Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-12-06
and the ne. increase during the three years and

and the net increase during the three years and
half OF war to 1851
able is appended showing patii '1ars. To
this sgsin should be adde' IN NUMBER OF al
3 ldiels IN the f5id from Maaachuset-r, Rhode
lfnd. New JefEeu, Delaware, indi ma, tllinnif,
and Ca ifornis, VIII, by the laws Of those States
ccu'd TO. vote away FUN their hons, and
which numb cannot be esq thaa 5000. Nor
Yeti this Ii Tha number In org nZed Terri
t,ties is trlp row what IL was four years ago,
while thousands, white aud black join IL rs he
national arms press back tha insu gent line. s
tmuch 'sshown, affirm itively and NEG a lively, by
the 81, c ION
It's not material t, inquire Aor :he iucrea,etas
beer produced, or TO show that II would h!v'
been greater but for the war, vhi;h is PROBABLY
true. The important fact remains demonstrated
that we htvs more msn noto than we ha wle1
the war began: that We not exhausted, nor IN
process Of exhaustion that we gaining
srerl tn. and tnay, II need be- m iA,ain ,ae cJE-
test ird6hI ltely. This as to mer. Material
s,u'cek are now more complete an abund lat than
ever
Ttenatinna resources, then are I'M '1hausted
and, as we believe, ineIhauStib.e The publ
purpcse 20 re este bish snd maintain the national
authority Is unc banged, AID, rs we believe, un-
cbaneeabla. The manner Of continuing the
effort rema ms to choose On caretu' considera-
tion of all tine evidence access BILE, 1t seems to
me that no attempt at negotiation with the in
surgent lesder could result in any good He
would accept nothing shor. ~ severance Of the
Union preciFely what we Will not and cannot
give. His declarations to this effect are explicit
and oft-repeated He does not ATTEMPT tn deceiFe
uB. He i1ords rs no excuse to deceive ourselves
He cannot voluntarily reaccept the Union; we
cannot volun.arily Weld It, Between him ana
us the issue IS district, simple, and iufaxtrle
1t Is an issue which can only be tried by Wa,
and &c sded by victory. II we We'd we are
beattn; if the southern people fail him, he is
beaten. ither way IL w.u Il be he victory and
defeat following war. What ia true, however
of him who heads the insurSeat cause is n I
re"esrafily true Of those who follow. Although
heCannot reaccept the Union, they can Some
Of them, we know, already desire peace and re-
union. The numf er OF such may increae
| They csr, 1t any moment. have peace simply
bs laying down their arms and suomi ting to the
national authority under the Constitution
After 80 much, the government could not. II It
| would, maintain war against them. The 10 al
| people would no. zustain or allow 1t.
| Ii questions should remain, we would adjust
| trem by tie peaceful means o; Legislation, con-
| ference, court, and votes operating OILY in
| constitutional and lawful channels. Some
ce1tain "tuer Tos io!e que lions are, and
| ind would hc, beyond thu Executive power 70
| sdiUst as, fer instance, the admission OF MEN,
| bers into Congress, and whatever might require
| the appropriation of money. The Executive
| power itself would be greatly diminished by
| the cessation OF actual war. PardOns and re
missions OF forfeitures, howeve-, would still be
| within Executive control. In what spirit and
| temper his control would be exercised can be
| fairly judged Of ny the past
| A ear ago general PARDON and amnesty, upon
specified terms, were ofei led to all, eXcep. GER
tain cesie mated classes; and II wa. at the same
| tine, made known that tie excepted classes were
still within contemplation ri sDeciai c emsncy
During the year many availed themselves of the
general provision, ard many more would only
| that the signs Of bad faith in sore, led to such
precautionary measures as rendered the practical
| process lets easy ard certain. Dufi q The srma
| time ais" special pardc have been gr,nte1 t.
| individuals ri the pied classes, and no vol
| uTtary application haa been denied.
| Thus practically, the door has heen, for a full
year, cpen to all, EXCEPT such not in con
dit.on 10 make ffes choice-hat IL. srt II as were
in custody under constraint 1t Is to .til so
| to all. But tn tine may come-probably viii
| CON e-when public duty shalt demand that 1t be
| closed; and that in Ecu, more rigorous meas
! ures than hereto 'ore shall be adopted
In presenting the abandonment of armed re.
sistr &c 70 the national authority on tn. part Of
The insurgents, as the only i1disppns' hi. cnnd-
tion to ending the war on the part OF tie govern
ment, | Ietract nothing Eefetof0rs said as to
slavery. l repeat the declaration mlde year
ago, that ''while remain In my present position
snail not attempt to re.ract modify the eman-
cpation proclamation, nor shall return to sav-
cry any person who Ia free by the terms OF that
proclamation, or by any Of the acts Of Congress -
little people should, by whatever mote or means,
make IL an Executive duty to reens;ave such
EeEIons another, AID not /, must be their ins.ru
Ment to perform 1t.
In stating a single condition Of peace | mean
simply to say tina the will case on the part
Of the government, whenever II shall have ceased
on the uart Of those who began II.
. ABKAHAM LINCOLN.