The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1863-12-18

uicIS ON Ootn lauu anu sea, WIN varying
results. The rebellion had been pressed
back into reduced limits; yet the tone of
public feeling and opinion at home and
abroad was not satisfactory. With other
signs, the popular elections then just past
indicated uneasiness among ourselves,
while amid much that was cold and mem
acing, the kind words coming from Eng
land were uttered in accents of pity that
we were too blind to surrender. Our
commerce was suffering grestly by few
armed vessels; ;built upon and furnished
from foreign shores, and we were threat
ened with such additions from the same
quarter as would sweep our trade from the
sea and raise our blockade. We had
failed to elicit from Europeau Govern
meuts anything hopeful Upon this sub
ject.
The Emancipation Proclamation, which
was issued in September, was running its
assigned period to the beginning of the
New Year. A month later the final pro-
clamation came, including the announce
riient that colored men of suitable condi-
ton would be received into the war ser.
vice. The policy Of emancipation and
the employment Of black soldiers, gave to
the future new aspect, sbout which
hopes, fears snd; doubts contended in TN
certain conflict. t.according to our political
system, as a matter of OWL administra-
ton. The Government had no lawful
power to effect emancipation in any State,
and for long time it had been hoped
that the rebellion could be suppressed,
without resorting to it as military mea-
sure. 1t was all the while deemed possi-
BILE that ne:ssity for it might come, and
that if it should, the crisis Of the contest
would then be presented. 1t came, and
as intended, it was followed by dark and
doubtful days. Eleven months having
been passed, we are permitted to take
another review, the rebel borders are
pressed still further back, and by the
complete opening of the Mississippi Riv-
er, the country dominated over by the
rebellion, is divided into distant parts.
Practical communication between them
has been effectually severed and cut of i;
and Tennessee and Arkansas have been 80
substantially cleared Of the insurgents
control and influence, that the citizens in
each, and the owners Of slaves and advo-
Gates of slavery at the beginning Of the
rebellion, now declare openly for eman-
cipation in their respective States. Of
those States not included in the Emanci-
patton Proclamation. Maryland and Mis-
souri,, neither of which, years ago, would
tolerate any restraint upon the extension
Of slavery into their territories, only dis
pute now IS to the best mode Of remov-
ing it from their own limits. OF those
who were slaves at the beginning Of the
rebellion, fully one hundred thousand are
now in the United States military service,
about one half of which number actually
1ear arms in the ranks, thus giving the
double advantage Of taking so much Ia
Dor from the insurgent cause, and sup
plying the places which otherwise must
De filled with so many white men So
ar as tested it is difficult to say they
ire not as good soldiers as any. No ser
,ile iasurrection, or tendency to violence
,r cruelty has marked the measures Of
emancipation and arming the blacks
These measures have been much discuss
ID In foreign countries, and cotemporsry
With such discussions, the tone of public
sentiment there is much improved. Here
he same measures have been fully dis
,ussed, supported, criticised and denoun-
led, and the annual elections are highly
Encouraging to those whose special duty
t is to bear the country through this
,rest trial. Thus we have the reckon
no. The crisis which threatened to d.
,ide tho friends Of the Union is past.
Looking now to the present and future
md with reference to resumption of the
National authority within the States,
wherein that authority has been suspend
d, 1 have thonght ft to issue procla-
nation, a copy of which is herewith
On examination of this
it will appear, as is believed.
IMPLY justified by the Constitution. True
he form of an oath is given, but no man
coerced to take it. A man is only
romised pardon in case he voluntarily
,kes the oath. The Constitution au.
1erizes the executive to grsnt.it on terms
5 is fully established by Judicial and 9TH
p autborities. II is also proffered that