Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-10


and Congress. and which nov have the honor TO
lay before you. That this interest Is one which
ere long will force its own way, do not enter
tain doubt; while it Is submitted entirely to
your wisdom to what can be done row. Aug
mented interest is given 20 this subject by the
actual commencement of work upon the Pacific
railroad under auspices favorable to It's rapid pro
gress and completion Enlarged navigation be-
comes palpable need TO this great road.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. II
I transmit the second annual report of the
Commissioners of the Agricultural Department.
asking your attention to the Developments in that
vital interest of the nation.
THE wAR-coSpIrIoN or THE REBELLION.
When Congress assembled year ago the war
had already lasted nearly twenty months, aud
there had been many conflicts on both land and
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 pop
ular elections. then just past, indicated uneasi-
ness among ourselves, while amid much that
cold and menacing, the kindest words coming
from England were uttered in accents of pity,
but we were too blind to surrender. Our COM
merce was suffering greatly by few armed yes
sells built upon and furnished from foreign shores,
ard we were threatened with such additions from
Vic oauiC quhhtCt ~ NOtiA cHttp Oui dnNC iiOtu
the seas and raise our blockade We had failed
to elicit from European Governments anything
hopeful upon this subject. 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 announcement that
colored men of suitable condition would be
received into the war service
POLICY or EMANCIPATION AND EMPLOYMENT or
SEeEo SOLDIERS
The policy of emancipation and of
employment of black soldiers. gave to
the future aspect, about which
hopes, fears and doubts contended in un-
certain conflict according to our political system
as a matter of civil administration. The General
Government has no lawful power to effect eman
cipaton in any State, and for long time it lad
been hoped that the rebellion could be suppressed
without resorting to il as a military measure. 1t
was all the while deemed possible that necessity
for it might come, and that if it should, the crisis
of the contest would then be presented. ltcame,
and. as foreseen, it was followed by dark and
doubtful DAYS. Eleven months having been
passed, we are permitted TO take another review.
The rebel borders are pressed still farther back
and, by the complete opening of the Mississippi
River, the country dominated by the rebel
ion is divided into distant parts Practical com
Arkansas has been substantially cleared of in
surgent control and influence: and the citizens in
each, and owners OF slaves and advocates of slave
ry at the beginning of the rebellion, now declare
openly for emancipation in their respective
States Of those States not included in the
emancipation, MARYLAND and Missouri (neither of
which, years ago. would tolerate any restraints
upon the extension of slavery into the Territor-
ies) only dispute now is as to the best mode
Ir,,- g.. IL a ~,
who were slaves at the beginning of the rebellion,
fully one hundred thousand are now in the United
States military service, about one-balf of which
number actually bear arms in the ranks, thus CIV
ing the double advantage of taking so much labor
from the insurgent cause and supplying the places
which otherwise must be filled with so
many white men. So far as tested it is difficult
to say they are not as good soldiers as any. No
servile Instruction or tendency to violence or
cruelty has marked the measure of emancipation
and arming the blacks. These measures have
been much discussed in foreign countries, and
contemporary with such discussions the tone of
the public sentiment there is much improved.
Where the same measures have been fully dis
cussed supported, criticised and denounced the
annual elections are highly encouraging to those
whose special duty it is to bear the country
through this great trial Thus we have the
reckoning; the crisis which threatened to divid c
PLAN FOR RECONSTRUCTION.
Looking now to the present and future
and with reference to resumption of
the national authority within the States
wherein that authority has been suspended
! have thought fit to issue proclamation, a
copy of which is herewith transmitted On ex
animation of this proclamation it will appear, as
is believed, amply justified by the Constitution
True the form of an oath is given, but no man is
coerced to take it. 4 is only promised a
pardon in case he voluntarily takes the oath
The Constitution authorizes the Executive to
grant it on terms as fully established by judicial
and other authorities Ii is also proffered that if
any of the States name n seat of government it
shall be in the mode prescribed set up. Such
Government shall be recognized and guaranteed
by the United States. and that under it the State
shall, on subscribing to the constitutional con-
dltOns, be protected against invasion and domes
tic violence. The constitutional obligation OF the
United States to guarantee TO every State in the
Union republican form of Govern ment and
to protect the State in the caee is stated
is explicit and full. But why tender
the benefits of this provision only 10 "A State
government set up in this particular way? This
section OF the Constitution contemplates case
wherein the element within a State was fayOra-
bic to republican government in this Union NAV
be too feeble for opposite and hostile element
external 10 and even within the State, and such
are precisely the cases with which we
dealing. An atteuptto guarantee and protect
revised state of government, constituted in whole
or in preponderatng part from the very element
against whose hostility and violence il is to be
protected. is simply absurd I here must be a
test by which to separate opposing eemeuts so as
TO build 0nly from the sound. and that test sui
hcient and liberal one, which accepts IA sound
whoever will make sworn recantatlOu of his
former unsoundness, butt it be proper to require
list of admission to the political body, AN oath
OF allegiance TO the CONSTITUTIONS of the [ uited
States aud 10 the Union under it, why not also TO
the laws and proclamation in regard to slavery
Those laws aud proclamations were enacted and
put forth for the purpose OF aiding in the sup
preston of the rebellion. To give them the fullest
effect. there had 10 be pledge for their mante.
nance. In my judgment they have aided and
will further aid the cause for which they were
enlisted To give up this principle would be not
only to reinqush lever of power. but il would
also be cruel and astounding breach oftaitb |
may add at this point that while remain in my
present position | shall not attempt 20 retrsct or
modify the emancipation procla ation, nor shall
| return to slavery any person who il made free
by the terms of the proclamation or bv act of
Congress For these and other reasons i; l. thought
best that the support Of these persons shall he
included in the oath, and il is believed the Ex
ecut,ve may lawfully claim il In retnrn for pardon
and the restoration Of projected rights. which he
has clear constitutional power TO withhold alto
gether or grant upon the terms which he shall
deem wisest for the public interest IL should be