Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-12-20
Extracts from Mr.. LincOrn,s Message.

over the new and unocupied portions of our coun-
try have scarcely been checked, much less impeded
or destroyed by our great civil war; which, at first
| glance, would seem to have absorbed almost the
entire energy of the nation The organization and
admission of the State of Nevada has been completed
in conformity with law, and thus excellent syS
tem IS 6ruTly established in the mountains which
once seemed a barren and uninhabitabe waste be-
tween the Atlantic and those which have grown
up on the coast Of the Pacific ocean. The Terrific
res OF the Union arc generally in condition of
prosperity and rapid growth. Idaho and Montana,
by reason of their great distance and the interruption
by Indian hOstilites, have been only partially organ
iZed but it is understood that :hese difficulties
about to disappear, which will permit their govern.
ments like those of the others, to go into speedy
| and full operation.
The war continues SiEcc the last annual mes
sage all the important lines ahd positions then oc
cupied by Our forces have been maintained, and
armies have steadily advanced thus liberating the
regions left IN the rear so that Mlssodri Kentucky
Tennessee, and parts of other States, have again
produced reasonably fair crops. The most remark
able feature in the military operations of the year
is General Shermans attempted marc1 Of over three
hundred miles directly though an insurgent region.
| 1t tends to show great increase Of relative
strength that our Generalin Chief should feel able
TO confront and hold in check eve-y active force of
the enemy, and yet to detatch well appointed large
army to move on such an ex:edition. The result
not yet being known, conjecture in regard to it
should not here be induged
Important movements have also occurred during
the year. to the effect of moulding society for dura
bility for the Union. Although short of complete
| success, it is much in the direction that twelve
thousand citizens in each of the States of Arkansas
and Louisiana have organized loyal State govern
ments with free Constitutions, and earnestly
struggling to maintain and administer them. The
movement in the same direction, more extensive
| though less definite, in Missouri, Kertucky and
Chn ho D. II,
land presents the example of complete success
Maryland is secure to liberty and Union for all the
| future The genius of rebellion will no more claim
Maryland. Like another foul spirit being driven
out 1t may seek to tear her, but it will her
more.
At the last session of Congress proposed amend
ment of the Constitution abOlishng slavery through
out the United States, passed the Senate but failed
| for lack oil the requisite Lwo-thrdS vote in the
| House of Representatives. Although the present
| IS the same Congress, and nearly the same mem
| bers, and without questioning the wisdom pa
trotism of those who stood in opposition venture
| to recommend the reconsideration and passage OF
the measure at the present session. OF course the
abstract question is not changed but an intervening
election shows almost certainly that the next Con
gress will pass the measure ifthis does not Hence
there is only question of time as to when the pro
posed amendment will go to the States for their &C
| ton, and as 1t is to be, at all events, may we moi
agree that the the better? 1t is not claimed
| that the election has impressed duty on member
| to change their views their 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
upon the question In great national crisis like
| ours, unaniInity of action among those seeking
common end is very desirable almost indispensa
| bic; and yet no approach to such unanimty is at
tainable unless some Difference shall be paid to the
! will of the majority. In this case the common end
10 IF no Hpino and Tho
means tc secure that end such will through the
| election, is most clearly declared in favor of such
constitutional amendment
On careful consideration OF all the evidence &C
cessible it seems to me that attempt at negotia-
tion with the insurgent leader could result in anv
| good. He would accept of nothing short of the
| severance of the Union. His declarations to that
effect explicit and oft repeated He does not at
| tempt to deceive lie affords MS no excuse to
deceive ourselves. We cannot voluntarily yield it.
| Between him and US the issue is distinct simple
and infexible 1t is an issue which can only be
tried by war, and decided by victory. If we yield
we beaten. If the Southern people fail him, he
| is beaten. Either way it would be the victory and
| defeat following war; What is true, how ever of
him who heads the insurgent cause is not nccessa-
rily true of those who follow. Although he can
not re-accept the Union they can. Some of them
| we know already desire peace and reunion. The
number of such may increase They can at any
moment have peace simply by laying down their
arms and submitting to the national authority un-
der the Constitution. After so much the govern
ment could not, if it would, maintain war against
them. The loyal people would not sustain or al
low it If questions should remain we would ad.
just them 10y the peaceful means of legislation con-
ference, courts ami votes. Operating only in con-
stitutonal and lawful channels some certain and
other possible questions are and would be beyond
the Executive power to DUST as, for instance, the
admission of members into Congress- and whatever
| L. Nbo oC W.
Executive power itself would be greatly diminished
| by the cessation OF actual war. Pardons and re.
missions of forfeiture, however, would still be with
in executive control. In what spirit and temper
this control would be exercised be fairly judged
by the past
A year ago general pardon and amnesty upon
specified terms, offered to all, except certain
| designated classes, and it was at the same time
made known that the excepted cla: SeS were still
within contemplation of special clemency. During
the year many avaed themselves of the general
provision, and many more would only that the signs
of bad faith in some led to such precautionary
measures rendered the practical process less easy
and certain. During the same time also special
pardons have been granted to individuals of except
ed classes, and voluntary application has been
denied. Thus, practically the door has been for a
full year open to all except such were not in con-
diton to make free choice-that is such as were in
custody or under constraint 1t is still so open to
all but the time may come, probably will come,
when public duty shall demand that it be closed
and that it lieu more rigorous measures than here
| tofore shall be adopted.
In presenting the abandonment of armed resis-
tance to the national authority on the part of the
insurgents as the only indispensable condition to
ending the war on the part of the government,
retract nothing heretofore said as to slavery. re-
peat the declaration made a year ago and that
while remain in my present position | shall not
attempt to retract or modify the EMANCIPATION Pro-
clamation; nor shall return to slavery any per-
son who is free by the terms of that proclamation
or by any of the acts Of Congress If the people
| make an