The weekly Butte record., 1863-01-03
Inc New Year ana the Future.

Another year, with all its hopes and fears,
its joys and SORROWS, and which has been pro-
ductive of events in which the interests Of nil
lions were involved, has just bidden Us adieu
and been added to the buried centuries of the
past On such al occasion it IS meet that
every one should take retrospective view Of
his individual conduct, and closely scan his
errors Of omission and commission. If upon
such review he should find that his course
has not been such as the inward mouitor can
approve, lei him seriously determine on amend
ment 10 the future. II, on the contrary, he
shall fortunately fad that his conscience Is
void of ofense, that he has made as near an
approximation 10 the lulfllment of all his du-
ties-social, domestic aud political-as poor
human nature will admit, he will enjoy de
gree Of satisfaction which will prove strong
incentive to continuance in the ways of
Pleasantness and paths Of peace"
During the year which has passed, the
American people have been actors and specta-
tors IN a stupendous drama, to them the most
important and fearful of any which have been
recorded in the annals of time. \ civil war.
fratricidal strife-in which brother has been
arrayed against brother aud father against sou
a contest, too, unparalleled in magnitude
among people of kindred race, has swept
over our land with the deadly force of the 81
rocco, severing the ties which had hitherto
bound Us together in amiy, spreading misery
and devastation in its course, and deluging the
land with blood. And still continues the
mighty conflict, still flows on the crimson tide.
Where and when its angry waves shall be
stayed and hushed, who can foretelI?
While the contest was confined to its legti-
mate object, solemnly announced by the rep.
resentatives of the people in Congress the
supremacy of the Constitution and laws and
the preservation of the Union,-i result was
not considered doubtful but when it was d.
verted from that-when, to the most superficial
observer, it became evident that it had degene
rated, on the part Of those who are unfortu-
nately in power into miserable, fanatical and
unconstitutional crusade for negro emancipa
ton, the hopes of the true patriot aud Unonst
became faint indeed if not entirely crushed
Almost from the inception of the war, the acts
and policy Of the present Administration have
been such as to utterly eXtinguish every Union
sentiment in those States which have seeded
from the Confederacy while the people of the
North, even, seeing that their liberties were
being wrested from them-that the Constitu-
ton was repeatedly violated by those accident
ally aud most unfortunately in power, have
arisen in the majesty and grandeur of their
strength, and, by their votes, recorded their
solemn condemnation Of these abuses of power
The proclamation of President Lincoln for the
abolition of slavery In those seeded States
which, it is asserted, are still in the Uuion,
which, We presume, has ushered in the New
Year, lauded though il may be by revolution
tiouists and fanatics, is the crowning act of
folly, tanaticism and uconstitutionality.-
Viewed in whatever light it may be, whether
as rightful use Of power or as an act of ex-
pediency, it is equally Objectionable. Laying
aside the former view of the question, which
we do not now propose to discuss, it requires
but little discernment to perceive that Presi-
dent Lincoln's proposed measure of emancipa-
ton ard foreign colonization, even were it
practicable, would be disastrous in the extreme
The bare fact alone that it would strike out of
existence at one fell swoop s500,000,OOO Of
the productive industry of the country annually,
is sufficient argument against it, were there
no other.
The future is, indeed, shrouded in gloom
overhung with clouds, dark and portentous.
But through the impending darkness there yet
beams forth ray of lsht-a promise for the
future. The people, always correct in their
final decisious have been aroused to a serious
contemplation of the dangers which surround
them and their Ark of Safety-the Constitu-
ton. II it be not irretrievably lost or driven
through" ere the Democratic and Conserva-
tive element Of the country takes charge of the
destinies Of the Republic, and inaugurates a
different policy from that being now pursued,
all may yet be well, and The Government re.
stored to what it was and should be- For
such happy conSummation, most devoutly to
be wished, let all true patriots labor.
WHAT THE INTERFERENCE OF CoNGREsSNEx
II - H., III, NK--t-.. -- .