Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-12-18
Ghe 6ree press.
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER IS. 1863.
The Presidents Message and Procla-
nation.

The Presidents Message and Procla-
nation.
The Presidents Annual Message and &C
c,mranving Proclamation will be read with
interest," and with profound respect ON
tie part Of all heartily loyal men, for
the sincere patriotism and able states
mausiiP which they display. As given to
our readers some slight mistakes in Ian
guagc and punctuations will bc detected
none however which will materially injurc
the sense for those who read with care.
The brief references in the message 10 our
relations to sundry foreign governments re-
quirc no remark. The importance Of such
modification of our laws as to put a stop to
abuses by those who have been naturalizcd
IN this country and after a short resi-
dcncc here have returned to abide in their
former homes and make their naturalization
here source Of trouble both 10 foreign gov
ernments and our own, II pointed out. 81
too, is the importance Of making it sure that
those who, born abroad, come here ard e1-
ercise one of the highest privileges of ciu-
1cnship-the elective francIisc-shall no
longer under a fraudulent pretcnse of alien
age. escape their liabilities to do military
service for the country. That this has hap
rened to considerable extent there is no
room for doubt.
rs to the fiscal affairs of the nation, save
a very brief summary, the immense opera
tons of our armies and navy and what is yet
called for under those heads, the operations
OF the Post-ofice department, and of the
tident refers mainly To the reports Of
the Heads Of Department seyerally, though
hemskes few special recommendations. The
President does not doubt that the Importance
Of an enlarged water connexion between the
Western rivers and the lakes on the North
vrn frontier will be acknowledged ere long.
What ought to be done about it now he
leaves to the Judgment OF Congress. The
importance Of a national navy yard on the
seaboard and another on the Western rivers,
ADAPTED To the wants Of modern naval war
iare, Is urged vast as has been the enlarge
ment Of our naval power since the rebellion
broke out. other vessels Of greater strength
and capacity, he says, will be wanted lor
cruising purposes and to maintain our right
ful position on the ocean.
His allusions to the prevalent feeling in
Europe towards our national cause year
ago, to the effect Of the emancipation proc
lamation on public sentiment, at home and
abroad, to the great progress made within
the last eleven months in narrowing the field
OF the rebellion, to the rapid growth of anti
slavery sentiment in parts Of the Union
where only three years ago the bare propo-
siiion to limit the field of slavery to the
States where 1t then existed was vehemently
reJelled. to the number Of those who were
slaves year ago, but now soldiers in the
United States service, and who have already
character, inferior to none for bravery and
good conduct,-are brief and pertinent.
The portion Of the message ON which the
public attention will be fixed with the
greatest intensity is that relating to the great
problem of reconstruction. What he says
on this point in his message. and lays down
in the accompanying proclamation, is SAID
in the Presidents usual plain and direct
manner. 1t embraces the following main
Tnnciples.
First it is idle to EXPECT that loyal
State can exist where those who set
1t up and maintain it keep themselves lndI-
Eiduslly in a condition of hostility and trea-
sn against the National Authority. \
loyal state must be constructed and upheld
J., tir,~e who are themselves loyal.
%ooHd with the exception of certain classes
oi officials, civil and military-those, of course,
whose official positions have given them the
greatest power to initiate and uphold the re-
belli1n, those who have resigned commissions
IN the United States service and given them
selves over to the cause of the rebellion, and
those who have treated captured colored sol
dlas, seamen, or those otherwise employed
IN the United States service, or their officers,
otherwise than as lawful prisoners of war;
ali who have been engaged in the re-
iellon and who now wish to abandon it and
return 10 their allegiance, may do SO and bt
u'i'iel t. full pardon, by taking an oath Al
pr,serIbed-said oath 10 lie registered and
10y keeping such oath inyiolate Moreover, Oh
81 DOING all of their property subject to con-
h'raliiI -lall be freed from that Liability AM
bc restored to them. if no rights of third pa.
tic- shall have interviewed -pr0rided however
that the freedom OF cvlored persons mad,
ise by the laws Of Congress or the Presi-
dents proclamation, shall not be taken away