The New York herald., 1864-12-08

The Presidsncs BIessegs-The Rresesu-
taon or the War.
Mr.. Lincoln ID very emphatic and explicit In
his Message in reference to his war and peace
policy. He says:-"On careful consideration
OF ell the evidence accessible, II seems to mo
that no attempt at negotiation with the insur.
gent leader (Jef. Davis) could result In any
good;D that "he would accept Of nothing short
OF the severance OF the Union;" that "he does
not attempt to deceive u.s." that "between HIN
and us the issue is distinct, simple and inAexi
ble;" that at is an issue which can only be
tried by war, and decided by victory"
This Is the truth and the true policy. Mr..
Lincoln is right In reaffrming It, and right In
bis conclusion that, Judging by the recent
canvass (the Presidential elsction) and Its
loyal States to maintain the integrity Of the
Union was never more firm nor moro nearly
unanimous than now.D But what says he of
the progress Of the war; He tells US that "since
his last annual Message all the important lines
and positions then occupied by our forces have
been maintained, and our armies have steadily
advanced;" that "tbe most remarkable feature
In the military operations Of the year 10 General
Sherman's attempted march of three hundred
miles directly through an insurgent
region" and that this bold movement
"tends TO show o great increase Of our
relative strength-that our General-in-Chief
should feel able to confront and hold In check
every active force Of the enemy, and yet to
detach well appointed large army to move
on such an expedition" We concur in this
opinion, and we agree entirely with General
Grant that the rebellion is mere she'll, and
that its strength is nearly exhausted. We also
share In tho qualification Of the President at
the remarkable evidence furnished in the re-
turns Of the late national election that, instead
Of being diminished, the population, the
wealth and resources Of all kinds Of the loyal
States since 1860 have been immensely in
creased, Notwithstanding their enormous con-
tributions for the war in men and money
Gratifying, however, as are ell these positive
proofs Of tho augmented strength Of the loyal
States, and the vastly diminished area and dis
tracted, impoverished, depleted and exhausted
condition of the Davis confcderacy, the ques-
tion still recurs, what has the President to pro-
pose in view Of the speedy suppression Of the
disiointed rebel armiesf We have now over
twsnty-six millions of people within the Union
lines, against less than five millions (over one
half negro slaves) within the lines Of Davis
All things considered. the actual, positive,
available strength Of Lincoln against Davis is
more than twenty against one. The war, them
should be at the farthsst brought to an end
within six months, and with becoming energy
on the part Of the administration IL
might be flushed In three. Yet President
Lincoln talks - n expecting IL TO last another
year. From all that is proposed BY the Presi-
dent for the assistance Of General Grant, We
might logically conclude that the struggle Is to
be permitted to drag along through another
circle Of tho four seasons.
whxtdoes Mr.. LineOlp proposs In his Nessagsf
More volanteers toAnsbls Grant In general
movement to pulverize the rebel armiesf
Nothing Of the sort. He simply proposes to let
Grant and his generals keep pegging away"
As compared with his emancipation edicts, Mr.
Lincoln seems to consider the reinforcement
Of our armies . secondary questipe. Having
decreed in his proclamation Of January, 1898,
that all the slaves IA the present rebelious
States are freemen, he now declares that In his
terms Of submission he means TO make that
declaration good. We think he would have
resolved much more wisely In saying less Of
his emancipation proclamations and moro Of
the urgent necessity Of q fresh supply Of SOL
diers, in order to bring this war to IN end as
quickly as possible. Whatever may be the
recommendations Of the Secretary Of War;
whose report in advance was endorsed by the
Executive, 1t was due to our armies In the
field, to Congress and the country, that he
should have made the vigorous prosecution Of
the war the leading feature OF his Message
His omission OF this duty, however, does not
absolve the two houses or Congress nor make
tho absolute enforcement OF the emancipation
proclamation superior to the duty Of dispers
Ing the rebels in arms. Let this duty be dis
charged. aud slavery falls with the "confede-
racy." There rs no further necessity for any
solicitude concerning the abolition Of slavery.
The institution has become crippled aud de-
morslzed beyond recovery. But there are
several armies OF JEFF Davis still in the Aed.
Their abolition is tho first duty Of the admins
tration and Of Congress.
IMPORTANT PROM CANADA.--H will be per-
ceved from the following order. just Issued by
the Canadian government, that the attempts Of
the rebels to obtain munitions Of war In
Canada, and bring them across the lines TO be
a~l s~.l H. ~Qo~