The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-12-08

The public purpose TO establish and main.
tain the national authority is UNCHANGED
and, Is we believe. Interchangeable. Ths
manner Of continuing the effort remains to
choose. On careful consideration Of All
the evidence accessible, it seems to me that
no attempt at negotiation with the insur.
geant leader could result in any good.
He would accept nothing short Of ssvsrsaos o.
the Onion, PRECISELY what we will not end oannot
give His dscIaras ons to this effect are ex.icit
and of repeated; he does not attsmptto deoelv.
~ hs affords n no excuse to deceive oursslyss
He cannot voluntarily rs-accept the Union =.
cannot Voluntarily yield it. Between hin And ps
the isus Is distinct single ana inAexible. ULsa
issue which can only be tried by war; and decided
by victory. IF We yield we are beaten II ths
Southern people fail him, he IL beatsn. Eiths,
way, It would b the victory and defeat follovin,
war What 10 true, however Of him who heaSs
the insurgsnt cause not necessarily true fthosa
who follow. Although he cannot re-ascept ihs
Union, they can Some Of them We knaw already
desire peace and re- union The number Of suaS
may increase. They can at any momslt haze
hitting to the National authority. Under tie
Constitution, after 50 much, the Government could
not If It would, n sintain war against them.
The loyal people would not sustain or allow n
II ouestiocs should remain, We would adjust them
BIZ the psaosful means of Legislation, confsrenees
courts and votes, operating only In constitutional
and lawful channels. Some certain and other pos
sible questions ere ssd would be beyond the slss-
utive power to I'D ust 90 for instance the admission
of members into Congress, and Whatever might
require the sepropriaiins Of money. The exseu.
the cessation of actual wsr,-pard ms and remis,
sions Of forfeitures however, would b stu within
the Executive contro In what spirit and temper
this control would Be exercised can be fairly sdssd
of by me past. A year ago, general pardon
and amnesty, upon the specified torn were osfor-
cd to all except certain designated classes and II
vas AZ the same time Published that the excepted
cases were still within contemplation Of special
clemency.
During the year many avsilsd themselves #
the general provision, and masy moro would, On.
" that the sngms Of bad faith In some led 70 suh
precautionary measures as renaered the practical
process less easy and certain. During the same
time also special pardons have been z anted "a
individuals Of the excepted classes and no yolun,
tary application has been denied. Thus pratt.
eally tie door has been for full year open to u
except such az were not in condition to make free
choice, that 10 such ~ were In custody or under
eonstraint II is still 20 open to all, but the time
may come when public duty shall demand that h
than heretofore be adopted.
| prs,ent the abandonment Of armed re,is
lance to the national authority on the part Of the
insurgents as the only ind spensabls condition to
ending tho war on tho part Of the Government,
and retract nothing heretofore raid az to slavery.
, repeat the declaration made year age d.,
while / remain In my present position shall not
attempt to rstract or modify the Emsncipldo,
| Proclamation, nor shall return to slavery ,ay
person who Is free by tho terms Of that proclsrs.
tion or by any of the acts of Congress.
! II the people should, by whatever mode Or
means, maze 1t an executive duty to re inL,v,
such rsons, another and not | must be their In
strumsnt to perform It. In stating a SINCE cOnN
ton Of peace, mean simply to say that the war
will cease on the part Of the sovernne nt vhsu.y
or 1t shall have ceased on the part of those who BE-
CAN'T tsignsdl
/ ABRAHAM LINCOLN
! December 9Th, 1854.