Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-12-17
,oncur in the recommendation Of the Sec.

ifcation OF the act in favor of those en-
gagged in the military and naval service
Of the United States. I doubt not that
Congress will cbeerfully adopt such mea-
sures as will, without essentially chang
ing the general features OF the system, se-
cure to the greatest practical extent its
benefits TO those who have left their homes
in defense Of the country in this srduous
crisis. invite your attention to the
views of the Secretary Of War as to the
propriety of raising by appropriation Of
the Legislature, q revenue from the min
eral lands Of the United States.
THE INDIANS.
The measures provided at your last
session for the removal OF certain Indian
tribes have been carried into effect. Sun.
dry treaties have been negotiated, which
will in due time be submitted for the con
sttutional action Of the Senate. They
contain stipulations for extinguishing the
possessors rights of the Indians to large
ard valuable tracts OF land. 1t is prob
able that the effect Of these treaties will
result in the establishment of permanent
friendly relations with such of those
tribes as have been brought into frequent
and bloody collisions with our outlying
settlements and emigrants. Sound poll
cy and our imperative duty to these wards
of Government, demand our anxious and
constant attention to their material well
being to their progress in the arts of civ
iization, and. above all, to that moral
training, which, under the blessings OF
Divine Providence, will confer upon
them elevating and sanctifying inhuen-
ces, the hopes and consultations of the
Christian faith. suggested in my last
annual message, the propriety Of remod-
cling our. Indian system. Subsequent
events have satisfied me Of its necessity.
The details set forth in the report of the
Secretary. will evince the urgent need fol
immediate Legislative action.
l commend the benevolent institutions
esta ablished or patronized by the Govern.
meht in this District to your generous
and fostering care.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The attention of Congress during the
last session was engaged to some extent
with proposition for enlarging the com
munications between the Mississippi riv-
or and the North eastern seaboard, which
proposition, however, failed for the time
Since then, upon a call of the greatest
responsibility, convention has been held
at Chicago upon the same subject. 6
summary of whose views in . memorial
addressed to the President and Congress
which now have the honor to lay befor
you. That this interest is one which
ere long, will force its own way, do no
entertain doubt, while it is entirel.
submitted to your wisdom as to what cal
be dona now. Augmented interest i
given to this subject by the actual com
mencement of work upon the Pacifi,
Railroad, under auspices SO favorable te
its rapid progress and completion. tha
enlarged navigation becomes a pslpable
need to the great road.
l transmit the second annual report o.
the Commissioner of the department o.
Agriculture, asking your attention to the
developments in that vital interest of the
nation.
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
When Congress assembled year ago
the war had already lasted nearly twenty
months, and there had been many con.
flicts on both land and sea, with varying
results. The rebellion had been pressed
back into reduced limits, yet the tone oi
public feeling and opinion at home and
abroad was not satisfactory. With 9th
er signs, the popular elections then just
past, indicated uneasiness among our.
selves, while amid much that was cold
menacing, the kindest words coming from
Europe were uttered in accents of pity
that we were too blind to surrender. ON
commerce was suffering greatly 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 European Govern
ments anything hopeful upon this sub
iect. The Emancipation Proclamation
which was issued in September, was run
ming its assigned period to the beginning
Of the New Year. A month later tn
final proclamation came, including the
ann nnouncement that colored men of suita
BILE condition would be received into tn
war service. The policy Of emancipation
and of employing black soldiers, gave te
the future q new aspect about which
hope, and fear, and doubt contended il
uncertain conflict.
According to our political system, as .
| Il IL
eral government had no lawful power
to effect emancipation in any State; and
for long time it had been hoped the re
bellion could be suppressed without re-
sorting to it as military measure. II
was all the while deemed possible that
the necessity for it might come. and tha
if it should, the crisis of the contest would
then be presented. 1t came, and. as we
expected, it was followed by dark anc
doubtful days. Eleven months having
been passed, we are permitted to take an
other review. The rebel borders ar
pressed still further back, and by tn
plete opening of the Mississippi rive
the country dominated over by tn
rebellion, is divided into distant part
, without practical communication between
!, them. Tennessee and Arkansas hav'
been substantially cleared of insurgent'
control and influence, and the citizens il
I each, and owners of slaves and advocate
. Of slavery at the beginning of the REBEL