Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-12-09

cast 3,9820ll votes now. against 3.s7Q 222 east
then; shows an aggregate now of 3,3982ll, to
which is 10 be added 80 762 cast now in the new
States of Kansas and Nevada, which States did
not vote in 1860; thus swelling the aggregate to
5,Uz5s673, and the net increase during the three
years and half of war tO l45,75I. A table is
appended showing particulars To this again,
should be added the number of all soldiers in
the field from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New
Jersey, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, and Califor-
MO. who. by the law of those States, could not
vote away from their homes and which number
cannot be less than 10000.
Nor yet is this all. The number in organized
territories is triple now what it was four years
ago, while thousands of white and black Join us
at the national arms and press back the insur-
gent lines. So much is shown affirmativelY
and negatively by the election. 1t is not mate
rial to enquire how the increase has been pro-
duced, or show thati it would have been greater
but for the war which is probably true.
The important fact remains demonstrated,
that we have more men now than we had when
the war begun, that we ara not exhausted, nor
in process of exhaustion, that we are gaining
strength, and may if need be, maintain the con-
test indefinitely. This as to men. Material
resources are now more complete and abundant
than ever. The national resources then are un-
exhausted, and as we believe inexhaustiable.
The public purpose to tore-establish and main
tain the National authority is unchanged, and
as we believe Interchangeable. The manner OF con-
tinuing the effort remains TO choose. On care
full consideration of all the evidence accessible
it seems to me that no attempt at negotiation
with the insurgent leader could result in any
good. He would accept nothing short of the
severance of the Union. His declarations to
that effect are explicit and oft repeated He
does not attempt to deceive Us. He affords us
no excuse to deceive ourselves.
We cannot voluntarily yield it betweeen him
and us. The issue is distinct simple and inflex-
ible. 1t is an issue which can only be tried by
war and decided by victory. If we yield we
are beaten. Ifthe Southern people fail him he
! is beaten. Either way il would be the victory
and defeat following war. What is true how.
ever of him who heads the Insurgent cause il
not necessarily true of those who follow. Al.
| though he cannot reaccept the Union they can
Some of them we know already desire peace
| and re-union. The number of such may increase
They can any moment have peace simply
by lying down their arms and submitting Il
| the national authority under the Constitution
| After so doing the government could not, if i
| would, maintain war against them. The loya
people would not sustain or allow it. If ques
| tions should remain, we would adjust them by
the peaceful means of legislations, conference
courts, and voting, operating only in Constitu
tional and lawful channels. Some certain anC
other possible questions are and would be be
yOnd the Executive power to adjust; for instance
the admission of members into Congress, anc
| whatever might require the appropriation o
money.
The executive power itself would be greatly
diminished by the cessation of actual war
Pardons ana remssions of forfeiture, however
/ would still be within executive control II
what spirit and temper this control would be ex
ercised can be fairly judged by the past A
year ago, general pardon and amnesty hpOI
specified terms were offered to all except certain
designated classes and it was at the same tim,
made known that the expected classes were still
within contemplatiOns of special clemency.
During the year many availed themselves o
the general provisions, and many more would
only that the signs of bad faith in some led t.
such precautionary measures as rendered the
practical process less easy and certain During
the same time, also, special pardons have beef
granted to individuals of excepted classes, anC
| no voluntary application on has been denied
Thus, practically, the door has been for full
year open to all except such as were not in con.
dition to make free choice that is, such as wer,
! in custody or under restraint
1t is still open to all, but the time may com,
probably will come, when public duty shall de-
| mand that it be closed, and then in lieu NOR,
vigorous measures than heretofore shall be adop
| ted. -i'7
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
In presenting the abandonment of armed re-
sistance of the National authority on the part o
the insurgents, and as the only indispensable
condition to ending the war on the part of this
Government retract nothing heretofore saiC
as to slavery.
Irepeat the declaration made year ago, anc
that while1 remain in my present position
shall not attemptto retractor modify the Eman.
cipation Proclamation, nor shall return to sla.
very any person who is free by the terms O
that Proclamation, or by any of the acts Of Con.
gress. If the people should by whatever mode
or means, make it an Executive duty to re-en.
slave such persons. another and not ], must b.
their instrument TO perform it. e
CONDITION OF PEACE. p
In stating single condition of peace mear
simply TO say that the war will cease on th.
part of the Government whenever il shall hay,
ceased on the part of those who began it.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.