The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-12-14

The important fact remains ~demonstra-
tedsthst We haze more men now than We
h6d when the war began, that Ne are not
exhausted, ner in process of exhaustAtion,
that we are gaining strength, and may if
need be, maintsin the contest indefinitely.
Thus Is to men and material resources they
are more complete and abundant than
ever. The national resources then are
unexbausted, snd as We believe mex
haustible.
The public purpose to re-establish and
maintain the National authority is un-
changed, andes we believe unchangeable.
The manner of continuing the effort re-
mains to be choosan. On careful cnsider.
alton of all the evidence accessible, it
seems to me that no attempt at negotia-
ton With the insurgent leader could result
IN any good. He would accept nothing
short of the severance OF the Union. His
declarations to the effect are explicit and
oft repeated. He does not attempt to
deceive rs He affords us no excuse to
deceive ourselves.
We cannot voluntarily yield il between
him and US. The issue is distinct, sim-
pie and infexible. 1t is an issue which
can only be tried by war and decided by
victory. If We yield We are beaten. Ii
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 him who heads the Insurgent
cause is not necessarily true of those who
follow. Although he cannot re-accept 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
simply by laying dows their arms and
Submitting to the national auth rity un-
der the Constitution. After so much the
sGevernnent could not, if it would, main
tain war against them. The loyal people
would o sustain or allow it. Ii ques-
tons should remain, we would adjust
them by the peaceful means of Legislation,
conference, courts and voting, operating
only in Constitutional and lawful chan
nels. Some certain, and other possible
questions are, and would be beyond the
Executive power to adjust for instance,
the admission of members into Congress,
and whatever might require the apPropri-
alton of money.
The executive power itself would be
greatly diminished BY the cessation of
actual war. Pardops and remissions OF
forfeiture, however, would still DC 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 and amnesty
upon specific terms were offered to all
except certain designated classes, and 1t
was at the same time made know that the
excepted classes were still within contem-
plaiion of special clemency,
During the year many availed them
eelves of the general provision, end many
more would, only that the signs of the
bad faith in some led to such pr%ecauticr-
.ary measures as rendered the practical
process less easy and certain. During
the same time, also, special psrdons have
been granted TO individuals of excepted
classes, and no voluntary application has
been deHied. Thus particularly, The door
has been for a full year open to all except
such as were no in condition to make free
choice, that is such as were in custody or
under constraint. It is still open to all
but the time may cone. probably will come
when public duty shall demand that it be
C4OSGQ5 anu LlGb III HCo ~
measures than heretofore shall be adopted
in presenting the abandonment of armed
resistance to the national authority on tie
part of the insurgents, as the only indis-
pensable condition to ending the war on
the part of the Government.
SLAVERY.
= I retract nothing heretofore said as to
slavery. / repeat the declaration male a
year age, and that while l remain in my
present position, l shall not attempt to re-
sffact or modify the Emancipation Procla-
nation, nor shall I return to slavery, any
person who is free by the terms of that
proclamation, or by any OF the acts of
CoBgfess. IF the people should by what
ever mode or means n axe it any executive
duty to re-enslave Such persons, another
and not 1 must be their instrument to per.
form it. In stating a single condition of
peace I mean simply to say that the war
will cease on the part Of the Government,
whenever it shall have ceased on the part
CT those who began it.
[signed] ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
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