Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-12-16

claim Maryland ! like another foul spiri
being driven out, it may seek to tear, bu
it will WOO her no more.
At the last session of Congress pro
posed amendment of the Constitution
abolishing slavery throughout the Unitcc
States, failed for lack of the requisit
two-thirds vote in the House of Reprcs
entatives. Although the present is tn
same Congress ard nearly the same mem
befs, and without questioning the wisdom
or patriotism Of those who stood in op
position, venture to recommend the re
consideration and passage of the meas
ure at the present session. Of course
the abstract question is not changed, bu
an intervening election shows almost Ger.
tainy that the next Congress will pass
tie measure.
Thus there is only the question o.
time, as to when tho proposed amend
ment will GO to the States for action, and
as it is to so 60 at all events, may we moi
agree that the sooner the better. 1t is
not claimed that the election has imposed
duty on members to change their views
or their votes, any further than as an
additional element to lie considered, OF
their judgment may be affected by it. 1t
is the voice of the people, now for the
first time, heard upon the question. In
a great national crisis like ours, uuanim.
ity of action, among those seeking COM
mon ends, is very desirable and almost
indispensable, and yet 10 approach to
unanlmity is allowable, unless some defer
ence shall be paid to the will of the maj
ority, simply because it is the will Of the
majority.
In this case our common end is the
maintenance of the Union and among
the means to secure that end, such will,
through the election, is most clearly de-
claled in favor of such constitutional
amendment.
The most readable indications of pub
lie purpose in this country, is derived
through our popular elections. Judging
by the recent canvas and its results, the
purpose of the people within the loyal
states to maintain the integrity of the
Union was never more strong nor MOI Q
nearly unanimous than now.
The extraordinary calmness and good
order with which the millions of voters
met and mingled at the polls, gave strong
assurance Of this. Not only those who
support the Union ticket, SO called, but a
majority of the opposing party, may be
fairly claimed to entertain and be actuat-
ed by the same purpose. 1t is an unan-
swerable argument to this effect, that ne
candidate for any otfice whatever, high
or low, has ventured to seek votes on the
avowal that he was for giving up the
Union. There has been much mpugnng
Of motives and much heated controversy
as to the proper means and best mode OF
advancing the Union cause, but in the
distinct issue of Union or no Union poll
ticians have shown by their instructive
knowledge that there is no diversity
among the people. In affordiug to the
people the fair opportunity of showing
one to another, and tho world, their firm.
ness and unanimity of purpose, the elcc.
ton has been Of vast value to the nation.
al cause.
The election has exhibited another fact
not less valuable to be known. The fact
that We do not approach exhaustion in thc
most important branch Of national re,
source, that of having men. While it is
melancholy to reflect that the war has
filed so many graves and carried mourn.
lug to so many hearts, it is some relief
to know that compared with the survivors,
the fallen have been so few. While corps
and divisions and brigades and regiments
have formed and fought and gone out @!
existence, a great majority OF the men
who composed them are still living.
The same is true of the naval service
the election returns prove this-so many
votes could not else be found. The
States which regularly held elections,
both now and four years ago, to wit:
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Him
ois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mass
achusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire,
New jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,
West Virginia and Wisconsin, cast
9S2,0l7 votes now, against 800 3D. -.
cast then showing an aggregate now o.
1892 OIL, to which is to be added 49,.
7G2 cast now in the new States Of Kansas
and Nevada, which States did not vote in
1860 thus swelling the aggregate to
4.Gl5,77713 ; add the net increase during
the three years and half Of war, l45,.
15l. \ table is appended showing partic'
ulars. TO this should be added the num
Der of all soldiers in the field from Mass
achusetts, Rhode Island, New jersey
Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, and Cailor.
MIA, who by the laws of these State,
could not vote away from their homes
and which number cannot be less thar
100000.
Nor yet is this all. The number i,
the organized territories is triple now
what it was fcur years ago, while thous
ands, white and black. join US as thl
Nation at arms press back the inslrgenj
lines. So much is shown ailirmat:vsl,
and negatively by the election. Ii is not
material to inquire how the increase ha.
been produced, or to show that it woulC
have been greater but for the war, whic!
is probably trse. The important fact re
mains demonstrated that we have NOR,
men now, than we had when the war be
gan that we arc not exhausted nor il
the progress of exhaustion; that we are
oaininp strength and may, If need be