Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-12-15
WHOLE NO. 422.


the year, The number Of Revolutionary pen.
sioners was l, ,43o; only IL of them were
soldiers. Of whom have since died; the
remainder are those who, under the law,
receive pensions because of relationship to
Revolutionary soldiers. During the year
ending the 30tli e june, 1864, s., 504,-
i6l6 92 have been pail TO pensioners Of all
classes.
LOCAL. INsTlIcTfOSs.
! cheerfnily commend to your continued
patronage the benevolent institutions of
the District OF Columbia, which have hith
erto been established or fostered by Con-
gross, and respectfully refer for Informs
tion concerning them and in relation to the
Washington acqueduct, the Capitol and
other matters OF local interest, TO the re-
port Of the Secretary.
AGRICULTURE.
The Agricultural Department. under the
supervision Of its present energetic head.
is rapidly commencing itself to the great
and vita. interest it was created to advance.
1t is peculiarly the peoples department. in
which. they feel more directly concerned
Than in any Other. c6mnend it to the
continued attention and fostering care Of
Congress.
PROGRESS OF IHE WAR.
The war continues Since the last an.
nual message sll tbs important lines aud
positions then held by our armies have
steadily advanced. thus liberating the
States left in the rear. so that Missouri.
Kentucky, Tennessee. and parts Of other
States, have again produced reasonably fair
crops.
GEN. sHERMAN's MARcE.
The most remarkable feature In the
military operations of the year is Gen.
Sherman's attempted march Of three hun
dred miles directly ,hrnugh the insurgent
region. 1t tends to show great increase
OF our relative strength. that our General
in-Chief should feel sble to confront and
hold in check every active force Of the ene-
my. and yet to detach well appointed ar
my TO move on such an expedition. The
result Is not yet known. coniectures in re-
REORGANIZATION Or STATES.
Important movements have also occur
red during the year 10 the effect of molding
society for durability in the Union. Al
though short Of complete success, it is
much in the right direction that 10000
citizens in each of the States OF Arkansas
and LoriSians have organized loyal State
Governments, with free Constitutions. and
sle earnestly struggling to maintain and
administer them. The movement in the
same direction, more extensive. though
less definite, In Missouri. Kentucky. and
Tennessee, should no; be overlooked: but
Maryland presen's an example of complete
success. Maryland is secure to liberty
and Union tor all the futme The genius
Of rebellion will no more claim Maryland:
like another foul spirit. being driven out.
it will seek to rend her, but it will WOO
her ne more.
THE TOTAL ABOLITION OF SLAVERY RECON-
MEyDED.
=. the las, session Of Congress 2ropo-
sed amendment Of the Constitution. abol-
ishing slavery throughout the United
States, passed the Senate, bnt failed, for
lack OF the requisite two-thrds vote, in the
House of Representatives. Although the
present is the same Congress and nearly
the same members, without questioning
the wisdom or patriotism OF those who
stood in opposition. l venture 10 recon-
mend the passage Of the measure at the
present session. OF course the abstract
Il
ing election has almost certainly indicated
that tho next Congress will pass the mea-
sure, if this does not; hence there is only
question CT time as to when the proposed
amendment will 90 10 the States for their
action, ani as 1t. is TO go at all events.
may we not agree that the sooner the bet
ter. 1t is not claimed that the election
has imposed duty on members to change
their views or votes, any further than as
an additional element to be considered.
Their Judgment may be affected by it. Il
is the voice OF the people now for the first
time heard on the question. In a great
national crisis like ours, unanimity of sc-
tion among those seeking common end
is very desirable. aRlost indispensable,
and yet no approach 10 such unanimity is
attainable unless some Difference shall be
paid to the viii Of the majority. In this
case the common end is the maintenance
of the Union. and among the means to Sc
cule that end. such viii. through the cleo
ton. is most clearly declared in favor of
such constitutional amendment The
mos. reliable Indication of public pnrpose
in this country is derived through our pop
ular election.
TIE AEASING or TEE ELECTION.
Judging by the recent canvass and its
results. the purpose Of the people within
the loyal States 10 maintain the integrity
Of the Union was never more firm nor
more nearly unanimous, than now. The
extraordinary calmness ani good ordor
with which the millions of voters met and
mingled at the polls. gave strong assur-
ance of this. Not only all those who sup
ported the Union ticket. so called. but