Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-12-19

great road.
transmit tho second annual report of
the Commissioner of the Department of
Agriculture. asking your attention to the
developments in that vital interest of the
nation
When Congress assembled a year ago
the war had already lasted nearly twenty
months, and there had been many conflicts
on both land and sea, with varying results.
The rebellion had been pressed back into
reduced limits; yet the tone Of public feel |
ing and opinion, home and abroad, was
npt satisfactory. With other signs, the
popular elections, then just past indicated
uneasness among ourselves, while amid
much that was cold and menacing the kind
est words coming from Europe were ut
tered in accents OF pity, that were too
blind to surrender a hopeless cause. Our
commerce was suffering greatly by few
armed vessels built upon and furnished
from foreign shores, and we we're threat
encd with such additions from the same
quarter as would sweep our trade from the
sea and raise our blockade. We had fall
ed to elict from European governments an y
thing hopeful upon this subject. The pre-
liminary emancipation proclamation issued
in September, was running its assigned
period to the beginning of the new year.
A month later the final proclamation came
including the announcement that colored
men of suitable condition would be receiv,
ed into the war service. The policy of
emancipation, and OF employing black sol.
diers, gave to the future new aspect,
about which hope, and fear, and doubt
contended in Uncertain conflict. According
to our political system, as matter Of
civil administration the general govern
ment had no lawful power to effect eman-
cipation in any State, and for long time
it had been hoped that the rebellion could
be suppressed without resorting to it as q
military measure. 1t was all the while
decmed possible that the necessity for it
might come, aud that if it should, the cri-
sis of the contest would then be presented.
1t came, and, as was anticipated, it was
followed by dark and doubtful days.
Eleven months having now passed, we are
permitted TO take another review, Tho
rebel borders are pressed still further
back and by the complete opening of the
Mississippi the country dominated by the
rebellion is divided into distinct parts with
practical communication between them.
Tennessee and Arkansas have been sub
stantially cleared Of insurgent control and
influential citizens in each, owners Of slaves
and advocates of slavery at the beginning
OF the rebellion, now declair openly for
emancipation in their respective States. Of
those States not included in the emancipa-
ton proclamation, Maryland and Missouri,
neither oil which, thee years ago, would
tolerate any restraint upon the extension
OF slavery into new territories, only dispute
now as to the best mode Of removing it
within their own limits.
Ofthose who were slaves at the begin
riug Of the rebellion full one hundred thou.
sand are now in the United States military
service, about one half Of which number
actually bear arms ia the ranks; thus Civ
ing the double advantage oftaking so much
labor from the insurgent cause, and sup
plying the places which otherwise must be
filled with so many white men. So far as
tested, it is difficult to say they are not as
good soldiers asauy. No servile insurrec-
ton, or tendency to violence or cruelty,
has marked the measures of emancipation
and armng of the blacks These meas
ures have been much discussed in foreign
countries, and contemporary with such
discussion the tone oil public sentiment
there is much improved, At home the
same measures have been fully discussed
supported, criticised and denounced, and
the annual elections following are highly
encouraging 10 those whose official duty il
is to bear the country through this great
trial. thus we have the new reckoning
The crisis which threatened TO divide the
friends oil the Union is past.
Looking now TO The present and future
and with reference to resumption of the
national authority within the States where
in that authority has been suspended,
have thought fit to issue proclamation
a copy ot which is herewith transmitted
On examination ofthis proclamation it vii
: appear, as is'bolieved, that nothing is al
tempted beyond what is amply justified by
the Constitution. True, the form Of al
oath is given, but no man is coerced t
take it The man is only promised ;
pardon in case he voluntarily takes th'
, oath. The Constitution authorizes the
Executive to grant or withhold the pardon
at his own absolute discretion; and thi
, includes the power to grant on terms, as il
fully established by Judicial and other au
thorities.
It's also proffered that if, in any of tn,
: States named, State government shall b.
t in the mode prescribed, set up, such gov
r ernment shall be recognized and guaran
i tied by the United States, and that und,
it the State shall, on the constitutional col
ditions, be protected against invasion a'l
t domestic violence. The constitution
obligation of the United States to guarant
to every State in the Union a republi ca
4 form Of government, and to protect th
State, in the cases stated, is explicit an
+ full, But why tender the benefits Of th
e provisions only to State government 81