The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-12-18
The Presidents Message.

The annual Message Of the PIe-i lent
was delivered TO congress on the 9th. The
Milwaukee Ne,cs says Of it:
The body If The presidents. annual
mes.ng. is !. concis-'v and clearly written
summary of The sui j-c's erahodied in the
reports of the several departments. II
bears no impression of he presidents orig
inal and peculiar st, ,Ie If Ihonght ANA ~,
,e,anre. and there is nothing in it to re-
fu,e Presumption ,hst it may have been
composed and written bv his private sees
retarv or anv other man Of ready clerical
abilities
All the remarkable characteristics. OF
,he production are concentrated IN lis tail
There can b- no mistake as to who orig,
ma Ell or who penn-d This section OF The
presidents me. sage 1t came rough from
Old Abe's head and Old Ahe'k hand. Rhe>
,orically it is as awkward and loose Jpnt-
ed as it's author. A the embodiment OF
plan for he reco' rur'ion "f the Amer
lean Union. II sr,aratlng anywhere else
than from The pr.sileDlisl mansion. 1t
would he regarded a. the mere crud'ty OF
some speu atiny rustic. ignorant of he
customs and AVS OF the United States and
the genius of orr institutions It. will puz-
zle 'he country TO know what 10 make of
thi. p!an-eSpe,i ially to reconcile the in
constituencies and contradictions involved
in its birth. Assuming the prerogaiives
Of imperial power, the president defers to
congress and the courts. Asserting the
immu,ahlitv of his emancipation decree
he declares fu'nre obligation TO obey il 1"
be matter for ui'cial determination. -
Assuming rebel states 10 have tx ingush-
ed themselves b, 4 sort "t political : nic'de.
he generously indirate> a purpose to rec"g
uize old .ta'e boundaries. Alleging =
right in himself TO organize sra g govern
m-n's upon his own conditions and to tx
the terms of their admission to the Uni u.
he admits that congress only can deter
mine their right I" rrpre<entat,on IN that
body. DENYING his right As a civil magls
tr@te TO abolish slavery. he insists upon
his right a an army officer to abolish >la-
very aud to legis%,e for ii during all time
to come. Protesting a drsire' 10 restore
the Union, be affirms his personal de'er
| miDation 10 accept no reconstruction not
based upon the freedom of The negro -
! Taking as commander in chief "f the fed
eraI armies. he proceeds TO make law Ike
! whole legislature Talking xs the chiet
! execu'ive Of the government. lie intnmaie-
| his independence of obligation 10 cnrs,Itu>
ton and law. He depicts himself in the
threshold character of military chief. a
consti u'innal president and leader of a
successful political party His plan em-
/ braces too little for military di,ra'nr
100 much for a president. /, is not snffi
! rienrlv liSarai 10 render The Union posi-
! b bv conc iauon, aud not sufiic entity a..
bitrary to render It a plan prarlirabe b
! the mere eXertlOn Of force. The impress
sion which p1rusaI of the plan and the
proclamation leaves upon the mind Of the
| i"pariial and discriminating reader, is not
thai the president is destitute of all homes
~ and patriotism bnr that. with no hack
at self assurance hr is menta " unequal t.
; ;he dn'i-- and responsibilities Of the posi-
'i"n in which f'rrune has placed him -
Whatever is good AM practical of his plan
will doubtless be cherished and preserve
whatever is absurd and impracticabl.
will druhr less he discarded and frgoltou
| like much Of the other rubbish which ha.
Numbered up previous messages from the
same quarter.