The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-12-08

like ours, unanimity of action among those
seeking common end is very desirable
almost Indispensable, and yet no approach
to such unanimity is attainable unless some
Difference shall be paid to the will of the ma
jority-simply because it is the will of the
majority.
In this case the common end is the main-
tenance of the Union, and among the means
to secure that end, such will through the
election, is most clearly declared in favor of
such constitutional amendment. The most
reliable indication of public purpose in this
country is derived through our popular cleo,
tions. Judging by the recent canvass and
its result, the purpose of the people within
the loyal States to maintain the integrity of
the Union was never more firm nor more
nearly unanimous than now. The extraor-
binary calmness and good order with which
the millions of voters met and mingled at
the polls gave strong assurance of this Not
only those who supported the Union ticket,
SO called, but great majority of the oppo
sing party also, may be fairly claimed to
entertain and to be actuated by the same
purpose. 1t is an unanswerable argument
to this effect that no candidate for an Office
whatever high or low, has yentured to seek
votes on the avowal that he was for giving
up the Union. ,l;... o.r
There has been much impugning of mo-
tives, and much heated controversy, as to
the proper means and best mode of adyau-
cling the Union cause, but in the distinct
issue of Union or no Union, the politicians
have shown their instructive knowledge that
there is no div ersity among tie people In
awarding the people the fair opportunity of
showing one to another and to the world
this tlrmness and unanimity of purpose, the
election has been Of vast value to the ma.
tional cause. a.
The election has exhibited aaother fact, NOT
less valuable to be kuowu-ihe fact that we do
not approach exhaustion in the most ,important
branch of the national resources, that Of living
men. While it is melancholy to reflect tn at the
war has filed 80 many graves, and caused mourn.
ing to 30 m my homes, 1t IL some relief to know
that, compared with surviving, the fallen have
been so few. Whole Corps. and Divisions, and
Brigades and Regiments have formed. fought
and dwlndled, and gone out of existence bnt !.
great majority OF the men who composed them
are still living, The same is true OF the NavnI
'ervice. The election returns prove this go. So
many voters could not else be found
The States regularly holding election, ho,b
now and four years ago, to wit: California Cone
necticut. Delaware, Illinois Indiana Iowa Kan
lucky Maine, Maryland Massschusetts Mich;s
gan, MINES sofa Missouri New Hampsbi,a NJ
Jersey, New York. Ohio, OREGON, Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wis
consin, 1928, oil now, against 3,S7o. 222 thu
showing an aggregate now of 3 1893 oil To which
is to be added 33, 762 cast row in the nsy stat.
of Kansas and Nevada, which states did not vo,a
1860, thus swelling the aggregate 10 .O75,773,
ana the net increase during the three years and
a half of war to l45,75l, A table is annennad
showing particulars. To this again sbonld no
added the number at all the soldiers in the 6aId
from Massachusetts,. Rhode island, New Jersev
Delaware, Indiana and California WIN nv m a
law o. inose states could not voe away from their
homes and which number cannot be less thap
100000. Nor yet is that elf The nam 6ar in ths
orgsgized territories is triple now what il was
years ago. while thousands of both ,ybita ard
black JOIN US as the national arms press back tb,
lnSargent 4lnes. 80 much Is shDw affirmative
ly aud negatively by the election. Ii is Rot ma
| terIa to inquire how the increase has bsen nro.
dUced or to chow that il would have been orsatAr
but Tor the war. which is prDhahly rue Tba
important fact remains demon strsted that r,s
have more mon now than we had when the war
began that we not exhausted nor in nrocass =,
exhaustion, that we are gaining strenqth .nd
may, II need be, maintain the contest nitaig
ms dc 10 men Our material resources are
more complete and abuu6 ant than ever -
Inc natl mai resources then, are unexhausted
! and as we believe. inexhaustIbe Tbe nuhIin
purpose to re- establish and maintain tho n.t;n
al authority Is unchanged, and as we belieya nm,
changea0e. ihe manner of continuing the af
fort remains TO choose On careful cupsideration
of all the evidence accessible it seems to me tba
No attempt at negotiation wit the insurpent les 4
er could result in any good He wouid accent
of nothing shsrt OF the severance of the TTp;n,
Ills declarations to that effect are exulicit and
Oft repeated. lie does not attempt TO daoeiva ms
lie affords US no excuse to deceive ourselves =
We cannot voluntarily yield it, Between him
INN 10
1t is an issue which can only be tried by war and
decided by victory. Ii we yield, we are beaten
If the southern people tail him he is beaten. hi.
her way, 1t would be the victory and defeat
following the war. -
What is true. however, of him who heads tho
insargent cause is not necessarily true ri tbose
who follow Although he cannot re. accent The
Union. they can Some of them we know al.
ready desire peace and reunion. They can at
any moment nave peace simply by laying down
Their arms and submitting to the National author
ity, under the Constitution After SO mucb the
government could not if 1T would. maintain war
against them The loyal people would not aus.
| tain or allow 1t. If questions should remain wo
would ADJUST them by the peaceful means of leg,
islation, conference, courts and votes oneratino
| only in Constitutional & lawful channeIs Soma
certain and other possible q lestons are L world
be beyond the Executive power to adjust. Nor
instance, the admission of members ipto Can.
gress, ana whatever might require the appropri-
Ot'',i " mohpy' lHc Executive power itaAif
would be greatly diminished by the cessation Of
actual war. Pardons and remissions of forfeit
ure, would however, still be within Execntiv.
control. In what spirit and temper this conf rol
would be exercised, can be fairly Judged of nv
the past year ago General Pardon and Am
neoty, upon specified terms, were offered to all
except certain designated class and il Wa. 81
the same time known that the excepted classes
were still within contemplation of special clans
ency During the year many awaited themselves
OF the general provision, and many more would,
only that the signs OF bad faith iu some lad RI
such precautionary measures as rendered fbo
practical process less easy and certain Dnrino
the same time also, special pardons have hee5
granted to individuals OF excepted classes sra
no voluntary application has been denied 'rbns
practically the door has for full year been Oman
to all such as were not i'll condition to mska
free choice-that is, such as were in custody -,
under constr;inf. 1t is still open to ali. Rnttba
time may coIne-probably viii. come, when the
public duty shall demand that il be closed and
that IN lieu, more vigorous measures than hereto-
fore shall be adopted. Il
In presenting the abandonment of at,nad 70,
slstance to the national authority on the mart az
the insurgents, as the only indspens sable c1ndi.
ton TO ending the war on the part of the Govern
ment, retract nothing heretofore said as IN nfas
very | repeat the declaration made veer Co.,
that while remain In my present position shan
not attempt to retract or modify the Emacinst;o,
Proclamation, nor shall | return to sIavetv mn :,
person who is free by the terms Of that proclaim.
alton or by any OF the acts of Congress If the
should, by whatever mode or means, make il nv
executive duty to re-enslave such persons an.
other and not |, must be their instrument to ner-
form it. ~
In stating single condition of peace. / mean
simply to say that the war will cease on the mart
OF the Government whenevr ii shall have ceased
On the part of those who began it.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Gen. Gregg's Successful Reconnaissance to
Stony Creek.