The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-12-22

the election. IL Is not material 10 IN
quire how the Increase has been produ-
ced, or TO showIhat ii would have been
greater but for tho war, which is prObA
bly, true. The Important fact remains
demonstrated thal We have more men
now than wedia when tho war began,
that we are uotexhausted nor in pro,
cess Of exhaustion; that We are gaining
strength, aud may, Il need bo. maintain
ibe contest inaefnitsly. Material re.
sources are nov more complete and
abundant thanever The national ro,
sources them, "a unexhausted and, as
we believe, inekhausIiblO. The public
purpose 10 re 6slablish and maintain the
National OapacIiy is unchanged and as
we believe unc engsablO The manner
Of continuing 4 cffortrCmaiuS to choose
On careful con Iteration Of all tho ovi.
dence accessib III seems TO me that no
attempt al neg Nations with the insur.
gent leader could result in any good
lie would acc ~ ofnothing short Of the
severance OF "a Union His declara
tons to that Ractare explicit and Of re-
peated use. l9 does not attempt to do.
cHive us, HeAnords us no excuse TO
deceive ourselves. We cannot volunLa-
rily yield IT, Detween him and us the
issue is distinct simple and nAexible
II is an issue which can only be tried by
war and decidelsby victory. II We yield
we ore beatensN the Southern people
fail him, he Is beaten. Either way it
would be the Atcry and defeat follow.
ing war. Whit 10 true, however, OF him
who heads The hsurgent cause. is not ne.
cassarily true those who follow. AL,
though be cai5pt 70 accept the Union
they can. Sofe oflhem, wo know, al
ready desire peace and reunion. The
number Of such may increase. They
can at any mSihent have peace, simply
by laying dowa their arms and submit,
ting TO the Nlional authorities under
the Coustitutifn, After so doing tho
Governme Mt ifit would, could not main
tain war agAiukt them. The loyal peo.
pie would notsustein or allow it, II
questions should remain, we would ad.
just them by peaceful means of lcgiSla.
tion, conferenSe, courts and votes. oper-
ating only in constitutional and lawful
channels. Soine certain, and otherpos.
siblc, question:, are, aud would be. be.
yond the execlive power to adjust for
instance, the Emission of members into
Congress, and whatever might require
the appropria on Of money, The execu.
live powerful If would be greatly d.
minished by3i cessation Of actual war.
Pardons aud femissions Of forfeiture,
howeyeERo sItllSbe within execu,
tive control. In what spirit and temper
this control would be ex rcised can be
fairly judged by the past. A year ago,
general pardon and amnesty, upon spo.
Cited terms. were offered 10 oil except
certain designated enemies. AMI it was at
the same time ma e known that the ex.
cepted classes were still within contem.
plation Of special clemCncy. During
the year many avsiled themselves of the
generalprovisiop. and many more would
only that the signs OF bad faith in some
led to such precautionary measures as
rendered the practical process less easy
and certain. During the samo time also
special pardons bave been granted TO in.
dividuas Of excepted classes and no vol
untary application has been denied
Thus, practically, the doer has been for
a full year open 10 all except such as
were not in condition to make free
choice; that is, such as were in cuStody
or under cOnstraint. 1t is still open To
all, but The time may come, when pub
lie demand thatit be closed, and that in
lieu moro vigorous measures than here
tofore shall be adopted.
In presenting the abandonment Of ar.
med resistance to the national authority,
on the part Of the insurgents. as the on
| ly indispensable condition 10 ending the
war on the part Of the Government, l
retract nothing heretofore said as TO sla,
very. Irepeat the declaration made a
year ago, that while l remain in my
present position, | shall not attempt to
retcact or modify the Emancipation Pro-
clamalion, nor shall return to slavery
any person who is free by tho terms Of
that proclamation or by any Of the acts
of Congress. If the people should, BY
whatever mode or means, make it my
executive duty to re 'enSlave such per.
sons, another and not I. must be their
instrument TO perform it, In stating a
single condition ofpeaCe, mean simply
10 say that the war will cease on the
part Of the Government whenever it shall
have ceased on the part Of those who be.
gan it.
[SigneJ1 ABRAHAM LrEooLN.