The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-12-09
pREsIDEST,s MESSAGE.

The Presidents Message is rcceiv
ed too late for insertion this week
The affairs of the nation are in az
good condition rs could be expected
while carrying on such n war. The
military and haval departments are
reported TO be in good condition. -
The national debt on the first of July
last amounted to LAO GOO, ,4S9 40.
Probably, says the President, should
the war continue another year, that
amount may be increased by not far
from five hundred millions. Held as
it is FOR the most part by our people,
it haa become substantial branch Of
the national though private property.
The part of the message touching
slavery is of striking importance
The President recommends the re.
consideration and pos age of the
amendment to the Constitution abol.
ishing slavery throughout the United
States, He claims that the result Of
the election shows that tho people
were in favor of such amendment,
and that il is one of the means to Sc.
cure tho maintaipance of tho Union.
Speaking of the Amnesty Procla-
nation he says
A year ego, general pardon and
amnesty, upon specified terms, were
offered to all except certain designa
ted enemies, aud 1t was 1T the same
time made known that the excepted
classes were still within contempla
tion of special clemeucy. During
the year many availed themselves OF
the general provisions, and many
more would, only that the signs of
bad faith in some led to such procua-
tionary measures as rendered the
practical process less easy and GER
tain. During the same time, also,
special pardons have boen granted to
individuals of excepted classes and
to voluntary application has been de
MED. Thus, practically, the door has
been for full year open to all ex
ccpt such as were not in a condition
TO make free choice; that is, such as
were in custody or nndcr constraint
1t is still open to all, but the time may
come, probably will come, when pub
lie duty shall demand that it be
closed, and that in lieu more vigorous
measures than heretofore shall be
adopted.
The President says in very marked
words that he will not 60 back from
the declaration OF his Emancipation
Proclamation, and that if the people
should change their expressed sonti.
ments on the subject, some other than
him must he their instrument. He
declares that The war will close on the
part of the Government when 1t shall
close on the part Of those who began
it. The message closes as follows
In presenting the abandonment of
armed resistance TO the national an.
thority, on the part of the insur-
gents, rs the only indispensable con.
dition to ending the war on the part |
OF the Government | rotract moth.
ing heretofore. said as to slavery. !
repeat the declaration made year
ago, that while remain in my pres
ent position, shall not attempt to re.
tract or modify the Emancipation
Proclamation, nor shall | return TO
slavery any person who is free by the
terms of that proclamation or 10y any
of the acts Of Congress. If the peo-
pie should, by whatever mode or
means, make it my executive duty to
re- enslave such persons, another, and
not I, must he their instrument to-
perform it. In stating single con
dition OF peace, mean simply to say
that the war will cease on the part OF
the Government whenever it shall
have, ceased on the part of those who
began it.