Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-12-09

| avoWal that be was for giving up the Union.
There has been much impugniDg of motives
and much heated controversy, as to the prop
er means and best modes of advancing the
Union cause but in the distinct issue of I'm
ion or no Union, the politicians have shown
by their instructive knowledge, that there is no
diversity among the people. In awarding the
people the fair opportunity OF showing, one to
another, and to the world, this irmness and
unanimity of purpose, the election has been Of
| vast value to the national cause.
The election has exhibited another fact, not
less valuable to be known the fact that we
do not approach exhaustion in the most i'm
portaut branch of national resources that
of levying men, While it is melancholy to re-
, feet that the war has filled so many graves,
aud caused morning to so many homes, it is
some relief to know that, compared with the
surviving, the fallen have been so few. Whole
corps, and divisions, and brigades, and regi-
ments, have formed and fought and dwind-
| ling, have gone out of existence. A ma
| jority of the meu who comprised them, are
still living. The same is true of the naval serv-
ice. The election returns prove this. So
many voters could not else be found. The
States regularly holding elections both now
and four years ago, to wit: California, Con-
necsicut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
| Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Penn
! sylvana, Rhode Island, Vermont, Western
Virginia, and Wisconsin, cast 3 ,982 OIL votes
now, against 3,870,222 cast then, showing an |
aggregate now of 1898, ,2l1, to which is to be |
added 33,762 cast now, in the new States OF |
Kansas and Nevada, which States did not |
vote in 1860. Thus swelling the aggregate to
4,075,773 and the actual increase during the |
three years and half Of war, to 145. FOL
A table is appended, showing particulars
To this again should be added the number of
all voters in the field, from Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware Idiana,
Illinois, and California, who, by the laws of
those States, could not vote away from their
homes, and which number cannot be less than
ninety thousand. Nor yet is this all. The
number in organized Territories is treple now
what it was four years ago while thousands,
white and black, Joined US as the national
arms press back the insurgent lines So much
is shown, afirmatiVely and negatively, by the
election. 1t is not material to inquire how
the increase has been produced, or to show
that 1t would have been greater, but for the
war, which is probably true The important {
TACT remains demonstrated, that we have more
men now than we had when the war began
that we are not exhausted nor in process of
exhaustion; that we are gaining strength and
may, if need be, maintain the contest indef-
nitely. This strength, as to men, material (
and resources, is now more complete and
abundant than ever. The national resources,
then, are not exhausted and as we believe, are I
iuexhaustible. The public purpose to re-estab- i
lish and maintain the national authority is t
unchanged and as we believe, unchangeable. T
The manner OF continuing the effort remains
to choose. c
On careful consideration of all the evidence s
accessible, it seems to me, that no attempt at
negotiation with the insurgent leader could re- s
suit in any good. He would accept of moth n
ing short of the severance of the Union. His f
declarations to that effect are explicit and Oft
repeated. He does not attempt to deceive us. d
He ofords us no excuse TO deceive ourselves;
we cannot voluntarily yield it. Between him
and US the issus is distinct, simple and infexi- t.
BILE. 1t is an issue which can only be tried Il
by war, and decided by victory. fc
If we YIELD we are beaten. If the South 81
srn people fail him, he is beaten. Either way al
t would be the victory and defeat following eC
war. What is true, however, of him who
leads the insurgent cause, is not necessarily true
'f those who follow, Although he cannot re-
lccept the Union, they can. Some of them
We know already desire peace and reunion q
The number of such may increase. They can
It any moment have peace, simply by laying
Iown their arms and submitting to the ma
ioDal authority under the Conetitution.-
After SO much, the Government could not if
would, maintain war against them. The
ocal people would not sustain or allow it. If
uestions should remain, we would adjust
hem by the peaceful means of legislation,
courts, and votes operating on.
? in constitutional and lawful channels
ome certain, and other possible questions are
nd would be, beyond the Executive power to
dust For instance, the admission of mem
ers into Cengress and whatever might re-
uire the appropriation of money. The Exc
ltive power itself would be greatly diminish
by the cessation of actual war. PardOns
I'D remissions of lorefeitures, however, would u
ill oe within Executive control. In what
brit and temper this control would be exer-
sed, can be fairly judged of by the past. A =
ear ago, general pardon and amnesty, upon 0'
'ecial terms, were offered to all except GER
In designated classes; and it was at the
me time made known that the excepted
asses were still within contemplation of spec BT
clemency. During the year, many availed
emselves of the general provision and Al
any more would, only that the sigus of bad
lth in some, led TO such precautionary meas
es as rendered the practical process less ca q,
and certain. During the same time, also,
ecial pardons have been granted to individ-
Is of the excepted classes and no voluntn-
application has been denied. Thus, pracli
lily, the door has been for full year, open my
all except such as were not in condition to La
Ike free choice that is, such as we were in
stody, or under censtraint. 1t is still open CT
all; but the time may come, probably will of
me, when public duty shall demand that it ma
closed, and that, in lieu, more vigorous
assures than heretofore shall be adopted IN
In presenting the abandonment OF armed
istance to the national authority on the
rt of the insurgent as the only indispersa- Al.
condition to ending the war on the part 'TT
The Government, 1 retract nothing heretofore
d as to slavery. repeat the declaration made d.
ear ago, that while l remain in my present O0'
ition, shall not attempt to retract or mod .o,,
the emancipation proclamation, nor shall
urn TO slavery any person who is free by
tprmg nf tho ~, 'l'R