Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-14

that this Proclamation 80 far as IL relates to Stale Gov
ernm snts has reference to the States wherein loyal
State Governments have all the while been maintained
And for ths same It may be proper to fu Their
say that whether members Of Congress from any State
shall be admitted to their seats const ionsy ress II
cusively with the respective Houses and not 70 any ex.
tent With the Executive. And still further. tina, this
Proclamation intended to present the people Of the
States wherein the National authority has been suspend
ed and the loyal State Governments have been subvert
ed, mode BY which the National authority and the
loyal ate Cover ments may be ie-cstablshed within
the said States or in any OF them; and while the mode
presented is the best the Executive suggest with his
present Impressions il mast not 10 understood that no
other possible mode would be acceptable.
Given under my hand at the City Of Washington, the
eighth day of December, D., one thousand eight
hundrei aad sixty three and Of the Independence Of
the United S ates Of America the eighty eighth.
ABRAHAx LIzcoLx.
By the President
WIZ. Il SEWARD, Secretary Of Ststs.
LIHcoLs's nEssAgz.
Lncoln's Message was road to Congress on the 9th,
and is unusually brief We subjOin synopsis:
FOREIGN RELATIONS AID yoREssIRs
He congratulstes Congress on the friendly relations
with foreign powers and the unavsng efforts Of dsoyI
citizens to involve the United States In foreign
Great BStan has Prevented the departure OF hosiils
expeditions fom British ports aud France ta vindca
ted her neutrality. The blockade and other questions
wild Foreign powers nkso peeu " sPnis
of good viii
He Complains of the course OF foreigners Ia evadng
military duty and advises an amendment OF the laws
so Gs to make voting estoppal against any plea OF
exc npion, and the fixing Of limit beyond which no
citizen residing abroad may claim the interpretation OF
the government
He submits the e1psdiency Of encouraging foreign
immigration to supply the deficiency Of laborsrs and
afording assistance Tor the purpose.
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
When Congress last assembled the tone Of feeling
abroad and at home wa, unsaisfsctory. The popular
elections indicated uneaslness among ourselves Our
commerce was suffering and We were threatened with
the raising Of the blockade and she sweeping Of
commerce fom the seas The policy of emancipation
and back soldiers gave rise to fear and doubt
The government had no power, according TO our po-
itical system to emsncipate in the States, and 1t was
hoped that the rebellion could be suppressed without
resorng to t as war measure. The crisis came With
its necessity, and dark and doubtful days followed
Eleven months have passed, and the rebel borders
are pressed further back. The Mississippi completely
opened; Tennessee and Arkansas have been reclaimed
and openly declare for emancipation; Maryland and
Missouri not included in the proclamation, dhpuse
the best method of removing slavery.
One hundred thousand slaves are In the military ser
vice. onehalf bearing arms. No tendancy to insurreo
ton or violence has marked thess measures. Discus
sion has improved foreign sentiment in regard to thsm
The crisis which threatened the Union Ia passed.
METHOD or RKcoEsrRUoTna TEE uHros.
With reference to the resumption Of national au-
hority within the States proclamation has been Issued
in which nothing attempted not justified BY the Oonsti
uop No Is coerced 70 lake the oath, and pardon
IL promised if TIE oath ID voluntarily taken The Con
situon authorizes the Executive to pardon at his dis
cretion and terms esabshsd by ud cisl authority.
We are dealing with cases in which the element Of q
State favorable Republican form Of Government ID
too feeble to hostile clements without or within the
State To separate these opposing elemnts, liberal
tes. 10 made by an oath of allegiance which accepts a
sound whoever recants his former unsouHdness In
turn for pardon and restoration OF forfeited rights and
their necessity for the suppression OF the rebellion
pledge is eIacted for the maintenance Of the emancpa
ton proclamation and laws in regard to slavery No
modification retraction of the proclamation viii be
made or any person made free by It be returned to
slavery during the continuance of the President In bis
position.
The proclamation presents plan which will be Q
rayiug point for the elements Of reconstruction and
has been shaped to avoid comntalism points that
may be lefs for further Developments. ti 1t-
By pardoning certain classes Is 10 not meant that 9TH
ers will never be included. Il Il not meant that
sruc,ion will not be accepted in any but the spscihsd
way Congress should aid movements for emancipation
in the States Lot included In the proclamation. Little
can be done towards reconstruction until confidence 10
restored to the loyal element Of insurgent States that
they will not sgan be over run. Hence the main re-
lance Is the pos and the chief care should be
directed TO the army arc navy.
RIPoRr OF THE SECRETARY OF War.
The operations Of the act calling out the National
forces has been enforced in twelve States and yielded
$4,000 men, or ones Ith the number called for
Nc asures make the law eectual are demanded,
including the repeal of the three hundred dollar exsmp
ton clause.
The Invalid corps releases 20 900 men from duties In
Hospitals and puts them in the field. Fifty thousand
blacks have been armed and is urged to pat them on
footing with white soldiers as to pay and bounty.
reduction of over $500, 600 will DO made in the
eJtimltes of The h.cal year.
RErokr OF SECRETARY OF TEE HAvr.
The blockade hes been tfectually maintained, and
hundred vessels engaged in pstrong rivers All Illicit
intercourse with the rebels has not been prevented
owing to the length Of coast and number of fast steam
era engaged in running the blocksds.
Oae thousand aud forty przss have been captured
The value of vessels condemned ID estimated At tls
900 600 The Navy Is composed Of SsS vepes, mount
ing 4lS guns. The armed feet consists Of forty nix
vessels for coast and twenty-Eiae for inland service
The number of men employed In the Navy Is "a 900.
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June sotb,
1865, are Sl42, SIS 1856 40. =. ait
TREASURY DIPARInIxf.
The National B mixing law is CONNIE nded 90 valuable
support of the public credit. All de mands have been
promptly met BY the Department The receipts from
all sources during the year, are 1901 Jas s74 &C. the
afg'egate disbursements, $685., 7se $50 g. The pay
ment Of the funded AID temporary debt were made
with borrowed monies. The Report has not been pub
lshed but it is thought will exhist state Of hnsn
ces more favoi able than heretofore submitted,
.ci CAPTURE OF TIE CHxsAfHAKa s -.
The steamer Chesapeake, from New York to Portland,
was seized 90 the 6h by her Iasenger, seventeen In
number The second engineer was killed, the chief en-
rireer and mate wounded and the captain and his
landed atSi. Johns The passengers who sessd her
are thought to be blockade who came to New
York in prizes and were turned loose. The plan was
coneoeted in New York. s2
Il is believed the Chesapeake has started out on p'
"a ical uise Shecaries two small c,nnon, and the
vessel that ciptursd 1t Read Of the Taoony, who at
emptedto escape from Portland harbor 10 tho Cush
ing which he had sexed The captain OF the pirates"
is Henry Brsne Lieutenant Burr, one Of horgans men,
is second ciicer It Is thought they would into
Wilmington. -4r -..arf