The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-02
Saturday Morning, January 2. 1864,
President Linc0ln's Proclamation In the
Rebel Congress.

ln the proceedings Of the Rebel Congress
published in the Richmond Inquirer, OF Dc
cember 10th, VIC find that President Lincolns
amnesty proclamation was under considcra-
tion in that dclectable body Of traitors Their
wrath waxed exceedingly hot at the document
aud they could only find vent for their indig-
nation in the most vitupcrative epithets.
Mr.. Foote presented the following preamble
and resolution:
Whereds, copy of the truly characteris-
tic proclamation of amnesty, recently Issued
BY the imbccile and unprincipled usurper who
now sits cnthroned upon the ruins of con-
stitutional liberty In Washington city, has
been received and read by the members OF
this House; now, In token OF what is solcmnly
believed TO be the almost undivided sentiment
OF the people Of the Confederate States,
Be u Resotrcd, That there has never been
day or an hour when the people of the Con-
federate States were more infexibly resolved
than they are at the present time, never 10 re-
linquish the struggle OF arms In which they are
engaged, until that independence for which
they have been so earnestly eontending shall
have been at last achieved, and made sure
and steadiast, beyond even probability of a
future danger: and that in spite OF the reverses
which have lately beiallen our armies in
several quarters, and cold and selfish indider-
encc to our suherings thus far, for the most
part, evinced in the actions OF foreign powers.
the eleven millions of enlightened frcemen
now battling hcroically for all that can make
existence desirable, are fully prepared, alike In
spirit and resouces to encounter dangers far
greater than those which they have heretofore
bravely met, aud to submit TO far greater sacri-
fees than those which they have heretofore
SO cheerfully encountered, In preference TO
holding any further political connection with
n Government and people who have notori-
ously proven themselves contemptuousIy re-
gardless Of all the rights and privileges which
belong TO state Of civil freedom, as we'll as
Of all the most sacred usagcs OF civilized war.
Mr.. Miles regretted that the gentleman from
Tennessee had introduced such a resolution
The true and only treatment which that mis-
erable despot (Lincoln) should receive at the
hands Of this House was silent and uumitigat-
ed contempt This resolution would appear
10 dignity paper einanating from that wretch
ed and detestable abortion. whose contempt
BILE emptiness aud folly would receive the rid
icule OF the civilized world. He moved to
lay the subject on the table.
Mr.. Foote was willing that thd preamble and
resolution should be tabled, with the under
standing that it would indicate the unqualified
contempt OF the House for Abraham Lincoln,
Mr.. Miles said there would be no misuHder-
standing about that.
The motion was unanimously adopted.
Similar resolutions, offered by Mr. Miller, of
Va, went the same way.
The above says the Philadelphia Inquirer,
speaks for itself, and lis venom is almost as
bad as we might expect to eminate from the
mouth OF conclave Of Coppcrhcads. But it
looks very much to us like whistling to keep
their courage up. 1t is more than likely that
quite another feeling besides that Of indigna-
tion seized hold of them, else why resolve
again that the people of the Confederate Staes
should continue to fight on. Already the
Amnesty proclamation is making vast inroads
upon their waning power, and they know it
well In Arkansas, TIC xas, Eastern Tennessee,
Mississippi, Louisiana and Virginia, il is
steadily working its silent, irrisistable way
among the people. Aud these rebel yiliiiers
OF the President see the handwriting on the
wall, and they tremble at the doom which is
hanging over them