Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-12-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

On the outside OF this days Journal will
be found President LINCOLN fourth annu-
al message. Like all of his State papers,
it is plain. business-like document. Il
represents our relations with foreign coun-
uies as being, generally, in good condition
but, in view of the recent hostile demon
stratIons made upon some of our northern
border towns by Rebel emisSaries in Canada
it has been thought proper TO notify the
English Government that, after six months,
the United States viii hold themselves at
liberty to increase their naval armament on
the Lakes The public debt, on the lst of
July last, was l.740, 500, ,iSq. Should the
war continue another year, it may be in
creased, perhaps, FIVE hundred millions
The National Banking system has proved
an entire success. and no less than 5S4 banks
had been organized under it on the 25th
day of November. The postal revenues of
the year ending June last were SI2, 49,
So IS, and the expenditures 81, $50
20, showing an excess Of the latteraf 5000
235 ~. The report Of the Secretary of the
-NdES SLpNS d totsiI VI u htSSctS: anu IL
bout 81 900 men, incIUding officers, in the
naval service. Since the last annual mes
sage, all the important lines and positions
then occupied by our forces have been main
tanned and our armies have made steady and
extensive advances into the reyolted ter
sitory
The passage Of constitutional amend
ment abolishing slavery throughout the mi
ted States. Is rec mmended The President
says the passage of such an amendment of
the Constitution is only matter OF time
that if the present Congress does not pass
the measure, the next certainly will
The late election has developed the fact
that in the most important branch Of Ma
tional reSources-that Of living men
we do not approach exhaustion-that
while it is melancholy TO reflect that many
have been killed III battle and died Of dis
ease, it Is relief to know that a great ma
jority who com posed the corps, divisions and
brigades are still living. The important
fact remains demonstrated that we have
more voters now than We had when the war
began-that we are gaining strength. and
may, if need be, maintain the contest
our resources Of men and
material are unexhausted and believed to
be inexhaustable
The President repeats his declaration
made a year ago that he viii neither retract
nor modify the Emancipation Proclamation.
On careful consideration of all the evidence
accessible, it seems to the President that no
attempt at negotiation with the insurgent lea
der could result in any good. He would ac-
cept nothing short of a severance Of the L
MON, precisely what we viii not and can not
give. His declarations to this effect are ex-
Plicit and oft-repeated; he does not attempt
TO deceive Us; he affords us no excuse to
deceive ourselves. He cannot voluntarily
reaccept the Union, we cannot voluntarily
yield IT, Between him and Us the issue is
distinct, simple and inhexibe It's an issue
which can only be tried by war, and decided
by victory. If we yield We are beaten. IF
the Southern people fail him, he IS beaten.
In stating a single condition OF peace, Mr..
Lincoln says THE war viii cease on the part
of the Government whenever 1t shall have
ceased on the part of those who begun it.