American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1863-12-16

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hopes and consultations of the christian
faith.
l suggested in my last annual message
the propriety Of remodeling our Indian
system. Subsequent events have satisfied
me of its necessity. The details set forth
in the report of the Secretary, will eyince
the urgent need for immediate legislative
action. | commend the benevolence Of
the institutions established or patronized
by the Government of 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 wa
ter communication between the Mississip-
pi river and the Northeastern seaboard
which proposition, however, failed for the
time Since then, upon call of the
greatest responsibility, convention has
been called at Chicago, upon the same
subject, summary of whose views is con-
tanned in a memorial addressed to the
President and Congress, and which I now
have the honor to lay before you. That
this interest is one which ere long will
force its own way, ] do not entertain a
doubt, while it is submitted entirely to
b.
your wisdom as to what can be done now
Augmented interest is given to this sub
ject by the actual commencement of work
upon the Pacific Railroad, under auspices
50 favoroble to its rapid progress and COM
pletion. Enlarged navigation becomes a
palpable need to this great road.
transmit the second annual report of
the Commissioner of the department of
Agriculture, asking your attention to the
developments in that vital interest Of the
nation.
When Congress assembled year ago,
the war had already lasted nearly twenty
months, and there was many conflicts on
both land and sea with varying results
The rebellion had been pressed back into
reduced limits, yet, the tone of public feel
ing and opinion at home and abroad was
not satisfactory. With the other signs,
the popular elections then just past, indi-
Gated uneasiness among ourselves, while
amid much that was cold and menacing,
the kindest words coming from England,
were uttered in accents of pity that we were
too blind to surrender. Our commerce
was suffering greatly by few armed ves-
sells, built upon and furnished from for
eign shores, and we were threatened with
such additions from the came quarter as
would sweep our trade from the sea, and
raise our blockade. We had failed to eli
cit from European governments anything
hopeful upon this subject.
THE EMANcIpATIoN PROCLAMATION.
The Emancipation Proclamation, which
was issued in September, was running its
assigned period to the beginning of the
new year. A month later the final proc
lamation came, including the announce
ment that colored men of suitable condi-
ton would be received into the war SER
vice. The policy of emancipation and Of
the employment of black soldiers gave to
thu future new aspect, about which hope
and fear and doubt contended in uncer-
tain conflict. According to our political
system, as matter Of civil administra-
ton, the General Government had no law
full power to effect emancipation In any
State, and for long time it had been hop
ed that the rebellion could be suppressed
without resorting to it as military meas
ure. 1t was all the while deemed posi-
BILE that the necessity for it might come,
and that it should, the crisis of the contest
would then be presented. Il came, and /.
as was intended, it was followed by dark
and doubtful days. Eleven months hav-
ing been passed, we are permitted to take
another review. The rebel borders are
pressed still further back, and by the COM
plete opening of the Mississippi river, the
country dominated over by the rebellion
is divided into distinct parts, with no prac-
teal communication between them Ten
ncssee and Arkansas, have been SO sub
stantially cleared of insurgents control
and influence, and the citizens in each,
owners of slaves and advocates Of slavery
at the beginning of the rebellion, now de-
clare openly for emancipation, in their re-
spective States. of those States not in
cluded in the emancipation proclamation,
Maryland and Missouri, neither Of which
years ago would tolerate any restraint up
on the extension Of slavery into their te,S
ritories, only dispute now as to the best
mode Of removing it from within their own
limits.
Of those who were slases at the begin