Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-12-22
L1NCOLN's MEssAGE-THE REBELS MUST BE



opens with Intelligence about the state of affairs in Chi
ns San Domingo and Chill, and some history OF rebel
lions which have occurred in those countries, which are
not very interesting to our people The only ref r
ence TO the Florida affair is the following
Nevertheless, unforeseen political difficulties have
arisen especially in Brazilian and British ports ard on
the northern boundary of The United States, which
have required, and likely TO conuue 70 require the
practice of constant vigilance aud just aud conca-
tory spirit the part of the Uni ed States rs we'll as
of the nations concerned, and their Governments.
The following shows the Yankee exhibit OF their
debt:
The public debt the 1st day OF July last, as ap-
pears by the books of the Treasury amounted to one
billion, hundred and forty Thousand Million elk
hundred and ninety thousand four hundred and eighty
nine dollars and tortynne cante Probably, should the
war continue for anohtr year, that amount NAV be in
creased by not far from five hundred millions
The LATE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.
Lincoln put III vast quantity of bogus votes at the
late election, ard bases them statement that
the population Of the country is increasing:
The election has exhibited another fact not less
valuable to be known the fact that do not ap-
proach exhaustion in the most important branch of the
national resources-that of living While it is
melancholy to riff ct that the War has filled 30 many
graves and carried curling to many hearts. it is
relief to know that compared with the surviving
the fallen have BEEN few While corps, aud divisions
and bssdes, AID regiments have formed, aud fought,
and dWlndei End gone out of existence, great me-
ot,ty OF the men who Composed them are still living
The same ia true of the paval service. The election
returns prove this. So many voters could not else be
tOuDd.
THE NAVY.
Tie FEDERAL Lazy consists of elk HUNDRED and seven
yone vessels carrying four thousand six hundred guns
ard By this navy
There have been captuled dnrig The year three bun
dreG and tw6DtyO vessels, and whole number 81
naval captures since hosies commenced is thou
sand three hundred and g2verty,uine CT which two
hundred and sixty seven steamers The gross pro-
ceeds arising from The sale If condemned prize proper
ty thus far reported amounts TO l4396 $50 81. A
large amount OF such proceeds is still under ednd!ca
ton and yet tC be reported. The total expenditures Of
the Navy Department OF every description, including
the cost OF the immense squadrons that have been
called into existence from The 4th Of March, 1861 to
the lst OF November, 1864 are $238, CAT 2G2 25.
CUR MILITARY Observation-Disclosures OF RECoNgrRuc
The var continues. Since the last annual message
all the important Ines and positions hen occupied By
our forces have ben maintained and ?rrnies have
steadily advanced thus lberatipg the regions left il the
rear 80 that Missouri Kentucky, Tennessee aud parts
Of other States have again produced reasonably fair
crop5 The most remarkable feature in the military
operations of the year is General Shermans attempted
march of three hundred miles directly through the in
surgent region. 1t tends to chow great Increase OF
relative strength tha general in chief could feel
able to confront and hod in ceck every active force of
the eoemy and Jet 10 detach well appointed large
army to move on such u. expedition. The result not
yet being known, conjecture In regard to 1t should not
here be INDUCED.
Import ant movements have also occurred during the
year to the effect Of mouidng society for durability in
the Union. AlthOue short of complete success, it is
much in the right Oh ecton that twelve thousand citi
each OF the States Of Arkansas and Louisiana
have or n;zed loyal State governments withfree con-
stituloDs and are earnestly struggling to maintain and
administer them. Ie movement in the direction,
extensive, though less definite, in Missouri Ken
lucky aud Tennessee, should not be overlooked. But
Ule md ia no IF
Maryland is 10 liberty and Union for all the u
ture. The genius Of rebellion will more claim Mary
land Like another foul spirit being driven out may
seek TO tear her, tut it will WOO her no more
THE REBELS MUST BE sUBDUED.
On careful consideration of all the evidence accessible
it seems to that attempt at negotiation with the
iasugent leader coulo result in auy good. He would
accept OF nothing short Of the OF the Unon
His declarations to that effect explicit and oft re-
peaed. He does not attempt to deceive US. He at
fo,ds US excuse to deceive ourselves. We cannot
voluntarily yield it. Between him aud US the issue is
distinct, simple and incxbe. It is an issue which can
only be tried by war and decided by victory. II we
yield, beaten. If the southern people fail him
be is beaten. Either way it would be the victory and
defeat following What il true, however, of him
who heads the lnsugen cause is not necessarily true OF
those who follow. Although he cannot re accept the
Union, they can. Some of them, we know, already
desire peace aud union. The number of such may
Increase. They can at any moment have peace simply
by laying down their and submitting to the
tional authority under the constitution After much
the Government could not, if it would, maintain
gainst them. The loyal people would not sustain or
allow it. Ifqacstions should remsin would adjust
them by the peaceful means of legislation, conference
courts and votes. Operating only in Constitutional and
lawful channels certain and other possible ques-
lions are, and would be- beyond the executive power to
adjust for instance the admission of members to Con
and whatever nj ht require the appropriation OF
money.
The executive power itself would be greatly dimn
ished by the ssaton of actual war; Pardons and re-
missions OF forfeiture would still be within executive
control. In what spirit and temper this control would
exercised Can be fairly judged by the pest year be
ago, general pardon and amnesty, upon specified TERMS
were offered to ALL except certain desg mated classes
and 1t was at the time made known that the
ceped classes still within contemplation OF special
clemency. During the year many awaited themselves
of the general provision, and many would, only
that the signs of bad faith in led to such precau
tlonary measures rendered the practical process less
easy and certain During the same time also, special
par4ons have BEEN granted to individuals of excepted
class, and no voluntary application has been denied
Thus, pra ;ticaly ne door bss been Tor fall year opcL
to all except such not in condition make free
cboce-.hat is, such in custody under con
straint. 1t is still open to all but the time may
come, probably will come when public duty shal de-
mand that it be closed and that in lieu rigorous
measures than heretofore shall be adopted.
THE SLAVERY.
In presenting the abandonment of !armed resistance 20
the National authority the part of the insurgents
the only indispensable condition to continuing the
the part of the return nothing heretofore said
to slavery. lrepea the declaration made year ago,
and that while remain in my present position shall not
attempt to retract modify the Emancipation procama
on nor shall return to slavery any person who is free
the forms OF that proclamation by any of that act Of
make it Executive duty re-ersave such persons ano
their and not must be their Instrument to perform it. In