Year: 1862

have been acted upon, is hereby earnestly
renewed. Such would be only an advance
part of the plan, and the same arguments
apply to both. This plan is recommended as a
means, not in exclusion of, but additional to.
all others for restoring and preserving the
national authority throughout the Union.-
The subject is presented exclusively in its
economical aspect. The plan would, l am
confient, secure peace more speedily than
can be done by force alone, while it would
Cost iess, considering tn. amounts and man
ner of payment, and times of payment, and
the amounts would he easier paid than will
be the extra cost of the var # We rely solely
upon force. Ii is most likely. very likely, thai
it would cost no blood al al. The plan i
proposed as psrman nt, constitutional law
Ii cannot become sucn wl.nolt the col.cur
renee of, first, two birds If Congress, and
Afterwards ,hree-fou.ths of the states. Th.ir
Concurrence. if obtain.d,wlil give assurance IF
thsir severally adopting emancipation a. g. =
distant day, upon the new constitute IN
terms. This assurance would end the strug-
gle now and save the Union forever


EMANCIPATION URGED UPON CONGRESS


l do not forget the gravity which should
characterize paper addressed to the Con
gress of the nation nor do | forget ina
some OF you are ms seniors, nor that man.
of you have more experience than in tn
conduct of public affairs. Yet trust that i
view of the great responsibility resting upon
me, you will perceive no want of respect fnr
yourselves in any undue earnestness which l
may seem to display. Is it doubted, then.
that the plan l propose, if adopted. would
shorten the war, and thus lessen its expend-
iture of money and of blood /? Is it doubted
that it would restore the national authority
and national prosperity, and perletuate
both indefinitely? Is it doubted that We
here, Congress and executive, can secure its
adoption Will not tie good people respond
to united and earnest appeal from US p
Can We, can they, by any other means SO
certainly or SO speedily assure these vital OBJ
jects We can succeed only by concert.
1t is not,can any of US imagine better, bat can
We all do BETTER Object whatsoever is pos
sibles. till the question recurs can We do better.
The dogmas of the past are inadequate to the
stormy present. The occasion is piled high
with difficulty. and We must rise with the
occasion. As our case is new, so We must think
anew and act anew. We must disenthrall
ourselves and then We shall save our eoun-
try.


Fellow citizens, We cannot escape history.
We of this Congress will be remembered in
spite of ourselves. No personal significance
or insigniticance can spare one or another OF
US, The fiery trial through which We pass
will light US down in honor or dishonor to
the latest generation. We say that We are
for the Union. The world knows We dc
know how to save it. We, even We here
hold the power and bear the responsibility.
In giving freedom to the slaves. We assure
freedom to the free, honorable alike in wha,
We give and what We preserve. We shall
nobly save, or nobly lose the last best hope
of the earth. Other means may succeed
This coull not fail. The way is plain, leace


eul, generous, Just. A way which if follow


ed, :he world will forever applaud. and Goo
must forever bless. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.