Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-12-18
Extracts from Mr.. LiucOIn,s Message.
THE REBELLION.


When Congress assemblies year ago the war had
already lasted twenty months, and there had been
many conflicts both land aud sea, with 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
passed. indicated uneasiness among ourselves while
amid much that was cold and menacng the kind
est words coming from Europe were uttered in ac-
cents of pity, that we were too blind to surrender
hopeless cause Our commerce was suffering
greatly by few armed vcSsels-built upon and
furnished from foreign shores-and we were
threatened with such additions from the same quar-
ter as would sweep trade from the sea and raise
our blockade We had failed to elicit from Euro
pean governments anything hopeful upon this sub
Ject
TIE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
The preliminary emancipation proclamation is
sued in September was running its ASST gned period
to the beginning Of the new year. A month later
the final proclamation came including the announce
ment that colored men of suitable condition would
be received in the war service. The policy of eman-
cpatiOn and of employing black soldiers gave to the
future a new aspect, about which hope and fear
and doubt commended in uncertain conflict. Accord
ing to political system, as a matter Of civil ad-
miniStratOn 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 a military
measure. TWAS all the while deemed possible that
the necessity for it mis- ht come and that if it should
the crisis Of the contest would then be presented
Il came, and as was anticipated, was followed by
dirk and doubtful days
TIE CONTRABANDS IN SERVICE.
Eleven months having now passed, we are now,
permitted to take another review. The rebel Dor
ders are pressed still further back and by the CON-
pete opening of the Mississippi the country domino
ted by the rebellion is divided into distinct parts
with no practicable communication between them
Tennessee and Arkansas have been substantially clear
ed Of insurgent CONTROL and influential citizens in
EACH owners of slaves and advocates of slavery at
the beginning of the rebellion, now declare openlv
for emancipation in their respective States Ofthose
States not included in the emancipation proclama-
ton, Maryland and Missouri, neither of which three
years ago would tolerate any restraint upon the ex
tension of slavery into new territories only dispute
now as to the best mode of removing it within their
own limits. OF those who were slaves at the be-
ginning of the rebellion full one hundred tho,saud
are non in the United States military service about
onehalf of which number actually bear arms in tho
ranks thus giving the double advantage of taking
so much labor from the nsurgent cause and sup
plying the places which. otherwise must be filled
with many white men. So far as tested it is diff
cult to say they are not as good soldiers as any
No servile instruction and tendency to violence or
cruelty has marked the measures of emancipation
and arming the blacks These measures have been
much discussed IN ioreign countries, and contempt
rary with such discussion the tone of public senti-
ment there is much improved. At home the
same measures have been fully discussed support
ed criticised and denounced; and the annual cleo
tons following are highly encouraging to those
whose official duty it is to bear the country through
this great trial. Thus we have the new reckoning.
THE CRISIS PASTA PROCLAMATION.
The crisis which threatened to divide the friends
of the Union IS past Looking now to the present
and future, and with reference to resumption of
the national authority in the States wherein that
authority has been suspended, have thought it fit
to issue proclamation copy of which is trans
will appear (as is believed that nothing is attempt
ed beyond what is amply justified by the constitu-
ton. True, the form of an oath is given but no
man is ecercea to take it. The man is on " prom.
Used pardon in case he voluntarily takes the OATH