, 1864-12-07


patronage the benevolent institutions of the
District Of Columbia, which have hitherto
been established or fostercd by Congress, and
respectfully refer for Information concerning
them and in relation to the Washington &C.
qaeduct, the Capitol and other matters Of
local interest, to the report Of the Secretary.
AGRICULTURE.
The Agricultural Department, under the
supervision Of Its present energetic head, is
rapidly commencing itself to the great and
vital interest 1t WAS created to advance. It
is peculiarly the peoples department., in
which they feel more directly concerned than
in any other. I commend it to the continued
attention and fostering care Of Congress.
PROGRESS OF TIE WAR.
The war continues. Since the last annual
message all the important lines and positions
then held by our armies have been main
tnined md our armies have steadily advanced,
thus libcrating the States left in the rear, SO
that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and
parts Of other States, hare again produced
reasonably fair crops. j.
GEN. suEnAAS's MARCH,.
Tho most remarkable feature in the militia
ry operations Of The year Is Gen. Sherman's
attempted march of thrce hundred miles d.
1ectly through the insurgent region. It tends
TO shew, great increase Of our rcaltive
strength, that our Gencr.l1-in-Chief should
feel able to conf ont and hold In check every
active force Of the enemy, and get to detach
a we'll appointed army TO move on such an ex-
peditfon. The result not yet known, conjec-
ture in regard to 1t Is not here INDUCED. "a
REORGANIZATION OF STATES.
Important movements have also occurred
cicty lor durability in the Union. Although
short Of complete success, 1t is much in tie
right direction that L, ,Oo0 citizens In each of
the States Of Arkansas and Louisiana have
organized loyal state Governments, With free
Constitutions, and are earnestly struggling to
maintain md administer them. The move
ment In tho same direction, more extensive,
though less definite, in Missouri, Kentucky,
and Tennessee, should not be overlooked; but
Maryland presents m example of complete
success. Maryland is secure to liberty nnd
Union for all tho future. The gcnius Of
rebellion will no 1uorc claim Maryland like
another foul spirit, being driven out, 1t will
moro
TIE ToTA1. ABOLITION OF SLAVERY RECON-
MESDED.
At the last session Of Congress = proposed
amendment Of the Constitution, aboIishing
slavery throughout the United states, passed
the scnate, but failed, fo1 lack Of the requisite
two-tlirds vote, in the House OF Representa-
tiyes. Although the present is the same Con-
gTess and nearly the fame members, without
questioning the wisdom or patriotism Of those
who stood In opposition, venture to recon-
mend the passage Of the measure ut the pres
ent session. Ofcourse the abstract question
Is not changed, but m intervening election
has almost Certainly indicated that the next
Congress will pass the measure, if this does
not hence there is only question of time rs
to when the proposed amendment will go to
the States for their action, and As it is to 60
at all events, may VIC not agree that the
sooner the better. It is not claimed that the
~ an&y $.Ar {n,,~1 1%rt~ 81
change their views or votes, any further than
as an additional element to be considered.
Their Judgment may be affected by it. It Is
the voice Of the people, now for the first time
heard on the question. In great national
crisis like ours, unanimlty OF action among
those seeking common end is very desira-
ble, almost Indispensable, and get no ap-
some Difference shall be paid to the will Of the
majority, simply because it Is the will of the
majority. In this case the common end is the
maintenance Of The Union, and among the
means to secure that end, such will, through
the election, is most clearly declared In favor
Of such constitutional amendment. The most
reliable Indication Of public purpose in this
country is derived through our popular elcc-
tion.
THE MEANING OF THB ELECTION.
Judging by the recent canvass and Its re-
suits, The purpose Of the people within the
loyal States to rnaintain the integrity Of ths
Union was never more firm nor mpre nearly
calmness and good order with which the mil
lions OF voters met and mingled at the polls.
gave strong assurance Of this. Not only all
those who supported the Union ticket, So
called, but n great majority Of the opposing
party also, may be taisly claimed to be act1-
nted by the same purpose. 1t is an unauswer-
able argument, that no candidate for any
otlicc whatever, llig Or low, has yentlred to
seek votes on tue ayowal that be Was for giy-
ing up the Union. There has been much i'm
1rsning Of motives and much heated con.ro-
vcrsy rs to the proper means and beat N pie
OF advancing the Union cause, but in the dis
tinct issue of Union or m Union, the poliii-
cians have shown their instructive knowledge
that there is no diversity among the pc3-
pie. In awarding the people the fair oppoF-
unity Of showing one to another, and to the
world, this firmness and unantmfty Of pur-
pose, the election has been Of vast value to
the national cause.
THE NATION GAINING STRENGTH.
The election las exhibited another fact, not
less valuable 10 be knoWn-the fact that We
do not approach exhaustion In the most i'm
portant branch Of the national resources
that cf living man. While It is melancholy
to reflect that the war has filled SO many
grnFes and caused mourning to so many
homes, 1t is some relief to know thnt, com
pared with the surviving, the ful1en have been
70 few. While corps and divisions and brig
ades and regiments have formed and fought
and bltd and gone out Of existence, great
majority OF the men who composed them are
still living. The same Is true Of the naval
service; tho election returns prove this. So
many voters could not else be found. The
States regularly holding elections, both now
and four years ago, -to.wit: California, Con-
nccticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,.
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New uamp-
shire, EcR Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon,
Virginia and Wisconsin, cast s, ,9s2 oil votes
now against s, $40, ,222 cast then, showing m
aggregate now Of 8, ,39S, I'll, to which is to be
added %, ,7G2 cast now in tho new States OF
Kansas and Nevada, which States did
not vote in 1863, thus swelling the
aggregate to 4, us, and the net fhcrease
dSn the three j; and dna.1s had Of wa to
particulars. To this again should BIZ added
The number Of all the soldiers in the field
from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jcr-
scy, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois and Califor-
nia, who, By the law Of those 6tatcs, could
her cannot be less than 10000. Nor yet is
this NIL. The number in the organized Ter
rito1fes is triple now what 1t WAS four years
ago, while thousands, white and black. join
us as tie national arms press back the insur-
gent lines. So much Is shown, afHrmatively
and negatively, BY the election. 1t is not
| produced, or to show that 1t would have
| been greater bu3 for tho war, which is prob
| ably true. The important fact remains de-
monstrated that we have moro men now than
when the wnr began--that We are NOT e3-
lausted, nor in process Of crhaustion-that
/ we are gaining strength, and may, if need be,
maintain the contest indefinitely.
|
This as to men. Our material resources are
| now more complete and abundant than ever.
| The national resources, then, are une1haust-
ed, and, us We believe, tnexhaustible. The
| public purpose to re-establisL and maintain
| the national authority Is unchanged, and, rs
We believe, unchangeable. The manner OF
continuing the effort remains to choose. On
careful consideration Of all the evidence ac-
cessible, it seems to me TINT no attempt at
negotiation with the tnsurgent leader could
result In any good. He would accept OF
nothing short Of the severance Of the Union.
His declarations to TINT effect are explicit and
oft-rcpeatea: He does not attempt to de-
ceiyc us. He affords us no excuse to deceive
ourselves. We cannot voluntarily yield it..
Between him and us the issue Is distinct, slim
ple and inflexible. It is an Issue which can
| only be tried by war. and decided by victory
If We yield, We nre beaten. If the Southern
| people fail him he is beaten. Either way, It
would be the victory and defeat following war.
now TIE REnH1s MAT HAvH PEACE.
What is true, however, Of him Who heads
the insorgcnt cause, Is not necessarily true Of
those who follow. Although he cannot re-ac-
cept the Union, they can. Some Of them, we
know, already desire peace and reunion.
They can ut any moment have peace simply
| by laying down their arms and submitting to
lie National authority, under the Constitu-
! ton. After so much, The Government could
| not, if 1t would, maintain war agninst them.
| The loyal people would not sustain or allow
| It. Il questions should remain, we would Cd