The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-12-23
Ir1s SAID that the commission at Vicks-
burg to test the title to property by the
rule Of loyalty has not been able to fnd a
disloyvl property -holdsrin that place.
THE REBEL PRESS.


From the Richmond Examiner, December, ~
The message ofAbraham Lincoln is to be
found in the Journal of this morning SO
much curiosity exists relative to this docu'
ment, and so much ofthe inform alton which
it contains is important to the right under
standing Of the present phase of the war,
that we have publishedTit entire, to the
exclusion of much other matter. ::
In style it is bare as a leaf from ledger
Such, dsrisive laughter has been excited by
the Hoosier's previous attempts atefne wrl'
ting that he has no longer spirit to show
himself. The tone ia subdued; the Language
dry and plain; the exposition is brief as
arithmetic. But all reflection upon the
general characters tics of this "State Paper
is forgotten in wonder over the conclusion
at'which it arrives and the proclamation ap-
pended thereto After affirming the uni
versal abolition of slavery, without eompen-
sation, in the broadest manner, Abraham
Lincoln offers pardon, to all persons in
the Confederacy, under the ran k OF colonel,
and who have not held any.civil Office,
executive, judicial. legslative5or diplomatic
in the Confederate States, who will give
themselves up, and swear Ga tbs Of allegiance
to the United States, which contain an OBJ
lioatlon to accept the proclamation eman-
cipating the slaves. When =E<one tenth OF
the population any State has sworn this
oath. the said tenth shall constitute State
Goyernment and send members to the Con
gress at Washington. On condition OF such
submission, the creatures who make itshall
be permitted to crawl on the face OF the
earth, and posses property, with the excep-
ton of slaves. There are to be enrolled in
the army of the United States and quarter
ed over the conquered States, where negro
soldiers viii be billeted in every house, ano
negro Provost Marshals lord itin every vii
lage - ~T, . 81
Such are the first terms of peace otfersc
by the United States to the people of the
Confederate States. These terms are Jolnec
with many vague intimations that they may
be withdrawn or modified as occasion re-
wires. "Those laws and proclamations are
enacted and put forth,p says the shallow
knave, "for the purpose of aiding in9the
suppression of the rebellion" But in vair
is the trap set in sight of any bird. Even
geese would scorn the chaf with it is baiteo
and shun the snare which shows the moose
on the surface. The Proclamation OF Par
don will have as much, and no more, effect
than the Proclamation of Emancipation
and the Proclamation to disperse, which be
gan the war. .-.
This document has, however, one trait o1
real importance. 1t reveals the decline Of
the mania for war in the United States
Lincoln represents his peoplenow as he did
two years ago. Then, all was bloody Con
fiscation, subjugation and determination
were the only measures he and they thought
or apoke of. Great is the distance between
those days and these. Instead of crushing
the rebellion" in "sixty days by gigantic
"Union army" the chief hope now rest in a
juggle. There is time for all things. A
time for tghting-and that time is nearly
past; time for cheating and that is nearly
come.