The New York herald., 1863-12-10

the money question. we proceed to his views
upon the negro question. and his plan for the
| reclamation of the retellious States. He ad-
heres to his emancipation proclamation He
says that it has worked well for the national
cause, and he is thus satisfied that the procla-
nation and the laws connected with 1t will con-
tnue to work we'll He holds that to "abandon
them now would be not only to relinquish a
ever of power, but would also be cruel and
astonishing breach of faith" and he promises
that "while l remain in my present position
l shall not attempt to retract or modify the
emancipation proclamation, nor shall return
to slavery any person who is free by the terms
of that proclamation, or by any Of the acts of
Congress-"
Then comes his new proclamation, embracing
an amnesty TO the people of the rebellious
States, its conditions and limitations. and the
terms upon which said States may return to
their allegiance to the Union. He excludes
from the benefits of his amnesty all persons
who are or shall have been civil or diplomatic
officers or agents Of the so-caIled Confederate
States, aIi their soldiers above the rank of
colonel, all their naval officers above the rank
Of lieutenant, and ali those who-h resigned
commissions in the army or navy of the United
States to enter the rebel service, and all those
concerned in treating colored persons in the
government service. taken as prisoners. other
wise than as prisoners of war. &c. The favor
ed classes offered the benefits of full pardon
and the restoration Of their political rights
under the government and their property Tex
cepting their slaves), are required, as the cond-
tion precedent, to take an oath of allegiance
involving the recognition of the binding force
Of the emancipation proclamation and all the
kindred acts Of Congress on the subject $50 far
and so long as not repealed, modified or held
void by Congress or by decision Of heSupreme
Court"
Next in order. when number Of the persons
who shall have taken this oath in any re-
belious State, equal to one-tenth of the popular
vote in such State in the Presidential election
Of 1860, 'shall re-establish State government
republican in form, and in no wise contra
venng said OATH" such State, 80 reorganized
shall be readmitted to the benefits and protec-
ton of the Union. In other words, the favored
classes Of the people of each Of the rebellious
States embraced in the Presidents amnesty
are required, FIRST, to endorse the emancipation
proclamation, and, secondly, to organize State
government. declaring slavery abolished, before
they can be restored to the Union. In the
Scriptural account of Sodom and Gomorrah it
is stated that the Lord promised to Abraham
to spare those wicked cities If even ten
righteous men could be found thereto; but
they could not be found, and we know the
result. We dsFe cay that our Father Abfahsm,s
''oae-tenth" proposition was suggested by this
proposition Of the original Fs4her Abraham Of
ten righteous men in Sodom, and we feAr that
the result will BE- the sane-thst the righteous
men required to save the rebellious States from
a destructive storm of IRE and birthstone will
not be found.
But President Lincoln wishes it to be under
stood that In Offering this plan Of restoration 1t
does not follow that it is irrevocabe or may
not be set aside for some better plan. Indeed,
he suggests that the rebelIious States may re-
turn through the door of Congress. but that
Congress alone can determine when and how
that door is to be opened. We conclude that
Mr. LincOins plan Will De Iailure, an0 IL ls
quite possible that 1t has been submitted more
with view to open the question Of an amnesty
and restoration, or more to conciliate the
radicals, than from any hope Of the acceptance
of these overtures by the States concerned, or
any one of them not under the absolute control
of our armies.
We are now adrift at sea beyond our ancient
landmarks, and upon what shore we may reach
the anchorage of peace it would be vain to con-
lecture. We can only hope that frem The very
agitation which the restoration plan of the
Message will create we may reach some salts
factory halfway house Of rest"
GENERAL GRANT AND THE POLITICIANS.
World newspaper-which has been jumping
about from one faction to another trying to
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