Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-12-18
The Presidents Message.

special pleadings. We have pored over so
many of the pondcrous, jesuitical, and false
essa VS. of Buchanan and Franklin Pierce
| documents framed to de .cive the masses, and
cunningly devised to cheat honest people and
lead them as.ray, that, as We said it Is re-
freshng to read an open manly and fair ex-
position Of national affairs. The Presidents
annual statement Of the affairs of the nation,
which VIC this day publish, most truly falls
under the latter class. There is not a sta te-
ment made, nor suggestion recorded, but
what shows as clear as sunlight, that Abra-
ham Lincoln is a man of singleness of pur-
pose and Of honest instincts. lie wishes to
lead no ore estray BY his public writings !;
and hi. straightforward method in dealing
with the difficult! questions presented to him,
and claiming his attention, is the best possible
proof Of his integrity. Compare his kind
and concilatory methed of restoring the re-
bellious States to their former allegiance, and
restoring to the honest but deceived masses
of those States, all OF their forfeited rights
OF property, with the partizan rawlings of
Pierce and Buchanan during the Kansa.
troubles. 1t docs scem on re-perusins the
public documents of the .'Old Public Funct-
ionary" and the facilc Pierce, that they were
not only towards by instinct" but natural
falsiters of the truths of current history. -
We hope our readers will forgive us for this
attempt to ressurect the political dead.
The President congra.ulates the country
upon the abundant harvcsts of the season.
From this, he passes to remark, "that the
efforts of disloyal citizens of the United
States, to involve us in foreign war to aid
an incxcus4ble instruction have proved un-
availing." Her Britannia Majesty govern
ment have inter'ered, as was expected, to
prevent new hostile expeditions from British
ports So, also, has the Emperor Of France
indicated his promised neutrality, by like
proceeding.
Our foreign affairs are in prosperous con
dition, and We remain in peace and friend
ship with foreign powers. All the minol
topics which make up this not very lengthy
message are briefly alluded to, giving to oul
domestic affairs their rightfu. preponderance
The actual disbursements amounting, dur
ing the fiscal year, to S7l4,709 .o95 ,oS anc
the receipts to s72U,0s9 ,0s9,,9, leaving {
balance of 1922 ,044,2l.
The estimated expenditures of the head
of departments, will, it is thought, the act
ual amour, necessary to carry on the Gov
eminent.
The duties devolvins upon The Nava
branch of the service, "have been discharged
with fdglity and eminent success Nor,
than 1000 vessels have been captured sine
the blockade was instituted and the prize
sent in for adjudication amounts to NOR
than $l3 900 900.
The Naval force consists at this time o
5SS vessels. completed and in the course o
completion and of thes, - ar, iron clad 81
armored steamers.
The attention of Congress is called to til,
necessity Of changing present established
Navy yards, or Of constructing new one
which shall be suitable for the repair Of na
val vessels, rs at present constructed.
The Post Office is nearly selfsustaining -
It will eventually become 50. In 1860 tn
deficiency amounted to five and three fourth
millions of dollars. This excess of expendi
turc had to be supplied from other sources
The alluslon to the state of the Nation on
year ago, is felicitous. We can no bette
service, than to quote this paragraph entire
with its two following ones. This sta'enen
of years history, canno. but bs sa,isfacto.
~ to the loyal in heart. and depressing .
the dislcyal. The good cause steadily sn(
rapidly gains ground.
When Congress assembled year agt
the war had already lasted twenty month.
and there had been many conflicts on boti
land and sea, with varying results. The
rebellion had been pressed back into re-
duced limits; yet the tone of public feel.
ing at home and abroad was not satisfac
tory. With other signs, the popular cleo.
tions then just past. indicated uneasines:
among ourselves, while amid much that
was cold and menacing, the kindest words
coming from Europe were uttered in ac-
cents Of pity that we were too blind to
surrender hopeless cause. Our com.
merce was suffering greatly by few rm-
ed vessels built upon and furnished from
foreign shores, aud We were threatened
with such additions from the same quar-
tiers as would sweep GU trader from the
sea and raise our blockade. We had fail.
ell to elicit from European governments
anything hopeful on this subject.
The Preliminary emancipation procla.
nation issued in September, was running
its assigned period to the beginning of the
New Year. A month later the final
proclamation came, including the announce.
ment that colored men Of suitable coadi.
ton would be received in the war service.
The policy of emancipation and of en-
ployins black soldiers gave to the future
new aspect. about which hope and fear
and doubt c0ntended in uncertain conflict.
According to our political systems as a
matter Of civil administration, the gener-
al government had no lawful power to ef-
feet emancipation to any State; and for a
long time it had been hoped that the re-
bellion could be suppressed without re-
sorting to it "a q military measure. 1t