White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1864-12-15

Delaware. Indiana. Illinois. and CAL
ifornia. who. by the laws Of those States
could not vote away from their homes.
and which number cannot be less than
10000 Nor yet is this al. The number
in organised territories is triple now what
it was four ysars ago. while thousands
white and black-join as as the national
arms press back the insurgent lines. So
much is shown affirms,ively and neg
stivsly BY the election.
1t is not material to inquire how the
increase has been produced. or to show
that it would have been greater but for
the war. which is probably true; the i'm
portant fact remains demonstrated that
We have more mon now than we bad
when the war began; that We are not ex-
bsusted nor in process Of exhaustion; that
we are gaining strength. and may. If
need be, maintain the contest in indefinitely.
This IS to men.
Natural resources srs now more COM
plete and abundant than ever. The ma
tional resources. then, are unexhaustsd.
and, as we believe. inexhaustibIe. The
public.purpose to re-.stablish andtmsin-
tain the national authority 10 unchanged.
and, as we believe. Interchangeable. The
manner Of continu ing the effort remains
to choose. On careful consideration OF
sll the evidences accessible. il seems to
me that no attempt at negotiation with
the insurgent leader could result any good
He would accept Of nothing short Of
the severance Of the Union. His de.
elara,ions to this effect are explicit and
oft-repested. He does not attempt to
deceive Us. He sford. us no e1cuse to
deceive ourselves. We cannot volun-
tarily Weld it. Between him and us
the issue is distinct, simple and indexible
1t is an issue which can only be tried
BY war. and decided BY victory.
If we yield. we arc beaten; If the
Southern people fail him. he is bes.en:
either way it would be the victory and
defeat following war. Whist is true,
however, Of him who holds the insurg.
ent cause. is not necessarily true of those
who follow. Although he cannot rsaccept
the Union. they can. Some of them. we
know, already desire peace and reunion
The number of such may increase.
They can at any momsn. have peace
simply by laying down their arms and
submitting to the National authority IN.
der the Constitution. After so much the
Government could not, ifit would. main
tain war against them. The loyal peo-
pie would not sustsin or allow it, II
questions should remain we would adjust
them BY the pesSeful means of legisla-
tien, conference, courts and votes.
Operating only in costitusional and
lawful channels, some certain and other
possible questions are and would be be-
yond the Executive power to adjust; for
instance. the admission Of members into
Congress. and whatever might require
appropriation Of money.
The Executive power itself wonld be
deminisheded by the cessation of actual
war. Pardons and romissions Of for.
feiture. however. would still be under
Executive cotrol. In what spirit and
temper this control would be exercised
can be fairly judged of by the past. A
year ago general pardon and amnesty
upon specified terms were offered to all
except certain designated classes. and it
was ct the same time made know that
the excepted classes were still within con-
temptation of special clemeney.
During the year many availed them
selves Of the general provision. and many
more would, only the signs of bad faith
in some led to such precautionary meas-
ures as rendered the practical process
less easy and certsin. During the same
time also. special pardons have been
granted to individuals OF excepted class
es, and no voluntary application has been
denied
Thus practically the door has been for
n full year open to oil. except such As
were not in condition to make free choice;
that is, such a. were in custody or under
It is still open to all. but the
time may come, probably viii come.
chen public duty shall demand that it be
closed, and that in lieu more vigorous
measures than heretofore shall be adopted
In presenting the abandonment of arm.
ed resistance to the National authority on
the part Of the insurgents "a the only in
condition to ending the war
on the part of the Government, retrac.
nothing heretofore said ss to Slavery. L
repeat the declaration made year ago,
and that while I remain in my present
position. l shall not attempt to retrsct or
modify the Emancipation PROCLAIM alton.
Nor shall return to Slavery any person
who is free by the terms of that Procla-
m alton or by the Acts Of Congress.
II the people should, BY whatever mode
or means, make it an executive duty to
rs-enslsvs such persons, another. and not
[, must be their instrument to perform it.
In stating a single condition of peace.
mean simply to say. that the war will
cease on the part of the Government when
,vsr it shall have ceased on the part OF
hose who began it.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.