Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-12-08


Illinois and Californis. who by the laws Of
THESE states, cannot vote away from their
Homes, and which number cannet. be less
than ninety thousand. Nor yet il this ali.
The number in the organized territories is
a ,r,iie now to what i was four years ago,
while thousaDds--white add black-jvin US,
as the national arms press back the irsur-
gent lines. ITF7
So much is shown afirmatively and mega
lively BY tho election. 1t is not ffiateriai,o
inquire how the increase has been produced.
or to show that it would have been greater
6 but for the war, which is probably true
Inc important fact remains demonstrated
tnat we nave more men now than we and
when the war began; that we are not ex-
nausted' nor in the process Of exhaustion.
ina, we are gaming strength, and may if
ne need be, maintain the contest indefinitely.
lhls as 60 men, and material resources are
no, now more complete and abundsut than ever
The national resources then are unexbaust-
cd, and as we believe, inoxhaustibls. The
public purpose to establish and maintain
the national authority is unchanged and, as
we believe, unchangeable. The ma1ner Of
continuing the effort remains to choose
Oncarcful consideration of all the evidence
accessible u seems to me that no attempt
at negotiation with the insurgont leader
could result in any good.
He would accept nothing short of sever,
ance of the Union, precisely what We will
not and cannot give His declarations TOT
thls effect are explicit and ott-repeated; be-
docs not attempt to deceive us; he affords
US no excuse to deceive ourselves. He cam
not voluntarily re accept the Union, we cam
not voluntarily yield it. Between him and
US the issue is distinct, single aud infexible.
Ia n n NH
wsr, and decided by victory. If we. Weld
we are beaten. If the Southern people fail
him. he is beaten. Either way, IL would
be the victory and defeat following war;
What is true, however, Of him who heads
the lnsurgent cause, is not necessarily true
OF those who follow. Although 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 at any moment have peace, simply
by laying down their arms and submitting
to- the National authority. Under the Com
stitution, after so much, the Government
could not, if it would, maintain war against
them 'frtNh T.- .|'T
The loyal people would not sustain or al
low it. IF questions should remain. we
would adjust them by the peaceful means
of legislation, conferences, courts, and vs-
ttsrs, operating only in constitutional and :
lawful channels.
Seine certain and other possible questions
are and would be beyond the executive pow
or to adjust, as, for instance, the admission >
OF members into Congress and whateyerS
might require the appropriation of m6seey
The executive power itself would be great
ly diminished by the cessation of sctua war
Pardons and emissions of eofseitures, how
ever, would still be within the Executive
control. In what spirit and temper this
control would be exercised, can be fairly
Judged of by the past A year ago gem
erai pardon and amnesty, upon specific
terms, were offered to all. except certain de-
signated classes, and it was ut thesame time
published that the excepted cases we're still
within contemplation Of special clemency.
Dhring the year many availsd themselves
! OF the general provision, and many more
would, only that the stigma of bad faith in
some led to such precautionary measures as
rennercd the practicsl process less easy and
certain. During the same time also special
pardons have been granted to individuals Of
the excepted classes, and no voluntary an
pllcation has been devised. Thus practi-
cally the door has been for full year open
to all except such as were not in condition
to make free choice, that is such as were in
custody or under constraint. 1t is still open
y" "" put eho tithc may cOho Wnen PUBIC
duty shall demand that it be closed, and
that in lieu, more rigorous measures than
heretofore be adopted. st
present the abandonment Of armed re-
sistance to the national authority on the
part OF the insurgents as the only indispen-
sable condition to ending the war on the
| part oil the Government, and retract nothing
heretofore said as to slavery
| irepeat the declaration made a year ago,
that while remain in my present position
! shall not attempt to retract or modify the
Emancipation Proclamation, nor shall rs.
turn to slavery any person who is free by
the terms Of that proclamation, or by any
Of the acts Of Congress
If the people should. by whatever mode
or means, make it an Ex .eutirs duty to re-.
enSlays such persons, another and not (
must be their instrument to perform it.
In stating siusle condition OF peace,
mean sinpy TO say that the war will cease
on the part Of The Cover ament whenever il
shall have CEASED On tho part Of those whs.
began it. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
December 6, 1864. . So