Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-12-09

majority. In this case the common end is
the maintenance of the Union and among
/ the means to secure that end, such will
4 through the election is most clearly declared
in favor Of such constitutional amendment.
! THE TERMS OF PEACE.
On careful consideration of all the evidence
accessible it seems to Inc that no attempt at
negotiation with the insurgent leader could
result in any good. He would accept OF
nothing short of the severance of the Union
! His declarations to that effect are explicit
and oft repeated. He does not attempt to
deceive us. lie affords us no excuse to
deceive ourselves. We cannot voluntarily
yield it between him and us. The issue is
distinct, simple and nhexiblc. 1t is an issue
which can only be traced BY war end decided
by victory. If we yield we are beaten. If
| the southern people fail him, he is beaten
Either way it would be the victory and dcfes:
following the war. What is true, however,
of him who heads the insurscnt cause is not
necessarily true of those who follow. Atho'
he cannot rcaccept the Union. they can
Some Of them, we know, already desire
peace and Union. The number Of such may
increase. They can at any romcnt have
peace simply by laying down their arms and
submitting 10 the National authority, under
the Constitution. After so much, the Gov
eminent could not maintain war against them,
the loyal people would not sustain or allow
it. If questions should remsin. we would
adjust them by the peaceful means OF legis-
lation, conference, courts and votes operating
only in constitutional and lawful channels.
Some certain, and other possible questions
would be beyond the Executive power to
adjust. For instance. the admission of
members into Congress, whatever might
require the appropriation OF money. The
Executive power itself would be greatly di
miniShcd by the cessation of cctual war;
pardons and remissions Of forfeiture, howev.
er, would still be within Executive control
In what spirit and temper this control would
he exerted, can be fairly Judged Of by the
past year. General pardon and amnesty
upon specified terms were offered to all en-
ccpt certain designated classes, and it was at
the same time made known that the excepted
classes were still within contemplation of
special clemency. Daring the year many
availed themselves Of the general provision,
and macy more would only that the signs o:
bad faith on the part Of the insurgents, in
some cases led to such precautionary mcas-
ures as rendered the practical progress less
easy and certain.
During the same time special parions
have been granted to individuals Of exempted
classes, and no voluntary application has
BEEN denied. Thus, practically, the door
has been for full year open to all such az
were not in custody or under constraint 1t
is still open to all, but the time may come,
probably viii como, when the public voice
W i'll demand that it shall be closed, and that
in lieu more vigorous measures than hereto
fore shall be adopted. .
In presenting the abandonment Of armed
resistance to the national authority, | mean
simply to say that the war will cease on the
par; of the Government whenever it shall
have ceased on the part OF those who begun
it. 1t is an Indispensable condition TO end
ing the war on the part of the Government
] retract nothing heretofore said as to
slavery. I repeat the declaration made a
year ago, that while remain in my present
position | shall not attempt to ,etract or
modify in the least the emancipation procla--
nation, ne: shall return to slavery any
person who is free by the terms Of that
proclamation, or by any 81 the acts Of Con-
grcss. Ii the people should. by any mode
or means, make it an imperative duty to re-
instate said persons, another, and not |, mus;
be their instrument to perform it.
(signedD ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Washington, 7 ccenter 5, 1854.