The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-01-16
Lincoln,s Message i'm Europe.

The comments of the English press on the
annual message of President Lincoln are
chiefly confined to the portion of that docu-
ment in which is proposed the system of com.
pensated emancipation.
The Loudon Post Government organc says
that the message is as unsatisfactory as might
have been anticipated, and that it is particu-
larly valueless as an index of the political
course to be pursued by the Government, In
referring to the emancipation scheme, this
Journal remarks that it ''clearly proves that
the President has lost faith-if, indeed, he
ever possessed any-in the preposterous pro-
clamation which some months since he issued
for the, emancipation of all the slaves in the
Southern Confederacy on the lst of January"
and that "the President is evidently appre-
hensive that the incoming year may demon
der is the. authority which he exercises in
those States which he processes to rule; and
he is anxious, while there is yet time, to avoid
being placed in an undignifed position"
The Times says shat towards the South
Mr.. ,Lincoln's Message to Congress is less a
threat than a bid for peace; that the scheme
of emancipation announced is such. as we
might fancy Mr.. Davis and his Cabinet re-
commencing to the Confederate States, if they
were hard pressed by the enemy, and desired
to gain the active good will of the European
Powers; but that the Union should be restor-
ed by such simple process as this; and
should emerge out of this great strife steadied
by debt of some three thousand millions of
dollars, and purged from its curse Of slavery,
is, we are afraid, the dream of very weak
man." 1t concludes its article by saying that
the whole scheme is a labored substitute. for
the edict of September last
The London News, the organ of the Exeter.
Hall or Abolition party, says that. ''in maxi
ing his present proposition to Congress, Mr..
Lincoln, far from revoking any of his former
policy, and multiplying the proclamation Of
September last simply fulflsfa pledge which.
he gave them that, at the next session of Con-
gress, he would recommend measure offer
ing compensation to the loyal owners Of
slaves" and adds that "the freemen of the
North have it in .xhAr power, if they were
worthy of their cause, to destroy, root and
branch, the monstrous growth which has
cursed their country"
The Manchester Guardian in its comments
upon the message, remarks that there are
some points of interest in it, though they do
uot DestE vi oitu0F the uurdGOn OF issue OF the
war. 1t adds that President Lincoln nor his
Congress have any power to legislate for
slavery in the Southern Confederacy, and it
las long been evident that nothing they can
ny or Go on that subject will effect the deter.
Of the South to establish it's COM
'lete independence, and thinks 1--WE should
ave heard nothing of the project if it had |
lot been for the success of the Democrats in
he late elections"
The Liverpool Mercury regards the eman-
ipation scheme proposed as prospect for a,
aciGc settlement of all difficulties between
be North and the South on the basis Of an
mended Federal Constitution, but abstains
rom any criticism of the proposition upon
ne ground that there is not the slightest pro-
ability that it will ever become subject of
tactical discussion. 1t says. that con the
hole, there seems more subdued and mo-
crate tone throughout the present message
ian we have observed in any former utter
nee of the Washington Government since
le commencement of the war;"