The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-12-17
had failed to elicit from European gov

etnmcnls anything hopeiui upon ms
subject
The Emancipation Proclamation,
which was issued in September was.
running its assigned period to the begin
ming Of tho new year, A month later
1.-THE fhsl Proclamation came, including
tho announcement, that colored men of
suitable condition, would be received
into the war service. 9Nfts
The policy of emancipation, and the
employment Of black soldiers, gave to
the future a new aspect about which
hopes, fears and doubts contendcd in
uncertain conflict, according to our pc.
lilical sy stem asa matter Of civil minis
tration. The General Government had
nolawful power 10 effec! emancipation
in any State; and for along lime it had
been hoped that the rebellion coGid be
suppressed without restoring to ii rs .
military measure. Il was all the while
deemed possible that necessity for il
mig ht come, end that If il should, the
crisis of the contest could then be pre-
seated. Il came and as intended, it
was followed by dark and doubtful days.
Eleven moatbs having been passed, we
are permitted to Isko another review
the rebel borders are pressed still fur
ther back and by the complete opening
Of the Mississippiriver the country dom
mated over by the rebellion, is divided
into distant parts. Practical commu nj.
cation between them and Tennessee and
Arkansas has been so substantially
cleared of the insurgeants' control and
influence, that the citizens in each and
owners Of slaves and advocates of sla.
very at the beginning of the rebellion
now declare openly for emancipation in
their respective States. Those States
not included in tho emancipation procla,
maiop, Maryland and Missouri, neither
Of which, years ago, would tolerate any
restrain upon the extension of slavery
into their territories, only dispute now
as 10 the best mode Of removing il fiom
within their own limits, OF those who
were slaves at the beginning of the re-.
belion fully one hundred thousand are
now in the United States military SER
vice, about one half Of which number
actually bear arms in the ranks, thus
| giving double advantage of taking SO
much labor from the nSurgent cause
and supplying the places which other
wise must be filed with so many white
men. So far as tested it is difficult 10
say they are not as good soldiers as any
No seryilo iusurrection or tendency to
violence or cruelty has marked the
measures Of emancipation and aiming
the blacks. These measures have been
much discussed in foreign countries,
contemporary with such discussions the
tone Of public sentiment there is much
improved. Where the same measures
4 have been fully discussed, supported,
criticised aud denounced, the annual
elections aie highly encouraging tc
sbosO whose special daty it is to beal
the countSy through this great trial.
Thus we havo the reckoning. The cri.
sis which threatened to divide the friend:
of the Union is past.
Looking now 10 the present aad flu
ture, and with reference to the resump
ton of the National authority, within the
States wherein that authority has beer
suspended, l have thought I'll to issue {
proclamation, copy Of which is here,
with transmitted. On examination O.
this proclamation it will appear as i.
believed, amply justified by the Consti
tuition. True, the form of an oath is Civ
en-, but no man is coerced to take it,
a man is only promised pardon ii
case he voluntarily takes The oath, TIL,
Constitution authorizes the Executivt
TO grant it on terms as authorities. |
is also preferred that ifsny of the State
named shall set up a State Government
in the mode prescribed, such govern
ment shall be recognized and goTanieed
: by the United States, and that under il
the Stale shall, on subscribing to the
constitutional conditions, be protected
against invasion and domestic violence.
The constitutional obligation oftho Uni
ted States, to guarantee to every State
in the Uaion a Republican form of Gov
eminent, and TO protec, the State in III,
case as stated is explicit and full, bu
why tender the benefits of this provision
only to State Government set up il
this particular way, This section o
the Constitution contemplatcs cas-,
wherein the elements in a State iayom
BILE to republican government ia the Tn
ion may be 100 feeble for an opposite
and hostile element, external to and even
within the State, and such are preeisei,
the cases with which we are now deal
iug. attempt to guarantee aud pro
toCt revised State ofgoyenmcnt, con.
sructed in whole or in propuuIeatug
part from the very elements against
whose hostility and violence il ia TO be