, 1864-12-23

O1b, 1893, and the net increase during the three
years and half of war is l45, 75l. A table is
appended showing the particulars.
To this again should be added the number of
all the soldiers in the field, from Massachusetts,
Rhode Island; New Jersey, Deleware, Illinois,
Indiana, and California; who, by the laws of
those States, could not vote away from their
homes, which number cannot be less than 90
600. Nor yet is this all The number of the or
ganized Territories is triple what it four
years ago, while thousands of blacks and whites
have Joined in the National armies to push back
the insurgent lines
So much is shown afflrmatiYely and negative
ly, by the election. 1t is not material to inquire
how the increase has been produced, or show
how it would have been greater but for the war
which is probably true. The important fact re-
mains demonstrated, that we have more men now
than when the war began-that we are not ex-
hausted; nor in process of exhauston-that we
are gaining strength; and may, if need be, main
tain the contest indefinitely. This as to men.
GENERAL REMARKS ON THE WAR.
Our material resources are now more complete
and abundant than ever The national resour-
ces then are unexhausted and as we believe in
exhaustble The public purpose tore-establish
and maintain the national adthorityis unchanged
and we believe unchangeabe. The manner of
continuing the effort it remains to choose. On
careful consideration of all the evidence access-
BILE it seems to me that no attempt at negotia-
ton with the nsurgent leader could result in
any good. He would accept of nothing short of
the separation of the Union His declarations
to that effect are explicit and oft repeated He
does not attempt to deceive us. He affords us no
excuse to deceive ourselves We cannot voluu-
tarly yield. Between him and us the issue is
distinct, simple and inhexible. 1t is an issue
which can be only tried by war and decided by
1ssN- IL 4 l. IL
Southern people gain he is beaten. Either way
would be defeat following war. What is true
however, of him who heads the insurgent force
is not necessarily true of those who follow al
though he cannot reaccept the Union they can.
Some of them we know already desire peace
and reunion The number of such may increase
They can at any moment have peace by laying
down their arms and submitting to the nation
al authorities and the Constitution After
so much, the Government could not, if it would
maintain war against them. The loyal people
would not sustain or allow it, If such questions
should remain, we would adjust them by peace
full means of legislative conferences with the
South and votes operating only in the cOnstitu-
tional and lawful channels. Some certain and
other possible questions are and would be be-
yond the executive power to adjust For in4
stance: the admission of members into Congress,
and whatever might acquire the appropriation
of money The executive power itself would be
greatly diminished by the cessation of actuuI
war. PardOns and remission of forfeitures
however, would still be within the executive
control In what spirit and temper this control
would be exercised can be fairly judged by the
past year ago a general pardon and amnes-
ty, on specified terms were offered to ali except
q certain designated class, and was at the same
time made known, that the excepted classes
were still in contemplation of special clemency.
During the year many aYailed themselves of the
general provision, and many more would have,
only the signs of bad faith in some led to such
precautionary measures, rendered the pract-
cal process less easy and certain During the
same time ALSO special pardons had been grant
ed to individuals of the excepted classes and no
voluntary application has been denied when
practically made. The door has for fully year
been open to all such as were not in a condition
to make a free choice, that such as were in Gus
tody or under constraint. It is still open to all
but the time may come and the public duty shall
demand that it be closed and that in lieu there
of, more vigorous measures than heretofore shall
be adopted. In presenting abandonment of
armed resistance to the national authorities on
the part of the insurgents, the only indispen-
able condition to ending the war on the part of
the Government, retract nothing as heretofore
said in regrad TO slavery. repeat the declara-
ton made year ago, that while / remain in
my present position, | shall not retract or modify
the emancipation proclamation, nor shall | re-
turn to slavery any person who is free by the
terms of that proclamation or by any other acts
of Congress. If the people should by whatever
mode or means make it my executive duty to
reclaim such person, another and not must be
their instrument to perform it. In stating a sim
gle condition of peace, mean simply to say
that the war will cease on the part of the Gov
ernment whenever it shall have ceased on the
part of those who begun it. A. LINCOLN.