The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-01-07
The Richmond Papers ON the Frcsi.
denI's Message and Proclamation.
From the Rchu ond sentine(Jef Davis special orga

From the Richu ond SentinelJef. Davis special organ
| December IA.
| ABRAHAMS MESSAGE AND PROCLAMATION.
Surprising our readers have curiosity t.
see the late message of President Lincoln t.
lssCongresS, and presuming that Lincoln
wants our people to see how gracious he is
and what loving proclamation he has issu
cd to us all in Dixie, we publish both in oul
issue to-day. Whenever the British ENJOYS
wished to tempt our fathers in the Revolu
ton by their protfers of amnesty, the Cont
mental Congress always assisted i'll giving
! their procamations wide circulation fol
not only did Congress couhde In the loyalty
OF the people, but they considered those pa
pers as calculated to animate the popular pat
riotism
A hundred times stronger are our reasons
for expecting this result now. Never die
British Commissioner or General,in all his ar
rogance put forth so impudent message as
the Washington man has sent down to u.s.
He is going to forgive us something, it seems,
on certain terms. 10 the most liberal, unquali-
fed and ll-embracing offer of forgiveness tC
our fathers, DR.. Franklin replied: eve,
who have committed no effense, need no for
glveness." Our answer would be the same,
even if LinColn's offer initiated the humanity
of Britain's. Forgive us what? Forgive US
because he has invaded our States with arm
cd multitudeS to overthrow our laws, destroy
our liberties, compass our destruction? For
give US because he has plundered our seas
and ravaged our coasts? Forgive us for hav
ing burned our towns and desolated our
homes? Forgive us for the many thousands
of our brothers and SONS and dear friends
whom he has slain upon our own SOIL and
while repeling his invasion? Forgive US for
the many dear mutilated ones who will re
main the legacy of the war; when the war is
over? Forgive us for having outraged even
the sensibiIities of Europe, by his attempt to
excite servile revolt? Forgive us for his
Beast Butler and for the thousand attroci-
ties which he has let loose against US?
He may forgive us for these his crimes but
SO long as we have hearts to feel and hands to
strike, we shall never forgive him. How i'm
pudent it is TO come, with our brothers blood
upon his accursed hands, and ask us to &C
cept his forgiveness! But he goes further
lie makes his forgiveness dependent upon
terms. We have to swear that the procla-
nation Of emancipation which he issued last
year, and which we received with mocking,
and which has since been general derision,
shall be submitted to by us. Our society is
to be upturned. Instead of that distinction
between the races necessary for the happiness
Of both, he asks us to swear that we will have
none at all, unless his Congress OF fanatics or
his packed bench of Judges shall say that his
was wind But all this will
not do. We must abandon to that demon
thirst for their blood, which has been indie
81 hn 4ha
who have rendered our annals conspicuous,
and under whose lead we have won fame
# not name among the nations. We must
cave the President to Abraham's tender mer
cieS. The Army Of the Potomac must offer
up their glorious leader, under whom both
have become illustrious Be4ureguard must
be hung. In short, every officer down to Col
onel, and every civil functionary, from Con-
gresham to messenger and frcm Governor
to constable, are to be retained for Lincoln's
nalignity. How he and Seward and Sumner
would gloat over the hanging bodies of the
dead rebels"
Is even Lincoln base enough to imagine
that brave people such as the Confederates
nave proven themselves, would, under any
stress of fortune, prove traitors to the men
whom they may have called to lead them, Ill
camp or council :?
This miserable attempt to divide and corrupt
is will be contemptuously resented as the
insult which it is. And this is the best Lin
;oln can think for us-utter prostration at his
eet-a social ruin, horrible to every white
man, rich or poor and our choicest citizens,
whose names are our pride handed over to be
hanged.
The infamous proclamation will but arouse
is to new zeal and new efforts.
LINCoLNs MESSAGE.
From the Richmond Enquirer, December Is.
We, this morning, crafty the curiosity Of
our readers with the message of Abraham
Lincoln. Recovering but recently from an
attack Of the small pox, some excuse may be
made for the message. 1t is but another ex-
libition of his weakness and folly. Why his
Cabinet will permit him to make such a fool
IF himself, and render their country an OBJ
ect of contempt and ridicule throughout the
world, can only be accounted for on the sup
position that it is the easiest way to get rid
If him. They, therefore, permit him to have
the freest and fullest use Of his pen.
To the proclamation of amnesty and
reconstruction, we especially invite the
attention of our readers, and when the
zone tenth are ready to succumb, we
ask the privilege Of announcing it to
their Father Abraham.
At the present we have not the space
to review the message, and we do not
know that we shall hereafter find time !;
but, as there are some features in it SO
characteristic ola Yankee, we may on
future occasion refer to this message.
Prom the Richmond Examiner, Dec. Il
The message of Abraham Lincoln is
to be found in this journal Of this morn
ing. So mnch curiosity exists relative
to this document, and so much Of the
information which it contains is impor-
tant to the right understanding Of the
present phase of the war, that we have
published it entire, to the exclusion Of
much other matter.
In style it is as bare as a leaf from
a ledger. Such derisiye laughter has
been excited by the Hoosier's previous
attempts at fine writing that he has no
longer spirit to show himself. The
tone is subdued; the language dry and
plain the exposition is brief as arith-
motto. But all reflection upon the gen
eral characteristics Of this estate pa
per" is forgotten in wonder over the
conclusion at which it arrives and the
proclamation appended thereto. After
re-afirming the universal abolition Of
slavery, without compensation, in the
broadcast manner, Abraham Lincoln Of.
fers ''pardon" to all persons in the
Confederacy, under the rank Of Colonel,
and who have not held any civil office,
executive, judicial, Legislative, or di
plomatic in the Confederate States, who
will give themselves up, and swear
oaths Of allegiance to the United States,