The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-17
Established 1926.

ment Of Agriculture asking your at
tention to the developements Is in that vi
tai interest of the nation.
I When Congress assembled year
ago, the war had already lasted nearly
twenty months, and there hld been
many conflicts, both on land and sea.
with varying results The rebellion
had been pressed back into reduced
limits; yet the tone of public feeling
and opinion at home and abroad, was
not satisfactory. With other signs,
the popular elections. then just past,
indicated uneasiness among ourselves.
while amid much that was cold and
menacing. the kindest words coming
from England were uttered in accents
of pity that we were too blind to sur
render. Our +. 3merce was suffering
greatly by few armed vessels built
upon and furnished from foreign shores.
and we were threatened with such ad-
ditions from the same quarter, as would
sweep our trade from the sea, and
raise our blockade. We had failed to
elicit from European Governments any
thing hopeful upon the subject. The
Emancipation Proclamation which was
issued in September was running its
assigned period to the beginning of the
new year. A month later, the final
proclamation came, including the an
nouncement that colored men of suita
BILE condition would be received into
the war service. The policy of eman-
cipation and the employment of black
soldiers gave to the future a new aspect,
about which hopes, fears, and doubts
lcontended in uncertain conflict, accor-
ding to our political system, as a mat
ter Of civil administration The Gen
eral Government had no lawful power
to effect emancipation in any State. and
for q long time it had been hoped that
the rebellion could be suppressed with
out resorting to it as military meas.
ure. 1t was all the while deemed pos
sible that necessity for it might come,
and that if it should, the crisis Of the
contest would then be presented. 1t
came, as expected, it was followed by
dark and doubtful days. Eleven
months having been passed, we are
permitted to take another review. The
rebel borders are pressed still further
back, and by the complete opening OF
the Mississippi River, the country
dominated over by the rebellion is di.
vided into distinct parts. Tennessee
and Arkansas have been so substantial,
ly cleared of the insurgents control
and influence; and the citizens in each
. and owners of slaves. and advocates Of
slavery at the beginning Of the REBEL.
, ion, now declare openly for emanc,pa.
ton in their respective States OF
those States not included in the Eman.
cipation Proclamation, Maryland and
Missouri, neither of which, years ago
: would tolerate any restraint upon the
extension of slavery into their terrific
ries, only dispute now as to the best
mode of removing it from within theii
own limits. OF those who were slaves
at the beginning of the rebellion, fully
one hundred thousand are now in the
, United States military service, about
one-half ofwhich number actually bean
: arms IN the ranks, thus giving the dou.
ble advantage Of taking much labor
from the insurgent cause, and supply.
; ing the places which otherwise must
be filled with so many white men, Sc
. far as tested, it is difficult to say there
! are not as good soldiers as any. Nc
servlle insurrection, or tendency tc
t violence or cruelty; has marked the
4 measures Of emancipation and arming
= the blacks. These measures have beer
!, much discussed in foreign countries
] and, cotcmpory with such discussions
= the tone Of public sentiment there i:
p much improved. The same measure,
c have been fully discussed, supported
f criticised and denounced, ana the re
+ suit Of the annual ele .tions is highly
- encouraging to these whose special du
e ty it is to bear the country through
G this great trial; thus we have the reck
!, oning, The crisis which threatened tc
= divide the Union is past.
Looking now to the present and fu
: ture, and with reference to the
resumption of the national author
ity within the States wherein thai
: authority has been suspended,
y have thought fit to issue prociama
! ti0n, a copy Of which is herewith trans
: mitted On examination the procla
clamation. it will appear as IS beloved
amply justified by the Constitution
True, the form Of an oath is given, bu
:, no man is coerced TO take it. A MAJ
is only promised pardon in case h'
. voluntarily takes the oath. The Con
" stitution authorizes the Executive tC
! grant iton such terms "a are fully estab
: iished by judicial and other authorities
1t is also proffered that IT, in many o
the States named, seat of Governmeh
:, shall be, in the mode prescribed. setup
such Government shall be recognizcC
and guaranteed by the United States
3 and that Under it the State shall, or
: subscribing to the constitutional con
? ditions, be protected against invasion
and domestic violence. The consttu-
tional obligation of the United States
to guarantee to every State in the
| Union arepublican form ofGovernment
and to protect the State in the case a'
stated is explicit and full; but why
tender the benefits of this provision
ouly to State Government set up il
this particular way? This section ofth,