The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-12-15

NOeScSSlo0 Oh cAHduottou lHde VIC oio Ssa0"
ering strength. aud may, If need be, main
tain the contest indefinitely. This, as to
men.
Natural resources are now more com.
plete aud abundant than ever. The ma
tional resources, then, are uuexhausted,
aud. as we believe, inexhaustibe. The
public purpose to reestablish and main
tain the national authority is unchanged,
aud. as we believe, unchangeable. The
lnauuer Of continuing the effort remains
to choose On careful consideration of
all the evidence accessible, it seems to ne
that no attempt at negotiation with the
iusurgeut leader could result in any good.
He would accept of nothing short OF
the severance of the Union His declara-
tions to effect are explicit and oft-repeated
He does not attempt to deceive us. lie
affords us no excuse to deceive ourselves.
We cannot voluntarily yield it. Between
him and us the issue is distinct, simple
and inhexible. 1t is an issue which can
only be tried by war, and decided oy VIC
tory.
If we Weld. we are beaten if the
Southern people fail him, he is beaten
either way it would be the victory and
defeat following war. What is true, how
ever. of and him who holds the insurgent
cause, is not necessarily true of those who
follow. Although he caunot reaccept the
Union, they eau. Some of them, We
know, already desire peace and reunion
The number of such may increase.
They can at any moment have peace
simply by laying down their arms ana
submitting to the National authority an,
der the Constitution. After so much the
Goyernmnnt could not, if it would, main
tain war against them. The loyal people
would not sustain or allow it. If ques-
tons should remain we would adjust them
BY the peaceful means of legislation, con-
ference, counts and votes.
Operating only in constitutional and
lawful channels, some certain and other
possible questions are and would be bey-
oud the Executive power to adjust for
instance, the admission of members into
Congress, and whatever might require
the appropriation of money.
The Executive power itself would be
really diminished by the cessation of ac-
tual war. Pardons and remissiOns Of for
feiture, however, would still be within
Executive control, In what spirit and
temper this control would be exercised
can be fairly Judged of by the past. A
year ago general pardon aud amnesty up
on specified terms were offered to all ex
cept certain designated classes, and i
was ct the same time made known tha
the excepted classes were still within con
temptation Of special clemency.
During the year many avalled them
selves of the general provision and many
more would, only that the signs of bac
Raith in some led to such precautionary
measures as rendered the practical pro
cess less easy and certain. During III
same time, also, special pardons beel
granted to individuals OF excepted classes
and no voluntary application has beel
denied.
Thus practically the door has been fO
full year open to all, except such a
were not in condition to make free choice
that is, such as were in custody or unde
coustraint. 1t is still so open to all, bu
the time may come, probably will come
when public duty shall demand that it bC
closed, and that in lieu more vigorous
measures than heretofore shall be adopted
In presenting the abandonment of armed
resistance to the National authority on tht
part of the insurgents as the only indis
pensable condition to ending the war OF
the part of the Government, | retract no
thing heretofore said as TO Slavery. | re
peat the declaration made year ago, anc
that while remain in my present posi-
tion | shall not attempt to retract or modify
tho Emancipation Proclamation. Nor shal
return to Slavery any person who is free
by the return Of that Proclamation or by
the Acts of Congress
If the people should, by whatever mod,
or means, make it an executive duty t.
re-enslave such persons, another, and no
], must be their instrument to perform
it.
In stating single condition of peace
| mean simply to say, that the war vii
cease on the part of the Government
whenever it shall have ceased on the par
e. IL l..