The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-12-16
Tho Presidents Message.


Without reference to the character OF
the policy advocated in the last message
of President LINCOLN, We pronounce 1t the
weakest political document that ever ema-
mated from the Executive chair. We pro-
nounce it weak in it's general conception,
weaker in its general arrangement, and
weaker in its extraordinary use of the
"Kings English" 1t does not contain
from beginning to end single sprinkle or
glow of enthusiasm. Nothing in the ele-
vation of its argument, or the dignity Of
its rhetoric indicates that the President
ofsthe United States inspired by high
sense of bis responsibility and his position,
is speaking for a great people engaged in
portentious struggle fer national exis-
tence.
Its prevailing tone is suggested by the
reckless politics of a party which is pushing
our country into the jaws of destruction,
while its general moral and intellectual
characteristics exhibit the total inability
of the President to embrace his duties in
the spirit Of comprehensive intelligence,
and rise "to the full height of the great
argument" So completely devoid is this
message of the faintest evidence of states
manship, that it can only be impartially
summed up as the alpha and omega of me-
diocrity.
If we pass from general survey of its
qualities to en- examination of its details,
our verdict is fully sustained. 1t does not
contain single expression of reliance up
on that Providence which shapes the des-
tiny of nations, or an acknowledgment of
that experimenting power which makes
and mars the plans and combinations of
man. The coo popsE appears to have su-
perseded the eoa Del in the Presidents
estimation. The will of the people in the
late election renders unnecessary all fur
ther alluson to the will Of God. To be
sure "our profoundest gratitude is due
"to Almighty God for the blessings of
health and abundant harvests." But tor
our victories by sea and land, for our ex-
istence rs people, tor the general sum-
mary Of facts upon which We found our
common hopes; nn proper gratitude is
evoked, and no appeal is made to the re-
ligious sense of the nation.
With BREcKINRlpaE triumphant in East
Tennessee, and HooD laundering at the
gates of Nashville, the President asserts
that "since the last annual message, all the
important lines and positions then occu-
pied by our forces. haze been maintained,
and our armies haze steadily d2ranced."
The attempt of t,celue thousand citizens
in each of the States of Arkansas and
Louisiana to organize "Loyal State Gov
ernments with free constitutions" is char
acterized by the President as "moulding
society,"" We presume this is another of
Mr.. LlNcoLN's jokes, the point of which
is to be discovered in the fact thst
society is made of dough, to be moulded
and done brown by the great Presidential
baker.
Democratic Congressman are kindly In
vited by the President to anticipate the
action Of the next Congress, and pass
a constitutional amendment prohibiting
slavery Democratic Congressman will
hesitate before they respond to this affec.
tianate invitation, leaving the responsibility
Of such measure to fall upon the shoul
ders Of the party proposing It.
Then comes sn astonishing Presidential
paradox. "While corps, and divisions,
and brigades, says the President, shave
formed, and fought, ard dwindled, and
gone out of existence, q great majority of
the men scho composed them are still
kpingi" This is made bright by its OBJ
scurity.
The President tcongratulares the country
on an increase Of u0ters III The face of an
alarming waste Of human life, but rs
ABRAHAM LINCOLN is reelected to office,
he does not deem it @ material TO inquire
hoO tie increase kus been produced "
Certainly not!
Finally we are notified that ABRAHAM
LINCOLN doea noE propose to negotiate
soiM insuyent leaders upon any terms,
and that he intendB to prosecute The war
to the bitter end upon the principles enun-
cated in his letter ''to whom it Hlay con
Germ" Amen! So he It'll Those are the
Presidents principles, endorsed by the
Republican party. But, thank GoDl those
are not tie principles Of the Democracy