Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-07

Of the Union vas never more firm nor more
nearly unanimous than now The extraordinary
and good order with which the millions
ofvoters met and mingled a, the polls gaves,ronc
assurance OF this. Not only those who supported
the Union ticket, 50 called. but great msjortyo OF
the opposing party also may be fairly claimed
10 entertain and to De scsuated by the same pur-
pose. II isour unanswerable argument 10 this
effect, that no candidate for any Office whatever
whether big or low, has$entured to seek votes
on the svoval that he was for giving up the
Union. There has been much impugning of mo-
tives and much heated controversy as 10 the
proper means and best mode OF advancing the
Union cause, but in the distinct issue OF Union
OF no Union the politicians have shown their in
stinctive knowledge that there Is no diversity
among the people. In awarding the people the
fair opportunity OF showing one to another and
10 the world this frmness and unanimity OF pur-
pose the election has been of vast value 20 the
national cause The election has exhibited an
other fact not less valuable 10 be known. the fact
that we do not approach exhaustion in the most
important branch OF the national resources-that
oflivng men snd while il is melancholy 20 reflect
that the has filled so very many graves
and carried mourning 10 so many homes. il is
some relief 10 know that, compared with the
surviving. the fallen have been so few. Whole
corps and divisions and b.igades and regiments,
out OF existence great majority Of men who
comprised them still living. The same IS
true of the naval service. The election returns
prove this. So many voters could not ese be
found The States regularly holding elections.
both now aud four years ago. TO wit Californis,
Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois. Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan. Minnesota. Missouri. New Hampshire.
New Jersey. New York. Ohio. Oregon, Pennsyl
l.
and Wisconsin. cast 3 $50 oil votes now against
$50 222 cast then, showing aggregate now
of $3.50 OIL 20 which is TO be added 80 .162 cast
now in the new States OF Kansas and Nevada,
which States did not vote in 1850, thus swelling
the aggregate TO 4.0l5, 773, and the net increase
during the three years and a half of war TO
1875 A table is appended showing particu-
lars To this again should be added the mum
bers of all voters in the field frem Mass
achusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey
Delaware, Indiana, Illinois and Cali
fornia, who by the lawtof those States could
not vote away from their homes, and which mum
her cannot be less than 10000 Nor yet is this
all While the number in organized territories il
triple now what it was four years ago, while
thousands OF whites and blacks join Us as the
national arms press back the insurgent lines.
so much is shown aihrmatiyely and negatively
by the election, that il ia not material TO inquire
how the increase has been produced or TO show
that il would have been greater but tor the war.
which is probably true, the important fact re
mains demonstrated that we have more men now
than We had when the war began; that We are not
exhausted nor in process OF exhaustion; that we
are gaining strength. and may. if need be. main
tain the contest indefinitely Our material re-
sources are now more complete and abundant
than ever. 4 he national resources, then, are un-
exhausted and as We believe inexhaustible The
public purpose 10 re-establish and maintain the
national capacity is unchanged, and, as We be
lieve, unchsngea able. The manner of continui
the effort remains 10 choose.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH REBEL INSURGENTS DISCARDED
THE CONDITIONS OF PEACE.
On careful consideration of all the
evidence accessible il seems TO me that
20 attempt at negotiation with the
insurgents leader. could result in any
good. lie would accept Of nothing short of the
severance OF the Union. hi. declarations to that
effect are explicit, and of repeated use. He does
not attempt TO deceive us--he affords Us no ex-
cuse To deceive ourselves. We cannot vountar
ily yield il. Between him and US the issue is dis
tnct, simple. and inhexible. 1t is an issue which
can only be tried by war and decided by victory
If we yield are beaten; if the Southern PEG
pic fail him, he is beaten Either way il would
be the victory and defeat following war. What
is true, however. of him who leads the iBsurgent
cause, is not necessarily true OF those who follow
Although he cannot re-accep. the Union they
can; some of them, we know, already desire
peace and re union The number Of such mas
increase. They can az any moment have peace,
simply, by laying down their arms and submit
ting 10 the national authority under the Consti
tuition. After much, the government could
not, if it would, maintain war against them The
l. Il l.. a.. IL IL
questions should remain, we would adjust them
by the peaceful means Of legislation, conference,
courts. and votes operating only in constitutional
and lawful channels Some certain, and other
possible questions, are. and would be beyond the
Executive power to adjust: for instance. the ad-
mission of members into Congress, and what
ever might require the appreciation Of the
Executive power itself would be greatly dimin-
ished by the cessation OF actual war. Pardons
and renissions of forfeitures. however. would
still be within Executive control. In what spirit
and temper this control would be exercised can
be faiTl judged by the past. year ago general
pardon aud amnesty upon specified term1gas
offered TO all except certain designated emisss-
ries, and il was al the same time made known
that the excepted classes were sill within con-
temptation of special clemency. During the
year many svailed themselves OF the general pro-
vision, and many more would, only that the
signs OF bad faith in some led to such precau-
tonary measures as rendered the practical pro-
cess less easy and certain During the same
time. also special pardons have been granted to
individuals of excepted classes, and no voluntary
application has been denied. Thus, practically
the door has been for full year open TO all sx
cept such as were not in condition to make free
choice; that il such were in custody or under
constraint it ia still open to all. but the time
may come, probably will come, when public duty
shall demand that il be closed, and that in lieu
more vigorous measures than heretofore shall be
adopted. In presenting the abandonment Of
armed resistance to the national authority on the
part ofthe insurgents as ihe only indispensable
condition to ending the the part of the
Government, retract nothing heretofore ssid as
10 slavery. repeat the declaration made a
year ago; that while | emsn in nv present
position shall not attempt to retrsct or modify
the emancipation proclamation. nor shall re-
turn to slavery any person who il free bv the
terms of that proclamation or by any OF the acts
of Congress. If the people should, by whatever
mode or means make il my executive duty 10
re-enslave such persons. another. and not |. must
be their instrument 10 perform it. In stating
single condition of peace | mean simply to say
that the war will cease on the part of the Gov
eminent whenever il shall have ceased on the
part of those who began il.
[Signed ABRAHAM LINCOLN