.
If the proposition contained in the res
outon does not meet the approval of
Congress and the country, there is the
end, but if it does command such APP
proval deem it of importance that the
States and people immediately interested, +,
should be at once distinctly notified of the
fact, SO that they may begin to consider
whether to accept or reject it. The Fed
eral Government would find its highest
interest in such measure, as one Of the
most efficient means of self preservation.
The leaders of the existing insurrection
entertained the hope that this government
will ultimately be forced to acknowledge
the independence of some part of the dis
affected 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 60
with the Southern section. To deprive
them of this hope, substantially ends the
rebellion, and the initiation of emancipation
completely dcprives them of it as to all the
States initiating it.
The point is not chat all the States toll
Grating slavery, would very soon, if at all
initiate emancipation; but while the offer
is equally made to all, the more Northern
shall, by such initiation, make it certain
to the more southern, that, in no event,
will the former ever join the latter in
their proposed confederacy. l say initiation
because, in my judgment, gradual and not
sudden emancipation is better for all, In
the mere financial or peouniary view, any
member of Congress, with the census tables
and treasury reports before him, can
readily see for himself how very soon the
current exp enditures of this 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 claim of a
right, by Federal authorities, to interfere
with slavery within State limits, referring
as it does the absolute control of the sub
ject in each case to the State and its peo-
pie imme diately interested. Its proposed
as a matter of perfectly free choice with
them. In the Annual Message, last De-
cember, l thought fit to say The Union
must be preserved. and hence all indispen-
sable means must be employed. | said
this not hastily, but deliberately. War
has been made, and continues to an indis-
pensable means to this end. A practical
re-acknowledgnent of the national author
ity would render the war unnecessary,
and it would at once cease.
If, however, resistance continues, the
war mus also continue, and it is impossi-
BILE to foresee 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 to-
wards ending the struggle, n4ust and will
come. The proposition now made is an
offer only. ! hope it may be este med no
offence to ask whether the pecnnary con-
sideration rendered would not be of more
value to the States and private persons
concerned than are the institution and
property in it, in the present aspect of af-
fairs.
While it is true that the adoption Of the
proposed resolution would be merely init
iatory, and not within itself practical
measure, it is recommended in the hope
that it would soon lead to important prac
teal results. In full view of my great re-
sponsibility to my God and to my country,
l earnestly beg the attention of Con. .rcss
and the people to the subject.
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.