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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5024-h.zip b/5024-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3260d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/5024-h.zip diff --git a/5024-h/5024-h.htm b/5024-h/5024-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a7d2a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/5024-h/5024-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3344 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of State Of The Union Addresses, by Abraham Lincoln. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top:.2em;text-align:justify;margin-bottom:.2em;text-indent:4%;} + +.cend {text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} + + h1 {margin-top:5%;text-align:center;clear:both;} + + h2 {margin-top:4%;margin-bottom:2%;text-align:center;clear:both; + font-size:120%;} + + hr.full {width: 50%;margin:5% auto 5% auto;border:4px double gray;} + +.ov {border-top:1px solid black;} + +.un {text-decoration:underline;} + +.ovun {border-top:1px solid black; +border-bottom:3px double black;} + + table {margin-top:2%;margin-bottom:2%;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none;text-align:left;} + + body{margin-left:2%;margin-right:2%;background:#fdfdfd;color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;font-size:medium;} + +a:link {background-color:#ffffff;color:blue;text-decoration:none;} + + link {background-color:#ffffff;color:blue;text-decoration:none;} + +a:visited {background-color:#ffffff;color:purple;text-decoration:none;} + +a:hover {background-color:#ffffff;color:#FF0000;text-decoration:underline;} + +</style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's State of the Union Addresses, by Abraham Lincoln + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: State of the Union Addresses + +Author: Abraham Lincoln + +Posting Date: February 23, 2014 [EBook #5024] +Release Date: February, 2004 +[This file was first posted on April 11, 2002] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES *** + + + + +Produced by James Linden + + + + + +</pre> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h1>State of the Union Addresses<br /> +by<br /> +Abraham Lincoln</h1> + +<p class="cend">Dates of addresses by Abraham Lincoln in this eBook:<br /> +<a href="#dec_3_61">December 3, 1861</a><br /> +<a href="#dec_1_62">December 1, 1862</a><br /> +<a href="#dec_8_63">December 8, 1863</a><br /> +<a href="#dec_6_64">December 6, 1864</a><br /> +The addresses are separated by three asterisks: ***</p> + +<p class="cend">***</p> + +<h2><a name="dec_3_61" id="dec_3_61"></a>State of the Union Address<br /> +Abraham Lincoln<br /> +December 3, 1861</h2> + +<p>Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:</p> + +<p>In the midst of unprecedented political troubles we have cause of great +gratitude to God for unusual good health and most abundant harvests.</p> + +<p>You will not be surprised to learn that in the peculiar exigencies of +the times our intercourse with foreign nations has been attended with +profound solicitude, chiefly turning upon our own domestic affairs.</p> + +<p>A disloyal portion of the American people have during the whole year +been engaged in an attempt to divide and destroy the Union. A nation +which endures factious domestic division is exposed to disrespect +abroad, and one party, if not both, is sure sooner or later to invoke +foreign intervention.</p> + +<p>Nations thus tempted to interfere are not always able to resist the +counsels of seeming expediency and ungenerous ambition, although +measures adopted under such influences seldom fail to be unfortunate +and injurious to those adopting them.</p> + +<p>The disloyal citizens of the United States who have offered the ruin of +our country in return for the aid and comfort which they have invoked +abroad have received less patronage and encouragement than they +probably expected. If it were just to suppose, as the insurgents have +seemed to assume, that foreign nations in this case, discarding all +moral, social, and treaty obligations, would act solely and selfishly +for the most speedy restoration of commerce, including especially the +acquisition of cotton, those nations appear as yet not to have seen +their way to their object more directly or clearly through the +destruction than through the preservation of the Union. If we could +dare to believe that foreign nations are actuated by no higher +principle than this, I am quite sure a sound argument could be made to +show them that they can reach their aim more readily and easily by +aiding to crush this rebellion than by giving encouragement to it.</p> + +<p>The principal lever relied on by the insurgents for exciting foreign +nations to hostility against us, as already intimated, is the +embarrassment of commerce. Those nations, however, not improbably saw +from the first that it was the Union which made as well our foreign as +our domestic commerce. They can scarcely have failed to perceive that +the effort for disunion produces the existing difficulty, and that one +strong nation promises more durable peace and a more extensive, +valuable, and reliable commerce than can the same nation broken into +hostile fragments.</p> + +<p>It is not my purpose to review our discussions with foreign states, +because, whatever might be their wishes or dispositions, the integrity +of our country and the stability of our Government mainly depend not +upon them, but on the loyalty, virtue, patriotism, and intelligence of +the American people. The correspondence itself, with the usual +reservations, is herewith submitted.</p> + +<p>I venture to hope it will appear that we have practiced prudence and +liberality toward foreign powers, averting causes of irritation and +with firmness maintaining our own rights and honor.</p> + +<p>Since, however, it is apparent that here, as in every other state, +foreign dangers necessarily attend domestic difficulties, I recommend +that adequate and ample measures be adopted for maintaining the public +defenses on every side. While under this general recommendation +provision for defending our seacoast line readily occurs to the mind, I +also in the same connection ask the attention of Congress to our great +lakes and rivers. It is believed that some fortifications and depots of +arms and munitions, with harbor and navigation improvements, all at +well-selected points upon these, would be of great importance to the +national defense and preservation. I ask attention to the views of the +Secretary of War, expressed in his report, upon the same general +subject. I deem it of importance that the loyal regions of east +Tennessee and western North Carolina should be connected with Kentucky +and other faithful parts of the Union by railroad. I therefore +recommend, as a military measure, that Congress provide for the +construction of such road as speedily as possible. Kentucky no doubt +will cooperate, and through her legislature make the most judicious +selection of a line. The northern terminus must connect with some +existing railroad, and whether the route shall be from Lexington or +Nicholasville to the Cumberland Gap, or from Lebanon to the Tennessee +line, in the direction of Knoxville, or on some still different line, +can easily be determined. Kentucky and the General Government +cooperating, the work can be completed in a very short time, and when +done it will be not only of vast present usefulness, but also a +valuable permanent improvement, worth its cost in all the future.</p> + +<p>Some treaties, designed chiefly for the interests of commerce, and +having no grave political importance, have been negotiated, and will be +submitted to the Senate for their consideration.</p> + +<p>Although we have failed to induce some of the commercial powers to +adopt a desirable melioration of the rigor of maritime war, we have +removed all obstructions from the way of this humane reform except such +as are merely of temporary and accidental occurrence.</p> + +<p>I invite your attention to the correspondence between Her Britannic +Majesty's minister accredited to this Government and the Secretary of +State relative to the detention of the British ship Perthshire in June +last by the United States steamer Massachusetts for a supposed breach +of the blockade. As this detention was occasioned by an obvious +misapprehension of the facts, and as justice requires that we should +commit no belligerent act not rounded in strict right as sanctioned by +public law, I recommend that an appropriation be made to satisfy the +reasonable demand of the owners of the vessel for her detention.</p> + +<p>I repeat the recommendation of my predecessor in his annual message to +Congress in December last in regard to the disposition of the surplus +which will probably remain after satisfying the claims of American +citizens against China, pursuant to the awards of the commissioners +under the act of the 3d of March, 1859. If, however, it should not be +deemed advisable to carry that recommendation into effect, I would +suggest that authority be given for investing the principal, over the +proceeds of the surplus referred to, in good securities, with a view to +the satisfaction of such other just claims of our citizens against +China as are not unlikely to arise hereafter in the course of our +extensive trade with that Empire.</p> + +<p>By the act of the 5th of August last Congress authorized the President +to instruct the commanders of suitable vessels to defend themselves +against and to capture pirates. This authority has been exercised in a +single instance only. For the more effectual protection of our +extensive and valuable commerce in the Eastern seas especially, it +seems to me that it would also be advisable to authorize the commanders +of sailing vessels to recapture any prizes which pirates may make of +United States vessels and their cargoes, and the consular courts now +established by law in Eastern countries to adjudicate the cases in the +event that this should not be objected to by the local authorities.</p> + +<p>If any good reason exists why we should persevere longer in withholding +our recognition of the independence and sovereignty of Hayti and +Liberia, I am unable to discern it. Unwilling, however, to inaugurate a +novel policy in regard to them without the approbation of Congress, I +submit for your consideration the expediency of an appropriation for +maintaining a charge d'affaires near each of those new States. It does +not admit of doubt that important commercial advantages might be +secured by favorable treaties with them.</p> + +<p>The operations of the Treasury during the period which has elapsed +since your adjournment have been conducted with signal success. The +patriotism of the people has placed at the disposal of the Government +the large means demanded by the public exigencies. Much of the national +loan has been taken by citizens of the industrial classes, whose +confidence in their country's faith and zeal for their country's +deliverance from present peril have induced them to contribute to the +support of the Government the whole of their limited acquisitions. This +fact imposes peculiar obligations to economy in disbursement and energy +in action.</p> + +<p>The revenue from all sources, including loans, for the financial year +ending on the 30th of June, 1861, was $86,835,900.27, and the +expenditures for the same period, including payments on account of the +public debt, were $84,578,834.47, leaving a balance in the Treasury on +the 1st of July of 52,257,065.80. For the first quarter of the +financial year ending on the 30th of September, 1861, the receipts from +all sources, including the balance of the 1st of July, were +$102,532,509.27, and the expenses $98,239,733.09, leaving a balance on +the 1st of October, 1861, of $4,292,776.18.</p> + +<p>Estimates for the remaining three quarters of the year and for the +financial year 1863, together with his views of ways and means for +meeting the demands contemplated by them, will be submitted to Congress +by the Secretary of the Treasury. It is gratifying to know that the +expenditures made necessary by the rebellion are not beyond the +resources of the loyal people, and to believe that the same patriotism +which has thus far sustained the Government will continue to sustain it +till peace and union shall again bless the land.</p> + +<p>I respectfully refer to the report of the Secretary of War for +information respecting the numerical strength of the Army and for +recommendations having in view an increase of its efficiency and the +well-being of the various branches of the service intrusted to his +care. It is gratifying to know that the patriotism of the people has +proved equal to the occasion, and that the number of troops tendered +greatly exceeds the force which Congress authorized me to call into the +field.</p> + +<p>I refer with pleasure to those portions of his report which make +allusion to the creditable degree of discipline already attained by our +troops and to the excellent sanitary condition of the entire Army.</p> + +<p>The recommendation of the Secretary for an organization of the militia +upon a uniform basis is a subject of vital importance to the future +safety of the country, and is commended to the serious attention of +Congress.</p> + +<p>The large addition to the Regular Army, in connection with the +defection that has so considerably diminished the number of its +officers, gives peculiar importance to his recommendation for +increasing the corps of cadets to the greatest capacity of the Military +Academy.</p> + +<p>By mere omission, I presume, Congress has failed to provide chaplains +for hospitals occupied by volunteers. This subject was brought to my +notice, and I was induced to draw up the form of a letter, one copy of +which, properly addressed, has been delivered to each of the persons, +and at the dates respectively named and stated in a schedule, +containing also the form of the letter marked A, and herewith +transmitted.</p> + +<p>These gentlemen, I understand, entered upon the duties designated at +the times respectively stated in the schedule, and have labored +faithfully therein ever since. I therefore recommend that they be +compensated at the same rate as chaplains in the Army. I further +suggest that general provision be made for chaplains to serve at +hospitals, as well as with regiments.</p> + +<p>The report of the Secretary of the Navy presents in detail the +operations of that branch of the service, the activity and energy which +have characterized its administration, and the results of measures to +increase its efficiency and power. Such have been the additions, by +construction and purchase, that it may almost be said a navy has been +created and brought into service since our difficulties commenced.</p> + +<p>Besides blockading our extensive coast, squadrons larger than ever +before assembled under our flag have been put afloat and performed +deeds which have increased our naval renown.</p> + +<p>I would invite special attention to the recommendation of the Secretary +for a more perfect organization of the Navy by introducing additional +grades in the service.</p> + +<p>The present organization is defective and unsatisfactory, and the +suggestions submitted by the Department will, it is believed, if +adopted, obviate the difficulties alluded to, promote harmony, and +increase the efficiency of the Navy.</p> + +<p>There are three vacancies on the bench of the Supreme Court—two by the +decease of Justices Daniel and McLean and one by the resignation of +Justice Campbell. I have so far forborne making nominations to fill +these vacancies for reasons which I will now state. Two of the outgoing +judges resided within the States now overrun by revolt, so that if +successors were appointed in the same localities they could not now +serve upon their circuits; and many of the most competent men there +probably would not take the personal hazard of accepting to serve, even +here, upon the Supreme bench. I have been unwilling to throw all the +appointments northward, thus disabling myself from doing justice to the +South on the return of peace; although I may remark that to transfer to +the North one which has heretofore been in the South would not, with +reference to territory and population, be unjust.</p> + +<p>During the long and brilliant judicial career of Judge McLean his +circuit grew into an empire altogether too large for any one judge to +give the courts therein more than a nominal attendance—rising in +population from 1,470,018 in 1830 to 6,151,405 in 1860.</p> + +<p>Besides this, the country generally has outgrown our present judicial +system. If uniformity was at all intended, the system requires that all +the States shall be accommodated with circuit courts, attended by +Supreme judges, while, in fact, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, +Florida, Texas, California, and Oregon have never had any such courts. +Nor can this well be remedied without a change in the system, because +the adding of judges to the Supreme Court, enough for the accommodation +of all parts of the country with circuit courts, would create a court +altogether too numerous for a judicial body of any sort. And the evil, +if it be one, will increase as new States come into the Union. Circuit +courts are useful or they are not useful. If useful, no State should be +denied them; if not useful, no State should have them. Let them be +provided for all or abolished as to all.</p> + +<p>Three modifications occur to me, either of which, I think, would be an +improvement upon our present system. Let the Supreme Court be of +convenient number in every event; then, first, let the whole country be +divided into circuits of convenient size, the Supreme judges to serve +in a number of them corresponding to their own number, and independent +circuit judges be provided for all the rest; or, secondly, let the +Supreme judges be relieved from circuit duties and circuit judges +provided for all the circuits; or, thirdly, dispense with circuit +courts altogether, leaving the judicial functions wholly to the +district courts and an independent Supreme Court.</p> + +<p>I respectfully recommend to the consideration of Congress the present +condition of the statute laws, with the hope that Congress will be able +to find an easy remedy for many of the inconveniences and evils which +constantly embarrass those engaged in the practical administration of +them. Since the organization of the Government Congress has enacted +some 5,000 acts and joint resolutions, which fill more than 6,000 +closely printed pages and are scattered through many volumes. Many of +these acts have been drawn in haste and without sufficient caution, so +that their provisions are often obscure in themselves or in conflict +with each other, or at least so doubtful as to render it very difficult +for even the best-informed persons to ascertain precisely what the +statute law really is.</p> + +<p>It seems to me very important that the statute laws should be made as +plain and intelligible as possible, and be reduced to as small a +compass as may consist with the fullness and precision of the will of +the Legislature and the perspicuity of its language. This well done +would, I think, greatly facilitate the labors of those whose duty it is +to assist in the administration of the laws, and would be a lasting +benefit to the people, by placing before them in a more accessible and +intelligible form the laws which so deeply concern their interests and +their duties.</p> + +<p>I am informed by some whose opinions I respect that all the acts of +Congress now in force and of a permanent and general nature might be +revised and rewritten so as to be embraced in one volume (or at most +two volumes) of ordinary and convenient size; and I respectfully +recommend to Congress to consider of the subject, and if my suggestion +be approved to devise such plan as to their wisdom shall seem most +proper for the attainment of the end proposed.</p> + +<p>One of the unavoidable consequences of the present insurrection is the +entire suppression in many places of all the ordinary means of +administering civil justice by the officers and in the forms of +existing law. This is the case, in whole or in part, in all the +insurgent States; and as our armies advance upon and take possession of +parts of those States the practical evil becomes more apparent. There +are no courts nor officers to whom the citizens of other States may +apply for the enforcement of their lawful claims against citizens of +the insurgent States, and there is a vast amount of debt constituting +such claims. Some have estimated it as high as $200,000,000, due in +large part from insurgents in open rebellion to loyal citizens who are +even now making great sacrifices in the discharge of their patriotic +duty to support the Government.</p> + +<p>Under these circumstances I have been urgently solicited to establish +by military power courts to administer summary justice in such cases I +have thus far declined to do it, not because I had any doubt that the +end proposed—the collection of the debts—was just and right in +itself, but because I have been unwilling to go beyond the pressure of +necessity in the unusual exercise of power. But the powers of Congress, +I suppose, are equal to the anomalous occasion, and therefore I refer +the whole matter to Congress, with the hope that a plan may be devised +for the administration of justice in all such parts of the insurgent +States and Territories as may be under the control of this Government, +whether by a voluntary return to allegiance and order or by the power +of our arms; this, however, not to be a permanent institution, but a +temporary substitute, and to cease as soon as the ordinary courts can +be reestablished in peace.</p> + +<p>It is important that some more convenient means should be provided, if +possible, for the adjustment of claims against the Government, +especially in view of their increased number by reason of the war. It +is as much the duty of Government to render prompt justice against +itself in favor of citizens as it is to administer the same between +private individuals. The investigation and adjudication of claims in +their nature belong to the judicial department. Besides, it is apparent +that the attention of Congress will be more than usually engaged for +some time to come with great national questions. It was intended by the +organization of the Court of Claims mainly to remove this branch of +business from the halls of Congress: but while the court has proved to +be an effective and valuable means of investigation, it in great degree +fails to effect the object of its creation for want of power to make +its judgments final.</p> + +<p>Fully aware of the delicacy, not to say the danger, of the subject, I +commend to your careful consideration whether this power of making +judgments final may not properly be given to the court, reserving the +right of appeal on questions of law to the Supreme Court, with such +other provisions as experience may have shown to be necessary.</p> + +<p>I ask attention to the report of the Postmaster-General, the following +being a summary statement of the condition of the Department:</p> + +<p>The revenue from all sources during the fiscal year ending June 30, +1861, including the annual permanent appropriation of $700,000 for the +transportation of "free mail matter," was $9,049,296.40, being about 2 +per cent less than the revenue for 1860.</p> + +<p>The expenditures were $13,606,759.11, showing a decrease of more than 8 +per cent as compared with those of the previous year and leaving an +excess of expenditure over the revenue for the last fiscal year of +$4,557,462.71.</p> + +<p>The gross revenue for the year ending June 30, 1863, is estimated at an +increase of 4 per cent on that of 1861, making $8,683,000, to which +should be added the earnings of the Department in carrying free matter, +viz, $700,000, making $9,383,000.</p> + +<p>The total expenditures for 1863 are estimated at $12,528,000, leaving +an estimated deficiency of $3,145,000 to be supplied from the Treasury +in addition to the permanent appropriation.</p> + +<p>The present insurrection shows, I think, that the extension of this +District across the Potomac River at the time of establishing the +capital here was eminently wise, and consequently that the +relinquishment of that portion of it which lies within the State of +Virginia was unwise and dangerous. I submit for your consideration the +expediency of regaining that part of the District and the restoration +of the original boundaries thereof through negotiations with the State +of Virginia.</p> + +<p>The report of the Secretary of the Interior, with the accompanying +documents, exhibits the condition of the several branches of the public +business pertaining to that Department. The depressing influences of +the insurrection have been specially felt in the operations of the +Patent and General Land Offices. The cash receipts from the sales of +public lands during the past year have exceeded the expenses of our +land system only about $200,000. The sales have been entirely suspended +in the Southern States, while the interruptions to the business of the +country and the diversion of large numbers of men from labor to +military service have obstructed settlements in the new States and +Territories of the Northwest.</p> + +<p>The receipts of the Patent Office have declined in nine months about +$100,000, rendering a large reduction of the force employed necessary +to make it self-sustaining.</p> + +<p>The demands upon the Pension Office will be largely increased by the +insurrection. Numerous applications for pensions, based upon the +casualties of the existing war, have already been made. There is reason +to believe that many who are now upon the pension rolls and in receipt +of the bounty of the Government are in the ranks of the insurgent army +or giving them aid and comfort. The Secretary of the Interior has +directed a suspension of the payment of the pensions of such persons +upon proof of their disloyalty. I recommend that Congress authorize +that officer to cause the names of such persons to be stricken from the +pension rolls.</p> + +<p>The relations of the Government with the Indian tribes have been +greatly disturbed by the insurrection, especially in the southern +superintendency and in that of New Mexico. The Indian country south of +Kansas is in the possession of insurgents from Texas and Arkansas. The +agents of the United States appointed since the 4th of March for this +superintendency have been unable to reach their posts, while the most +of those who were in office before that time have espoused the +insurrectionary cause, and assume to exercise the powers of agents by +virtue of commissions from the insurrectionists. It has been stated in +the public press that a portion of those Indians have been organized as +a military force and are attached to the army of the insurgents. +Although the Government has no official information upon this subject, +letters have been written to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs by +several prominent chiefs giving assurance of their loyalty to the +United States and expressing a wish for the presence of Federal troops +to protect them. It is believed that upon the repossession of the +country by the Federal forces the Indians will readily cease all +hostile demonstrations and resume their former relations to the +Government.</p> + +<p>Agriculture, confessedly the largest interest of the nation, has not a +department nor a bureau, but a clerkship only, assigned to it in the +Government. While it is fortunate that this great interest is so +independent in its nature as to not have demanded and extorted more +from the Government, I respectfully ask Congress to consider whether +something more can not be given voluntarily with general advantage.</p> + +<p>Annual reports exhibiting the condition of our agriculture, commerce, +and manufactures would present a fund of information of great practical +value to the country. While I make no suggestion as to details, I +venture the opinion that an agricultural and statistical bureau might +profitably be organized.</p> + +<p>The execution of the laws for the suppression of the African slave +trade has been confided to the Department of the Interior. It is a +subject of gratulation that the efforts which have been made for the +suppression of this inhuman traffic have been recently attended with +unusual success. Five vessels being fitted out for the slave trade have +been seized and condemned. Two mates of vessels engaged in the trade +and one person in equipping a vessel as a slaver have been convicted +and subjected to the penalty of fine and imprisonment, and one captain, +taken with a cargo of Africans on board his vessel, has been convicted +of the highest grade of offense under our laws, the punishment of which +is death.</p> + +<p>The Territories of Colorado, Dakota, and Nevada, created by the last +Congress, have been organized, and civil administration has been +inaugurated therein under auspices especially gratifying when it is +considered that the leaven of treason was found existing in some of +these new countries when the Federal officers arrived there.</p> + +<p>The abundant natural resources of these Territories, with the security +and protection afforded by organized government, will doubtless invite +to them a large immigration when peace shall restore the business of +the country to its accustomed channels. I submit the resolutions of the +legislature of Colorado, which evidence the patriotic spirit of the +people of the Territory. So far the authority of the United States has +been upheld in all the Territories, as it is hoped it will be in the +future. I commend their interests and defense to the enlightened and +generous care of Congress.</p> + +<p>I recommend to the favorable consideration of Congress the interests of +the District of Columbia. The insurrection has been the cause of much +suffering and sacrifice to its inhabitants, and as they have no +representative in Congress that body should not overlook their just +claims upon the Government.</p> + +<p>At your late session a joint resolution was adopted authorizing the +President to take measures for facilitating a proper representation of +the industrial interests of the United States at the exhibition of the +industry of all nations to be holden at London in the year 1862. I +regret to say I have been unable to give personal attention to this +subject—a subject at once so interesting in itself and so extensively +and intimately connected with the material prosperity of the world. +Through the Secretaries of State and of the Interior a plan or system +has been devised and partly matured, and which will be laid before you.</p> + +<p>Under and by virtue of the act of Congress entitled "An act to +confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes," approved August +6, 1861, the legal claims of certain persons to the labor and service +of certain other persons have become forfeited, and numbers of the +latter thus liberated are already dependent on the United States and +must be provided for in some way. Besides this, it is not impossible +that some of the States will pass similar enactments for their own +benefit respectively, and by operation of which persons of the same +class will be thrown upon them for disposal. In such case I recommend +that Congress provide for accepting such persons from such States, +according to some mode of valuation, in lieu, pro tanto, of direct +taxes, or upon some other plan to be agreed on with such States +respectively; that such persons, on such acceptance by the General +Government, be at once deemed free, and that in any event steps be +taken for colonizing both classes (or the one first mentioned if the +other shall not be brought into existence) at some place or places in a +climate congenial to them. It might be well to consider, too, whether +the free colored people already in the United States could not, so far +as individuals may desire, be included in such colonization.</p> + +<p>To carry out the plan of colonization may involve the acquiring of +territory, and also the appropriation of money beyond that to be +expended in the territorial acquisition. Having practiced the +acquisition of territory for nearly sixty years, the question of +constitutional power to do so is no longer an open one with us. The +power was questioned at first by Mr. Jefferson, who, however, in the +purchase of Louisiana, yielded his scruples on the plea of great +expediency. If it be said that the only legitimate object of acquiring +territory is to furnish homes for white men, this measure effects that +object, for the emigration of colored men leaves additional room for +white men remaining or coming here. Mr. Jefferson, however, placed the +importance of procuring Louisiana more on political and commercial +grounds than on providing room for population.</p> + +<p>On this whole proposition, including the appropriation of money with +the acquisition of territory, does not the expediency amount to +absolute necessity—that without which the Government itself can not be +perpetuated?</p> + +<p>The war continues. In considering the policy to be adopted for +suppressing the insurrection I have been anxious and careful that the +inevitable conflict for this purpose shall not degenerate into a +violent and remorseless revolutionary struggle. I have therefore in +every case thought it proper to keep the integrity of the Union +prominent as the primary object of the contest on our pan, leaving all +questions which are not of vital military importance to the more +deliberate action of the Legislature.</p> + +<p>In the exercise of my best discretion I have adhered to the blockade of +the ports held by the insurgents, instead of putting in force by +proclamation the law of Congress enacted .at the late session for +closing those ports.</p> + +<p>So also, obeying the dictates of prudence, as well as the obligations +of law, instead of transcending I have adhered to the act of Congress +to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes. If a new law +upon the same subject shall be proposed, its propriety will be duly +considered. The Union must be preserved, and hence all indispensable +means must be employed. We should not be in haste to determine that +radical and extreme measures, which may reach the loyal as well as the +disloyal, are indispensable.</p> + +<p>The inaugural address at the beginning of the Administration and the +message to Congress at the late special session were both mainly +devoted to the domestic controversy out of which the insurrection and +consequent war have sprung. Nothing now occurs to add or subtract to or +from the principles or general purposes stated and expressed in those +documents.</p> + +<p>The last ray of hope for preserving the Union peaceably expired at the +assault upon Fort Sumter, and a general review of what has occurred +since may not be unprofitable. What was painfully uncertain then is +much better defined and more distinct now, and the progress of events +is plainly in the right direction. The insurgents confidently claimed a +strong support from north of Mason and Dixon's line, and the friends of +the Union were not free from apprehension on the point. This, however, +was soon settled definitely, and on the right side. South of the line +noble little Delaware led off right from the first. Maryland was made +to seem against the Union. Our soldiers were assaulted, bridges were +burned, and railroads torn up within her limits, and we were many days +at one time without the ability to bring a single regiment over her +soil to the capital. Now her bridges and railroads are repaired and +open to the Government; she already gives seven regiments to the cause +of the Union, and none to the enemy; and her people, at a regular +election, have sustained the Union by a larger majority and a larger +aggregate vote than they ever before gave to any candidate or any +question. Kentucky, too, for some time in doubt, is now decidedly and, +I think, unchangeably ranged on the side of the Union. Missouri is +comparatively quiet, and, I believe, can not again be overrun by the +insurrectionists. These three States of Maryland, Kentucky, and +Missouri, neither of which would promise a single soldier at first, +have now an aggregate of not less than 40,000 in the field for the +Union, while of their citizens certainly not more than a third of that +number, and they of doubtful whereabouts and doubtful existence, are in +arms against us. After a somewhat bloody struggle of months, winter +closes on the Union people of western Virginia, leaving them masters of +their own country.</p> + +<p>An insurgent force of about 1,500, for months dominating the narrow +peninsular region constituting the counties of Accomac and Northampton, +and known as Eastern Shore of Virginia, together with some contiguous +parts of Maryland, have laid down their arms, and the people there have +renewed their allegiance to and accepted the protection of the old +flag. This leaves no armed insurrectionist north of the Potomac or east +of the Chesapeake.</p> + +<p>Also we have obtained a footing at each of the isolated points on the +southern coast of Hatteras, Port Royal, Tybee Island (near Savannah), +and Ship Island; and we likewise have some general accounts of popular +movements in behalf of the Union in North Carolina and Tennessee.</p> + +<p>These things demonstrate that the cause of the Union is advancing +steadily and certainly southward.</p> + +<p>Since your last adjournment Lieutenant-General Scott has retired from +the head of the Army. During his long life the nation has not been +unmindful of his merit; yet on calling to mind how faithfully, ably, +and brilliantly he has served the country, from a time far back in our +history, when few of the now living had been born, and thenceforward +continually, I can not but think we are still his debtors. I submit, +therefore, for your consideration what further mark of recognition is +due to him, and to ourselves as a grateful people.</p> + +<p>With the retirement of General Scott came the Executive duty of +appointing in his stead a General in Chief of the Army. It is a +fortunate circumstance that neither in council nor country was there, +so far as I know, any difference of opinion as to the proper person to +be selected. The retiring chief repeatedly expressed his judgment in +favor of General McClellan for the position, and in this the nation +seemed to give a unanimous concurrence. The designation of General +McClellan is therefore in considerable degree the selection of the +country as well as of the Executive, and hence there is better reason +to hope there will be given him the confidence and cordial support thus +by fair implication promised, and without which he can not with so full +efficiency serve the country.</p> + +<p>It has been said that one bad general is better than two good ones, and +the saying is true if taken to mean no more than that an army is better +directed by a single mind, though inferior, than by two superior ones +at variance and cross-purposes with each other.</p> + +<p>And the same is true in all joint operations wherein those engaged can +have none but a common end in view and can differ only as to the choice +of means. In a storm at sea no one on board can wish the ship to sink, +and yet not unfrequently all go down together because too many will +direct and no single mind can be allowed to control.</p> + +<p>It continues to develop that the insurrection is largely, if not +exclusively, a war upon the first principle of popular government—the +rights of the people. Conclusive evidence of this is found in the most +grave and maturely considered public documents, as well as in the +general tone of the insurgents. In those documents we find the +abridgment of the existing right of suffrage and the denial to the +people of all right to participate in the selection of public officers +except the legislative boldly advocated, with labored arguments to +prove that large control of the people in government is the source of +all political evil. Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted at as a +possible refuge from the power of the people.</p> + +<p>In my present position I could scarcely be justified were I to omit +raising a warning voice against this approach of returning despotism.</p> + +<p>It is not needed nor fitting here that a general argument should be +made in favor of popular institutions, but there is one point, with its +connections, not so hackneyed as most others, to which I ask a brief +attention. It is the effort to place capital on an equal footing with, +if not above, labor in the structure of government. It is assumed that +labor is available only in connection with capital; that nobody labors +unless somebody else, owning capital, somehow by the use of it induces +him to labor. This assumed, it is next considered whether it is best +that capital shall hire laborers, and thus induce them to work by their +own consent, or buy them and drive them to it without their consent. +Having proceeded so far, it is naturally concluded that all laborers +are either hired laborers or what we call slaves. And further, it is +assumed that whoever is once a hired laborer is fixed in that condition +for life.</p> + +<p>Now there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed, nor +is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the +condition of a hired laborer. Both these assumptions are false, and all +inferences from them are groundless.</p> + +<p>Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit +of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. +Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher +consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of +protection as any other rights. Nor is it denied that there is, and +probably always will be, a relation between labor and capital producing +mutual benefits. The error is in assuming that the whole labor of +community exists within that relation. A few men own capital, and that +few avoid labor themselves, and with their capital hire or buy another +few to labor for them. A large majority belong to neither +class—neither work for others nor have others working for them. In +most of the Southern States a majority of the whole people of all +colors are neither slaves nor masters, while in the Northern a large +majority are neither hirers nor hired. Men, with their families—wives, +sons, and daughters—work for themselves on their farms, in their +houses, and in their shops, taking the whole product to themselves, and +asking no favors of capital on the one hand nor of hired laborers or +slaves on the other. It is not forgotten that a considerable number of +persons mingle their own labor with capital; that is, they labor with +their own hands and also buy or hire others to labor for them; but this +is only a mixed and not a distinct class. No principle stated is +disturbed by the existence of this mixed class.</p> + +<p>Again, as has already been said, there is not of necessity any such +thing as the free hired laborer being fixed to that condition for life. +Many independent men everywhere in these States a few years back in +their lives were hired laborers. The prudent, penniless beginner in the +world labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools +or land for himself, then labors on his own account another while, and +at length hires another new beginner to help him. This is the just and +generous and prosperous system which opens the way to all, gives hope +to all, and consequent energy and progress and improvement of condition +to all. No men living are more worthy to be trusted than those who toil +up from poverty; none less inclined to take or touch aught which they +have not honestly earned. Let them beware of surrendering a political +power which they already possess, and which if surrendered will surely +be used to close the door of advancement against such as they and to +fix new disabilities and burdens upon them till all of liberty shall be +lost.</p> + +<p>From the first taking of our national census to the last are seventy +years, and we find our population at the end of the period eight times +as great as it was at the beginning. The increase of those other things +which men deem desirable has been even greater. We thus have at one +view what the popular principle, applied to Government through the +machinery, of the States and the Union, has produced in a given time, +and also what if firmly maintained it promises for the future. There +are already among us those who if the Union be preserved will live to +see it contain 250,000,000. The struggle of to-day is not altogether +for to-day; it is for a vast future also. With a reliance on Providence +all the more firm and earnest, let us proceed in the great task which +events have devolved upon us.</p> + +<p class="cend">***</p> + +<h2><a name="dec_1_62" id="dec_1_62"></a>State of the Union Address<br /> +Abraham Lincoln<br /> +December 1, 1862</h2> + +<p>Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:</p> + +<p>Since your last annual assembling another year of health and bountiful +harvests has passed, and while it has not pleased the Almighty to bless +us with a return of peace, we can but press on, guided by the best +light He gives us, trusting that in His own good time and wise way all +will yet be well.</p> + +<p>The correspondence touching foreign affairs which has taken place +during the last year is herewith submitted, in virtual compliance with +a request to that effect made by the House of Representatives near the +close of the last session of Congress. If the condition of our +relations with other nations is less gratifying than it has usually +been at former periods, it is certainly more satisfactory than a nation +so unhappily distracted as we are might reasonably have apprehended. In +the month of June last there were some grounds to expect that the +maritime powers which at the beginning of our domestic difficulties so +unwisely and unnecessarily, as we think, recognized the insurgents as a +belligerent would soon recede from that position, which has proved only +less injurious to themselves than to our own country. But the temporary +reverses which afterwards befell the national arms, and which were +exaggerated by our own disloyal citizens abroad, have hitherto delayed +that act of simple justice.</p> + +<p>The civil war, which has so radically changed for the moment the +occupations and habits of the American people, has necessarily +disturbed the social condition and affected very deeply the prosperity +of the nations with which we have carried on a commerce that has been +steadily increasing throughout a period of half a century. It has at +the same time excited political ambitions and apprehensions which have +produced a profound agitation throughout the civilized world. In this +unusual agitation we have forborne from taking part in any controversy +between foreign states and between parties or factions in such states. +We have attempted no propagandism and acknowledged no revolution. But +we have left to every nation the exclusive conduct and management of +its own affairs. Our struggle has been, of course, contemplated by +foreign nations with reference less to its own merits than to its +supposed and often exaggerated effects and consequences resulting to +those nations themselves. Nevertheless, complaint on the part of this +Government, even if it were just, would certainly be unwise. The treaty +with Great Britain for the suppression of the slave trade has been put +into operation with a good prospect of complete success. It is an +occasion of special pleasure to acknowledge that the execution of it on +the part of Her Majesty's Government has been marked with a jealous +respect for the authority of the United States and the rights of their +moral and loyal citizens.</p> + +<p>The convention with Hanover for the abolition of the Stade dues has +been carried into full effect under the act of Congress for that +purpose. A blockade of 3,000 miles of seacoast could not be established +and vigorously enforced in a season of great commercial activity like +the present without committing occasional mistakes and inflicting +unintentional injuries upon foreign nations and their subjects. A civil +war occurring in a country, where foreigners reside and carry on trade +under treaty stipulations is necessarily fruitful of complaints of the +violation of neutral rights. All such collisions tend to excite +misapprehensions, and possibly to produce mutual reclamations between +nations which have a common interest in preserving peace and +friendship. In clear cases of these kinds I have so far as possible +heard and redressed complaints which have been presented by friendly +powers. There is still, however, a large and an augmenting number of +doubtful cases upon which the Government is unable to agree with the +governments whose protection is demanded by the claimants. There are, +moreover, many cases in which the United States or their citizens +suffer wrongs from the naval or military authorities of foreign nations +which the governments of those states are not at once prepared to +redress. I have proposed to some of the foreign states thus interested +mutual conventions to examine and adjust such complaints. This +proposition has been made especially to Great Britain, to France, to +Spain, and to Prussia. In each case it has been kindly received, but +has not yet been formally adopted.</p> + +<p>I deem it my duty to recommend an appropriation in behalf of the owners +of the Norwegian bark Admiral P. Tordenskiold, which vessel was in May, +1861, prevented by the commander of the blockading force off Charleston +from leaving that port with cargo, notwithstanding a similar privilege +had shortly before been granted to an English vessel. I have directed +the Secretary of State to cause the papers in the case to be +communicated to the proper committees.</p> + +<p>Applications have been made to me by many free Americans of African +descent to favor their emigration, with a view to such colonization as +was contemplated in recent acts of Congress. Other parties, at home and +abroad—some from interested motives, others upon patriotic +considerations, and still others influenced by philanthropic +sentiments—have suggested similar measures, while, on the other hand, +several of the Spanish American Republics have protested against the +sending of such colonies to their respective territories. Under these +circumstances I have declined to move any such colony to any state +without first obtaining the consent of its government, with an +agreement on its part to receive and protect such emigrants in all the +rights of freemen; and I have at the same time offered to the several +States situated within the Tropics, or having colonies there, to +negotiate with them, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, +to favor the voluntary emigration of persons of that class to their +respective territories, upon conditions which shall be equal, just, and +humane. Liberia and Hayti are as yet the only countries to which +colonists of African descent from here could go with certainty of being +received and adopted as citizens; and I regret to say such persons +contemplating colonization do not seem so willing to migrate to those +countries as to some others, nor so willing as I think their interest +demands. I believe, however, opinion among them in this respect is +improving, and that ere long there will be an augmented and +considerable migration to both these countries from the United States.</p> + +<p>The new commercial treaty between the United States and the Sultan of +Turkey has been carried into execution.</p> + +<p>A commercial and consular treaty has been negotiated, subject to the +Senate's consent, with Liberia, and a similar negotiation is now +pending with the Republic of Hayti. A considerable improvement of the +national commerce is expected to result from these measures. Our +relations with Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Prussia, +Denmark, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Rome, and the other +European States remain undisturbed. Very favorable relations also +continue to be maintained with Turkey, Morocco, China, and Japan.</p> + +<p>During the last year there has not only been no change of our previous +relations with the independent States of our own continent, but more +friendly sentiments than have heretofore existed are believed to be +entertained by these neighbors, whose safety and progress are so +intimately connected with our own. This statement especially applies to +Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, and Chile. The +commission under the convention with the Republic of New Granada closed +its session without having audited and passed upon all the claims which +were submitted to it. A proposition is pending to revive the +convention, that it may be able to do more complete justice. The joint +commission between the United States and the Republic of Costa Rica has +completed its labors and submitted its report. I have favored the +project for connecting the United States with Europe by an Atlantic +telegraph, and a similar project to extend the telegraph from San +Francisco to connect by a Pacific telegraph with the line which is +being extended across the Russian Empire. The Territories of the United +States, with unimportant exceptions have remained undisturbed by the +civil war; and they are exhibiting such evidence of prosperity as +justifies an expectation that some of them will soon be in a condition +to be organized as States and be constitutionally admitted into the +Federal Union.</p> + +<p>The immense mineral resources of some of those Territories ought to be +developed as rapidly as possible. Every step in that direction would +have a tendency to improve the revenues of the Government and diminish +the burdens of the people. It is worthy of your serious consideration +whether some extraordinary measures to promote that end can not be +adopted. The means which suggests itself as most likely to be effective +is a scientific exploration of the mineral regions in those Territories +with a view to the publication of its results at home and in foreign +countries—results which can not fail to be auspicious.</p> + +<p>The condition of the finances will claim your most diligent +consideration. The vast expenditures incident to the military and naval +operations required for the suppression of the rebellion have hitherto +been met with a promptitude and certainty unusual in similar +circumstances, and the public credit has been fully maintained. The +continuance of the war, however, and the increased disbursements made +necessary by the augmented forces now in the field demand your best +reflections as to the best modes of providing the necessary revenue +without injury to business and with the least possible burdens upon +labor.</p> + +<p>The suspension of specie payments by the banks soon after the +commencement of your last session made large issues of United States +notes unavoidable. In no other way could the payment of the troops and +the satisfaction of other just demands be so economically or so well +provided for. The judicious legislation of Congress, securing the +receivability of these notes for loans and internal duties and making +them a legal tender for other debts, has made them an universal +currency, and has satisfied, partially at least, and for the time, the +long-felt want of an uniform circulating medium, saving thereby to the +people immense sums in discounts and exchanges.</p> + +<p>A return to specie payments, however, at the earliest period compatible +with due regard to all interests concerned should ever be kept in view. +Fluctuations in the value of currency are always injurious, and to +reduce these fluctuations to the lowest possible point will always be a +leading purpose in wise legislation. Convertibility, prompt and certain +convertibility, into coin is generally acknowledged to be the best and +surest safeguard against them; and it is extremely doubtful whether a +circulation of United States notes payable in coin and sufficiently +large for the wants of the people can be permanently, usefully, and +safely maintained.</p> + +<p>Is there, then, any other mode in which the necessary provision for the +public wants can be made and the great advantages of a safe and uniform +currency secured?</p> + +<p>I know of none which promises so certain results and is at the same +time so unobjectionable as the organization of banking associations, +under a general act of Congress, well guarded in its provisions. To +such associations the Government might furnish circulating notes, on +the security of United States bonds deposited in the Treasury. These +notes, prepared under the supervision of proper officers, being uniform +in appearance and security and convertible always into coin, would at +once protect labor against the evils of a vicious currency and +facilitate commerce by cheap and safe exchanges.</p> + +<p>A moderate reservation from the interest on the bonds would compensate +the United States for the preparation and distribution of the notes and +a general supervision of the system, and would lighten the burden of +that part of the public debt employed as securities. The public credit, +moreover, would be greatly improved and the negotiation of new loans +greatly facilitated by the steady market demand for Government bonds +which the adoption of the proposed system would create. It is an +additional recommendation of the measure, of considerable weight, in my +judgment, that it would reconcile as far as possible all existing +interests by the opportunity offered to existing institutions to +reorganize under the act, substituting only the secured uniform +national circulation for the local and various circulation, secured and +unsecured, now issued by them.</p> + +<p>The receipts into the treasury from all sources, including loans and +balance from the preceding year, for the fiscal year ending on the 30th +June, 1862, were $583,885,247.06, of which sum $49,056,397.62 were +derived from customs; $1,795,331.73 from the direct tax; from public +lands, $152,203.77; from miscellaneous sources, $931,787.64; from loans +in all forms, $529,692,460.50. The remainder, :$2,257,065.80, was the +balance from last year.</p> + +<p>The disbursements during the same period were: For Congressional, +executive, and judicial purposes, $5,939.009.29; for foreign +intercourse, $1,339,710.35; for miscellaneous expenses, including the +mints, loans, Post-Office deficiencies, collection of revenue, and +other like charges, $14,129,771.50; for expenses under the Interior +Department, 985.52; under the War Department, $394,368,407.36; under +the Navy Department, $42,674,569.69; for interest on public debt, +$13,190,324.45; and for payment of public debt, including reimbursement +of temporary loan and redemptions, $96,096,922.09; making an aggregate +of $570,841,700.25, and leaving a balance in the Treasury on the 1st +day of July, 1862, of $13,043,546.81.</p> + +<p>It should be observed that the sum of $96,096,922.09, expended for +reimbursements and redemption of public debt, being included also in +the loans made, may be properly deducted both from receipts and +expenditures, leaving the actual receipts for the year $487,788,324.97, +and the expenditures $474,744,778.16.</p> + +<p>Other information on the subject of the finances will be found in the +report of the Secretary of the Treasury, to whose statements and views +I invite your most candid and considerate attention.</p> + +<p>The reports of the Secretaries of War and of the Navy are herewith +transmitted. These reports, though lengthy, are scarcely more than +brief abstracts of the very numerous and extensive transactions and +operations conducted through those Departments. Nor could I give a +summary of them here upon any principle which would admit of its being +much shorter than the reports themselves. I therefore content myself +with laying the reports before you and asking your attention to them.</p> + +<p>It gives me pleasure to report a decided improvement in the financial +condition of the Post-Office Department as compared with several +preceding years. The receipts for the fiscal year 1861 amounted to +$8,349,296.40, which embraced the revenue from all the States of the +Union for three quarters of that year. Notwithstanding the cessation of +revenue from the so-called seceded States during the last fiscal year, +the increase of the correspondence of the loyal States has been +sufficient to produce a revenue during the same year of $8,299,820.90, +being only $50,000 less than was derived from all the States of the +Union during the previous year. The expenditures show a still more +favorable result. The amount expended in 1861 was $13,606,759.11. For +the last year the amount has been reduced to $11,125,364.13, showing a +decrease of about $2,481,000 in the expenditures as compared with the +preceding year, and about $3,750,000 as compared with the fiscal year +1860. The deficiency in the Department for the previous year was +$4,551,966.98. For the last fiscal year it was reduced to +$2,112,814.57. These favorable results are in part owing to the +cessation of mail service in the insurrectionary States and in part to +a careful review of all expenditures in that Department in the interest +of economy. The efficiency of the postal service, it is believed, has +also been much improved. The Postmaster-General has also opened a +correspondence through the Department of State with foreign governments +proposing a convention of postal representatives for the purpose of +simplifying the rates of foreign postage and to expedite the foreign +mails. This proposition, equally important to our adopted citizens and +to the commercial interests of this country, has been favorably +entertained and agreed to by all the governments from whom replies have +been received.</p> + +<p>I ask the attention of Congress to the suggestions of the +Postmaster-General in his report respecting the further legislation +required, in his opinion, for the benefit of the postal service.</p> + +<p>The Secretary of the Interior reports as follows in regard to the +public lands: The public lands have ceased to be a source of revenue. +From the 1st July, 1861, to the 30th September, 1862, the entire cash +receipts from the sale of lands were $137,476.26—a sum much less than +the expenses of our land system during the same period. The homestead +law, which will take effect on the 1st of January next, offers such +inducements to settlers that sales for cash can not be expected to an +extent sufficient to meet the expenses of the General Land Office and +the cost of surveying and bringing the land into market.</p> + +<p>The discrepancy between the sum here stated as arising from the sales +of the public lands and the sum derived from the same source as +reported from the Treasury Department arises, as I understand, from the +fact that the periods of time, though apparently, were not really +coincident at the beginning point, the Treasury report including a +considerable sum now which had previously been reported from the +Interior, sufficiently large to greatly overreach the sum derived from +the three months now reported upon by the Interior and not by the +Treasury. The Indian tribes upon our frontiers have during the past +year manifested a spirit of insubordination, and at several points have +engaged in open hostilities against the white settlements in their +vicinity. The tribes occupying the Indian country south of Kansas +renounced their allegiance to the United States and entered into +treaties with the insurgents. Those who remained loyal to the United +States were driven from the country. The chief of the Cherokees has +visited this city for the purpose of restoring the former relations of +the tribe with the United States. He alleges that they were constrained +by superior force to enter into treaties with the insurgents, and that +the United States neglected to furnish the protection which their +treaty stipulations required.</p> + +<p>In the month of August last the Sioux Indians in Minnesota attacked the +settlements in their vicinity with extreme ferocity, killing +indiscriminately men, women, and children. This attack was wholly +unexpected, and therefore no means of defense had been prodded. It is +estimated that not less than 800 persons were killed by the Indians, +and a large amount of property was destroyed. How this outbreak was +induced is not definitely known, and suspicions, which may be unjust, +need not to be stated. Information was received by the Indian Bureau +from different sources about the time hostilities were commenced that a +simultaneous attack was to be made upon the white settlements by all +the tribes between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The +State of Minnesota has suffered great injury from this Indian war. A +large portion of her territory has been depopulated, and a severe loss +has been sustained by the destruction of property. The people of that +State manifest much anxiety for the removal of the tribes beyond the +limits of the State as a guaranty against future hostilities. The +Commissioner of Indian Affairs will furnish full details. I submit for +your especial consideration whether our Indian system shall not be +remodeled. Many wise and good men have impressed me with the belief +that this can be profitably done.</p> + +<p>I submit a statement of the proceedings of commissioners, which shows +the progress that has been made in the enterprise of constructing the +Pacific Railroad. And this suggests the earliest completion of this +road, and also the favorable action of Congress upon the projects now +pending before them for enlarging the capacities of the great canals in +New York and Illinois, as being of vital and rapidly increasing +importance to the whole nation, and especially to the vast interior +region hereinafter to be noticed at some greater length. I purpose +having prepared and laid before you at an early day some interesting +and valuable statistical information upon this subject. The military +and commercial importance of enlarging the Illinois and Michigan Canal +and improving the Illinois River is presented in the report of Colonel +Webster to the Secretary of War, and now transmitted to Congress. I +respectfully ask attention to it.</p> + +<p>To carry out the provisions of the act of Congress of the 15th of May +last, I have caused the Department of Agriculture of the United States +to be organized.</p> + +<p>The Commissioner informs me that within the period of a few months this +Department has established an extensive system of correspondence and +exchanges, both at home and abroad, which promises to effect highly +beneficial results in the development of a correct knowledge of recent +improvements in agriculture, in the introduction of new products, and +in the collection of the agricultural statistics of the different +States.</p> + +<p>Also, that it will soon be prepared to distribute largely seeds, +cereals, plants, and cuttings, and has already published and liberally +diffused much valuable information in anticipation of a more elaborate +report, which will in due time be furnished, embracing some valuable +tests in chemical science now in progress in the laboratory.</p> + +<p>The creation of this Department was for the more immediate benefit of a +large class of our most valuable citizens, and I trust that the liberal +basis upon which it has been organized will not only meet your +approbation, but that it will realize at no distant day all the fondest +anticipations of its most sanguine friends and become the fruitful +source of advantage to all our people.</p> + +<p>On the 22d day of September last a proclamation was issued by the +Executive, a copy of which is herewith submitted. In accordance with +the purpose expressed in the second paragraph of that paper, I now +respectfully recall your attention to what may be called "compensated +emancipation."</p> + +<p>A nation may be said to consist of its territory, its people, and its +laws. The territory is the only part which is of certain durability. +"One generation passeth away and another generation cometh, but the +earth abideth forever." It is of the first importance to duly consider +and estimate this ever-enduring part. That portion of the earth's +surface which is owned and inhabited by the people of the United States +is well adapted to be the home of one national family, and it is not +well adapted for two or more. Its vast extent and its variety of +climate and productions are of advantage in this age for one people, +whatever they might have been in former ages. Steam, telegraphs, and +intelligence have brought these to be an advantageous combination for +one united people.</p> + +<p>In the inaugural address I briefly pointed out the total inadequacy of +disunion as a remedy for the differences between the people of the two +sections. I did so in language which I can not improve, and which, +therefore, I beg to repeat: One section of our country believes slavery +is right and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong +and ought not to be extended. This is the only substantial dispute. The +fugitive-slave clause of the Constitution and the law for the +suppression of the foreign slave trade are each as well enforced, +perhaps, as any law can ever be in a community where the moral sense of +the people imperfectly supports the law itself. The great body of the +people abide by the dry legal obligation in both cases, and a few break +over in each. This I think, can not be perfectly cured, and it would be +worse in both cases after the separation of the sections than before. +The foreign slave trade, now imperfectly suppressed, would be +ultimately revived without restriction in one section, while fugitive +slaves, now only partially surrendered, would not be surrendered at all +by the other. Physically speaking, we can not separate. We can not +remove our respective sections from each other nor build an impassable +wall between them. A husband and wife may be divorced and go out of the +presence and beyond the reach of each other, but the different parts of +our country can not do this. They can not but remain face to face, and +intercourse, either amicable or hostile, must continue between them. Is +it possible, then, to make that intercourse more advantageous or more +satisfactory after separation than before? Can aliens make treaties +easier than friends can make laws? Can treaties be more faithfully +enforced between aliens than laws can among friends? Suppose you go to +war, you can not fight always; and when, after much loss on both sides +and no gain on either, you cease fighting, the identical old questions, +as to terms of intercourse, are again upon you. There is no line, +straight or crooked, suitable for a national boundary upon which to +divide. Trace through, from east to west, upon the line between the +free and slave country, and we shall find a little more than one-third +of its length are rivers, easy to be crossed, and populated, or soon to +be populated, thickly upon both sides; while nearly all its remaining +length are merely surveyors' lines, over which people may walk back and +forth without any consciousness of their presence. No part of this line +can be made any more difficult to pass by writing it down on paper or +parchment as a national boundary. The fact of separation, if it comes, +gives up on the part of the seceding section the fugitive-slave clause, +along with all other constitutional obligations upon the section +seceded from, while I should expect no treaty stipulation would ever be +made to take its place.</p> + +<p>But there is another difficulty. The great interior region bounded east +by the Alleghanies, north by the British dominions, west by the Rocky +Mountains, and south by the line along which the culture of corn and +cotton meets, and which includes part of Virginia, part of Tennessee, +all of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, +Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and the Territories of Dakota, +Nebraska, and part of Colorado, already has above 10,000,000 people, +and will have 50,000,000 within fifty years if not prevented by any +political folly or mistake. It contains more than one-third of the +country owned by the United States—certainly more than 1,000,000 +square miles. Once half as populous as Massachusetts already is, it +would have more than 75,000,000 people. A glance at the map shows that, +territorially speaking, it is the great body of the Republic. The other +parts are but marginal borders to it. The magnificent region sloping +west from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific being the deepest and also +the richest in undeveloped resources. In the production of provisions +grains, grasses, and all which proceed from them this great interior +region is naturally one of the most important in the world. Ascertain +from the statistics the small proportion of the region which has as yet +been brought into cultivation, and also the large and rapidly +increasing amount of its products, and we shall be overwhelmed with the +magnitude of the prospect presented. And yet this region has no +seacoast—touches no ocean anywhere. As part of one nation, its people +now find, and may forever find, their way to Europe by New York, to +South America and Africa by New Orleans, and to Asia by San Francisco; +but separate our common country into two nations, as designed by the +present rebellion, and every man of this great interior region is +thereby cut off from some one or more of these outlets, not perhaps by +a physical barrier, but by embarrassing and onerous trade regulations.</p> + +<p>And this is true, wherever a dividing or boundary line may be fixed. +Place it between the now free and slave country, or place it south of +Kentucky or north of Ohio, and still the truth remains that none south +of it can trade to any port or place north of it, and none north of it +can trade to any port or place south of it, except upon terms dictated +by a government foreign to them. These outlets, east, west, and south, +are indispensable to the well-being of the people inhabiting and to +inhabit this vast interior region. Which of the three may be the best +is no proper question. All are better than either, and all of right +belong to that people and to their successors forever. True to +themselves, they will not ask where a line of separation shall be, but +will vow rather that there shall be no such line. Nor are the marginal +regions less interested in these communications to and through them to +the great outside world. They, too, and each of them, must have access +to this Egypt of the West without paying toll at the crossing of any +national boundary.</p> + +<p>Our national strife springs not from our permanent part; not from the +land we inhabit: not from our national homestead. There is no possible +severing of this but would multiply and not mitigate evils among us. In +all its adaptations and aptitudes it demands union and abhors +separation. In fact, it would ere long force reunion, however much of +blood and treasure the separation might have cost. Our strife pertains +to ourselves—to the passing generations of men—and it can without +convulsion be hushed forever with the passing of one generation.</p> + +<p>In this view I recommend the adoption of the following resolution and +articles amendatory to the Constitution of the United States: Resolved +by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of +America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of both Houses concurring), +That the following articles be proposed to the legislatures (or +conventions) of the several States as amendments to the Constitution of +the United States, all or any of which articles, when ratified by +three-fourths of the said legislatures (or conventions ), to be valid +as part or parts of the said Constitution, viz:</p> + +<p>ART.—. Every State wherein slavery now exists which shall abolish the +same therein at any time or times before the 1st day of January, A. D. +1900, shall receive compensation from the United States as follows, to +wit:</p> + +<p>The President of the United States shall deliver to every such State +bonds of the United States bearing interest at the rate of per cent per +annum to an amount equal to the aggregate sum of ____ for each slave +shown to have been therein by the Eighth Census of the United States, +said bonds to be delivered to such State by installments or in one +parcel at the completion of the abolishment, accordingly as the same +shall have been gradual or at one time within such State; and interest +shall begin to run upon any such bond only from the proper time of its +delivery as aforesaid. Any State having received bonds as aforesaid and +afterwards reintroducing or tolerating slavery therein shall refund to +the United States the bonds so received, or the value thereof, and all +interest paid thereon.</p> + +<p>ART.—All slaves who shall have enjoyed actual freedom by the chances +of the war at any time before the end of the rebellion shall be forever +free; but all owners of such who shall not have been disloyal shall be +compensated for them at the same rates as is provided for States +adopting abolishment of slavery, but in such way that no slave shall be +twice accounted for.</p> + +<p>ART.—Congress may appropriate money and otherwise provide for +colonizing free colored persons with their own consent at any place or +places without the United States.</p> + +<p>I beg indulgence to discuss these proposed articles at some length. +Without slavery the rebellion could never have existed; without slavery +it could not continue.</p> + +<p>Among the friends of the Union there is great diversity of sentiment +and of policy in regard to slavery and the African race amongst us. +Some would perpetuate slavery; some would abolish it suddenly and +without compensation; some would abolish it gradually and with +compensation: some would remove the freed people from us, and some +would retain them with us; and there are yet other minor diversities. +Because of these diversities we waste much strength in struggles among +ourselves. By mutual concession we should harmonize and act together. +This would be compromise, but it would be compromise among the friends +and not with the enemies of the Union. These articles are intended to +embody a plan of such mutual concessions. If the plan shall be adopted, +it is assumed that emancipation will follow, at least in several of the +States.</p> + +<p>As to the first article, the main points are, first, the emancipation; +secondly, the length of time for consummating it (thirty-seven years); +and, thirdly, the compensation.</p> + +<p>The emancipation will be unsatisfactory to the advocates of perpetual +slavery, but the length of time should greatly mitigate their +dissatisfaction. The time spares both races from the evils of sudden +derangement—in fact, from the necessity of any derangement—while most +of those whose habitual course of thought will be disturbed by the +measure will have passed away before its consummation. They will never +see it. Another class will hail the prospect of emancipation, but will +deprecate the length of time. They will feel that it gives too little +to the now living slaves. But it really gives them much. It saves them +from the vagrant destitution which must largely attend immediate +emancipation in localities where their numbers are very great, and it +gives the inspiring assurance that their posterity shall be free +forever. The plan leaves to each State choosing to act under it to +abolish slavery now or at the end of the century, or at any +intermediate time, or by degrees extending over the whole or any part +of the period, and it obliges no two States to proceed alike. It also +provides for compensation, and generally the mode of making it. This, +it would seem, must further mitigate the dissatisfaction of those who +favor perpetual slavery, and especially of those who are to receive the +compensation. Doubtless some of those who are to pay and not to receive +will object. Yet the measure is both just and economical. In a certain +sense the liberation of slaves is the destruction of property—property +acquired by descent or by purchase, the same as any other property. It +is no less true for having been often said that the people of the South +are not more responsible for the original introduction of this property +than are the people of the North; and when it is remembered how +unhesitatingly we all use cotton and sugar and share the profits of +dealing in them, it may not be quite safe to say that the South has +been more responsible than the North for its continuance. If, then, for +a common object this property is to be sacrificed, is it not just that +it be done at a common charge?</p> + +<p>And if with less money, or money more easily paid, we can preserve the +benefits of the Union by this means than we can by the war alone, is it +not also economical to do it? Let us consider it, then. Let us +ascertain the sum we have expended in the war since compensated +emancipation was proposed last March, and consider whether if that +measure had been promptly accepted by even some of the slave States the +same sum would not have done more to close the war than has been +otherwise done. If so, the measure would save money, and in that view +would be a prudent and economical measure. Certainly it is not so easy +to pay something as it is to pay nothing, but it is easier to pay a +large sum than it is to pay a larger one. And it is easier to pay any +sum when we are able than it is to pay it before we are able. The war +requires large sums, and requires them at once. The aggregate sum +necessary for compensated emancipation of course would be large. But it +would require no ready cash, nor the bonds even any faster than the +emancipation progresses. This might not, and probably would not, close +before the end of the thirty-seven years. At that time we shall +probably have a hundred millions of people to share the burden, instead +of thirty-one millions as now. And not only so, but the increase of our +population may be expected to continue for a long time after that +period as rapidly as before, because our territory will not have become +full. I do not state this inconsiderately. At the same ratio of +increase which we have maintained, on an average, from our first +national census, in 1790, until that of 1860, we should in 1900 have a +population of 103,208,415. And why may we not continue that ratio far +beyond that period? Our abundant room, our broad national homestead, is +our ample resource. Were our territory as limited as are the British +Isles, very certainly our population could not expand as stated. +Instead of receiving the foreign born as now, we should be compelled to +send part of the native born away. But such is not our condition. We +have 2,963,000 square miles. Europe has 3,800,000, with a population +averaging 73 1/3 persons to the square mile. Why may not our country at +some time average as many? Is it less fertile? Has it more waste +surface by mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts, or other causes? Is it +inferior to Europe in any natural advantage? If, then, we are at some +time to be as populous as Europe, how soon? As to when this may be, we +can judge by the past and the present; as to when it will be, if ever, +depends much on whether we maintain the Union. Several of our States +are already above the average of Europe 73 1/3 to the square mile. +Massachusetts has 157; Rhode Island, 133; Connecticut, 99; New York and +New Jersey, each 80. Also two other great States, Pennsylvania and +Ohio, are not far below, the former having 63 and the latter 59. The +States already above the European average, except New York, have +increased in as rapid a ratio since passing that point as ever before, +while no one of them is equal to some other parts of our country in +natural capacity for sustaining a dense population.</p> + +<p>Taking the nation in the aggregate, and we find its population and +ratio of increase for the several decennial periods to be as follows:</p> + +<p>Year - Population - Ratio of increase.</p> + +<p>- - Per cent.</p> + +<p>1790 - 3,929,827 - ..........</p> + +<p>1800 - 5,304,937 - 35.02</p> + +<p>1810 - 7,239,814 - 36.45</p> + +<p>1820 - 9,638,131 - 36.45</p> + +<p>1830 - 12,866,020 - 33.49</p> + +<p>1840 - 17,069,453 - 32.67</p> + +<p>1850 - 23,191,876 - 35.87</p> + +<p>1860 - 31,443,790 - 35.58</p> + +<p>This shows an average decennial increase of 34.60 per cent in +population through the seventy years from our first to our last census +yet taken. It is seen that the ratio of increase at no one of these +seven periods is either 2 per cent below or 2 per cent above the +average, thus showing how inflexible, and consequently how reliable, +the law of increase in our case is. Assuming that it will continue, it +gives the following results:</p> + +<p>Year - Population</p> + +<p>1870 - 42,323,341</p> + +<p>1880 - 56,967,216</p> + +<p>1890 - 76,677,872</p> + +<p>1900 - 103,208,415</p> + +<p>1910 - 138,918,526</p> + +<p>1920 - 186,984,335</p> + +<p>1930 - 251,680,914</p> + +<p>These figures show that our country may be as populous as Europe now is +at some point between 1920 and 1930—say about 1925—our territory, at +73 1/3 persons to the square mile, being of capacity to contain +217,186,000.</p> + +<p>And we will reach this, too, if we do not ourselves relinquish the +chance by the folly and evils of disunion or by long and exhausting war +springing from the only great element of national discord among us. +While it can not be foreseen exactly how much one huge example of +secession, breeding lesser ones indefinitely, would retard population, +civilization, and prosperity, no one can doubt that the extent of it +would be very great and injurious.</p> + +<p>The proposed emancipation would shorten the war, perpetuate peace, +insure this increase of population, and proportionately the wealth of +the country. With these we should pay all the emancipation would cost, +together with our other debt, easier than we should pay our other debt +without it. If we had allowed our old national debt to run at 6 per +cent per annum, simple interest, from the end of our revolutionary +struggle until to-day, without paying anything on either principal or +interest, each man of us would owe less upon that debt now than each +man owed upon it then; and this because our increase of men through the +whole period has been greater than 6 per cent—has run faster than the +interest upon the debt. Thus time alone relieves a debtor nation, so +long as its population increases faster than unpaid interest +accumulates on its debt.</p> + +<p>This fact would be no excuse for delaying payment of what is justly +due, but it shows the great importance of time in this connection—the +great advantage of a policy by which we shall not have to pay until we +number 100,000,000 what by a different policy we would have to pay now, +when we number but 31,000,000. In a word, it shows that a dollar will +be much harder to pay for the war than will be a dollar for +emancipation on the proposed plan. And then the latter will cost no +blood, no precious life. It will be a saving of both.</p> + +<p>As to the second article, I think it would be impracticable to return +to bondage the class of persons therein contemplated. Some of them, +doubtless, in the property sense belong to loyal owners, and hence +provision is made in this article for compensating such. The third +article relates to the future of the freed people. It does not oblige, +but merely authorizes Congress to aid in colonizing such as may +consent. This ought not to be regarded as objectionable on the one hand +or on the other, insomuch as it comes to nothing unless by the mutual +consent of the people to be deported and the American voters, through +their representatives in Congress.</p> + +<p>I can not make it better known than it already is that I strongly favor +colonization; and yet I wish to say there is an objection urged against +free colored persons remaining in the country which is largely +imaginary, if not sometimes malicious.</p> + +<p>It is insisted that their presence would injure and displace white +labor and white laborers. If there ever could be a proper time for mere +catch arguments, that time surely is not now. In times like the present +men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be +responsible through time and in eternity. Is it true, then, that +colored people can displace any more white labor by being free than by +remaining slaves? If they stay in their old places, they jostle no +white laborers; if they leave their old places, they leave them open to +white laborers. Logically, there is neither more nor less of it. +Emancipation, even without deportation, would probably enhance the +wages of white labor, and very surely would not reduce them. Thus the +customary amount of labor would still have to be performed—the freed +people would surely not do more than their old proportion of it, and +very probably for a time would do less, leaving an increased part to +white laborers, bringing their labor into greater demand, and +consequently enhancing the wages of it. With deportation, even to a +limited extent, enhanced wages to white labor is mathematically +certain. Labor is like any other commodity in the market—increase the +demand for it and you increase the price of it. Reduce the supply of +black labor by colonizing the black laborer out of the country, and by +precisely so much you increase the demand for and wages of white labor.</p> + +<p>But it is dreaded that the freed people will swarm forth and cover the +whole land. Are they not already in the land? Will liberation make them +any more numerous? Equally distributed among the whites of the whole +country, and there would be but one colored to seven whites. Could the +one in any way greatly disturb the seven? There are many communities +now having more than one free colored person to seven whites and this +without any apparent consciousness of evil from it. The District of +Columbia and the States of Maryland and Delaware are all in this +condition. The District has more than one free colored to six whites, +and yet in its frequent petitions to Congress I believe it has never +presented the presence of free colored persons as one of its +grievances. But why should emancipation South send the free people +North? People of any color seldom run unless there be something to run +from. Heretofore colored people to some extent have fled North from +bondage, and now, perhaps, from both bondage and destitution. But if +gradual emancipation and deportation be adopted, they will have neither +to flee from. Their old masters will give them wages at least until new +laborers can be procured, and the freedmen in turn will gladly give +their labor for the wages till new homes can be found for them in +congenial climes and with people of their own blood and race. This +proposition can be trusted on the mutual interests involved. And in any +event, can not the North decide for itself whether to receive them?</p> + +<p>Again, as practice proves more than theory in any case, has there been +any irruption of colored people northward because of the abolishment of +slavery in this District last spring?</p> + +<p>What I have said of the proportion of free colored persons to the +whites in the District is from the census of 1860, having no reference +to persons called contrabands nor to those made free by the act of +Congress abolishing slavery here.</p> + +<p>The plan consisting of these articles is recommended, not but that a +restoration of the national authority would be accepted without its +adoption.</p> + +<p>Nor will the war nor proceedings under the proclamation of September +22, 1862, be stayed because of the recommendation of this plan. Its +timely adoption, I doubt not, would bring restoration, and thereby stay +both.</p> + +<p>And notwithstanding this plan, the recommendation that Congress provide +by law for compensating any State which may adopt emancipation before +this plan shall 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.</p> + +<p>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, I am confident, secure peace +more speedily and maintain it more permanently than can be done by +force alone, while all it would cost, considering amounts and manner of +payment and times of payment, would be easier paid than will be the +additional cost of the war if we rely solely upon force. It is much, +very much, that it would cost no blood at all.</p> + +<p>The plan is proposed as permanent constitutional law. It can not become +such without the concurrence of, first, two-thirds of Congress, and +afterwards three-fourths of the States. The requisite three-fourths of +the States will necessarily include seven of the slave States. Their +concurrence, if obtained, will give assurance of their severally +adopting emancipation at no very distant day upon the new +constitutional terms. This assurance would end the struggle now and +save the Union forever.</p> + +<p>I do not forget the gravity which should characterize a paper addressed +to the Congress of the nation by the Chief Magistrate of the nation, +nor do I forget that some of you are my seniors, nor that many of you +have more experience than I in the conduct of public affairs. Yet I +trust that in view of the great responsibility resting upon me you will +perceive no want of respect to yourselves in any undue earnestness I +may seem to display.</p> + +<p>Is it doubted, then, that the plan I propose, if adopted, would shorten +the war, and thus lessen its expenditure of money and of blood? Is it +doubted that it would restore the national authority and national +prosperity and perpetuate both indefinitely? Is it doubted that we +here—Congress and Executive can secure its adoption? Will not the good +people respond to a united and earnest appeal from us? Can we, can +they, by any other means so certainly or so speedily assure these vital +objects? We can succeed only by concert. It is not "Can any of us +imagine better?" but "Can we all do better?" Object whatsoever is +possible, still the question recurs, "Can we do better?" The dogmas of +the quiet 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 country.</p> + +<p>Fellow-citizens, we can not escape history. We of this Congress and +this Administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No +personal significance or insignificance 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 we are for the Union. The +world will not forget that we say this. We know how to save the Union. +The world knows we do know how to save it. We, even we here, hold the +power and bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave we +assure freedom to the free—honorable alike in what we give and what we +preserve. We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of +earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail. The way is plain, +peaceful, generous, just—a way which if followed the world will +forever applaud and God must forever bless.</p> + +<p class="cend">***</p> + +<h2><a name="dec_8_63" id="dec_8_63"></a>State of the Union Address<br /> +Abraham Lincoln<br /> +December 8, 1863</h2> + +<p>Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:</p> + +<p>Another year of health and of sufficiently abundant harvests has +passed. For these, and especially for the improved condition of our +national affairs, our renewed and profoundest gratitude to God is due.</p> + +<p>We remain in peace and friendship with foreign powers.</p> + +<p>The efforts of disloyal citizens of the United States to involve us in +foreign wars to aid an inexcusable insurrection have been unavailing. +Her Britannic Majesty's Government, as was justly expected, have +exercised their authority to prevent the departure of new hostile +expeditions from British ports. The Emperor of France has by a like +proceeding promptly vindicated the neutrality which he proclaimed at +the beginning of the contest. Questions of great intricacy and +importance have arisen out of the blockade and other belligerent +operations between the Government and several of the maritime powers, +but they have been discussed and, as far as was possible, accommodated +in a spirit of frankness, justice, and mutual good will. It is +especially gratifying that our prize courts, by the impartiality of +their adjudications, have commanded the respect and confidence of +maritime powers.</p> + +<p>The supplemental treaty between the United States and Great Britain for +the suppression of the African slave trade, made on the 17th day of +February last, has been duly ratified and carried into execution. It is +believed that so far as American ports and American citizens are +concerned that inhuman and odious traffic has been brought to an end.</p> + +<p>I shall submit for the consideration of the Senate a convention for the +adjustment of possessory claims in Washington Territory arising out of +the treaty of the 15th June, 1846, between the United States and Great +Britain, and which have been the source of some disquiet among the +citizens of that now rapidly improving part of the country.</p> + +<p>A novel and important question, involving the extent of the maritime +jurisdiction of Spain in the waters which surround the island of Cuba, +has been debated without reaching an agreement, and it is proposed in +an amicable spirit to refer it to the arbitrament of a friendly power. +A convention for that purpose will be submitted to the Senate.</p> + +<p>I have thought it proper, subject to the approval of the Senate, to +concur with the interested commercial powers in an arrangement for the +liquidation of the Scheldt dues, upon the principles which have been +heretofore adopted in regard to the imposts upon navigation in the +waters of Denmark. The long-pending controversy between this +Government and that of Chile touching the seizure at Sitana, in Peru, +by Chilean officers, of a large amount in treasure belonging to +citizens of the United States has been brought to a close by the award +of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, to whose arbitration the +question was referred by the parties. The subject was thoroughly and +patiently examined by that justly respected magistrate, and although +the sum awarded to the claimants may not have been as large as they +expected there is no reason to distrust the wisdom of His Majesty's +decision. That decision was promptly complied with by Chile when +intelligence in regard to it reached that country.</p> + +<p>The joint commission under the act of the last session for carrying +into effect the convention with Peru on the subject of claims has been +organized at Lima, and is engaged in the business intrusted to it.</p> + +<p>Difficulties concerning interoceanic transit through Nicaragua are in +course of amicable adjustment.</p> + +<p>In conformity with principles set forth in my last annual message, I +have received a representative from the United States of Colombia, and +have accredited a minister to that Republic.</p> + +<p>Incidents occurring in the progress of our civil war have forced upon +my attention the uncertain state of international questions touching +the rights of foreigners in this country and of United States citizens +abroad. In regard to some governments these rights are at least +partially, defined by treaties. In no instance, however, is it +expressly stipulated that in the event of civil war a foreigner +residing in this country within the lines of the insurgents is to be +exempted from the rule which classes him as a belligerent, in whose +behalf the Government or his country can not expect any privileges or +immunities distinct from that character. I regret to say, however, that +such claims have been put forward, and in some instances in behalf of +foreigners who have lived in the United States the greater part of +their lives.</p> + +<p>There is reason to believe that many persons born in foreign countries +who have declared their intention to become citizens, or who have been +fully naturalized, have evaded the military duty required of them by +denying the fact and thereby throwing upon the Government the burden of +proof. It has been found difficult or impracticable to obtain this +proof, from the want of guides to the proper sources of information. +These might be supplied by requiring clerks of courts where +declarations of intention may be made or naturalizations effected to +send periodically lists of the names of the persons naturalized or +declaring their intention to become citizens to the Secretary of the +Interior, in whose Department those names might be arranged and printed +for general information.</p> + +<p>There is also reason to believe that foreigners frequently become +citizens of the United States for the sole purpose of evading duties +imposed by the laws of their native countries, to which on becoming +naturalized here they at once repair, and though never returning to the +United States they still claim the interposition of this Government as +citizens. Many altercations and great prejudices have heretofore arisen +out of this abuse. It is therefore submitted to your serious +consideration. It might be advisable to fix a limit beyond which no +citizen of the United States residing abroad may claim the +interposition of his Government.</p> + +<p>The right of suffrage has often been assumed and exercised by aliens +under pretenses of naturalization, which they have disavowed when +drafted into the military service. I submit the expediency of such an +amendment of the law as will make the fact of voting an estoppel +against any plea of exemption from military service or other civil +obligation on the ground of alienage.</p> + +<p>In common with other Western powers, our relations with Japan have been +brought into serious jeopardy through the perverse opposition of the +hereditary aristocracy of the Empire to the enlightened and liberal +policy of the Tycoon, designed to bring the country into the society of +nations. It is hoped, although not with entire confidence, that these +difficulties may be peacefully overcome. I ask your attention to the +claim of the minister residing there for the damages he sustained in +the destruction by fire of the residence of the legation at Yedo.</p> + +<p>Satisfactory arrangements have been made with the Emperor of Russia, +which, it is believed, will result in effecting a continuous line of +telegraph through that Empire from our Pacific coast.</p> + +<p>I recommend to your favorable consideration the subject of an +international telegraph across the Atlantic Ocean, and also of a +telegraph between this capital and the national forts along the +Atlantic seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico. Such communications, +established with any reasonable outlay, would be economical as well as +effective aids to the diplomatic, military, and naval service.</p> + +<p>The consular system of the United States, under the enactments of the +last Congress, begins to be self-sustaining, and there is reason to +hope that it may become entirely so with the increase of trade which +will ensue whenever peace is restored. Our ministers abroad have been +faithful in defending American rights. In protecting commercial +interests our consuls have necessarily had to encounter increased +labors and responsibilities growing out of the war. These they have for +the most part met and discharged with zeal and efficiency. This +acknowledgment justly includes those consuls who, residing in Morocco, +Egypt, Turkey, Japan, China, and other Oriental countries, are charged +with complex functions and extraordinary powers.</p> + +<p>The condition of the several organized Territories is generally +satisfactory, although Indian disturbances in New Mexico have not been +entirely suppressed. The mineral resources of Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, +New Mexico, and Arizona are proving far richer than has been heretofore +understood. I lay before you a communication on this subject from the +governor of New Mexico. I again submit to your consideration the +expediency of establishing a system for the encouragement of +immigration. Although this source of national wealth and strength is +again flowing with greater freedom than for several years before the +insurrection occurred, there is still a great deficiency of laborers in +every field of industry, especially in agriculture and in our mines, as +well of iron and coal as of the precious metals. While the demand for +labor is much increased here, tens of thousands of persons, destitute +of remunerative occupation, are thronging our foreign consulates and +offering to emigrate to the United States if essential, but very cheap, +assistance can be afforded them. It is easy to see that under the sharp +discipline of civil war the nation is beginning a new life. This noble +effort demands the aid and ought to receive the attention and support +of the Government.</p> + +<p>Injuries unforeseen by the Government and unintended may in some cases +have been inflicted on the subjects or citizens of foreign countries, +both at sea and on land, by persons in the service of the United +States. As this Government expects redress from other powers when +similar injuries are inflicted by persons in their service upon +citizens of the United States, we must be prepared to do justice to +foreigners. If the existing judicial tribunals are inadequate to this +purpose, a special court may be authorized, with power to hear and +decide such claims of the character referred to as may have arisen +under treaties and the public law. Conventions for adjusting the claims +by joint commission have been proposed to some governments, but no +definitive answer to the proposition has yet been received from any.</p> + +<p>In the course of the session I shall probably have occasion to request +you to provide indemnification to claimants where decrees of +restitution have been rendered and damages awarded by admiralty courts, +and in other cases where this Government may be acknowledged to be +liable in principle and where the amount of that liability has been +ascertained by an informal arbitration.</p> + +<p>The proper officers of the Treasury have deemed themselves required by +the law of the United States upon the subject to demand a tax upon the +incomes of foreign consuls in this country. While such a demand may not +in strictness be in derogation of public law, or perhaps of any +existing treaty between the United States and a foreign country, the +expediency of so far modifying the act as to exempt from tax the income +of such consuls as are not citizens of the United States, derived from +the emoluments of their office or from property not situated in the +United States, is submitted to your serious consideration. I make this +suggestion upon the ground that a comity which ought to be reciprocated +exempts our consuls in all other countries from taxation to the extent +thus indicated. The United States, I think, ought not to be +exceptionally illiberal to international trade and commerce.</p> + +<p>The operations of the Treasury during the last year have been +successfully conducted. The enactment by Congress of a national banking +law has proved a valuable support of the public credit and the general +legislation in relation to loans has fully answered the expectations of +its favorers. Some amendments may be required to perfect existing laws, +but no change in their principles or general scope is believed to be +needed.</p> + +<p>Since these measures have been in operation all demands on the +Treasury, including the pay of the Army and Navy, have been promptly +met and fully satisfied. No considerable body of troops, it is +believed, were ever more amply provided and more liberally and +punctually paid, and it may be added that by no people were the burdens +incident to a great war ever more cheerfully borne.</p> + +<p>The receipts during the year from all sources, including loans and +balance in the Treasury at its commencement, were $901,125,674.86, and +the aggregate disbursements $895,796,630.65, leaving a balance on the +1st of July, 1863, of $5,329,044.21. Of the receipts there were derived +from customs $69,059,642.40, from internal revenue $37,640,787.95, from +direct tax $1,485,103.61, from lands $167,617.17, from miscellaneous +sources $3,046,615.35, and from loans $776,682,361.57, making the +aggregate $901,125,674.86. Of the disbursements there were for the +civil service $23,253,922.08, for pensions and Indians $4,216,520.79, +for interest on public debt $24,729,846.51, for the War Department +$599,298,600.83, for the Navy Department $63,211,105.27, for payment of +funded and temporary debt $181,086,635.07, making the aggregate +$895,796,630.65 and leaving the balance of $5,329,044.21. But the +payment of funded and temporary debt, having been made from moneys +borrowed during the year, must be regarded as merely nominal payments +and the moneys borrowed to make them as merely nominal receipts, and +their amount, $181,086,635.07, should therefore be deducted both from +receipts and disbursements. This being done there remains as actual +receipts $720,039,039.79 and the actual disbursements $714,709,995.58, +leaving the balance as already stated.</p> + +<p>The actual receipts and disbursements for the first quarter and the +estimated receipts and disbursements for the remaining three quarters +of the current fiscal year (1864) will be shown in detail by the report +of the Secretary of the Treasury, to which I invite your attention. It +is sufficient to say here that it is not believed that actual results +will exhibit a state of the finances less favorable to the country than +the estimates of that officer heretofore submitted, while it is +confidently expected that at the close of the year both disbursements +and debt will be found very considerably less than has been +anticipated.</p> + +<p>The report of the Secretary of War is a document of great interest. It +consists of—</p> + +<p>1. The military operations of the year, detailed in the report of the +General in Chief. 2. The organization of colored persons into the war +service. 3. The exchange of prisoners, fully set forth in the letter of +General Hitchcock. 4. The operations under the act for enrolling and +calling out the national forces, detailed in the report of the +Provost-Marshal-General. 5. The organization of the invalid +corps, and 6. The operation of the several departments of the +Quartermaster-General, Commissary-General, Paymaster-General, Chief of +Engineers, Chief of Ordnance, and Surgeon-General.</p> + +<p>It has appeared impossible to make a valuable summary of this report, +except such as would be too extended for this place, and hence I +content myself by asking your careful attention to the report itself.</p> + +<p>The duties devolving on the naval branch of the service during the year +and throughout the whole of this unhappy contest have been discharged +with fidelity and eminent success. The extensive blockade has been +constantly increasing in efficiency as the Navy has expanded, yet on so +long a line it has so far been impossible to entirely suppress illicit +trade. From returns received at the Navy Department it appears that +more than 1,000 vessels have been captured since the blockade was +instituted, and that the value of prizes already sent in for +adjudication amounts to over $13,000,000.</p> + +<p>The naval force of the United States consists at this time of 588 +vessels completed and in the course of completion, and of these 75 are +ironclad or armored steamers. The events of the war give an increased +interest and importance to the Navy which will probably extend beyond +the war itself.</p> + +<p>The armored vessels in our Navy completed and in service, or which are +under contract and approaching completion, are believed to exceed in +number those of any other power; but while these may be relied upon for +harbor defense and coast service, others of greater strength and +capacity will be necessary for cruising purposes and to maintain our +rightful position on the ocean.</p> + +<p>The change that has taken place in naval vessels and naval warfare +since the introduction of steam as a motive power for ships of war +demands either a corresponding change in some of our existing +navy-yards or the establishment of new ones for the construction and +necessary repair of modern naval vessels. No inconsiderable +embarrassment, delay, and public injury have been experienced from the +want of such governmental establishments. The necessity of such a +navy-yard, so furnished, at some suitable place upon the Atlantic +seaboard has on repeated occasions been brought to the attention of +Congress by the Navy Department, and is again presented in the report +of the Secretary which accompanies this communication. I think it my +duty to invite your special attention to this subject, and also to that +of establishing a yard and depot for naval purposes upon one of the +Western rivers. A naval force has been created on those interior +waters, and under many disadvantages, within little more than two +years, exceeding in numbers the whole naval force of the country at the +commencement of the present Administration. Satisfactory and important +as have been the performances of the heroic men of the Navy at this +interesting period, they are scarcely more wonderful than the success +of our mechanics and artisans in the production of war vessels, which +has created a new form of naval power.</p> + +<p>Our country has advantages superior to any other nation in our +resources of iron and timber, with inexhaustible quantities of fuel in +the immediate vicinity of both, and all available and in close +proximity to navigable waters. Without the advantage of public works, +the resources of the nation have been developed and its power displayed +in the construction of a Navy of such magnitude, which has at the very +period of its creation rendered signal service to the Union.</p> + +<p>The increase of the number of seamen in the public service from 7,500 +men in the spring of 1861 to about 34,000 at the present time has been +accomplished without special legislation or extraordinary bounties to +promote that increase. It has been found, however, that the operation +of the draft, with the high bounties paid for army recruits, is +beginning to affect injuriously the naval service, and will, if not +corrected, be likely to impair its efficiency by detaching seamen from +their proper vocation and inducing them to enter the Army. I therefore +respectfully suggest that Congress might aid both the army and naval +services by a definite provision on this subject which would at the +same time be equitable to the communities more especially interested.</p> + +<p>I commend to your consideration the suggestions of the Secretary of the +Navy in regard to the policy of fostering and training seamen and also +the education of officers and engineers for the naval service. The +Naval Academy is rendering signal service in preparing midshipmen for +the highly responsible duties which in after life they will be required +to perform. In order that the country should not be deprived of the +proper quota of educated officers, for which legal provision has been +made at the naval school, the vacancies caused by the neglect or +omission to make nominations from the States in insurrection have been +filled by the Secretary of the Navy. The school is now more full and +complete than at any former period, and in every respect entitled to +the favorable consideration of Congress.</p> + +<p>During the past fiscal year the financial condition of the Post-Office +Department has been one of increasing prosperity, and I am gratified in +being able to state that the actual postal revenue has nearly equaled +the entire expenditures, the latter amounting to $11,314,206.84 and the +former to $11,163,789.59, leaving a deficiency of but $150,417.25. In +1860, the year immediately preceding the rebellion, the deficiency +amounted to $5,656,705.49, the postal receipts of that year being +$2,645,722.19 less than those of 1863. The decrease since 1860 in the +annual amount of transportation has been only about 25 per cent, but +the annual expenditure on account of the same has been reduced 35 per +cent. It is manifest, therefore, that the Post-Office Department may +become self-sustaining in a few years, even with the restoration of the +whole service.</p> + +<p>The international conference of postal delegates from the principal +countries of Europe and America, which was called at the suggestion of +the Postmaster-General, met at Paris on the 11th of May last and +concluded its deliberations on the 8th of June. The principles +established by the conference as best adapted to facilitate postal +intercourse between nations and as the basis of future postal +conventions inaugurate a general system of uniform international +charges at reduced rates of postage, and can not fail to produce +beneficial results.</p> + +<p>I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Interior, which is +herewith laid before you, for useful and varied information in relation +to the public lands, Indian affairs, patents, pensions, and other +matters of public concern pertaining to his Department.</p> + +<p>The quantity of land disposed of during the last and the first quarter +of the present fiscal years was 3,841,549 acres, of which 161,911 acres +were sold for cash, 1,456,514 acres were taken up under the homestead +law, and the residue disposed of under laws granting lands for military +bounties, for railroad and other purposes. It also appears that the +sale of the public lands is largely on the increase.</p> + +<p>It has long been a cherished opinion of some of our wisest statesmen +that the people of the United States had a higher and more enduring +interest in the early settlement and substantial cultivation of the +public lands than in the amount of direct revenue to be derived from +the sale of them. This opinion has had a controlling influence in +shaping legislation upon the subject of our national domain. I may cite +as evidence of this the liberal measures adopted in reference to actual +settlers; the grant to the States of the overflowed lands within their +limits, in order to their being reclaimed and rendered fit for +cultivation; the grants to railway companies of alternate sections of +land upon the contemplated issues of their roads, which when completed +will so largely multiply the facilities for reaching our distant +possessions. This policy has received its most signal and beneficent +illustration in the recent enactment granting homesteads to actual +settlers. Since the 1st day of January last the before-mentioned +quantity of 1,456,514 acres of land have been taken up under its +provisions. This fact and the amount of sales furnish gratifying +evidence of increasing settlement upon the public lands, +notwithstanding the great struggle in which the energies of the nation +have been engaged, and which has required so large a withdrawal of our +citizens from their accustomed pursuits. I cordially concur in the +recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior suggesting a +modification of the act in favor of those engaged in the military and +naval service of the United States. I doubt not that Congress will +cheerfully adopt such measures as will, without essentially changing +the general features of the system, secure to the greatest practicable +extent its benefits to those who have left their homes in the defense +of the country in this arduous crisis.</p> + +<p>I invite your attention to the views of the Secretary as to the +propriety of raising by appropriate legislation a revenue from the +mineral lands of the United States.</p> + +<p>The measures provided at your last session for the removal of certain +Indian tribes have been carried into effect. Sundry treaties have been +negotiated, which will in due time be submitted for the constitutional +action of the Senate. They contain stipulations for extinguishing the +possessory rights of the Indians to large and valuable tracts of lands. +It is hoped that the effect of these treaties will result in the +establishment of permanent friendly relations with such of these tribes +as have been brought into frequent and bloody collision with our +outlying settlements and emigrants. Sound policy and our imperative +duty to these wards of the Government demand our anxious and constant +attention to their material well-being, to their progress in the arts +of civilization, and, above all, to that moral training which under the +blessing of Divine Providence will confer upon them the elevated and +sanctifying influences, the hopes and consolations, of the Christian +faith. I suggested in my last annual message the propriety of +remodeling our Indian system. Subsequent events have satisfied me of +its necessity. The details set forth in the report of the Secretary +evince the urgent need for immediate legislative action.</p> + +<p>I commend the benevolent institutions established or patronized by the +Government in this District to your generous and fostering care. The +attention of Congress during the last session was engaged to some +extent with a proposition for enlarging the water communication between +the Mississippi River and the northeastern seaboard, which proposition, +however, failed for the time. Since then, upon a call of the greatest +respectability, a convention has been held at Chicago upon the same +subject, a summary of whose views is contained in a memorial addressed +to the President and Congress, and which I now have the honor to lay +before you. That this interest is one which ere long will force its own +way I do not entertain a doubt, while it is submitted entirely to your +wisdom as to what can be done now. Augmented interest is given to this +subject by the actual commencement of work upon the Pacific Railroad, +under auspices so favorable to rapid progress and completion. The +enlarged navigation becomes a palpable need to the great road.</p> + +<p>I transmit the second annual report of the Commissioner of the +Department of Agriculture, asking your attention to the developments in +that vital interest of the nation. When Congress assembled a year ago, +the war had already lasted nearly twenty months, and there had been +many conflicts on both land and sea, with varying results; the +rebellion had been pressed back into reduced limits; yet the tone of +public feeling and opinion, at home and abroad was not satisfactory. +With other signs, the popular elections then just past indicated +uneasiness among ourselves, while, amid much that was cold and +menacing, the kindest words coming from Europe were uttered in accents +of pity that we were too blind to surrender a hopeless cause. Our +commerce was suffering greatly by a few armed vessels built upon and +furnished from foreign shores, and we were threatened with such +additions from the same quarter as would sweep our trade from the sea +and raise our blockade. We had failed to elicit from European +Governments anything hopeful upon this subject. The preliminary +emancipation proclamation, issued in September, was running its +assigned period to the beginning of the new year. A month later the +final proclamation came, including the announcement that colored men of +suitable condition would be received into the war service. The policy +of emancipation and of employing black soldiers gave to the future a +new aspect, about which hope and fear and doubt contended in uncertain +conflict. According to our political system, as a matter of civil +administration, the General Government had no lawful power to effect +emancipation in any State, and for a long time it had been hoped that +the rebellion could be suppressed without resorting to it as a military +measure. It was all the while deemed possible that the necessity for it +might come, and that if it should the crisis of the contest would then +be presented. It came, and, as was anticipated, it was followed by dark +and doubtful days. Eleven months having now passed, we are permitted to +take another review. The rebel borders are pressed still farther back, +and by the complete opening of the Mississippi the country dominated by +the rebellion is divided into distinct parts, with no practical +communication between them. Tennessee and Arkansas have been +substantially cleared of insurgent control, and influential citizens in +each, owners of slaves and advocates of slavery at the beginning of the +rebellion, now declare openly for emancipation in their respective +States. Of those States not included in the emancipation proclamation, +Maryland and Missouri, neither of which three years ago would tolerate +any restraint upon the extension of slavery into new Territories, only +dispute now as to the best mode of removing it within their own limits.</p> + +<p>Of those who were slaves at the beginning of the rebellion full 100,000 +are now in the United States military service, about one-half of which +number actually bear arms in the ranks, thus giving the double +advantage of taking so much labor from the insurgent cause and +supplying the places which otherwise must be filled with so many white +men. So far as tested, it is difficult to say they are not as good +soldiers as any. No servile insurrection or tendency to violence or +cruelty has marked the measures of emancipation and arming the blacks. +These measures have been much discussed in foreign countries, and, +contemporary with such discussion, the tone of public sentiment there +is much improved. At home the same measures have been fully discussed, +supported, criticised, and denounced, and the annual elections +following are highly encouraging to those whose official duty it is to +bear the country through this great trial. Thus we have the new +reckoning. The crisis which threatened to divide the friends of the +Union is past.</p> + +<p>Looking now to the present and future, and with reference to a +resumption of the national authority within the States wherein that +authority has been suspended, I have thought fit to issue a +proclamation, a copy of which is herewith transmitted. On examination +of this proclamation it will appear, as is believed, that nothing will +be attempted beyond what is amply justified by the Constitution. True, +the form of an oath is given, but no man is coerced to take it. The man +is only promised a pardon in case he voluntarily takes the oath. The +Constitution authorizes the Executive to grant or withhold the pardon +at his own absolute discretion, and this includes the power to grant on +terms, as is fully established by judicial and other authorities.</p> + +<p>It is also proffered that if in any of the States named a State +government shall be in the mode prescribed set up, such government +shall be recognized and guaranteed by the United States, and that under +it the State shall, on the constitutional conditions, be protected +against invasion and domestic violence. The constitutional obligation +of the United States to guarantee to every State in the Union a +republican form of government and to protect the State in the cases +stated is explicit and full. But why tender the benefits of this +provision only to a State government set up in this particular way? +This section of the Constitution contemplates a case wherein the +element within a State favorable to republican government in the Union +may be too feeble for an opposite and hostile element external to or +even within the State, and such are precisely the cases with which we +are now dealing.</p> + +<p>An attempt to guarantee and protect a revived State government, +constructed in whole or in preponderating part from the very element +against whose hostility and violence it is to be protected, is simply +absurd. There must be a test by which to separate the opposing +elements, so as to build only from the sound; and that test is a +sufficiently liberal one which accepts as sound whoever will make a +sworn recantation of his former unsoundness.</p> + +<p>But if it be proper to require as a test of admission to the political +body an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and +to the Union under it, why also to the laws and proclamations in regard +to slavery? Those laws and proclamations were enacted and put forth for +the purpose of aiding in the suppression of the rebellion. To give them +their fullest effect there had to be a pledge for their maintenance. In +my judgment, they have aided and will further aid the cause for which +they were intended. To now abandon them would be not only to relinquish +a lever of power, but would also be a cruel and an astounding breach of +faith. I may add at this point that while I remain in my present +position I shall not attempt to retract or modify the emancipation +proclamation, nor shall I return to slavery any person who is free by +the terms of that proclamation or by any of the acts of Congress. For +these and other reasons it is thought best that support of these +measures shall be included in the oath, and it is believed the +Executive may lawfully claim it in return for pardon and restoration of +forfeited rights, which he has clear constitutional power to withhold +altogether or grant upon the terms which he shall deem wisest for the +public interest. It should be observed also that this part of the oath +is subject to the modifying and abrogating power of legislation and +supreme judicial decision.</p> + +<p>The proposed acquiescence of the National Executive in any reasonable +temporary State arrangement for the freed people is made with the view +of possibly modifying the confusion and destitution which must at best +attend all classes by a total revolution of labor throughout whole +States. It is hoped that the already deeply afflicted people in those +States may be somewhat more ready to give up the cause of their +affliction if to this extent this vital matter be left to themselves, +while no power of the National Executive to prevent an abuse is +abridged by the proposition.</p> + +<p>The suggestion in the proclamation as to maintaining the political +framework of the States on what is called reconstruction is made in the +hope that it may do good without danger of harm. It will save labor and +avoid great confusion.</p> + +<p>But why any proclamation now upon this subject? This question is beset +with the conflicting views that the step might be delayed too long or +be taken too soon. In some States the elements for resumption seem +ready for action, but remain inactive apparently for want of a rallying +point—a plan of action, Why shall A adopt the plan of B rather than B +that of A? And if A and B should agree, how can they know but that the +General Government here will reject their plan? By the proclamation a +plan is presented which may be accepted by them as a rallying point, +and which they are assured in advance will not be rejected here. This +may bring them to act sooner than they otherwise would. The objections +to a premature presentation of a plan by the National Executive consist +in the danger of committals on points which could be more safely left +to further developments. Care has been taken to so shape the document +as to avoid embarrassments from this source. Saying that on certain +terms certain classes will be pardoned with rights restored, it is not +said that other classes or other terms will never be in included. +Saying specified way, it is said that reconstruction will be accepted +if presented in a not said it will never be accepted in any other way.</p> + +<p>The movements by State action for emancipation in several of the States +not included in the emancipation proclamation are matters of profound +gratulation. And while I do not repeat in detail what I have heretofore +so earnestly urged upon this subject, my general views and feelings +remain unchanged; and I trust that Congress will omit no fair +opportunity of aiding these important steps to a great consummation. In +the midst of other cares, however important, we must not lose sight of +the fact that the war power is still our main reliance. To that power +alone can we look yet for a time to give confidence to the people in +the contested regions that the insurgent power will not again overrun +them. Until that confidence shall be established little can be done +anywhere for what is called reconstruction. Hence our chiefest care +must still be directed to the Army and Navy, who have thus far borne +their harder part so nobly and well; and it may be esteemed fortunate +that in giving the greatest efficiency to these indispensable arms we +do also honorably recognize the gallant men, from commander to +sentinel, who compose them, and to whom more than to others the world +must stand indebted for the home of freedom disenthralled, regenerated, +enlarged, and perpetuated.</p> + +<p class="cend">***</p> + +<h2><a name="dec_6_64" id="dec_6_64"></a>State of the Union Address<br /> +Abraham Lincoln<br /> +December 6, 1864</h2> + +<p>Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:</p> + +<p>Again the blessings of health and abundant harvests claim our +profoundest gratitude to Almighty God.</p> + +<p>The condition of our foreign affairs is reasonably satisfactory.</p> + +<p>Mexico continues to be a theater of civil war. While our political +relations with that country have undergone no change, we have at the +same time strictly maintained neutrality between the belligerents.</p> + +<p>At the request of the States of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, a competent +engineer has been authorized to make a survey of the river San Juan and +the port of San Juan. It is a source of much satisfaction that the +difficulties which for a moment excited some political apprehensions +and caused a closing of the interoceanic transit route have been +amicably adjusted, and that there is a good prospect that the route +will soon be reopened with an increase of capacity and adaptation. We +could not exaggerate either the commercial or the political importance +of that great improvement.</p> + +<p>It would be doing injustice to an important South American State not to +acknowledge the directness, frankness, and cordiality with which the +United States of Colombia have entered into intimate relations with +this Government. A claims convention has been constituted to complete +the unfinished work of the one which closed its session in 1861.</p> + +<p>The new liberal constitution of Venezuela having gone into effect with +the universal acquiescence of the people, the Government under it has +been recognized and diplomatic intercourse with it has opened in a +cordial and friendly spirit. The long-deferred Aves Island claim has +been satisfactorily paid and discharged.</p> + +<p>Mutual payments have been made of the claims awarded by the late joint +commission for the settlement of claims between the United States and +Peru. An earnest and cordial friendship continues to exist between the +two countries, and such efforts as were in my power have been used to +remove misunderstanding and avert a threatened war between Peru and +Spain.</p> + +<p>Our relations are of the most friendly nature with Chile, the Argentine +Republic, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salvador, and Hayti. +During the past year no differences of any kind have arisen with any of +those Republics, and, on the other hand, their sympathies with the +United States are constantly expressed with cordiality and earnestness.</p> + +<p>The claim arising from the seizure of the cargo of the brig Macedonian +in 1821 has been paid in full by the Government of Chile. Civil war +continues in the Spanish part of San Domingo, apparently without +prospect of an early close.</p> + +<p>Official correspondence has been freely opened with Liberia, and it +gives us a pleasing view of social and political progress in that +Republic. It may be expected to derive new vigor from American +influence, improved by the rapid disappearance of slavery in the United +States.</p> + +<p>I solicit your authority to furnish to the Republic a gunboat at +moderate cost, to be reimbursed to the United States by installments. +Such a vessel is needed for the safety of that State against the native +African races, and in Liberian hands it would be more effective in +arresting the African slave trade than a squadron in our own hands. The +possession of the least organized naval force would stimulate a +generous ambition in the Republic, and the confidence which we should +manifest by furnishing it would win forbearance and favor toward the +colony from all civilized nations.</p> + +<p>The proposed overland telegraph between America and Europe, by the way +of Behrings Straits and Asiatic Russia, which was sanctioned by +Congress at the last session, has been undertaken, under very favorable +circumstances, by an association of American citizens, with the cordial +good will and support as well of this Government as of those of Great +Britain and Russia. Assurances have been received from most of the +South American States of their high appreciation of the enterprise and +their readiness to cooperate in constructing lines tributary to that +world-encircling communication. I learn with much satisfaction that the +noble design of a telegraphic communication between the eastern coast +of America and Great Britain has been renewed, with full expectation of +its early accomplishment.</p> + +<p>Thus it is hoped that with the return of domestic peace the country +will be able to resume with energy and advantage its former high career +of commerce and civilization.</p> + +<p>Our very popular and estimable representative in Egypt died in April +last. An unpleasant altercation which arose between the temporary +incumbent of the office and the Government of the Pasha resulted in a +suspension of intercourse. The evil was promptly corrected on the +arrival of the successor in the consulate, and our relations with +Egypt, as well as our relations with the Barbary Powers, are entirely +satisfactory.</p> + +<p>The rebellion which has so long been flagrant in China has at last been +suppressed, with the cooperating good offices of this Government and of +the other Western commercial States. The judicial consular +establishment there has become very difficult and onerous, and it will +need legislative revision to adapt it to the extension of our commerce +and to the more intimate intercourse which has been instituted with the +Government and people of that vast Empire. China seems to be accepting +with hearty good will the conventional laws which regulate commercial +and social intercourse among the Western nations.</p> + +<p>Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan and the anomalous form of its +Government, the action of that Empire in performing treaty stipulations +is inconstant and capricious. Nevertheless, good progress has been +effected by the Western powers, moving with enlightened concert. Our +own pecuniary claims have been allowed or put in course of settlement, +and the inland sea has been reopened to commerce. There is reason also +to believe that these proceedings have increased rather than diminished +the friendship of Japan toward the United States.</p> + +<p>The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina, and Pensacola have been opened by +proclamation. It is hoped that foreign merchants will now consider +whether it is not safer and more profitable to themselves, as well as +just to the United States, to resort to these and other open ports than +it is to pursue, through many hazards and at vast cost, a contraband +trade with other ports which are closed, if not by actual military +occupation, at least by a lawful and effective blockade.</p> + +<p>For myself, I have no doubt of the power and duty of the Executive, +under the law of nations, to exclude enemies of the human race from an +asylum in the United States. If Congress should think that proceedings +in such cases lack the authority of law, or ought to be further +regulated by it, I recommend that provision be made for effectually +preventing foreign slave traders from acquiring domicile and facilities +for their criminal occupation in our country.</p> + +<p>It is possible that if it were new and open question the maritime +powers, with the lights they now enjoy, would not concede the +privileges of a naval belligerent to the insurgents of the United +States, destitute, as they are, and always have been, equally of ships +of war and of ports and harbors. Disloyal emissaries have been neither +less assiduous nor more successful during the last year than they were +before that time in their efforts under favor of that privilege, to +embroil our country in foreign wars. The desire and determination of +the governments of the maritime states to defeat that design are +believed to be as sincere as and can not be more earnest than our own. +Nevertheless, unforeseen political difficulties have arisen, especially +in Brazilian and British ports and on the northern boundary of the +United States, which have required, and are likely to continue to +require, the practice of constant vigilance and a just and conciliatory +spirit on the part of the United States, as well as of the nations +concerned and their governments.</p> + +<p>Commissioners have been appointed under the treaty with Great Britain +on the adjustment of the claims of the Hudsons Bay and Pugets Sound +Agricultural Companies, in Oregon, and are now proceeding to the +execution of the trust assigned to them.</p> + +<p>In view of the insecurity of life and property in the region adjacent +to the Canadian border, by reason of recent assaults and depredations +committed by inimical and desperate persons who are harbored there, it +has been thought proper to give notice that after the expiration of six +months, the period conditionally stipulated in the existing arrangement +with Great Britain, the United States must hold themselves at liberty +to increase their naval armament upon the Lakes if they shall find that +proceeding necessary. The condition of the border will necessarily come +into consideration in connection with the question of continuing or +modifying the rights of transit from Canada through the United States, +as well as the regulation of imposts, which were temporarily +established by the reciprocity treaty of the 5th June, 1854.</p> + +<p>I desire, however, to be understood while making this statement that +the colonial authorities of Canada are not deemed to be intentionally +unjust or unfriendly toward the United States, but, on the contrary, +there is every reason to expect that, with the approval of the Imperial +Government, they will take the necessary measures to prevent new +incursions across the border.</p> + +<p>The act passed at the last session for the encouragement of immigration +has so far as was possible been put into operation. It seems to need +amendment which will enable the officers of the Government to prevent +the practice of frauds against the immigrants while on their way and on +their arrival in the ports, so as to secure them here a free choice of +avocations and places of settlement. A liberal disposition toward this +great national policy is manifested by most of the European States, and +ought to be reciprocated on our part by giving the immigrants effective +national protection. I regard our immigrants as one of the principal +replenishing streams which are appointed by Providence to repair the +ravages of internal war and its wastes of national strength and health. +All that is necessary is to secure the flow of that stream in its +present fullness, and to that end the Government must in every way make +it manifest that it neither needs nor designs to impose involuntary +military service upon those who come from other lands to cast their lot +in our country.</p> + +<p>The financial affairs of the Government have been successfully +administered during the last year. The legislation of the last session +of Congress has beneficially affected the revenues, although sufficient +time has not yet elapsed to experience the full effect of several of +the provisions of the acts of Congress imposing increased taxation.</p> + +<p>The receipts during the year from all sources, upon the basis of +warrants signed by the Secretary of the Treasury, including loans and +the balance in the Treasury on the 1st day of July, 1863, were +$1,394,796,007.62, and the aggregate disbursements, upon the same +basis, were $1,298,056,101.89, leaving a balance in the Treasury, as +shown by warrants, of $96,739,905.73.</p> + +<p>Deduct from these amounts the amount of the principal of the public +debt redeemed and the amount of issues in substitution therefor, and +the actual cash operations of the Treasury were: Receipts, +$884,076,646.57; disbursements, $865,234,087.86; which leaves a cash +balance in the Treasury of $18,842,558.71.</p> + +<p>Of the receipts there were derived from customs $102,316,152.99, from +lands $588,333.29, from direct taxes $475,648.96, from internal revenue +$109,741,134.10, from miscellaneous sources $47,511,448.10, and from +loans applied to actual expenditures, including former balance, +$623,443,929.13.</p> + +<p>There were disbursed for the civil service $27,505,599.46, for pensions +and Indians $7,517,930.97, for the War Department $690,791,842.97, for +the Navy Department $85,733,292.77, for interest on the public debt +$53,685,421.69, making an aggregate of $865,234,087.86 and leaving a +balance in the Treasury of $18,842,558.71, as before stated.</p> + +<p>For the actual receipts and disbursements for the first quarter and the +estimated receipts and disbursements for the three remaining quarters +of the current fiscal year, and the general operations of the Treasury +in detail, I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury. +I concur with him in the opinion that the proportion of moneys required +to meet the expenses consequent upon the war derived from taxation +should be still further increased; and I earnestly invite your +attention to this subject, to the end that there may be such additional +legislation as shall be required to meet the just expectations of the +Secretary.</p> + +<p>The public debt on the 1st day of July last, as appears by the books of +the Treasury, amounted to $1,740,690,489.49. Probably, should the war +continue for another year, that amount may be increased by not far from +five hundred millions. Held, as it is, for the most part by our own +people, it has become a substantial branch of national, though private, +property. For obvious reasons the more nearly this property can be +distributed among all the people the better. To favor such general +distribution, greater inducements to become owners might, perhaps, with +good effect and without injury be presented to persons of limited +means. With this view I suggest whether it might not be both competent +and expedient for Congress to provide that a limited amount of some +future issue of public securities might be held by any bona fide +purchaser exempt from taxation and from seizure for debt, under such +restrictions and limitations as might be necessary to guard against +abuse of so important a privilege. This would enable every prudent +person to set aside a small annuity against a possible day of want.</p> + +<p>Privileges like these would render the possession of such securities to +the amount limited most desirable to every person of small means who +might be able to save enough for the purpose. The great advantage of +citizens being creditors as well as debtors with relation to the public +debt is obvious. Men readily perceive that they can not be much +oppressed by a debt which they owe to themselves.</p> + +<p>The public debt on the 1st day of July last, although somewhat +exceeding the estimate of the Secretary of the Treasury made to +Congress at the commencement of the last session, falls short of the +estimate of that officer made in the preceding December as to its +probable amount at the beginning of this year by the sum of +$3,995,097.31. This fact exhibits a satisfactory condition and conduct +of the operations of the Treasury.</p> + +<p>The national banking system is proving to be acceptable to capitalists +and to the people. On the 25th day of November 584 national banks had +been organized, a considerable number of which were conversions from +State banks. Changes from State systems to the national system are +rapidly taking place, and it is hoped that very soon there will be in +the United States no banks of issue not authorized by Congress and no +bank-note circulation not secured by the Government. That the +Government and the people will derive great benefit from this change in +the banking systems of the country can hardly be questioned. The +national system will create a reliable and permanent influence in +support of the national credit and protect the people against losses in +the use of paper money. Whether or not any further legislation is +advisable for the suppression of State-bank issues it will be for +Congress to determine. It seems quite clear that the Treasury can not +be satisfactorily conducted unless the Government can exercise a +restraining power over the bank-note circulation of the country. The +report of the Secretary of War and the accompanying documents will +detail the campaigns of the armies in the field since the date of the +last annual message, and also the operations of the several +administrative bureaus of the War Department during the last year. It +will also specify the measures deemed essential for the national +defense and to keep up and supply the requisite military force.</p> + +<p>The report of the Secretary of the Navy presents a comprehensive and +satisfactory exhibit of the affairs of that Department and of the naval +service. It is a subject of congratulation and laudable pride to our +countrymen that a Navy of such vast proportions has been organized in +so brief a period and conducted with so much efficiency and success.</p> + +<p>The general exhibit of the Navy, including vessels under construction +on the 1st of December, 1864, shows a total of 671 vessels, carrying +4,610 guns, and of 510,396 tons, being an actual increase during the +year, over and above all losses by shipwreck or in battle, of 83 +vessels, 167 guns, and 42,427 tons.</p> + +<p>The total number of men at this time in the naval service, including +officers, is about 51,000.</p> + +<p>There have been captured by the Navy during the year 324 vessels, and +the whole number of naval captures since hostilities commenced is +1,379, of which 267 are steamers.</p> + +<p>The gross proceeds arising from the sale of condemned prize property +thus far reported amount to $14,396,250.51. A large amount of such +proceeds is still under adjudication and yet to be reported.</p> + +<p>The total expenditure of the Navy Department of every description, +including the cost of the immense squadrons that have been called into +existence from the 4th of March, 1861, to the 1st of November, 1864, is +$238,647,262.35.</p> + +<p>Your favorable consideration is invited to the various recommendations +of the Secretary of the Navy, especially in regard to a navy-yard and +suitable establishment for the construction and repair of iron vessels +and the machinery and armature for our ships, to which reference was +made in my last annual message.</p> + +<p>Your attention is also invited to the views expressed in the report in +relation to the legislation of Congress at its last session in respect +to prize on our inland waters.</p> + +<p>I cordially concur in the recommendation of the Secretary as to the +propriety of creating the new rank of vice-admiral in our naval +service. Your attention is invited to the report of the +Postmaster-General for a detailed account of the operations and +financial condition of the Post-Office Department.</p> + +<p>The postal revenues for the year ending June 30, 1864, amounted to +$12,438,253.78 and the expenditures to $12,644,786.20, the excess of +expenditures over receipts being $206,652.42.</p> + +<p>The views presented by the Postmaster-General on the subject of special +grants by the Government in aid of the establishment of new lines of +ocean mail steamships and the policy he recommends for the development +of increased commercial intercourse with adjacent and neighboring +countries should receive the careful consideration of Congress.</p> + +<p>It is of noteworthy interest that the steady expansion of population, +improvement, and governmental institutions over the new and unoccupied +portions of our country 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 energies of the nation.</p> + +<p>The organization and admission of the State of Nevada has been +completed in conformity with law, and thus our excellent system is +firmly established in the mountains, which once seemed a barren and +uninhabitable waste between the Atlantic States and those which have +grown up on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.</p> + +<p>The Territories of the Union are generally in a condition of prosperity +and rapid growth. Idaho and Montana, by reason of their great distance +and the interruption of communication with them by Indian hostilities, +have been only partially organized; but it is understood that these +difficulties are about to disappear, which will permit their +governments, like those of the others, to go into speedy and full +operation. As intimately connected with and promotive of this material +growth of the nation, I ask the attention of Congress to the valuable +information and important recommendations relating to the public lands, +Indian affairs, the Pacific Railroad, and mineral discoveries contained +in the report of the Secretary of the Interior which is herewith +transmitted, and which report also embraces the subjects of patents, +pensions, and other topics of public interest pertaining to his +Department.</p> + +<p>The quantity of public land disposed of during the five quarters ending +on the 30th of September last was 4,221,342 acres, of which 1,538,614 +acres were entered under the homestead law. The remainder was located +with military land warrants, agricultural scrip certified to States for +railroads, and sold for cash. The cash received from sales and location +fees was $1,019,446.</p> + +<p>The income from sales during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1864, was +$678,007.21, against $136,077.95 received during the preceding year. +The aggregate number of acres surveyed during the year has been equal +to the quantity disposed of, and there is open to settlement about +133,000,000 acres of surveyed land.</p> + +<p>The great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific States +by railways and telegraph lines has been entered upon with a vigor that +gives assurance of success, notwithstanding the embarrassments arising +from the prevailing high prices of materials and labor. The route of +the main line of the road has been definitely located for 100 miles +westward from the initial point at Omaha City, Nebr., and a preliminary +location of the Pacific Railroad of California has been made from +Sacramento eastward to the great bend of the Truckee River in Nevada. +Numerous discoveries of gold, silver, and cinnabar mines have been +added to the many heretofore known, and the country occupied by the +Sierra Nevada and Rocky mountains and the subordinate ranges now teems +with enterprising labor, which is richly remunerative. It is believed +that the product of the mines of precious metals in that region has +during the year reached, if not exceeded, one hundred millions in +value.</p> + +<p>It was recommended in my last annual message that our Indian system be +remodeled. Congress at its last session, acting upon the +recommendation, did provide for reorganizing the system in California, +and it is believed that under the present organization the management +of the Indians there will be attended with reasonable success. Much yet +remains to be done to provide for the proper government of the Indians +in other parts of the country, to render it secure for the advancing +set-tier, and to provide for the welfare of the Indian. The Secretary +reiterates his recommendations, and to them the attention of Congress +is invited.</p> + +<p>The liberal provisions made by Congress for paying pensions to invalid +soldiers and sailors of the Republic and to the widows, orphans, and +dependent mothers of those who have fallen in battle or died of disease +contracted or of wounds received in the service of their country have +been diligently administered. There have been added to the pension +rolls during the year ending the 30th day of June last the names of +16,770 invalid soldiers and of 271 disabled seamen, making the present +number of army invalid pensioners 22,767 and of navy invalid pensioners +712.</p> + +<p>Of widows, orphans, and mothers 22,198 have been placed on the army +pension rolls and 248 on the navy rolls. The present number of army +pensioners of this class is 25,433 and of navy pensioners 793. At the +beginning of the year the number of Revolutionary pensioners was 1,430. +Only 12 of them were soldiers, of whom 7 have since died. The remainder +are those who under the law receive pensions because of relationship to +Revolutionary soldiers. During the year ending the 30th of June, 1864, +$4,504,616.92 have been paid to pensioners of all classes.</p> + +<p>I cheerfully commend to your continued patronage the benevolent +institutions of the District of Columbia which have hitherto been +established or fostered by Congress, and respectfully refer for +information concerning them and in relation to the Washington Aqueduct, +the Capitol, and other matters of local interest to the report of the +Secretary.</p> + +<p>The Agricultural Department, under the supervision of its present +energetic and faithful head, is rapidly commending itself to the great +and vital interest it was created to advance It is peculiarly the +people's Department, in which they feel more directly concerned than in +any other. I commend it to the continued attention and fostering care +of Congress.</p> + +<p>The war continues. Since the last annual message all the important +lines and positions then occupied by our forces have been maintained +and our arms have steadily advanced, thus liberating the regions left +in rear, so that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of other +States have again produced reasonably fair crops.</p> + +<p>The most remarkable feature in the military operations of the year is +General Sherman's attempted march of 300 miles directly through the +insurgent region. It tends to show a great increase of our relative +strength that our General in Chief should feel able to confront and +hold in check every active force of the enemy, and yet to detach a +well-appointed large army to move on such an expedition. The result not +yet being known, conjecture in regard to it is not here indulged.</p> + +<p>Important movements have also occurred during the year to the effect of +molding society for durability in the Union. Although short of complete +success, it is much in the fight direction that 12,000 citizens in each +of the States of Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal State +governments, with free constitutions, and are earnestly struggling to +maintain and administer them. The movements in the same direction, more +extensive though less definite, in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee +should not be overlooked. But Maryland 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, it may seek to tear her, but it will woo her +no-more.</p> + +<p>At the last session of Congress a proposed amendment of the +Constitution abolishing slavery throughout the United States passed the +Senate, but failed for lack of the requisite two-thirds vote in the +House of Representatives. Although the present is the same Congress and +nearly the same members, and without questioning the wisdom or +patriotism of those who stood in opposition, I venture to recommend the +reconsideration and passage of the measure at the present session. Of +course the abstract question is not changed; but in intervening +election shows almost certainly that the next Congress will pass the +measure if this does not. Hence there is only a question of time as to +when the proposed amendment will go to the States for their action. And +as it is to so go at all events, may we not agree that the sooner the +better? It is not claimed that the election has imposed a duty on +members to change their views or 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 a great national crisis like ours unanimity of action +among those seeking a common end is very desirable—almost +indispensable. And yet no approach to such unanimity is attainable +unless some deference 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 dearly declared in favor of +such constitutional amendment.</p> + +<p>The most reliable indication of public purpose in this country is +derived through our popular elections. Judging by the recent canvass +and its result, the purpose of the people within the loyal States to +maintain the integrity of the Union was never more firm nor more nearly +unanimous than now. The extraordinary calmness and good order with +which the millions of voters met and mingled at the polls give strong +assurance of this. Not only all those who supported the Union ticket, +so called, but a great majority of the opposing party also may be +fairly claimed to entertain and to be actuated by the same purpose. It +is an unanswerable argument to this effect that no candidate for any +office whatever, high or low, has ventured to seek votes on the avowal +that he was for giving up the Union. There have been much impugning of +motives and much heated controversy as to the proper means and best +mode of advancing the Union cause, but on the distinct issue of Union +or no Union the politicians have shown their instinctive knowledge that +there is no diversity among the people. In affording the people the +fair opportunity of showing one to another and to the world this +firmness and unanimity of purpose, the election has been of vast value +to the national cause.</p> + +<p>The election has exhibited another tact not less valuable to be +known—the fact that we do not approach exhaustion in the most +important branch of national resources, that of living men. While it is +melancholy to reflect that the war has filled so many graves and +carried mourning to so many hearts, it is some relief to know that, +compared with the surviving, the fallen have been so few. While corps +and divisions and brigades and regiments have formed and fought and +dwindled and gone out of existence, a great majority of the men who +composed them are still living. The same is true of the naval service. +The 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, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, +Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, +Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, +Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, east +3,982,011 votes now, against 3,870,222 cast then, showing an aggregate +now of 3,982,011. To this is to be added 33,762 cast now in the new +States of Kansas and Nevada, which States did not vote in 1860, thus +swelling the aggregate to 4,015,773 and the net increase during the +three years and a half of war to 145,551. A table is appended showing +particulars. To this again should be added the number of all soldiers +in the field from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, +Indiana, Illinois, and California, who by the laws of those States +could not vote away from their homes, and which number can not be less +than 90,000. Nor yet is this all. The number in organized Territories +is triple now what it was four years ago, while thousands, white and +black, join us as the national arms press back the insurgent lines. So +much is shown, affirmatively and negatively, by the election. It 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 +important fact remains demonstrated that we have more men now than we +had when the war began; that we are not exhausted nor in process of +exhaustion; that we are gaining strength and may if need be maintain +the contest indefinitely. This as to men. Material resources are now +more complete and abundant than ever.</p> + +<p>The national resources, then, are unexhausted, and, as we believe, +inexhaustible. The public purpose to reestablish and maintain the +national authority is unchanged, and, as we believe, unchangeable. The +manner of continuing the effort remains to choose. On careful +consideration of all the evidence accessible it seems to me that no +attempt at negotiation with the insurgent leader could result in any +good. He would accept nothing short of severance of the Union, +precisely what we will not and can not give. His declarations to this +effect are explicit and oft repeated. He does not attempt to deceive +us. He affords us no excuse to deceive ourselves. He can not +voluntarily reaccept the Union; we can not voluntarily yield it. +Between him and us the issue is distinct, simple, and inflexible. It is +an issue which can only be tried by war and decided by victory. If we +yield, we are beaten; if the Southern people fail him, he is beaten. +Either way it would be the victory and defeat following war. What is +true, however, of him who heads the insurgent cause is not necessarily +true of those who follow. Although he can not reaccept 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 +under the Constitution. Alter so much the Government could not, if it +would, maintain war against them. The loyal people would not sustain or +allow it. If questions should remain, we would adjust them by the +peaceful means of legislation, conference, courts, and votes, operating +only in constitutional and lawful channels. Some certain, and other +possible, questions are and would be beyond the Executive power to +adjust; as, for instance, the admission of members into Congress and +whatever might require the appropriation of money. The Executive power +itself would be greatly diminished by the cessation of actual war. +Pardons and remissions of forfeitures, however, would still be within +Executive control. In what spirit and temper this control would be +exercised can be fairly judged of by the past.</p> + +<p>A year ago general pardon and amnesty, upon specified terms, were +offered to all except certain designated classes, and it was at the +same time made known that the excepted classes were still within +contemplation of special clemency. During the year many availed +themselves of the general provision, and many more would, only that the +signs of bad faith in some led to such precautionary measures as +rendered the practical process less easy and certain. During the same +time also special pardons have been granted to individuals of the +excepted classes, and no voluntary application has been denied. Thus +practically the door has been for a full year open to all except such +as were not in condition to make free choice; that is, such as were in +custody or under constraint. It 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 in lieu more rigorous measures than heretofore shall be +adopted. In presenting the abandonment of armed resistance 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, I retract nothing heretofore said as to slavery. I repeat +the declaration made a year a ago, that "while I remain in my present +position I shall not attempt to retract or modify the emancipation +proclamation, nor shall I return to slavery any person who is free by +the terms of that proclamation or by any of the acts of Congress." If +the people should, by whatever mode or means, make it an Executive duty +to re-enslave such persons, another, and not I, must be their +instrument to perform it. In stating a single condition of peace I mean +simply to say that the war will cease on the part of the Government +whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who began it.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" +style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto; +max-width:50%;"> + +<tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><i>Table showing the aggregate votes in the States named, at the presidential +election respectively in 1860 and 1864.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" class="un">State</td> +<td align="right" class="un">1860</td> +<td align="right" class="un">1864</td></tr> +<tr><td>California</td><td align="right">118,840</td><td align="right">*110,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>Connecticut</td><td align="right">77,246</td><td align="right">86,616</td></tr> +<tr><td>Delaware</td><td align="right">16,039</td><td align="right">16,924</td></tr> +<tr><td>Illinois</td><td align="right">339,693</td><td align="right">348,235</td></tr> +<tr><td>Indiana</td><td align="right">272,143</td><td align="right">280,645</td></tr> +<tr><td>Iowa</td><td align="right">128,331</td><td align="right">143,331</td></tr> +<tr><td>Kentucky</td><td align="right">146,216</td><td align="right">*91,300</td></tr> +<tr><td>Maine</td><td align="right">97,918</td><td align="right">115,141</td></tr> +<tr><td>Maryland</td><td align="right">92,502</td><td align="right">72,703</td></tr> +<tr><td>Massachusetts</td><td align="right">169,533</td><td align="right">175,487</td></tr> +<tr><td>Michigan</td><td align="right">154,747</td><td align="right">162,413</td></tr> +<tr><td>Minnesota</td><td align="right">34,799</td><td align="right">42,534</td></tr> +<tr><td>Missouri</td><td align="right">165,538</td><td align="right">*90,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>New Hampshire</td><td align="right">65,953</td><td align="right">69,111</td></tr> +<tr><td>New Jersey</td><td align="right">121,125</td><td align="right">128,680</td></tr> +<tr><td>New York</td><td align="right">675,156</td><td align="right">730,664</td></tr> +<tr><td>Ohio</td><td align="right">42,441</td><td align="right">470,745</td></tr> +<tr><td>Oregon</td><td align="right">14,410</td><td align="right">+14,410</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pennsylvania</td><td align="right">476,442</td><td align="right">572,697</td></tr> +<tr><td>Rhode Island</td><td align="right">19,931</td><td align="right">22,187</td></tr> +<tr><td>Vermont</td><td align="right">42,844</td><td align="right">55,811</td></tr> +<tr><td>West Virginia</td><td align="right">46,195</td><td align="right">33,874</td></tr> +<tr><td>Wisconsin</td><td align="right">152,180</td><td align="right">148,513</td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td> +<td align="right" class="ov">3,870,222</td> +<td align="right" class="ov">3,982,01</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2">Kansas</td> +<td class="ov" align="right">17,234</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2">Nevada</td><td align="right">16,528</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td><td align="right" class="ov">33,762</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td><td align="right">3,982,011</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> Total</td><td align="right" class="ov">4,015,773</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td><td align="right">3,870,222</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> Net increase</td><td align="right" class="ovun">145,551</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" align="center">*Nearly. +Estimated.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's State of the Union Addresses, by Abraham Lincoln + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES *** + +***** This file should be named 5024-h.htm or 5024-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/2/5024/ + +Produced by James Linden + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: State of the Union Addresses + +Author: Abraham Lincoln + +Posting Date: February 23, 2014 [EBook #5024] + +Release Date: February, 2004 + +[This file was first posted on April 11, 2002] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES *** + + + + +Produced by James Linden + + + + + +State of the Union Addresses + +by Abraham Lincoln + +The addresses are separated by three asterisks: *** + +Dates of addresses by Abraham Lincoln in this eBook: + December 3, 1861 + December 1, 1862 + December 8, 1863 + December 6, 1864 + + + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Abraham Lincoln +December 3, 1861 + +Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: + +In the midst of unprecedented political troubles we have cause of great +gratitude to God for unusual good health and most abundant harvests. + +You will not be surprised to learn that in the peculiar exigencies of +the times our intercourse with foreign nations has been attended with +profound solicitude, chiefly turning upon our own domestic affairs. + +A disloyal portion of the American people have during the whole year +been engaged in an attempt to divide and destroy the Union. A nation +which endures factious domestic division is exposed to disrespect +abroad, and one party, if not both, is sure sooner or later to invoke +foreign intervention. + +Nations thus tempted to interfere are not always able to resist the +counsels of seeming expediency and ungenerous ambition, although +measures adopted under such influences seldom fail to be unfortunate +and injurious to those adopting them. + +The disloyal citizens of the United States who have offered the ruin of +our country in return for the aid and comfort which they have invoked +abroad have received less patronage and encouragement than they +probably expected. If it were just to suppose, as the insurgents have +seemed to assume, that foreign nations in this case, discarding all +moral, social, and treaty obligations, would act solely and selfishly +for the most speedy restoration of commerce, including especially the +acquisition of cotton, those nations appear as yet not to have seen +their way to their object more directly or clearly through the +destruction than through the preservation of the Union. If we could +dare to believe that foreign nations are actuated by no higher +principle than this, I am quite sure a sound argument could be made to +show them that they can reach their aim more readily and easily by +aiding to crush this rebellion than by giving encouragement to it. + +The principal lever relied on by the insurgents for exciting foreign +nations to hostility against us, as already intimated, is the +embarrassment of commerce. Those nations, however, not improbably saw +from the first that it was the Union which made as well our foreign as +our domestic commerce. They can scarcely have failed to perceive that +the effort for disunion produces the existing difficulty, and that one +strong nation promises more durable peace and a more extensive, +valuable, and reliable commerce than can the same nation broken into +hostile fragments. + +It is not my purpose to review our discussions with foreign states, +because, whatever might be their wishes or dispositions, the integrity +of our country and the stability of our Government mainly depend not +upon them, but on the loyalty, virtue, patriotism, and intelligence of +the American people. The correspondence itself, with the usual +reservations, is herewith submitted. + +I venture to hope it will appear that we have practiced prudence and +liberality toward foreign powers, averting causes of irritation and +with firmness maintaining our own rights and honor. + +Since, however, it is apparent that here, as in every other state, +foreign dangers necessarily attend domestic difficulties, I recommend +that adequate and ample measures be adopted for maintaining the public +defenses on every side. While under this general recommendation +provision for defending our seacoast line readily occurs to the mind, I +also in the same connection ask the attention of Congress to our great +lakes and rivers. It is believed that some fortifications and depots of +arms and munitions, with harbor and navigation improvements, all at +well-selected points upon these, would be of great importance to the +national defense and preservation. I ask attention to the views of the +Secretary of War, expressed in his report, upon the same general +subject. I deem it of importance that the loyal regions of east +Tennessee and western North Carolina should be connected with Kentucky +and other faithful parts of the Union by railroad. I therefore +recommend, as a military measure, that Congress provide for the +construction of such road as speedily as possible. Kentucky no doubt +will cooperate, and through her legislature make the most judicious +selection of a line. The northern terminus must connect with some +existing railroad, and whether the route shall be from Lexington or +Nicholasville to the Cumberland Gap, or from Lebanon to the Tennessee +line, in the direction of Knoxville, or on some still different line, +can easily be determined. Kentucky and the General Government +cooperating, the work can be completed in a very short time, and when +done it will be not only of vast present usefulness, but also a +valuable permanent improvement, worth its cost in all the future. + +Some treaties, designed chiefly for the interests of commerce, and +having no grave political importance, have been negotiated, and will be +submitted to the Senate for their consideration. + +Although we have failed to induce some of the commercial powers to +adopt a desirable melioration of the rigor of maritime war, we have +removed all obstructions from the way of this humane reform except such +as are merely of temporary and accidental occurrence. + +I invite your attention to the correspondence between Her Britannic +Majesty's minister accredited to this Government and the Secretary of +State relative to the detention of the British ship Perthshire in June +last by the United States steamer Massachusetts for a supposed breach +of the blockade. As this detention was occasioned by an obvious +misapprehension of the facts, and as justice requires that we should +commit no belligerent act not rounded in strict right as sanctioned by +public law, I recommend that an appropriation be made to satisfy the +reasonable demand of the owners of the vessel for her detention. + +I repeat the recommendation of my predecessor in his annual message to +Congress in December last in regard to the disposition of the surplus +which will probably remain after satisfying the claims of American +citizens against China, pursuant to the awards of the commissioners +under the act of the 3d of March, 1859. If, however, it should not be +deemed advisable to carry that recommendation into effect, I would +suggest that authority be given for investing the principal, over the +proceeds of the surplus referred to, in good securities, with a view to +the satisfaction of such other just claims of our citizens against +China as are not unlikely to arise hereafter in the course of our +extensive trade with that Empire. + +By the act of the 5th of August last Congress authorized the President +to instruct the commanders of suitable vessels to defend themselves +against and to capture pirates. This authority has been exercised in a +single instance only. For the more effectual protection of our +extensive and valuable commerce in the Eastern seas especially, it +seems to me that it would also be advisable to authorize the commanders +of sailing vessels to recapture any prizes which pirates may make of +United States vessels and their cargoes, and the consular courts now +established by law in Eastern countries to adjudicate the cases in the +event that this should not be objected to by the local authorities. + +If any good reason exists why we should persevere longer in withholding +our recognition of the independence and sovereignty of Hayti and +Liberia, I am unable to discern it. Unwilling, however, to inaugurate a +novel policy in regard to them without the approbation of Congress, I +submit for your consideration the expediency of an appropriation for +maintaining a charge d'affaires near each of those new States. It does +not admit of doubt that important commercial advantages might be +secured by favorable treaties with them. + +The operations of the Treasury during the period which has elapsed +since your adjournment have been conducted with signal success. The +patriotism of the people has placed at the disposal of the Government +the large means demanded by the public exigencies. Much of the national +loan has been taken by citizens of the industrial classes, whose +confidence in their country's faith and zeal for their country's +deliverance from present peril have induced them to contribute to the +support of the Government the whole of their limited acquisitions. This +fact imposes peculiar obligations to economy in disbursement and energy +in action. + +The revenue from all sources, including loans, for the financial year +ending on the 30th of June, 1861, was $86,835,900.27, and the +expenditures for the same period, including payments on account of the +public debt, were $84,578,834.47, leaving a balance in the Treasury on +the 1st of July of 52,257,065.80. For the first quarter of the +financial year ending on the 30th of September, 1861, the receipts from +all sources, including the balance of the 1st of July, were +$102,532,509.27, and the expenses $98,239,733.09, leaving a balance on +the 1st of October, 1861, of $4,292,776.18. + +Estimates for the remaining three quarters of the year and for the +financial year 1863, together with his views of ways and means for +meeting the demands contemplated by them, will be submitted to Congress +by the Secretary of the Treasury. It is gratifying to know that the +expenditures made necessary by the rebellion are not beyond the +resources of the loyal people, and to believe that the same patriotism +which has thus far sustained the Government will continue to sustain it +till peace and union shall again bless the land. + +I respectfully refer to the report of the Secretary of War for +information respecting the numerical strength of the Army and for +recommendations having in view an increase of its efficiency and the +well-being of the various branches of the service intrusted to his +care. It is gratifying to know that the patriotism of the people has +proved equal to the occasion, and that the number of troops tendered +greatly exceeds the force which Congress authorized me to call into the +field. + +I refer with pleasure to those portions of his report which make +allusion to the creditable degree of discipline already attained by our +troops and to the excellent sanitary condition of the entire Army. + +The recommendation of the Secretary for an organization of the militia +upon a uniform basis is a subject of vital importance to the future +safety of the country, and is commended to the serious attention of +Congress. + +The large addition to the Regular Army, in connection with the +defection that has so considerably diminished the number of its +officers, gives peculiar importance to his recommendation for +increasing the corps of cadets to the greatest capacity of the Military +Academy. + +By mere omission, I presume, Congress has failed to provide chaplains +for hospitals occupied by volunteers. This subject was brought to my +notice, and I was induced to draw up the form of a letter, one copy of +which, properly addressed, has been delivered to each of the persons, +and at the dates respectively named and stated in a schedule, +containing also the form of the letter marked A, and herewith +transmitted. + +These gentlemen, I understand, entered upon the duties designated at +the times respectively stated in the schedule, and have labored +faithfully therein ever since. I therefore recommend that they be +compensated at the same rate as chaplains in the Army. I further +suggest that general provision be made for chaplains to serve at +hospitals, as well as with regiments. + +The report of the Secretary of the Navy presents in detail the +operations of that branch of the service, the activity and energy which +have characterized its administration, and the results of measures to +increase its efficiency and power. Such have been the additions, by +construction and purchase, that it may almost be said a navy has been +created and brought into service since our difficulties commenced. + +Besides blockading our extensive coast, squadrons larger than ever +before assembled under our flag have been put afloat and performed +deeds which have increased our naval renown. + +I would invite special attention to the recommendation of the Secretary +for a more perfect organization of the Navy by introducing additional +grades in the service. + +The present organization is defective and unsatisfactory, and the +suggestions submitted by the Department will, it is believed, if +adopted, obviate the difficulties alluded to, promote harmony, and +increase the efficiency of the Navy. + +There are three vacancies on the bench of the Supreme Court--two by the +decease of Justices Daniel and McLean and one by the resignation of +Justice Campbell. I have so far forborne making nominations to fill +these vacancies for reasons which I will now state. Two of the outgoing +judges resided within the States now overrun by revolt, so that if +successors were appointed in the same localities they could not now +serve upon their circuits; and many of the most competent men there +probably would not take the personal hazard of accepting to serve, even +here, upon the Supreme bench. I have been unwilling to throw all the +appointments northward, thus disabling myself from doing justice to the +South on the return of peace; although I may remark that to transfer to +the North one which has heretofore been in the South would not, with +reference to territory and population, be unjust. + +During the long and brilliant judicial career of Judge McLean his +circuit grew into an empire altogether too large for any one judge to +give the courts therein more than a nominal attendance--rising in +population from 1,470,018 in 1830 to 6,151,405 in 1860. + +Besides this, the country generally has outgrown our present judicial +system. If uniformity was at all intended, the system requires that all +the States shall be accommodated with circuit courts, attended by +Supreme judges, while, in fact, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, +Florida, Texas, California, and Oregon have never had any such courts. +Nor can this well be remedied without a change in the system, because +the adding of judges to the Supreme Court, enough for the accommodation +of all parts of the country with circuit courts, would create a court +altogether too numerous for a judicial body of any sort. And the evil, +if it be one, will increase as new States come into the Union. Circuit +courts are useful or they are not useful. If useful, no State should be +denied them; if not useful, no State should have them. Let them be +provided for all or abolished as to all. + +Three modifications occur to me, either of which, I think, would be an +improvement upon our present system. Let the Supreme Court be of +convenient number in every event; then, first, let the whole country be +divided into circuits of convenient size, the Supreme judges to serve +in a number of them corresponding to their own number, and independent +circuit judges be provided for all the rest; or, secondly, let the +Supreme judges be relieved from circuit duties and circuit judges +provided for all the circuits; or, thirdly, dispense with circuit +courts altogether, leaving the judicial functions wholly to the +district courts and an independent Supreme Court. + +I respectfully recommend to the consideration of Congress the present +condition of the statute laws, with the hope that Congress will be able +to find an easy remedy for many of the inconveniences and evils which +constantly embarrass those engaged in the practical administration of +them. Since the organization of the Government Congress has enacted +some 5,000 acts and joint resolutions, which fill more than 6,000 +closely printed pages and are scattered through many volumes. Many of +these acts have been drawn in haste and without sufficient caution, so +that their provisions are often obscure in themselves or in conflict +with each other, or at least so doubtful as to render it very difficult +for even the best-informed persons to ascertain precisely what the +statute law really is. + +It seems to me very important that the statute laws should be made as +plain and intelligible as possible, and be reduced to as small a +compass as may consist with the fullness and precision of the will of +the Legislature and the perspicuity of its language. This well done +would, I think, greatly facilitate the labors of those whose duty it is +to assist in the administration of the laws, and would be a lasting +benefit to the people, by placing before them in a more accessible and +intelligible form the laws which so deeply concern their interests and +their duties. + +I am informed by some whose opinions I respect that all the acts of +Congress now in force and of a permanent and general nature might be +revised and rewritten so as to be embraced in one volume (or at most +two volumes) of ordinary and convenient size; and I respectfully +recommend to Congress to consider of the subject, and if my suggestion +be approved to devise such plan as to their wisdom shall seem most +proper for the attainment of the end proposed. + +One of the unavoidable consequences of the present insurrection is the +entire suppression in many places of all the ordinary means of +administering civil justice by the officers and in the forms of +existing law. This is the case, in whole or in part, in all the +insurgent States; and as our armies advance upon and take possession of +parts of those States the practical evil becomes more apparent. There +are no courts nor officers to whom the citizens of other States may +apply for the enforcement of their lawful claims against citizens of +the insurgent States, and there is a vast amount of debt constituting +such claims. Some have estimated it as high as $200,000,000, due in +large part from insurgents in open rebellion to loyal citizens who are +even now making great sacrifices in the discharge of their patriotic +duty to support the Government. + +Under these circumstances I have been urgently solicited to establish +by military power courts to administer summary justice in such cases I +have thus far declined to do it, not because I had any doubt that the +end proposed--the collection of the debts--was just and right in +itself, but because I have been unwilling to go beyond the pressure of +necessity in the unusual exercise of power. But the powers of Congress, +I suppose, are equal to the anomalous occasion, and therefore I refer +the whole matter to Congress, with the hope that a plan may be devised +for the administration of justice in all such parts of the insurgent +States and Territories as may be under the control of this Government, +whether by a voluntary return to allegiance and order or by the power +of our arms; this, however, not to be a permanent institution, but a +temporary substitute, and to cease as soon as the ordinary courts can +be reestablished in peace. + +It is important that some more convenient means should be provided, if +possible, for the adjustment of claims against the Government, +especially in view of their increased number by reason of the war. It +is as much the duty of Government to render prompt justice against +itself in favor of citizens as it is to administer the same between +private individuals. The investigation and adjudication of claims in +their nature belong to the judicial department. Besides, it is apparent +that the attention of Congress will be more than usually engaged for +some time to come with great national questions. It was intended by the +organization of the Court of Claims mainly to remove this branch of +business from the halls of Congress: but while the court has proved to +be an effective and valuable means of investigation, it in great degree +fails to effect the object of its creation for want of power to make +its judgments final. + +Fully aware of the delicacy, not to say the danger, of the subject, I +commend to your careful consideration whether this power of making +judgments final may not properly be given to the court, reserving the +right of appeal on questions of law to the Supreme Court, with such +other provisions as experience may have shown to be necessary. + +I ask attention to the report of the Postmaster-General, the following +being a summary statement of the condition of the Department: + +The revenue from all sources during the fiscal year ending June 30, +1861, including the annual permanent appropriation of $700,000 for the +transportation of "free mail matter," was $9,049,296.40, being about 2 +per cent less than the revenue for 1860. + +The expenditures were $13,606,759.11, showing a decrease of more than 8 +per cent as compared with those of the previous year and leaving an +excess of expenditure over the revenue for the last fiscal year of +$4,557,462.71. + +The gross revenue for the year ending June 30, 1863, is estimated at an +increase of 4 per cent on that of 1861, making $8,683,000, to which +should be added the earnings of the Department in carrying free matter, +viz, $700,000, making $9,383,000. + +The total expenditures for 1863 are estimated at $12,528,000, leaving +an estimated deficiency of $3,145,000 to be supplied from the Treasury +in addition to the permanent appropriation. + +The present insurrection shows, I think, that the extension of this +District across the Potomac River at the time of establishing the +capital here was eminently wise, and consequently that the +relinquishment of that portion of it which lies within the State of +Virginia was unwise and dangerous. I submit for your consideration the +expediency of regaining that part of the District and the restoration +of the original boundaries thereof through negotiations with the State +of Virginia. + +The report of the Secretary of the Interior, with the accompanying +documents, exhibits the condition of the several branches of the public +business pertaining to that Department. The depressing influences of +the insurrection have been specially felt in the operations of the +Patent and General Land Offices. The cash receipts from the sales of +public lands during the past year have exceeded the expenses of our +land system only about $200,000. The sales have been entirely suspended +in the Southern States, while the interruptions to the business of the +country and the diversion of large numbers of men from labor to +military service have obstructed settlements in the new States and +Territories of the Northwest. + +The receipts of the Patent Office have declined in nine months about +$100,000, rendering a large reduction of the force employed necessary +to make it self-sustaining. + +The demands upon the Pension Office will be largely increased by the +insurrection. Numerous applications for pensions, based upon the +casualties of the existing war, have already been made. There is reason +to believe that many who are now upon the pension rolls and in receipt +of the bounty of the Government are in the ranks of the insurgent army +or giving them aid and comfort. The Secretary of the Interior has +directed a suspension of the payment of the pensions of such persons +upon proof of their disloyalty. I recommend that Congress authorize +that officer to cause the names of such persons to be stricken from the +pension rolls. + +The relations of the Government with the Indian tribes have been +greatly disturbed by the insurrection, especially in the southern +superintendency and in that of New Mexico. The Indian country south of +Kansas is in the possession of insurgents from Texas and Arkansas. The +agents of the United States appointed since the 4th of March for this +superintendency have been unable to reach their posts, while the most +of those who were in office before that time have espoused the +insurrectionary cause, and assume to exercise the powers of agents by +virtue of commissions from the insurrectionists. It has been stated in +the public press that a portion of those Indians have been organized as +a military force and are attached to the army of the insurgents. +Although the Government has no official information upon this subject, +letters have been written to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs by +several prominent chiefs giving assurance of their loyalty to the +United States and expressing a wish for the presence of Federal troops +to protect them. It is believed that upon the repossession of the +country by the Federal forces the Indians will readily cease all +hostile demonstrations and resume their former relations to the +Government. + +Agriculture, confessedly the largest interest of the nation, has not a +department nor a bureau, but a clerkship only, assigned to it in the +Government. While it is fortunate that this great interest is so +independent in its nature as to not have demanded and extorted more +from the Government, I respectfully ask Congress to consider whether +something more can not be given voluntarily with general advantage. + +Annual reports exhibiting the condition of our agriculture, commerce, +and manufactures would present a fund of information of great practical +value to the country. While I make no suggestion as to details, I +venture the opinion that an agricultural and statistical bureau might +profitably be organized. + +The execution of the laws for the suppression of the African slave +trade has been confided to the Department of the Interior. It is a +subject of gratulation that the efforts which have been made for the +suppression of this inhuman traffic have been recently attended with +unusual success. Five vessels being fitted out for the slave trade have +been seized and condemned. Two mates of vessels engaged in the trade +and one person in equipping a vessel as a slaver have been convicted +and subjected to the penalty of fine and imprisonment, and one captain, +taken with a cargo of Africans on board his vessel, has been convicted +of the highest grade of offense under our laws, the punishment of which +is death. + +The Territories of Colorado, Dakota, and Nevada, created by the last +Congress, have been organized, and civil administration has been +inaugurated therein under auspices especially gratifying when it is +considered that the leaven of treason was found existing in some of +these new countries when the Federal officers arrived there. + +The abundant natural resources of these Territories, with the security +and protection afforded by organized government, will doubtless invite +to them a large immigration when peace shall restore the business of +the country to its accustomed channels. I submit the resolutions of the +legislature of Colorado, which evidence the patriotic spirit of the +people of the Territory. So far the authority of the United States has +been upheld in all the Territories, as it is hoped it will be in the +future. I commend their interests and defense to the enlightened and +generous care of Congress. + +I recommend to the favorable consideration of Congress the interests of +the District of Columbia. The insurrection has been the cause of much +suffering and sacrifice to its inhabitants, and as they have no +representative in Congress that body should not overlook their just +claims upon the Government. + +At your late session a joint resolution was adopted authorizing the +President to take measures for facilitating a proper representation of +the industrial interests of the United States at the exhibition of the +industry of all nations to be holden at London in the year 1862. I +regret to say I have been unable to give personal attention to this +subject--a subject at once so interesting in itself and so extensively +and intimately connected with the material prosperity of the world. +Through the Secretaries of State and of the Interior a plan or system +has been devised and partly matured, and which will be laid before you. + +Under and by virtue of the act of Congress entitled "An act to +confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes," approved August +6, 1861, the legal claims of certain persons to the labor and service +of certain other persons have become forfeited, and numbers of the +latter thus liberated are already dependent on the United States and +must be provided for in some way. Besides this, it is not impossible +that some of the States will pass similar enactments for their own +benefit respectively, and by operation of which persons of the same +class will be thrown upon them for disposal. In such case I recommend +that Congress provide for accepting such persons from such States, +according to some mode of valuation, in lieu, pro tanto, of direct +taxes, or upon some other plan to be agreed on with such States +respectively; that such persons, on such acceptance by the General +Government, be at once deemed free, and that in any event steps be +taken for colonizing both classes (or the one first mentioned if the +other shall not be brought into existence) at some place or places in a +climate congenial to them. It might be well to consider, too, whether +the free colored people already in the United States could not, so far +as individuals may desire, be included in such colonization. + +To carry out the plan of colonization may involve the acquiring of +territory, and also the appropriation of money beyond that to be +expended in the territorial acquisition. Having practiced the +acquisition of territory for nearly sixty years, the question of +constitutional power to do so is no longer an open one with us. The +power was questioned at first by Mr. Jefferson, who, however, in the +purchase of Louisiana, yielded his scruples on the plea of great +expediency. If it be said that the only legitimate object of acquiring +territory is to furnish homes for white men, this measure effects that +object, for the emigration of colored men leaves additional room for +white men remaining or coming here. Mr. Jefferson, however, placed the +importance of procuring Louisiana more on political and commercial +grounds than on providing room for population. + +On this whole proposition, including the appropriation of money with +the acquisition of territory, does not the expediency amount to +absolute necessity--that without which the Government itself can not be +perpetuated? + +The war continues. In considering the policy to be adopted for +suppressing the insurrection I have been anxious and careful that the +inevitable conflict for this purpose shall not degenerate into a +violent and remorseless revolutionary struggle. I have therefore in +every case thought it proper to keep the integrity of the Union +prominent as the primary object of the contest on our pan, leaving all +questions which are not of vital military importance to the more +deliberate action of the Legislature. + +In the exercise of my best discretion I have adhered to the blockade of +the ports held by the insurgents, instead of putting in force by +proclamation the law of Congress enacted .at the late session for +closing those ports. + +So also, obeying the dictates of prudence, as well as the obligations +of law, instead of transcending I have adhered to the act of Congress +to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes. If a new law +upon the same subject shall be proposed, its propriety will be duly +considered. The Union must be preserved, and hence all indispensable +means must be employed. We should not be in haste to determine that +radical and extreme measures, which may reach the loyal as well as the +disloyal, are indispensable. + +The inaugural address at the beginning of the Administration and the +message to Congress at the late special session were both mainly +devoted to the domestic controversy out of which the insurrection and +consequent war have sprung. Nothing now occurs to add or subtract to or +from the principles or general purposes stated and expressed in those +documents. + +The last ray of hope for preserving the Union peaceably expired at the +assault upon Fort Sumter, and a general review of what has occurred +since may not be unprofitable. What was painfully uncertain then is +much better defined and more distinct now, and the progress of events +is plainly in the right direction. The insurgents confidently claimed a +strong support from north of Mason and Dixon's line, and the friends of +the Union were not free from apprehension on the point. This, however, +was soon settled definitely, and on the right side. South of the line +noble little Delaware led off right from the first. Maryland was made +to seem against the Union. Our soldiers were assaulted, bridges were +burned, and railroads torn up within her limits, and we were many days +at one time without the ability to bring a single regiment over her +soil to the capital. Now her bridges and railroads are repaired and +open to the Government; she already gives seven regiments to the cause +of the Union, and none to the enemy; and her people, at a regular +election, have sustained the Union by a larger majority and a larger +aggregate vote than they ever before gave to any candidate or any +question. Kentucky, too, for some time in doubt, is now decidedly and, +I think, unchangeably ranged on the side of the Union. Missouri is +comparatively quiet, and, I believe, can not again be overrun by the +insurrectionists. These three States of Maryland, Kentucky, and +Missouri, neither of which would promise a single soldier at first, +have now an aggregate of not less than 40,000 in the field for the +Union, while of their citizens certainly not more than a third of that +number, and they of doubtful whereabouts and doubtful existence, are in +arms against us. After a somewhat bloody struggle of months, winter +closes on the Union people of western Virginia, leaving them masters of +their own country. + +An insurgent force of about 1,500, for months dominating the narrow +peninsular region constituting the counties of Accomac and Northampton, +and known as Eastern Shore of Virginia, together with some contiguous +parts of Maryland, have laid down their arms, and the people there have +renewed their allegiance to and accepted the protection of the old +flag. This leaves no armed insurrectionist north of the Potomac or east +of the Chesapeake. + +Also we have obtained a footing at each of the isolated points on the +southern coast of Hatteras, Port Royal, Tybee Island (near Savannah), +and Ship Island; and we likewise have some general accounts of popular +movements in behalf of the Union in North Carolina and Tennessee. + +These things demonstrate that the cause of the Union is advancing +steadily and certainly southward. + +Since your last adjournment Lieutenant-General Scott has retired from +the head of the Army. During his long life the nation has not been +unmindful of his merit; yet on calling to mind how faithfully, ably, +and brilliantly he has served the country, from a time far back in our +history, when few of the now living had been born, and thenceforward +continually, I can not but think we are still his debtors. I submit, +therefore, for your consideration what further mark of recognition is +due to him, and to ourselves as a grateful people. + +With the retirement of General Scott came the Executive duty of +appointing in his stead a General in Chief of the Army. It is a +fortunate circumstance that neither in council nor country was there, +so far as I know, any difference of opinion as to the proper person to +be selected. The retiring chief repeatedly expressed his judgment in +favor of General McClellan for the position, and in this the nation +seemed to give a unanimous concurrence. The designation of General +McClellan is therefore in considerable degree the selection of the +country as well as of the Executive, and hence there is better reason +to hope there will be given him the confidence and cordial support thus +by fair implication promised, and without which he can not with so full +efficiency serve the country. + +It has been said that one bad general is better than two good ones, and +the saying is true if taken to mean no more than that an army is better +directed by a single mind, though inferior, than by two superior ones +at variance and cross-purposes with each other. + +And the same is true in all joint operations wherein those engaged can +have none but a common end in view and can differ only as to the choice +of means. In a storm at sea no one on board can wish the ship to sink, +and yet not unfrequently all go down together because too many will +direct and no single mind can be allowed to control. + +It continues to develop that the insurrection is largely, if not +exclusively, a war upon the first principle of popular government--the +rights of the people. Conclusive evidence of this is found in the most +grave and maturely considered public documents, as well as in the +general tone of the insurgents. In those documents we find the +abridgment of the existing right of suffrage and the denial to the +people of all right to participate in the selection of public officers +except the legislative boldly advocated, with labored arguments to +prove that large control of the people in government is the source of +all political evil. Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted at as a +possible refuge from the power of the people. + +In my present position I could scarcely be justified were I to omit +raising a warning voice against this approach of returning despotism. + +It is not needed nor fitting here that a general argument should be +made in favor of popular institutions, but there is one point, with its +connections, not so hackneyed as most others, to which I ask a brief +attention. It is the effort to place capital on an equal footing with, +if not above, labor in the structure of government. It is assumed that +labor is available only in connection with capital; that nobody labors +unless somebody else, owning capital, somehow by the use of it induces +him to labor. This assumed, it is next considered whether it is best +that capital shall hire laborers, and thus induce them to work by their +own consent, or buy them and drive them to it without their consent. +Having proceeded so far, it is naturally concluded that all laborers +are either hired laborers or what we call slaves. And further, it is +assumed that whoever is once a hired laborer is fixed in that condition +for life. + +Now there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed, nor +is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the +condition of a hired laborer. Both these assumptions are false, and all +inferences from them are groundless. + +Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit +of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. +Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher +consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of +protection as any other rights. Nor is it denied that there is, and +probably always will be, a relation between labor and capital producing +mutual benefits. The error is in assuming that the whole labor of +community exists within that relation. A few men own capital, and that +few avoid labor themselves, and with their capital hire or buy another +few to labor for them. A large majority belong to neither +class--neither work for others nor have others working for them. In +most of the Southern States a majority of the whole people of all +colors are neither slaves nor masters, while in the Northern a large +majority are neither hirers nor hired. Men, with their families--wives, +sons, and daughters--work for themselves on their farms, in their +houses, and in their shops, taking the whole product to themselves, and +asking no favors of capital on the one hand nor of hired laborers or +slaves on the other. It is not forgotten that a considerable number of +persons mingle their own labor with capital; that is, they labor with +their own hands and also buy or hire others to labor for them; but this +is only a mixed and not a distinct class. No principle stated is +disturbed by the existence of this mixed class. + +Again, as has already been said, there is not of necessity any such +thing as the free hired laborer being fixed to that condition for life. +Many independent men everywhere in these States a few years back in +their lives were hired laborers. The prudent, penniless beginner in the +world labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools +or land for himself, then labors on his own account another while, and +at length hires another new beginner to help him. This is the just and +generous and prosperous system which opens the way to all, gives hope +to all, and consequent energy and progress and improvement of condition +to all. No men living are more worthy to be trusted than those who toil +up from poverty; none less inclined to take or touch aught which they +have not honestly earned. Let them beware of surrendering a political +power which they already possess, and which if surrendered will surely +be used to close the door of advancement against such as they and to +fix new disabilities and burdens upon them till all of liberty shall be +lost. + +From the first taking of our national census to the last are seventy +years, and we find our population at the end of the period eight times +as great as it was at the beginning. The increase of those other things +which men deem desirable has been even greater. We thus have at one +view what the popular principle, applied to Government through the +machinery, of the States and the Union, has produced in a given time, +and also what if firmly maintained it promises for the future. There +are already among us those who if the Union be preserved will live to +see it contain 250,000,000. The struggle of to-day is not altogether +for to-day; it is for a vast future also. With a reliance on Providence +all the more firm and earnest, let us proceed in the great task which +events have devolved upon us. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Abraham Lincoln +December 1, 1862 + +Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: + +Since your last annual assembling another year of health and bountiful +harvests has passed, and while it has not pleased the Almighty to bless +us with a return of peace, we can but press on, guided by the best +light He gives us, trusting that in His own good time and wise way all +will yet be well. + +The correspondence touching foreign affairs which has taken place +during the last year is herewith submitted, in virtual compliance with +a request to that effect made by the House of Representatives near the +close of the last session of Congress. If the condition of our +relations with other nations is less gratifying than it has usually +been at former periods, it is certainly more satisfactory than a nation +so unhappily distracted as we are might reasonably have apprehended. In +the month of June last there were some grounds to expect that the +maritime powers which at the beginning of our domestic difficulties so +unwisely and unnecessarily, as we think, recognized the insurgents as a +belligerent would soon recede from that position, which has proved only +less injurious to themselves than to our own country. But the temporary +reverses which afterwards befell the national arms, and which were +exaggerated by our own disloyal citizens abroad, have hitherto delayed +that act of simple justice. + +The civil war, which has so radically changed for the moment the +occupations and habits of the American people, has necessarily +disturbed the social condition and affected very deeply the prosperity +of the nations with which we have carried on a commerce that has been +steadily increasing throughout a period of half a century. It has at +the same time excited political ambitions and apprehensions which have +produced a profound agitation throughout the civilized world. In this +unusual agitation we have forborne from taking part in any controversy +between foreign states and between parties or factions in such states. +We have attempted no propagandism and acknowledged no revolution. But +we have left to every nation the exclusive conduct and management of +its own affairs. Our struggle has been, of course, contemplated by +foreign nations with reference less to its own merits than to its +supposed and often exaggerated effects and consequences resulting to +those nations themselves. Nevertheless, complaint on the part of this +Government, even if it were just, would certainly be unwise. The treaty +with Great Britain for the suppression of the slave trade has been put +into operation with a good prospect of complete success. It is an +occasion of special pleasure to acknowledge that the execution of it on +the part of Her Majesty's Government has been marked with a jealous +respect for the authority of the United States and the rights of their +moral and loyal citizens. + +The convention with Hanover for the abolition of the Stade dues has +been carried into full effect under the act of Congress for that +purpose. A blockade of 3,000 miles of seacoast could not be established +and vigorously enforced in a season of great commercial activity like +the present without committing occasional mistakes and inflicting +unintentional injuries upon foreign nations and their subjects. A civil +war occurring in a country, where foreigners reside and carry on trade +under treaty stipulations is necessarily fruitful of complaints of the +violation of neutral rights. All such collisions tend to excite +misapprehensions, and possibly to produce mutual reclamations between +nations which have a common interest in preserving peace and +friendship. In clear cases of these kinds I have so far as possible +heard and redressed complaints which have been presented by friendly +powers. There is still, however, a large and an augmenting number of +doubtful cases upon which the Government is unable to agree with the +governments whose protection is demanded by the claimants. There are, +moreover, many cases in which the United States or their citizens +suffer wrongs from the naval or military authorities of foreign nations +which the governments of those states are not at once prepared to +redress. I have proposed to some of the foreign states thus interested +mutual conventions to examine and adjust such complaints. This +proposition has been made especially to Great Britain, to France, to +Spain, and to Prussia. In each case it has been kindly received, but +has not yet been formally adopted. + +I deem it my duty to recommend an appropriation in behalf of the owners +of the Norwegian bark Admiral P. Tordenskiold, which vessel was in May, +1861, prevented by the commander of the blockading force off Charleston +from leaving that port with cargo, notwithstanding a similar privilege +had shortly before been granted to an English vessel. I have directed +the Secretary of State to cause the papers in the case to be +communicated to the proper committees. + +Applications have been made to me by many free Americans of African +descent to favor their emigration, with a view to such colonization as +was contemplated in recent acts of Congress. Other parties, at home and +abroad--some from interested motives, others upon patriotic +considerations, and still others influenced by philanthropic +sentiments--have suggested similar measures, while, on the other hand, +several of the Spanish American Republics have protested against the +sending of such colonies to their respective territories. Under these +circumstances I have declined to move any such colony to any state +without first obtaining the consent of its government, with an +agreement on its part to receive and protect such emigrants in all the +rights of freemen; and I have at the same time offered to the several +States situated within the Tropics, or having colonies there, to +negotiate with them, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, +to favor the voluntary emigration of persons of that class to their +respective territories, upon conditions which shall be equal, just, and +humane. Liberia and Hayti are as yet the only countries to which +colonists of African descent from here could go with certainty of being +received and adopted as citizens; and I regret to say such persons +contemplating colonization do not seem so willing to migrate to those +countries as to some others, nor so willing as I think their interest +demands. I believe, however, opinion among them in this respect is +improving, and that ere long there will be an augmented and +considerable migration to both these countries from the United States. + +The new commercial treaty between the United States and the Sultan of +Turkey has been carried into execution. + +A commercial and consular treaty has been negotiated, subject to the +Senate's consent, with Liberia, and a similar negotiation is now +pending with the Republic of Hayti. A considerable improvement of the +national commerce is expected to result from these measures. Our +relations with Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Prussia, +Denmark, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Rome, and the other +European States remain undisturbed. Very favorable relations also +continue to be maintained with Turkey, Morocco, China, and Japan. + +During the last year there has not only been no change of our previous +relations with the independent States of our own continent, but more +friendly sentiments than have heretofore existed are believed to be +entertained by these neighbors, whose safety and progress are so +intimately connected with our own. This statement especially applies to +Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, and Chile. The +commission under the convention with the Republic of New Granada closed +its session without having audited and passed upon all the claims which +were submitted to it. A proposition is pending to revive the +convention, that it may be able to do more complete justice. The joint +commission between the United States and the Republic of Costa Rica has +completed its labors and submitted its report. I have favored the +project for connecting the United States with Europe by an Atlantic +telegraph, and a similar project to extend the telegraph from San +Francisco to connect by a Pacific telegraph with the line which is +being extended across the Russian Empire. The Territories of the United +States, with unimportant exceptions have remained undisturbed by the +civil war; and they are exhibiting such evidence of prosperity as +justifies an expectation that some of them will soon be in a condition +to be organized as States and be constitutionally admitted into the +Federal Union. + +The immense mineral resources of some of those Territories ought to be +developed as rapidly as possible. Every step in that direction would +have a tendency to improve the revenues of the Government and diminish +the burdens of the people. It is worthy of your serious consideration +whether some extraordinary measures to promote that end can not be +adopted. The means which suggests itself as most likely to be effective +is a scientific exploration of the mineral regions in those Territories +with a view to the publication of its results at home and in foreign +countries--results which can not fail to be auspicious. + +The condition of the finances will claim your most diligent +consideration. The vast expenditures incident to the military and naval +operations required for the suppression of the rebellion have hitherto +been met with a promptitude and certainty unusual in similar +circumstances, and the public credit has been fully maintained. The +continuance of the war, however, and the increased disbursements made +necessary by the augmented forces now in the field demand your best +reflections as to the best modes of providing the necessary revenue +without injury to business and with the least possible burdens upon +labor. + +The suspension of specie payments by the banks soon after the +commencement of your last session made large issues of United States +notes unavoidable. In no other way could the payment of the troops and +the satisfaction of other just demands be so economically or so well +provided for. The judicious legislation of Congress, securing the +receivability of these notes for loans and internal duties and making +them a legal tender for other debts, has made them an universal +currency, and has satisfied, partially at least, and for the time, the +long-felt want of an uniform circulating medium, saving thereby to the +people immense sums in discounts and exchanges. + +A return to specie payments, however, at the earliest period compatible +with due regard to all interests concerned should ever be kept in view. +Fluctuations in the value of currency are always injurious, and to +reduce these fluctuations to the lowest possible point will always be a +leading purpose in wise legislation. Convertibility, prompt and certain +convertibility, into coin is generally acknowledged to be the best and +surest safeguard against them; and it is extremely doubtful whether a +circulation of United States notes payable in coin and sufficiently +large for the wants of the people can be permanently, usefully, and +safely maintained. + +Is there, then, any other mode in which the necessary provision for the +public wants can be made and the great advantages of a safe and uniform +currency secured? + +I know of none which promises so certain results and is at the same +time so unobjectionable as the organization of banking associations, +under a general act of Congress, well guarded in its provisions. To +such associations the Government might furnish circulating notes, on +the security of United States bonds deposited in the Treasury. These +notes, prepared under the supervision of proper officers, being uniform +in appearance and security and convertible always into coin, would at +once protect labor against the evils of a vicious currency and +facilitate commerce by cheap and safe exchanges. + +A moderate reservation from the interest on the bonds would compensate +the United States for the preparation and distribution of the notes and +a general supervision of the system, and would lighten the burden of +that part of the public debt employed as securities. The public credit, +moreover, would be greatly improved and the negotiation of new loans +greatly facilitated by the steady market demand for Government bonds +which the adoption of the proposed system would create. It is an +additional recommendation of the measure, of considerable weight, in my +judgment, that it would reconcile as far as possible all existing +interests by the opportunity offered to existing institutions to +reorganize under the act, substituting only the secured uniform +national circulation for the local and various circulation, secured and +unsecured, now issued by them. + +The receipts into the treasury from all sources, including loans and +balance from the preceding year, for the fiscal year ending on the 30th +June, 1862, were $583,885,247.06, of which sum $49,056,397.62 were +derived from customs; $1,795,331.73 from the direct tax; from public +lands, $152,203.77; from miscellaneous sources, $931,787.64; from loans +in all forms, $529,692,460.50. The remainder, :$2,257,065.80, was the +balance from last year. + +The disbursements during the same period were: For Congressional, +executive, and judicial purposes, $5,939.009.29; for foreign +intercourse, $1,339,710.35; for miscellaneous expenses, including the +mints, loans, Post-Office deficiencies, collection of revenue, and +other like charges, $14,129,771.50; for expenses under the Interior +Department, 985.52; under the War Department, $394,368,407.36; under +the Navy Department, $42,674,569.69; for interest on public debt, +$13,190,324.45; and for payment of public debt, including reimbursement +of temporary loan and redemptions, $96,096,922.09; making an aggregate +of $570,841,700.25, and leaving a balance in the Treasury on the 1st +day of July, 1862, of $13,043,546.81. + +It should be observed that the sum of $96,096,922.09, expended for +reimbursements and redemption of public debt, being included also in +the loans made, may be properly deducted both from receipts and +expenditures, leaving the actual receipts for the year $487,788,324.97, +and the expenditures $474,744,778.16. + +Other information on the subject of the finances will be found in the +report of the Secretary of the Treasury, to whose statements and views +I invite your most candid and considerate attention. + +The reports of the Secretaries of War and of the Navy are herewith +transmitted. These reports, though lengthy, are scarcely more than +brief abstracts of the very numerous and extensive transactions and +operations conducted through those Departments. Nor could I give a +summary of them here upon any principle which would admit of its being +much shorter than the reports themselves. I therefore content myself +with laying the reports before you and asking your attention to them. + +It gives me pleasure to report a decided improvement in the financial +condition of the Post-Office Department as compared with several +preceding years. The receipts for the fiscal year 1861 amounted to +$8,349,296.40, which embraced the revenue from all the States of the +Union for three quarters of that year. Notwithstanding the cessation of +revenue from the so-called seceded States during the last fiscal year, +the increase of the correspondence of the loyal States has been +sufficient to produce a revenue during the same year of $8,299,820.90, +being only $50,000 less than was derived from all the States of the +Union during the previous year. The expenditures show a still more +favorable result. The amount expended in 1861 was $13,606,759.11. For +the last year the amount has been reduced to $11,125,364.13, showing a +decrease of about $2,481,000 in the expenditures as compared with the +preceding year, and about $3,750,000 as compared with the fiscal year +1860. The deficiency in the Department for the previous year was +$4,551,966.98. For the last fiscal year it was reduced to +$2,112,814.57. These favorable results are in part owing to the +cessation of mail service in the insurrectionary States and in part to +a careful review of all expenditures in that Department in the interest +of economy. The efficiency of the postal service, it is believed, has +also been much improved. The Postmaster-General has also opened a +correspondence through the Department of State with foreign governments +proposing a convention of postal representatives for the purpose of +simplifying the rates of foreign postage and to expedite the foreign +mails. This proposition, equally important to our adopted citizens and +to the commercial interests of this country, has been favorably +entertained and agreed to by all the governments from whom replies have +been received. + +I ask the attention of Congress to the suggestions of the +Postmaster-General in his report respecting the further legislation +required, in his opinion, for the benefit of the postal service. + +The Secretary of the Interior reports as follows in regard to the +public lands: The public lands have ceased to be a source of revenue. +From the 1st July, 1861, to the 30th September, 1862, the entire cash +receipts from the sale of lands were $137,476.26--a sum much less than +the expenses of our land system during the same period. The homestead +law, which will take effect on the 1st of January next, offers such +inducements to settlers that sales for cash can not be expected to an +extent sufficient to meet the expenses of the General Land Office and +the cost of surveying and bringing the land into market. + +The discrepancy between the sum here stated as arising from the sales +of the public lands and the sum derived from the same source as +reported from the Treasury Department arises, as I understand, from the +fact that the periods of time, though apparently, were not really +coincident at the beginning point, the Treasury report including a +considerable sum now which had previously been reported from the +Interior, sufficiently large to greatly overreach the sum derived from +the three months now reported upon by the Interior and not by the +Treasury. The Indian tribes upon our frontiers have during the past +year manifested a spirit of insubordination, and at several points have +engaged in open hostilities against the white settlements in their +vicinity. The tribes occupying the Indian country south of Kansas +renounced their allegiance to the United States and entered into +treaties with the insurgents. Those who remained loyal to the United +States were driven from the country. The chief of the Cherokees has +visited this city for the purpose of restoring the former relations of +the tribe with the United States. He alleges that they were constrained +by superior force to enter into treaties with the insurgents, and that +the United States neglected to furnish the protection which their +treaty stipulations required. + +In the month of August last the Sioux Indians in Minnesota attacked the +settlements in their vicinity with extreme ferocity, killing +indiscriminately men, women, and children. This attack was wholly +unexpected, and therefore no means of defense had been prodded. It is +estimated that not less than 800 persons were killed by the Indians, +and a large amount of property was destroyed. How this outbreak was +induced is not definitely known, and suspicions, which may be unjust, +need not to be stated. Information was received by the Indian Bureau +from different sources about the time hostilities were commenced that a +simultaneous attack was to be made upon the white settlements by all +the tribes between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The +State of Minnesota has suffered great injury from this Indian war. A +large portion of her territory has been depopulated, and a severe loss +has been sustained by the destruction of property. The people of that +State manifest much anxiety for the removal of the tribes beyond the +limits of the State as a guaranty against future hostilities. The +Commissioner of Indian Affairs will furnish full details. I submit for +your especial consideration whether our Indian system shall not be +remodeled. Many wise and good men have impressed me with the belief +that this can be profitably done. + +I submit a statement of the proceedings of commissioners, which shows +the progress that has been made in the enterprise of constructing the +Pacific Railroad. And this suggests the earliest completion of this +road, and also the favorable action of Congress upon the projects now +pending before them for enlarging the capacities of the great canals in +New York and Illinois, as being of vital and rapidly increasing +importance to the whole nation, and especially to the vast interior +region hereinafter to be noticed at some greater length. I purpose +having prepared and laid before you at an early day some interesting +and valuable statistical information upon this subject. The military +and commercial importance of enlarging the Illinois and Michigan Canal +and improving the Illinois River is presented in the report of Colonel +Webster to the Secretary of War, and now transmitted to Congress. I +respectfully ask attention to it. + +To carry out the provisions of the act of Congress of the 15th of May +last, I have caused the Department of Agriculture of the United States +to be organized. + +The Commissioner informs me that within the period of a few months this +Department has established an extensive system of correspondence and +exchanges, both at home and abroad, which promises to effect highly +beneficial results in the development of a correct knowledge of recent +improvements in agriculture, in the introduction of new products, and +in the collection of the agricultural statistics of the different +States. + +Also, that it will soon be prepared to distribute largely seeds, +cereals, plants, and cuttings, and has already published and liberally +diffused much valuable information in anticipation of a more elaborate +report, which will in due time be furnished, embracing some valuable +tests in chemical science now in progress in the laboratory. + +The creation of this Department was for the more immediate benefit of a +large class of our most valuable citizens, and I trust that the liberal +basis upon which it has been organized will not only meet your +approbation, but that it will realize at no distant day all the fondest +anticipations of its most sanguine friends and become the fruitful +source of advantage to all our people. + +On the 22d day of September last a proclamation was issued by the +Executive, a copy of which is herewith submitted. In accordance with +the purpose expressed in the second paragraph of that paper, I now +respectfully recall your attention to what may be called "compensated +emancipation." + +A nation may be said to consist of its territory, its people, and its +laws. The territory is the only part which is of certain durability. +"One generation passeth away and another generation cometh, but the +earth abideth forever." It is of the first importance to duly consider +and estimate this ever-enduring part. That portion of the earth's +surface which is owned and inhabited by the people of the United States +is well adapted to be the home of one national family, and it is not +well adapted for two or more. Its vast extent and its variety of +climate and productions are of advantage in this age for one people, +whatever they might have been in former ages. Steam, telegraphs, and +intelligence have brought these to be an advantageous combination for +one united people. + +In the inaugural address I briefly pointed out the total inadequacy of +disunion as a remedy for the differences between the people of the two +sections. I did so in language which I can not improve, and which, +therefore, I beg to repeat: One section of our country believes slavery +is right and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong +and ought not to be extended. This is the only substantial dispute. The +fugitive-slave clause of the Constitution and the law for the +suppression of the foreign slave trade are each as well enforced, +perhaps, as any law can ever be in a community where the moral sense of +the people imperfectly supports the law itself. The great body of the +people abide by the dry legal obligation in both cases, and a few break +over in each. This I think, can not be perfectly cured, and it would be +worse in both cases after the separation of the sections than before. +The foreign slave trade, now imperfectly suppressed, would be +ultimately revived without restriction in one section, while fugitive +slaves, now only partially surrendered, would not be surrendered at all +by the other. Physically speaking, we can not separate. We can not +remove our respective sections from each other nor build an impassable +wall between them. A husband and wife may be divorced and go out of the +presence and beyond the reach of each other, but the different parts of +our country can not do this. They can not but remain face to face, and +intercourse, either amicable or hostile, must continue between them. Is +it possible, then, to make that intercourse more advantageous or more +satisfactory after separation than before? Can aliens make treaties +easier than friends can make laws? Can treaties be more faithfully +enforced between aliens than laws can among friends? Suppose you go to +war, you can not fight always; and when, after much loss on both sides +and no gain on either, you cease fighting, the identical old questions, +as to terms of intercourse, are again upon you. There is no line, +straight or crooked, suitable for a national boundary upon which to +divide. Trace through, from east to west, upon the line between the +free and slave country, and we shall find a little more than one-third +of its length are rivers, easy to be crossed, and populated, or soon to +be populated, thickly upon both sides; while nearly all its remaining +length are merely surveyors' lines, over which people may walk back and +forth without any consciousness of their presence. No part of this line +can be made any more difficult to pass by writing it down on paper or +parchment as a national boundary. The fact of separation, if it comes, +gives up on the part of the seceding section the fugitive-slave clause, +along with all other constitutional obligations upon the section +seceded from, while I should expect no treaty stipulation would ever be +made to take its place. + +But there is another difficulty. The great interior region bounded east +by the Alleghanies, north by the British dominions, west by the Rocky +Mountains, and south by the line along which the culture of corn and +cotton meets, and which includes part of Virginia, part of Tennessee, +all of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, +Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and the Territories of Dakota, +Nebraska, and part of Colorado, already has above 10,000,000 people, +and will have 50,000,000 within fifty years if not prevented by any +political folly or mistake. It contains more than one-third of the +country owned by the United States--certainly more than 1,000,000 +square miles. Once half as populous as Massachusetts already is, it +would have more than 75,000,000 people. A glance at the map shows that, +territorially speaking, it is the great body of the Republic. The other +parts are but marginal borders to it. The magnificent region sloping +west from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific being the deepest and also +the richest in undeveloped resources. In the production of provisions +grains, grasses, and all which proceed from them this great interior +region is naturally one of the most important in the world. Ascertain +from the statistics the small proportion of the region which has as yet +been brought into cultivation, and also the large and rapidly +increasing amount of its products, and we shall be overwhelmed with the +magnitude of the prospect presented. And yet this region has no +seacoast--touches no ocean anywhere. As part of one nation, its people +now find, and may forever find, their way to Europe by New York, to +South America and Africa by New Orleans, and to Asia by San Francisco; +but separate our common country into two nations, as designed by the +present rebellion, and every man of this great interior region is +thereby cut off from some one or more of these outlets, not perhaps by +a physical barrier, but by embarrassing and onerous trade regulations. + +And this is true, wherever a dividing or boundary line may be fixed. +Place it between the now free and slave country, or place it south of +Kentucky or north of Ohio, and still the truth remains that none south +of it can trade to any port or place north of it, and none north of it +can trade to any port or place south of it, except upon terms dictated +by a government foreign to them. These outlets, east, west, and south, +are indispensable to the well-being of the people inhabiting and to +inhabit this vast interior region. Which of the three may be the best +is no proper question. All are better than either, and all of right +belong to that people and to their successors forever. True to +themselves, they will not ask where a line of separation shall be, but +will vow rather that there shall be no such line. Nor are the marginal +regions less interested in these communications to and through them to +the great outside world. They, too, and each of them, must have access +to this Egypt of the West without paying toll at the crossing of any +national boundary. + +Our national strife springs not from our permanent part; not from the +land we inhabit: not from our national homestead. There is no possible +severing of this but would multiply and not mitigate evils among us. In +all its adaptations and aptitudes it demands union and abhors +separation. In fact, it would ere long force reunion, however much of +blood and treasure the separation might have cost. Our strife pertains +to ourselves--to the passing generations of men--and it can without +convulsion be hushed forever with the passing of one generation. + +In this view I recommend the adoption of the following resolution and +articles amendatory to the Constitution of the United States: Resolved +by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of +America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of both Houses concurring), +That the following articles be proposed to the legislatures (or +conventions) of the several States as amendments to the Constitution of +the United States, all or any of which articles, when ratified by +three-fourths of the said legislatures (or conventions ), to be valid +as part or parts of the said Constitution, viz: + +ART.--. Every State wherein slavery now exists which shall abolish the +same therein at any time or times before the 1st day of January, A. D. +1900, shall receive compensation from the United States as follows, to +wit: + +The President of the United States shall deliver to every such State +bonds of the United States bearing interest at the rate of per cent per +annum to an amount equal to the aggregate sum of ____ for each slave +shown to have been therein by the Eighth Census of the United States, +said bonds to be delivered to such State by installments or in one +parcel at the completion of the abolishment, accordingly as the same +shall have been gradual or at one time within such State; and interest +shall begin to run upon any such bond only from the proper time of its +delivery as aforesaid. Any State having received bonds as aforesaid and +afterwards reintroducing or tolerating slavery therein shall refund to +the United States the bonds so received, or the value thereof, and all +interest paid thereon. + +ART.--All slaves who shall have enjoyed actual freedom by the chances +of the war at any time before the end of the rebellion shall be forever +free; but all owners of such who shall not have been disloyal shall be +compensated for them at the same rates as is provided for States +adopting abolishment of slavery, but in such way that no slave shall be +twice accounted for. + +ART.--Congress may appropriate money and otherwise provide for +colonizing free colored persons with their own consent at any place or +places without the United States. + +I beg indulgence to discuss these proposed articles at some length. +Without slavery the rebellion could never have existed; without slavery +it could not continue. + +Among the friends of the Union there is great diversity of sentiment +and of policy in regard to slavery and the African race amongst us. +Some would perpetuate slavery; some would abolish it suddenly and +without compensation; some would abolish it gradually and with +compensation: some would remove the freed people from us, and some +would retain them with us; and there are yet other minor diversities. +Because of these diversities we waste much strength in struggles among +ourselves. By mutual concession we should harmonize and act together. +This would be compromise, but it would be compromise among the friends +and not with the enemies of the Union. These articles are intended to +embody a plan of such mutual concessions. If the plan shall be adopted, +it is assumed that emancipation will follow, at least in several of the +States. + +As to the first article, the main points are, first, the emancipation; +secondly, the length of time for consummating it (thirty-seven years); +and, thirdly, the compensation. + +The emancipation will be unsatisfactory to the advocates of perpetual +slavery, but the length of time should greatly mitigate their +dissatisfaction. The time spares both races from the evils of sudden +derangement--in fact, from the necessity of any derangement--while most +of those whose habitual course of thought will be disturbed by the +measure will have passed away before its consummation. They will never +see it. Another class will hail the prospect of emancipation, but will +deprecate the length of time. They will feel that it gives too little +to the now living slaves. But it really gives them much. It saves them +from the vagrant destitution which must largely attend immediate +emancipation in localities where their numbers are very great, and it +gives the inspiring assurance that their posterity shall be free +forever. The plan leaves to each State choosing to act under it to +abolish slavery now or at the end of the century, or at any +intermediate time, or by degrees extending over the whole or any part +of the period, and it obliges no two States to proceed alike. It also +provides for compensation, and generally the mode of making it. This, +it would seem, must further mitigate the dissatisfaction of those who +favor perpetual slavery, and especially of those who are to receive the +compensation. Doubtless some of those who are to pay and not to receive +will object. Yet the measure is both just and economical. In a certain +sense the liberation of slaves is the destruction of property--property +acquired by descent or by purchase, the same as any other property. It +is no less true for having been often said that the people of the South +are not more responsible for the original introduction of this property +than are the people of the North; and when it is remembered how +unhesitatingly we all use cotton and sugar and share the profits of +dealing in them, it may not be quite safe to say that the South has +been more responsible than the North for its continuance. If, then, for +a common object this property is to be sacrificed, is it not just that +it be done at a common charge? + +And if with less money, or money more easily paid, we can preserve the +benefits of the Union by this means than we can by the war alone, is it +not also economical to do it? Let us consider it, then. Let us +ascertain the sum we have expended in the war since compensated +emancipation was proposed last March, and consider whether if that +measure had been promptly accepted by even some of the slave States the +same sum would not have done more to close the war than has been +otherwise done. If so, the measure would save money, and in that view +would be a prudent and economical measure. Certainly it is not so easy +to pay something as it is to pay nothing, but it is easier to pay a +large sum than it is to pay a larger one. And it is easier to pay any +sum when we are able than it is to pay it before we are able. The war +requires large sums, and requires them at once. The aggregate sum +necessary for compensated emancipation of course would be large. But it +would require no ready cash, nor the bonds even any faster than the +emancipation progresses. This might not, and probably would not, close +before the end of the thirty-seven years. At that time we shall +probably have a hundred millions of people to share the burden, instead +of thirty-one millions as now. And not only so, but the increase of our +population may be expected to continue for a long time after that +period as rapidly as before, because our territory will not have become +full. I do not state this inconsiderately. At the same ratio of +increase which we have maintained, on an average, from our first +national census, in 1790, until that of 1860, we should in 1900 have a +population of 103,208,415. And why may we not continue that ratio far +beyond that period? Our abundant room, our broad national homestead, is +our ample resource. Were our territory as limited as are the British +Isles, very certainly our population could not expand as stated. +Instead of receiving the foreign born as now, we should be compelled to +send part of the native born away. But such is not our condition. We +have 2,963,000 square miles. Europe has 3,800,000, with a population +averaging 73 1/3 persons to the square mile. Why may not our country at +some time average as many? Is it less fertile? Has it more waste +surface by mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts, or other causes? Is it +inferior to Europe in any natural advantage? If, then, we are at some +time to be as populous as Europe, how soon? As to when this may be, we +can judge by the past and the present; as to when it will be, if ever, +depends much on whether we maintain the Union. Several of our States +are already above the average of Europe 73 1/3 to the square mile. +Massachusetts has 157; Rhode Island, 133; Connecticut, 99; New York and +New Jersey, each 80. Also two other great States, Pennsylvania and +Ohio, are not far below, the former having 63 and the latter 59. The +States already above the European average, except New York, have +increased in as rapid a ratio since passing that point as ever before, +while no one of them is equal to some other parts of our country in +natural capacity for sustaining a dense population. + +Taking the nation in the aggregate, and we find its population and +ratio of increase for the several decennial periods to be as follows: + +Year - Population - Ratio of increase. + +- - Per cent. + +1790 - 3,929,827 - .......... + +1800 - 5,304,937 - 35.02 + +1810 - 7,239,814 - 36.45 + +1820 - 9,638,131 - 36.45 + +1830 - 12,866,020 - 33.49 + +1840 - 17,069,453 - 32.67 + +1850 - 23,191,876 - 35.87 + +1860 - 31,443,790 - 35.58 + +This shows an average decennial increase of 34.60 per cent in +population through the seventy years from our first to our last census +yet taken. It is seen that the ratio of increase at no one of these +seven periods is either 2 per cent below or 2 per cent above the +average, thus showing how inflexible, and consequently how reliable, +the law of increase in our case is. Assuming that it will continue, it +gives the following results: + +Year - Population + +1870 - 42,323,341 + +1880 - 56,967,216 + +1890 - 76,677,872 + +1900 - 103,208,415 + +1910 - 138,918,526 + +1920 - 186,984,335 + +1930 - 251,680,914 + +These figures show that our country may be as populous as Europe now is +at some point between 1920 and 1930--say about 1925--our territory, at +73 1/3 persons to the square mile, being of capacity to contain +217,186,000. + +And we will reach this, too, if we do not ourselves relinquish the +chance by the folly and evils of disunion or by long and exhausting war +springing from the only great element of national discord among us. +While it can not be foreseen exactly how much one huge example of +secession, breeding lesser ones indefinitely, would retard population, +civilization, and prosperity, no one can doubt that the extent of it +would be very great and injurious. + +The proposed emancipation would shorten the war, perpetuate peace, +insure this increase of population, and proportionately the wealth of +the country. With these we should pay all the emancipation would cost, +together with our other debt, easier than we should pay our other debt +without it. If we had allowed our old national debt to run at 6 per +cent per annum, simple interest, from the end of our revolutionary +struggle until to-day, without paying anything on either principal or +interest, each man of us would owe less upon that debt now than each +man owed upon it then; and this because our increase of men through the +whole period has been greater than 6 per cent--has run faster than the +interest upon the debt. Thus time alone relieves a debtor nation, so +long as its population increases faster than unpaid interest +accumulates on its debt. + +This fact would be no excuse for delaying payment of what is justly +due, but it shows the great importance of time in this connection--the +great advantage of a policy by which we shall not have to pay until we +number 100,000,000 what by a different policy we would have to pay now, +when we number but 31,000,000. In a word, it shows that a dollar will +be much harder to pay for the war than will be a dollar for +emancipation on the proposed plan. And then the latter will cost no +blood, no precious life. It will be a saving of both. + +As to the second article, I think it would be impracticable to return +to bondage the class of persons therein contemplated. Some of them, +doubtless, in the property sense belong to loyal owners, and hence +provision is made in this article for compensating such. The third +article relates to the future of the freed people. It does not oblige, +but merely authorizes Congress to aid in colonizing such as may +consent. This ought not to be regarded as objectionable on the one hand +or on the other, insomuch as it comes to nothing unless by the mutual +consent of the people to be deported and the American voters, through +their representatives in Congress. + +I can not make it better known than it already is that I strongly favor +colonization; and yet I wish to say there is an objection urged against +free colored persons remaining in the country which is largely +imaginary, if not sometimes malicious. + +It is insisted that their presence would injure and displace white +labor and white laborers. If there ever could be a proper time for mere +catch arguments, that time surely is not now. In times like the present +men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be +responsible through time and in eternity. Is it true, then, that +colored people can displace any more white labor by being free than by +remaining slaves? If they stay in their old places, they jostle no +white laborers; if they leave their old places, they leave them open to +white laborers. Logically, there is neither more nor less of it. +Emancipation, even without deportation, would probably enhance the +wages of white labor, and very surely would not reduce them. Thus the +customary amount of labor would still have to be performed--the freed +people would surely not do more than their old proportion of it, and +very probably for a time would do less, leaving an increased part to +white laborers, bringing their labor into greater demand, and +consequently enhancing the wages of it. With deportation, even to a +limited extent, enhanced wages to white labor is mathematically +certain. Labor is like any other commodity in the market--increase the +demand for it and you increase the price of it. Reduce the supply of +black labor by colonizing the black laborer out of the country, and by +precisely so much you increase the demand for and wages of white labor. + +But it is dreaded that the freed people will swarm forth and cover the +whole land. Are they not already in the land? Will liberation make them +any more numerous? Equally distributed among the whites of the whole +country, and there would be but one colored to seven whites. Could the +one in any way greatly disturb the seven? There are many communities +now having more than one free colored person to seven whites and this +without any apparent consciousness of evil from it. The District of +Columbia and the States of Maryland and Delaware are all in this +condition. The District has more than one free colored to six whites, +and yet in its frequent petitions to Congress I believe it has never +presented the presence of free colored persons as one of its +grievances. But why should emancipation South send the free people +North? People of any color seldom run unless there be something to run +from. Heretofore colored people to some extent have fled North from +bondage, and now, perhaps, from both bondage and destitution. But if +gradual emancipation and deportation be adopted, they will have neither +to flee from. Their old masters will give them wages at least until new +laborers can be procured, and the freedmen in turn will gladly give +their labor for the wages till new homes can be found for them in +congenial climes and with people of their own blood and race. This +proposition can be trusted on the mutual interests involved. And in any +event, can not the North decide for itself whether to receive them? + +Again, as practice proves more than theory in any case, has there been +any irruption of colored people northward because of the abolishment of +slavery in this District last spring? + +What I have said of the proportion of free colored persons to the +whites in the District is from the census of 1860, having no reference +to persons called contrabands nor to those made free by the act of +Congress abolishing slavery here. + +The plan consisting of these articles is recommended, not but that a +restoration of the national authority would be accepted without its +adoption. + +Nor will the war nor proceedings under the proclamation of September +22, 1862, be stayed because of the recommendation of this plan. Its +timely adoption, I doubt not, would bring restoration, and thereby stay +both. + +And notwithstanding this plan, the recommendation that Congress provide +by law for compensating any State which may adopt emancipation before +this plan shall 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, I am confident, secure peace +more speedily and maintain it more permanently than can be done by +force alone, while all it would cost, considering amounts and manner of +payment and times of payment, would be easier paid than will be the +additional cost of the war if we rely solely upon force. It is much, +very much, that it would cost no blood at all. + +The plan is proposed as permanent constitutional law. It can not become +such without the concurrence of, first, two-thirds of Congress, and +afterwards three-fourths of the States. The requisite three-fourths of +the States will necessarily include seven of the slave States. Their +concurrence, if obtained, will give assurance of their severally +adopting emancipation at no very distant day upon the new +constitutional terms. This assurance would end the struggle now and +save the Union forever. + +I do not forget the gravity which should characterize a paper addressed +to the Congress of the nation by the Chief Magistrate of the nation, +nor do I forget that some of you are my seniors, nor that many of you +have more experience than I in the conduct of public affairs. Yet I +trust that in view of the great responsibility resting upon me you will +perceive no want of respect to yourselves in any undue earnestness I +may seem to display. + +Is it doubted, then, that the plan I propose, if adopted, would shorten +the war, and thus lessen its expenditure of money and of blood? Is it +doubted that it would restore the national authority and national +prosperity and perpetuate both indefinitely? Is it doubted that we +here--Congress and Executive can secure its adoption? Will not the good +people respond to a united and earnest appeal from us? Can we, can +they, by any other means so certainly or so speedily assure these vital +objects? We can succeed only by concert. It is not "Can any of us +imagine better?" but "Can we all do better?" Object whatsoever is +possible, still the question recurs, "Can we do better?" The dogmas of +the quiet 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 country. + +Fellow-citizens, we can not escape history. We of this Congress and +this Administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No +personal significance or insignificance 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 we are for the Union. The +world will not forget that we say this. We know how to save the Union. +The world knows we do know how to save it. We, even we here, hold the +power and bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave we +assure freedom to the free--honorable alike in what we give and what we +preserve. We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of +earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail. The way is plain, +peaceful, generous, just--a way which if followed the world will +forever applaud and God must forever bless. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Abraham Lincoln +December 8, 1863 + +Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: + +Another year of health and of sufficiently abundant harvests has +passed. For these, and especially for the improved condition of our +national affairs, our renewed and profoundest gratitude to God is due. + +We remain in peace and friendship with foreign powers. + +The efforts of disloyal citizens of the United States to involve us in +foreign wars to aid an inexcusable insurrection have been unavailing. +Her Britannic Majesty's Government, as was justly expected, have +exercised their authority to prevent the departure of new hostile +expeditions from British ports. The Emperor of France has by a like +proceeding promptly vindicated the neutrality which he proclaimed at +the beginning of the contest. Questions of great intricacy and +importance have arisen out of the blockade and other belligerent +operations between the Government and several of the maritime powers, +but they have been discussed and, as far as was possible, accommodated +in a spirit of frankness, justice, and mutual good will. It is +especially gratifying that our prize courts, by the impartiality of +their adjudications, have commanded the respect and confidence of +maritime powers. + +The supplemental treaty between the United States and Great Britain for +the suppression of the African slave trade, made on the 17th day of +February last, has been duly ratified and carried into execution. It is +believed that so far as American ports and American citizens are +concerned that inhuman and odious traffic has been brought to an end. + +I shall submit for the consideration of the Senate a convention for the +adjustment of possessory claims in Washington Territory arising out of +the treaty of the 15th June, 1846, between the United States and Great +Britain, and which have been the source of some disquiet among the +citizens of that now rapidly improving part of the country. + +A novel and important question, involving the extent of the maritime +jurisdiction of Spain in the waters which surround the island of Cuba, +has been debated without reaching an agreement, and it is proposed in +an amicable spirit to refer it to the arbitrament of a friendly power. +A convention for that purpose will be submitted to the Senate. + +I have thought it proper, subject to the approval of the Senate, to +concur with the interested commercial powers in an arrangement for the +liquidation of the Scheldt dues, upon the principles which have been +heretofore adopted in regard to the imposts upon navigation in the +waters of Denmark. The long-pending controversy between this +Government and that of Chile touching the seizure at Sitana, in Peru, +by Chilean officers, of a large amount in treasure belonging to +citizens of the United States has been brought to a close by the award +of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, to whose arbitration the +question was referred by the parties. The subject was thoroughly and +patiently examined by that justly respected magistrate, and although +the sum awarded to the claimants may not have been as large as they +expected there is no reason to distrust the wisdom of His Majesty's +decision. That decision was promptly complied with by Chile when +intelligence in regard to it reached that country. + +The joint commission under the act of the last session for carrying +into effect the convention with Peru on the subject of claims has been +organized at Lima, and is engaged in the business intrusted to it. + +Difficulties concerning interoceanic transit through Nicaragua are in +course of amicable adjustment. + +In conformity with principles set forth in my last annual message, I +have received a representative from the United States of Colombia, and +have accredited a minister to that Republic. + +Incidents occurring in the progress of our civil war have forced upon +my attention the uncertain state of international questions touching +the rights of foreigners in this country and of United States citizens +abroad. In regard to some governments these rights are at least +partially, defined by treaties. In no instance, however, is it +expressly stipulated that in the event of civil war a foreigner +residing in this country within the lines of the insurgents is to be +exempted from the rule which classes him as a belligerent, in whose +behalf the Government or his country can not expect any privileges or +immunities distinct from that character. I regret to say, however, that +such claims have been put forward, and in some instances in behalf of +foreigners who have lived in the United States the greater part of +their lives. + +There is reason to believe that many persons born in foreign countries +who have declared their intention to become citizens, or who have been +fully naturalized, have evaded the military duty required of them by +denying the fact and thereby throwing upon the Government the burden of +proof. It has been found difficult or impracticable to obtain this +proof, from the want of guides to the proper sources of information. +These might be supplied by requiring clerks of courts where +declarations of intention may be made or naturalizations effected to +send periodically lists of the names of the persons naturalized or +declaring their intention to become citizens to the Secretary of the +Interior, in whose Department those names might be arranged and printed +for general information. + +There is also reason to believe that foreigners frequently become +citizens of the United States for the sole purpose of evading duties +imposed by the laws of their native countries, to which on becoming +naturalized here they at once repair, and though never returning to the +United States they still claim the interposition of this Government as +citizens. Many altercations and great prejudices have heretofore arisen +out of this abuse. It is therefore submitted to your serious +consideration. It might be advisable to fix a limit beyond which no +citizen of the United States residing abroad may claim the +interposition of his Government. + +The right of suffrage has often been assumed and exercised by aliens +under pretenses of naturalization, which they have disavowed when +drafted into the military service. I submit the expediency of such an +amendment of the law as will make the fact of voting an estoppel +against any plea of exemption from military service or other civil +obligation on the ground of alienage. + +In common with other Western powers, our relations with Japan have been +brought into serious jeopardy through the perverse opposition of the +hereditary aristocracy of the Empire to the enlightened and liberal +policy of the Tycoon, designed to bring the country into the society of +nations. It is hoped, although not with entire confidence, that these +difficulties may be peacefully overcome. I ask your attention to the +claim of the minister residing there for the damages he sustained in +the destruction by fire of the residence of the legation at Yedo. + +Satisfactory arrangements have been made with the Emperor of Russia, +which, it is believed, will result in effecting a continuous line of +telegraph through that Empire from our Pacific coast. + +I recommend to your favorable consideration the subject of an +international telegraph across the Atlantic Ocean, and also of a +telegraph between this capital and the national forts along the +Atlantic seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico. Such communications, +established with any reasonable outlay, would be economical as well as +effective aids to the diplomatic, military, and naval service. + +The consular system of the United States, under the enactments of the +last Congress, begins to be self-sustaining, and there is reason to +hope that it may become entirely so with the increase of trade which +will ensue whenever peace is restored. Our ministers abroad have been +faithful in defending American rights. In protecting commercial +interests our consuls have necessarily had to encounter increased +labors and responsibilities growing out of the war. These they have for +the most part met and discharged with zeal and efficiency. This +acknowledgment justly includes those consuls who, residing in Morocco, +Egypt, Turkey, Japan, China, and other Oriental countries, are charged +with complex functions and extraordinary powers. + +The condition of the several organized Territories is generally +satisfactory, although Indian disturbances in New Mexico have not been +entirely suppressed. The mineral resources of Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, +New Mexico, and Arizona are proving far richer than has been heretofore +understood. I lay before you a communication on this subject from the +governor of New Mexico. I again submit to your consideration the +expediency of establishing a system for the encouragement of +immigration. Although this source of national wealth and strength is +again flowing with greater freedom than for several years before the +insurrection occurred, there is still a great deficiency of laborers in +every field of industry, especially in agriculture and in our mines, as +well of iron and coal as of the precious metals. While the demand for +labor is much increased here, tens of thousands of persons, destitute +of remunerative occupation, are thronging our foreign consulates and +offering to emigrate to the United States if essential, but very cheap, +assistance can be afforded them. It is easy to see that under the sharp +discipline of civil war the nation is beginning a new life. This noble +effort demands the aid and ought to receive the attention and support +of the Government. + +Injuries unforeseen by the Government and unintended may in some cases +have been inflicted on the subjects or citizens of foreign countries, +both at sea and on land, by persons in the service of the United +States. As this Government expects redress from other powers when +similar injuries are inflicted by persons in their service upon +citizens of the United States, we must be prepared to do justice to +foreigners. If the existing judicial tribunals are inadequate to this +purpose, a special court may be authorized, with power to hear and +decide such claims of the character referred to as may have arisen +under treaties and the public law. Conventions for adjusting the claims +by joint commission have been proposed to some governments, but no +definitive answer to the proposition has yet been received from any. + +In the course of the session I shall probably have occasion to request +you to provide indemnification to claimants where decrees of +restitution have been rendered and damages awarded by admiralty courts, +and in other cases where this Government may be acknowledged to be +liable in principle and where the amount of that liability has been +ascertained by an informal arbitration. + +The proper officers of the Treasury have deemed themselves required by +the law of the United States upon the subject to demand a tax upon the +incomes of foreign consuls in this country. While such a demand may not +in strictness be in derogation of public law, or perhaps of any +existing treaty between the United States and a foreign country, the +expediency of so far modifying the act as to exempt from tax the income +of such consuls as are not citizens of the United States, derived from +the emoluments of their office or from property not situated in the +United States, is submitted to your serious consideration. I make this +suggestion upon the ground that a comity which ought to be reciprocated +exempts our consuls in all other countries from taxation to the extent +thus indicated. The United States, I think, ought not to be +exceptionally illiberal to international trade and commerce. + +The operations of the Treasury during the last year have been +successfully conducted. The enactment by Congress of a national banking +law has proved a valuable support of the public credit and the general +legislation in relation to loans has fully answered the expectations of +its favorers. Some amendments may be required to perfect existing laws, +but no change in their principles or general scope is believed to be +needed. + +Since these measures have been in operation all demands on the +Treasury, including the pay of the Army and Navy, have been promptly +met and fully satisfied. No considerable body of troops, it is +believed, were ever more amply provided and more liberally and +punctually paid, and it may be added that by no people were the burdens +incident to a great war ever more cheerfully borne. + +The receipts during the year from all sources, including loans and +balance in the Treasury at its commencement, were $901,125,674.86, and +the aggregate disbursements $895,796,630.65, leaving a balance on the +1st of July, 1863, of $5,329,044.21. Of the receipts there were derived +from customs $69,059,642.40, from internal revenue $37,640,787.95, from +direct tax $1,485,103.61, from lands $167,617.17, from miscellaneous +sources $3,046,615.35, and from loans $776,682,361.57, making the +aggregate $901,125,674.86. Of the disbursements there were for the +civil service $23,253,922.08, for pensions and Indians $4,216,520.79, +for interest on public debt $24,729,846.51, for the War Department +$599,298,600.83, for the Navy Department $63,211,105.27, for payment of +funded and temporary debt $181,086,635.07, making the aggregate +$895,796,630.65 and leaving the balance of $5,329,044.21. But the +payment of funded and temporary debt, having been made from moneys +borrowed during the year, must be regarded as merely nominal payments +and the moneys borrowed to make them as merely nominal receipts, and +their amount, $181,086,635.07, should therefore be deducted both from +receipts and disbursements. This being done there remains as actual +receipts $720,039,039.79 and the actual disbursements $714,709,995.58, +leaving the balance as already stated. + +The actual receipts and disbursements for the first quarter and the +estimated receipts and disbursements for the remaining three quarters +of the current fiscal year (1864) will be shown in detail by the report +of the Secretary of the Treasury, to which I invite your attention. It +is sufficient to say here that it is not believed that actual results +will exhibit a state of the finances less favorable to the country than +the estimates of that officer heretofore submitted, while it is +confidently expected that at the close of the year both disbursements +and debt will be found very considerably less than has been +anticipated. + +The report of the Secretary of War is a document of great interest. It +consists of-- + +1. The military operations of the year, detailed in the report of the +General in Chief. 2. The organization of colored persons into the war +service. 3. The exchange of prisoners, fully set forth in the letter of +General Hitchcock. 4. The operations under the act for enrolling and +calling out the national forces, detailed in the report of the +Provost-Marshal-General. 5. The organization of the invalid +corps, and 6. The operation of the several departments of the +Quartermaster-General, Commissary-General, Paymaster-General, Chief of +Engineers, Chief of Ordnance, and Surgeon-General. + +It has appeared impossible to make a valuable summary of this report, +except such as would be too extended for this place, and hence I +content myself by asking your careful attention to the report itself. + +The duties devolving on the naval branch of the service during the year +and throughout the whole of this unhappy contest have been discharged +with fidelity and eminent success. The extensive blockade has been +constantly increasing in efficiency as the Navy has expanded, yet on so +long a line it has so far been impossible to entirely suppress illicit +trade. From returns received at the Navy Department it appears that +more than 1,000 vessels have been captured since the blockade was +instituted, and that the value of prizes already sent in for +adjudication amounts to over $13,000,000. + +The naval force of the United States consists at this time of 588 +vessels completed and in the course of completion, and of these 75 are +ironclad or armored steamers. The events of the war give an increased +interest and importance to the Navy which will probably extend beyond +the war itself. + +The armored vessels in our Navy completed and in service, or which are +under contract and approaching completion, are believed to exceed in +number those of any other power; but while these may be relied upon for +harbor defense and coast service, others of greater strength and +capacity will be necessary for cruising purposes and to maintain our +rightful position on the ocean. + +The change that has taken place in naval vessels and naval warfare +since the introduction of steam as a motive power for ships of war +demands either a corresponding change in some of our existing +navy-yards or the establishment of new ones for the construction and +necessary repair of modern naval vessels. No inconsiderable +embarrassment, delay, and public injury have been experienced from the +want of such governmental establishments. The necessity of such a +navy-yard, so furnished, at some suitable place upon the Atlantic +seaboard has on repeated occasions been brought to the attention of +Congress by the Navy Department, and is again presented in the report +of the Secretary which accompanies this communication. I think it my +duty to invite your special attention to this subject, and also to that +of establishing a yard and depot for naval purposes upon one of the +Western rivers. A naval force has been created on those interior +waters, and under many disadvantages, within little more than two +years, exceeding in numbers the whole naval force of the country at the +commencement of the present Administration. Satisfactory and important +as have been the performances of the heroic men of the Navy at this +interesting period, they are scarcely more wonderful than the success +of our mechanics and artisans in the production of war vessels, which +has created a new form of naval power. + +Our country has advantages superior to any other nation in our +resources of iron and timber, with inexhaustible quantities of fuel in +the immediate vicinity of both, and all available and in close +proximity to navigable waters. Without the advantage of public works, +the resources of the nation have been developed and its power displayed +in the construction of a Navy of such magnitude, which has at the very +period of its creation rendered signal service to the Union. + +The increase of the number of seamen in the public service from 7,500 +men in the spring of 1861 to about 34,000 at the present time has been +accomplished without special legislation or extraordinary bounties to +promote that increase. It has been found, however, that the operation +of the draft, with the high bounties paid for army recruits, is +beginning to affect injuriously the naval service, and will, if not +corrected, be likely to impair its efficiency by detaching seamen from +their proper vocation and inducing them to enter the Army. I therefore +respectfully suggest that Congress might aid both the army and naval +services by a definite provision on this subject which would at the +same time be equitable to the communities more especially interested. + +I commend to your consideration the suggestions of the Secretary of the +Navy in regard to the policy of fostering and training seamen and also +the education of officers and engineers for the naval service. The +Naval Academy is rendering signal service in preparing midshipmen for +the highly responsible duties which in after life they will be required +to perform. In order that the country should not be deprived of the +proper quota of educated officers, for which legal provision has been +made at the naval school, the vacancies caused by the neglect or +omission to make nominations from the States in insurrection have been +filled by the Secretary of the Navy. The school is now more full and +complete than at any former period, and in every respect entitled to +the favorable consideration of Congress. + +During the past fiscal year the financial condition of the Post-Office +Department has been one of increasing prosperity, and I am gratified in +being able to state that the actual postal revenue has nearly equaled +the entire expenditures, the latter amounting to $11,314,206.84 and the +former to $11,163,789.59, leaving a deficiency of but $150,417.25. In +1860, the year immediately preceding the rebellion, the deficiency +amounted to $5,656,705.49, the postal receipts of that year being +$2,645,722.19 less than those of 1863. The decrease since 1860 in the +annual amount of transportation has been only about 25 per cent, but +the annual expenditure on account of the same has been reduced 35 per +cent. It is manifest, therefore, that the Post-Office Department may +become self-sustaining in a few years, even with the restoration of the +whole service. + +The international conference of postal delegates from the principal +countries of Europe and America, which was called at the suggestion of +the Postmaster-General, met at Paris on the 11th of May last and +concluded its deliberations on the 8th of June. The principles +established by the conference as best adapted to facilitate postal +intercourse between nations and as the basis of future postal +conventions inaugurate a general system of uniform international +charges at reduced rates of postage, and can not fail to produce +beneficial results. + +I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Interior, which is +herewith laid before you, for useful and varied information in relation +to the public lands, Indian affairs, patents, pensions, and other +matters of public concern pertaining to his Department. + +The quantity of land disposed of during the last and the first quarter +of the present fiscal years was 3,841,549 acres, of which 161,911 acres +were sold for cash, 1,456,514 acres were taken up under the homestead +law, and the residue disposed of under laws granting lands for military +bounties, for railroad and other purposes. It also appears that the +sale of the public lands is largely on the increase. + +It has long been a cherished opinion of some of our wisest statesmen +that the people of the United States had a higher and more enduring +interest in the early settlement and substantial cultivation of the +public lands than in the amount of direct revenue to be derived from +the sale of them. This opinion has had a controlling influence in +shaping legislation upon the subject of our national domain. I may cite +as evidence of this the liberal measures adopted in reference to actual +settlers; the grant to the States of the overflowed lands within their +limits, in order to their being reclaimed and rendered fit for +cultivation; the grants to railway companies of alternate sections of +land upon the contemplated issues of their roads, which when completed +will so largely multiply the facilities for reaching our distant +possessions. This policy has received its most signal and beneficent +illustration in the recent enactment granting homesteads to actual +settlers. Since the 1st day of January last the before-mentioned +quantity of 1,456,514 acres of land have been taken up under its +provisions. This fact and the amount of sales furnish gratifying +evidence of increasing settlement upon the public lands, +notwithstanding the great struggle in which the energies of the nation +have been engaged, and which has required so large a withdrawal of our +citizens from their accustomed pursuits. I cordially concur in the +recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior suggesting a +modification of the act in favor of those engaged in the military and +naval service of the United States. I doubt not that Congress will +cheerfully adopt such measures as will, without essentially changing +the general features of the system, secure to the greatest practicable +extent its benefits to those who have left their homes in the defense +of the country in this arduous crisis. + +I invite your attention to the views of the Secretary as to the +propriety of raising by appropriate legislation a revenue from the +mineral lands of the United States. + +The measures provided at your last session for the removal of certain +Indian tribes have been carried into effect. Sundry treaties have been +negotiated, which will in due time be submitted for the constitutional +action of the Senate. They contain stipulations for extinguishing the +possessory rights of the Indians to large and valuable tracts of lands. +It is hoped that the effect of these treaties will result in the +establishment of permanent friendly relations with such of these tribes +as have been brought into frequent and bloody collision with our +outlying settlements and emigrants. Sound policy and our imperative +duty to these wards of the Government demand our anxious and constant +attention to their material well-being, to their progress in the arts +of civilization, and, above all, to that moral training which under the +blessing of Divine Providence will confer upon them the elevated and +sanctifying influences, the hopes and consolations, of the Christian +faith. I suggested in my last annual message the propriety of +remodeling our Indian system. Subsequent events have satisfied me of +its necessity. The details set forth in the report of the Secretary +evince the urgent need for immediate legislative action. + +I commend the benevolent institutions established or patronized by the +Government in this District to your generous and fostering care. The +attention of Congress during the last session was engaged to some +extent with a proposition for enlarging the water communication between +the Mississippi River and the northeastern seaboard, which proposition, +however, failed for the time. Since then, upon a call of the greatest +respectability, a convention has been held at Chicago upon the same +subject, a summary of whose views is contained in a memorial addressed +to the President and Congress, and which I now have the honor to lay +before you. That this interest is one which ere long will force its own +way I do not entertain a doubt, while it is submitted entirely to your +wisdom as to what can be done now. Augmented interest is given to this +subject by the actual commencement of work upon the Pacific Railroad, +under auspices so favorable to rapid progress and completion. The +enlarged navigation becomes a palpable need to the great road. + +I transmit the second annual report of the Commissioner of the +Department of Agriculture, asking your attention to the developments in +that vital interest of the nation. When Congress assembled a year ago, +the war had already lasted nearly twenty months, and there had been +many conflicts on both land and sea, with varying results; the +rebellion had been pressed back into reduced limits; yet the tone of +public feeling and opinion, at home and abroad was not satisfactory. +With other signs, the popular elections then just past indicated +uneasiness among ourselves, while, amid much that was cold and +menacing, the kindest words coming from Europe were uttered in accents +of pity that we were too blind to surrender a hopeless cause. Our +commerce was suffering greatly by a few armed vessels built upon and +furnished from foreign shores, and we were threatened with such +additions from the same quarter as would sweep our trade from the sea +and raise our blockade. We had failed to elicit from European +Governments anything hopeful upon this subject. The preliminary +emancipation proclamation, issued in September, was running its +assigned period to the beginning of the new year. A month later the +final proclamation came, including the announcement that colored men of +suitable condition would be received into the war service. The policy +of emancipation and of employing black soldiers gave to the future a +new aspect, about which hope and fear and doubt contended in uncertain +conflict. According to our political system, as a matter of civil +administration, the General Government had no lawful power to effect +emancipation in any State, and for a long time it had been hoped that +the rebellion could be suppressed without resorting to it as a military +measure. It was all the while deemed possible that the necessity for it +might come, and that if it should the crisis of the contest would then +be presented. It came, and, as was anticipated, it was followed by dark +and doubtful days. Eleven months having now passed, we are permitted to +take another review. The rebel borders are pressed still farther back, +and by the complete opening of the Mississippi the country dominated by +the rebellion is divided into distinct parts, with no practical +communication between them. Tennessee and Arkansas have been +substantially cleared of insurgent control, and influential citizens in +each, owners of slaves and advocates of slavery at the beginning of the +rebellion, now declare openly for emancipation in their respective +States. Of those States not included in the emancipation proclamation, +Maryland and Missouri, neither of which three years ago would tolerate +any restraint upon the extension of slavery into new Territories, only +dispute now as to the best mode of removing it within their own limits. + +Of those who were slaves at the beginning of the rebellion full 100,000 +are now in the United States military service, about one-half of which +number actually bear arms in the ranks, thus giving the double +advantage of taking so much labor from the insurgent cause and +supplying the places which otherwise must be filled with so many white +men. So far as tested, it is difficult to say they are not as good +soldiers as any. No servile insurrection or tendency to violence or +cruelty has marked the measures of emancipation and arming the blacks. +These measures have been much discussed in foreign countries, and, +contemporary with such discussion, the tone of public sentiment there +is much improved. At home the same measures have been fully discussed, +supported, criticised, and denounced, and the annual elections +following are highly encouraging to those whose official duty it is to +bear the country through this great trial. Thus we have the new +reckoning. The crisis which threatened to divide the friends of the +Union is past. + +Looking now to the present and future, and with reference to a +resumption of the national authority within the States wherein that +authority has been suspended, I have thought fit to issue a +proclamation, a copy of which is herewith transmitted. On examination +of this proclamation it will appear, as is believed, that nothing will +be attempted beyond what is amply justified by the Constitution. True, +the form of an oath is given, but no man is coerced to take it. The man +is only promised a pardon in case he voluntarily takes the oath. The +Constitution authorizes the Executive to grant or withhold the pardon +at his own absolute discretion, and this includes the power to grant on +terms, as is fully established by judicial and other authorities. + +It is also proffered that if in any of the States named a State +government shall be in the mode prescribed set up, such government +shall be recognized and guaranteed by the United States, and that under +it the State shall, on the constitutional conditions, be protected +against invasion and domestic violence. The constitutional obligation +of the United States to guarantee to every State in the Union a +republican form of government and to protect the State in the cases +stated is explicit and full. But why tender the benefits of this +provision only to a State government set up in this particular way? +This section of the Constitution contemplates a case wherein the +element within a State favorable to republican government in the Union +may be too feeble for an opposite and hostile element external to or +even within the State, and such are precisely the cases with which we +are now dealing. + +An attempt to guarantee and protect a revived State government, +constructed in whole or in preponderating part from the very element +against whose hostility and violence it is to be protected, is simply +absurd. There must be a test by which to separate the opposing +elements, so as to build only from the sound; and that test is a +sufficiently liberal one which accepts as sound whoever will make a +sworn recantation of his former unsoundness. + +But if it be proper to require as a test of admission to the political +body an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and +to the Union under it, why also to the laws and proclamations in regard +to slavery? Those laws and proclamations were enacted and put forth for +the purpose of aiding in the suppression of the rebellion. To give them +their fullest effect there had to be a pledge for their maintenance. In +my judgment, they have aided and will further aid the cause for which +they were intended. To now abandon them would be not only to relinquish +a lever of power, but would also be a cruel and an astounding breach of +faith. I may add at this point that while I remain in my present +position I shall not attempt to retract or modify the emancipation +proclamation, nor shall I return to slavery any person who is free by +the terms of that proclamation or by any of the acts of Congress. For +these and other reasons it is thought best that support of these +measures shall be included in the oath, and it is believed the +Executive may lawfully claim it in return for pardon and restoration of +forfeited rights, which he has clear constitutional power to withhold +altogether or grant upon the terms which he shall deem wisest for the +public interest. It should be observed also that this part of the oath +is subject to the modifying and abrogating power of legislation and +supreme judicial decision. + +The proposed acquiescence of the National Executive in any reasonable +temporary State arrangement for the freed people is made with the view +of possibly modifying the confusion and destitution which must at best +attend all classes by a total revolution of labor throughout whole +States. It is hoped that the already deeply afflicted people in those +States may be somewhat more ready to give up the cause of their +affliction if to this extent this vital matter be left to themselves, +while no power of the National Executive to prevent an abuse is +abridged by the proposition. + +The suggestion in the proclamation as to maintaining the political +framework of the States on what is called reconstruction is made in the +hope that it may do good without danger of harm. It will save labor and +avoid great confusion. + +But why any proclamation now upon this subject? This question is beset +with the conflicting views that the step might be delayed too long or +be taken too soon. In some States the elements for resumption seem +ready for action, but remain inactive apparently for want of a rallying +point--a plan of action, Why shall A adopt the plan of B rather than B +that of A? And if A and B should agree, how can they know but that the +General Government here will reject their plan? By the proclamation a +plan is presented which may be accepted by them as a rallying point, +and which they are assured in advance will not be rejected here. This +may bring them to act sooner than they otherwise would. The objections +to a premature presentation of a plan by the National Executive consist +in the danger of committals on points which could be more safely left +to further developments. Care has been taken to so shape the document +as to avoid embarrassments from this source. Saying that on certain +terms certain classes will be pardoned with rights restored, it is not +said that other classes or other terms will never be in included. +Saying specified way, it is said that reconstruction will be accepted +if presented in a not said it will never be accepted in any other way. + +The movements by State action for emancipation in several of the States +not included in the emancipation proclamation are matters of profound +gratulation. And while I do not repeat in detail what I have heretofore +so earnestly urged upon this subject, my general views and feelings +remain unchanged; and I trust that Congress will omit no fair +opportunity of aiding these important steps to a great consummation. In +the midst of other cares, however important, we must not lose sight of +the fact that the war power is still our main reliance. To that power +alone can we look yet for a time to give confidence to the people in +the contested regions that the insurgent power will not again overrun +them. Until that confidence shall be established little can be done +anywhere for what is called reconstruction. Hence our chiefest care +must still be directed to the Army and Navy, who have thus far borne +their harder part so nobly and well; and it may be esteemed fortunate +that in giving the greatest efficiency to these indispensable arms we +do also honorably recognize the gallant men, from commander to +sentinel, who compose them, and to whom more than to others the world +must stand indebted for the home of freedom disenthralled, regenerated, +enlarged, and perpetuated. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Abraham Lincoln +December 6, 1864 + +Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: + +Again the blessings of health and abundant harvests claim our +profoundest gratitude to Almighty God. + +The condition of our foreign affairs is reasonably satisfactory. + +Mexico continues to be a theater of civil war. While our political +relations with that country have undergone no change, we have at the +same time strictly maintained neutrality between the belligerents. + +At the request of the States of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, a competent +engineer has been authorized to make a survey of the river San Juan and +the port of San Juan. It is a source of much satisfaction that the +difficulties which for a moment excited some political apprehensions +and caused a closing of the interoceanic transit route have been +amicably adjusted, and that there is a good prospect that the route +will soon be reopened with an increase of capacity and adaptation. We +could not exaggerate either the commercial or the political importance +of that great improvement. + +It would be doing injustice to an important South American State not to +acknowledge the directness, frankness, and cordiality with which the +United States of Colombia have entered into intimate relations with +this Government. A claims convention has been constituted to complete +the unfinished work of the one which closed its session in 1861. + +The new liberal constitution of Venezuela having gone into effect with +the universal acquiescence of the people, the Government under it has +been recognized and diplomatic intercourse with it has opened in a +cordial and friendly spirit. The long-deferred Aves Island claim has +been satisfactorily paid and discharged. + +Mutual payments have been made of the claims awarded by the late joint +commission for the settlement of claims between the United States and +Peru. An earnest and cordial friendship continues to exist between the +two countries, and such efforts as were in my power have been used to +remove misunderstanding and avert a threatened war between Peru and +Spain. + +Our relations are of the most friendly nature with Chile, the Argentine +Republic, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salvador, and Hayti. +During the past year no differences of any kind have arisen with any of +those Republics, and, on the other hand, their sympathies with the +United States are constantly expressed with cordiality and earnestness. + +The claim arising from the seizure of the cargo of the brig Macedonian +in 1821 has been paid in full by the Government of Chile. Civil war +continues in the Spanish part of San Domingo, apparently without +prospect of an early close. + +Official correspondence has been freely opened with Liberia, and it +gives us a pleasing view of social and political progress in that +Republic. It may be expected to derive new vigor from American +influence, improved by the rapid disappearance of slavery in the United +States. + +I solicit your authority to furnish to the Republic a gunboat at +moderate cost, to be reimbursed to the United States by installments. +Such a vessel is needed for the safety of that State against the native +African races, and in Liberian hands it would be more effective in +arresting the African slave trade than a squadron in our own hands. The +possession of the least organized naval force would stimulate a +generous ambition in the Republic, and the confidence which we should +manifest by furnishing it would win forbearance and favor toward the +colony from all civilized nations. + +The proposed overland telegraph between America and Europe, by the way +of Behrings Straits and Asiatic Russia, which was sanctioned by +Congress at the last session, has been undertaken, under very favorable +circumstances, by an association of American citizens, with the cordial +good will and support as well of this Government as of those of Great +Britain and Russia. Assurances have been received from most of the +South American States of their high appreciation of the enterprise and +their readiness to cooperate in constructing lines tributary to that +world-encircling communication. I learn with much satisfaction that the +noble design of a telegraphic communication between the eastern coast +of America and Great Britain has been renewed, with full expectation of +its early accomplishment. + +Thus it is hoped that with the return of domestic peace the country +will be able to resume with energy and advantage its former high career +of commerce and civilization. + +Our very popular and estimable representative in Egypt died in April +last. An unpleasant altercation which arose between the temporary +incumbent of the office and the Government of the Pasha resulted in a +suspension of intercourse. The evil was promptly corrected on the +arrival of the successor in the consulate, and our relations with +Egypt, as well as our relations with the Barbary Powers, are entirely +satisfactory. + +The rebellion which has so long been flagrant in China has at last been +suppressed, with the cooperating good offices of this Government and of +the other Western commercial States. The judicial consular +establishment there has become very difficult and onerous, and it will +need legislative revision to adapt it to the extension of our commerce +and to the more intimate intercourse which has been instituted with the +Government and people of that vast Empire. China seems to be accepting +with hearty good will the conventional laws which regulate commercial +and social intercourse among the Western nations. + +Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan and the anomalous form of its +Government, the action of that Empire in performing treaty stipulations +is inconstant and capricious. Nevertheless, good progress has been +effected by the Western powers, moving with enlightened concert. Our +own pecuniary claims have been allowed or put in course of settlement, +and the inland sea has been reopened to commerce. There is reason also +to believe that these proceedings have increased rather than diminished +the friendship of Japan toward the United States. + +The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina, and Pensacola have been opened by +proclamation. It is hoped that foreign merchants will now consider +whether it is not safer and more profitable to themselves, as well as +just to the United States, to resort to these and other open ports than +it is to pursue, through many hazards and at vast cost, a contraband +trade with other ports which are closed, if not by actual military +occupation, at least by a lawful and effective blockade. + +For myself, I have no doubt of the power and duty of the Executive, +under the law of nations, to exclude enemies of the human race from an +asylum in the United States. If Congress should think that proceedings +in such cases lack the authority of law, or ought to be further +regulated by it, I recommend that provision be made for effectually +preventing foreign slave traders from acquiring domicile and facilities +for their criminal occupation in our country. + +It is possible that if it were new and open question the maritime +powers, with the lights they now enjoy, would not concede the +privileges of a naval belligerent to the insurgents of the United +States, destitute, as they are, and always have been, equally of ships +of war and of ports and harbors. Disloyal emissaries have been neither +less assiduous nor more successful during the last year than they were +before that time in their efforts under favor of that privilege, to +embroil our country in foreign wars. The desire and determination of +the governments of the maritime states to defeat that design are +believed to be as sincere as and can not be more earnest than our own. +Nevertheless, unforeseen political difficulties have arisen, especially +in Brazilian and British ports and on the northern boundary of the +United States, which have required, and are likely to continue to +require, the practice of constant vigilance and a just and conciliatory +spirit on the part of the United States, as well as of the nations +concerned and their governments. + +Commissioners have been appointed under the treaty with Great Britain +on the adjustment of the claims of the Hudsons Bay and Pugets Sound +Agricultural Companies, in Oregon, and are now proceeding to the +execution of the trust assigned to them. + +In view of the insecurity of life and property in the region adjacent +to the Canadian border, by reason of recent assaults and depredations +committed by inimical and desperate persons who are harbored there, it +has been thought proper to give notice that after the expiration of six +months, the period conditionally stipulated in the existing arrangement +with Great Britain, the United States must hold themselves at liberty +to increase their naval armament upon the Lakes if they shall find that +proceeding necessary. The condition of the border will necessarily come +into consideration in connection with the question of continuing or +modifying the rights of transit from Canada through the United States, +as well as the regulation of imposts, which were temporarily +established by the reciprocity treaty of the 5th June, 1854. + +I desire, however, to be understood while making this statement that +the colonial authorities of Canada are not deemed to be intentionally +unjust or unfriendly toward the United States, but, on the contrary, +there is every reason to expect that, with the approval of the Imperial +Government, they will take the necessary measures to prevent new +incursions across the border. + +The act passed at the last session for the encouragement of immigration +has so far as was possible been put into operation. It seems to need +amendment which will enable the officers of the Government to prevent +the practice of frauds against the immigrants while on their way and on +their arrival in the ports, so as to secure them here a free choice of +avocations and places of settlement. A liberal disposition toward this +great national policy is manifested by most of the European States, and +ought to be reciprocated on our part by giving the immigrants effective +national protection. I regard our immigrants as one of the principal +replenishing streams which are appointed by Providence to repair the +ravages of internal war and its wastes of national strength and health. +All that is necessary is to secure the flow of that stream in its +present fullness, and to that end the Government must in every way make +it manifest that it neither needs nor designs to impose involuntary +military service upon those who come from other lands to cast their lot +in our country. + +The financial affairs of the Government have been successfully +administered during the last year. The legislation of the last session +of Congress has beneficially affected the revenues, although sufficient +time has not yet elapsed to experience the full effect of several of +the provisions of the acts of Congress imposing increased taxation. + +The receipts during the year from all sources, upon the basis of +warrants signed by the Secretary of the Treasury, including loans and +the balance in the Treasury on the 1st day of July, 1863, were +$1,394,796,007.62, and the aggregate disbursements, upon the same +basis, were $1,298,056,101.89, leaving a balance in the Treasury, as +shown by warrants, of $96,739,905.73. + +Deduct from these amounts the amount of the principal of the public +debt redeemed and the amount of issues in substitution therefor, and +the actual cash operations of the Treasury were: Receipts, +$884,076,646.57; disbursements, $865,234,087.86; which leaves a cash +balance in the Treasury of $18,842,558.71. + +Of the receipts there were derived from customs $102,316,152.99, from +lands $588,333.29, from direct taxes $475,648.96, from internal revenue +$109,741,134.10, from miscellaneous sources $47,511,448.10, and from +loans applied to actual expenditures, including former balance, +$623,443,929.13. + +There were disbursed for the civil service $27,505,599.46, for pensions +and Indians $7,517,930.97, for the War Department $690,791,842.97, for +the Navy Department $85,733,292.77, for interest on the public debt +$53,685,421.69, making an aggregate of $865,234,087.86 and leaving a +balance in the Treasury of $18,842,558.71, as before stated. + +For the actual receipts and disbursements for the first quarter and the +estimated receipts and disbursements for the three remaining quarters +of the current fiscal year, and the general operations of the Treasury +in detail, I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury. +I concur with him in the opinion that the proportion of moneys required +to meet the expenses consequent upon the war derived from taxation +should be still further increased; and I earnestly invite your +attention to this subject, to the end that there may be such additional +legislation as shall be required to meet the just expectations of the +Secretary. + +The public debt on the 1st day of July last, as appears by the books of +the Treasury, amounted to $1,740,690,489.49. Probably, should the war +continue for another year, that amount may be increased by not far from +five hundred millions. Held, as it is, for the most part by our own +people, it has become a substantial branch of national, though private, +property. For obvious reasons the more nearly this property can be +distributed among all the people the better. To favor such general +distribution, greater inducements to become owners might, perhaps, with +good effect and without injury be presented to persons of limited +means. With this view I suggest whether it might not be both competent +and expedient for Congress to provide that a limited amount of some +future issue of public securities might be held by any bona fide +purchaser exempt from taxation and from seizure for debt, under such +restrictions and limitations as might be necessary to guard against +abuse of so important a privilege. This would enable every prudent +person to set aside a small annuity against a possible day of want. + +Privileges like these would render the possession of such securities to +the amount limited most desirable to every person of small means who +might be able to save enough for the purpose. The great advantage of +citizens being creditors as well as debtors with relation to the public +debt is obvious. Men readily perceive that they can not be much +oppressed by a debt which they owe to themselves. + +The public debt on the 1st day of July last, although somewhat +exceeding the estimate of the Secretary of the Treasury made to +Congress at the commencement of the last session, falls short of the +estimate of that officer made in the preceding December as to its +probable amount at the beginning of this year by the sum of +$3,995,097.31. This fact exhibits a satisfactory condition and conduct +of the operations of the Treasury. + +The national banking system is proving to be acceptable to capitalists +and to the people. On the 25th day of November 584 national banks had +been organized, a considerable number of which were conversions from +State banks. Changes from State systems to the national system are +rapidly taking place, and it is hoped that very soon there will be in +the United States no banks of issue not authorized by Congress and no +bank-note circulation not secured by the Government. That the +Government and the people will derive great benefit from this change in +the banking systems of the country can hardly be questioned. The +national system will create a reliable and permanent influence in +support of the national credit and protect the people against losses in +the use of paper money. Whether or not any further legislation is +advisable for the suppression of State-bank issues it will be for +Congress to determine. It seems quite clear that the Treasury can not +be satisfactorily conducted unless the Government can exercise a +restraining power over the bank-note circulation of the country. The +report of the Secretary of War and the accompanying documents will +detail the campaigns of the armies in the field since the date of the +last annual message, and also the operations of the several +administrative bureaus of the War Department during the last year. It +will also specify the measures deemed essential for the national +defense and to keep up and supply the requisite military force. + +The report of the Secretary of the Navy presents a comprehensive and +satisfactory exhibit of the affairs of that Department and of the naval +service. It is a subject of congratulation and laudable pride to our +countrymen that a Navy of such vast proportions has been organized in +so brief a period and conducted with so much efficiency and success. + +The general exhibit of the Navy, including vessels under construction +on the 1st of December, 1864, shows a total of 671 vessels, carrying +4,610 guns, and of 510,396 tons, being an actual increase during the +year, over and above all losses by shipwreck or in battle, of 83 +vessels, 167 guns, and 42,427 tons. + +The total number of men at this time in the naval service, including +officers, is about 51,000. + +There have been captured by the Navy during the year 324 vessels, and +the whole number of naval captures since hostilities commenced is +1,379, of which 267 are steamers. + +The gross proceeds arising from the sale of condemned prize property +thus far reported amount to $14,396,250.51. A large amount of such +proceeds is still under adjudication and yet to be reported. + +The total expenditure of the Navy Department of every description, +including the cost of the immense squadrons that have been called into +existence from the 4th of March, 1861, to the 1st of November, 1864, is +$238,647,262.35. + +Your favorable consideration is invited to the various recommendations +of the Secretary of the Navy, especially in regard to a navy-yard and +suitable establishment for the construction and repair of iron vessels +and the machinery and armature for our ships, to which reference was +made in my last annual message. + +Your attention is also invited to the views expressed in the report in +relation to the legislation of Congress at its last session in respect +to prize on our inland waters. + +I cordially concur in the recommendation of the Secretary as to the +propriety of creating the new rank of vice-admiral in our naval +service. Your attention is invited to the report of the +Postmaster-General for a detailed account of the operations and +financial condition of the Post-Office Department. + +The postal revenues for the year ending June 30, 1864, amounted to +$12,438,253.78 and the expenditures to $12,644,786.20, the excess of +expenditures over receipts being $206,652.42. + +The views presented by the Postmaster-General on the subject of special +grants by the Government in aid of the establishment of new lines of +ocean mail steamships and the policy he recommends for the development +of increased commercial intercourse with adjacent and neighboring +countries should receive the careful consideration of Congress. + +It is of noteworthy interest that the steady expansion of population, +improvement, and governmental institutions over the new and unoccupied +portions of our country 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 energies of the nation. + +The organization and admission of the State of Nevada has been +completed in conformity with law, and thus our excellent system is +firmly established in the mountains, which once seemed a barren and +uninhabitable waste between the Atlantic States and those which have +grown up on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. + +The Territories of the Union are generally in a condition of prosperity +and rapid growth. Idaho and Montana, by reason of their great distance +and the interruption of communication with them by Indian hostilities, +have been only partially organized; but it is understood that these +difficulties are about to disappear, which will permit their +governments, like those of the others, to go into speedy and full +operation. As intimately connected with and promotive of this material +growth of the nation, I ask the attention of Congress to the valuable +information and important recommendations relating to the public lands, +Indian affairs, the Pacific Railroad, and mineral discoveries contained +in the report of the Secretary of the Interior which is herewith +transmitted, and which report also embraces the subjects of patents, +pensions, and other topics of public interest pertaining to his +Department. + +The quantity of public land disposed of during the five quarters ending +on the 30th of September last was 4,221,342 acres, of which 1,538,614 +acres were entered under the homestead law. The remainder was located +with military land warrants, agricultural scrip certified to States for +railroads, and sold for cash. The cash received from sales and location +fees was $1,019,446. + +The income from sales during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1864, was +$678,007.21, against $136,077.95 received during the preceding year. +The aggregate number of acres surveyed during the year has been equal +to the quantity disposed of, and there is open to settlement about +133,000,000 acres of surveyed land. + +The great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific States +by railways and telegraph lines has been entered upon with a vigor that +gives assurance of success, notwithstanding the embarrassments arising +from the prevailing high prices of materials and labor. The route of +the main line of the road has been definitely located for 100 miles +westward from the initial point at Omaha City, Nebr., and a preliminary +location of the Pacific Railroad of California has been made from +Sacramento eastward to the great bend of the Truckee River in Nevada. +Numerous discoveries of gold, silver, and cinnabar mines have been +added to the many heretofore known, and the country occupied by the +Sierra Nevada and Rocky mountains and the subordinate ranges now teems +with enterprising labor, which is richly remunerative. It is believed +that the product of the mines of precious metals in that region has +during the year reached, if not exceeded, one hundred millions in +value. + +It was recommended in my last annual message that our Indian system be +remodeled. Congress at its last session, acting upon the +recommendation, did provide for reorganizing the system in California, +and it is believed that under the present organization the management +of the Indians there will be attended with reasonable success. Much yet +remains to be done to provide for the proper government of the Indians +in other parts of the country, to render it secure for the advancing +set-tier, and to provide for the welfare of the Indian. The Secretary +reiterates his recommendations, and to them the attention of Congress +is invited. + +The liberal provisions made by Congress for paying pensions to invalid +soldiers and sailors of the Republic and to the widows, orphans, and +dependent mothers of those who have fallen in battle or died of disease +contracted or of wounds received in the service of their country have +been diligently administered. There have been added to the pension +rolls during the year ending the 30th day of June last the names of +16,770 invalid soldiers and of 271 disabled seamen, making the present +number of army invalid pensioners 22,767 and of navy invalid pensioners +712. + +Of widows, orphans, and mothers 22,198 have been placed on the army +pension rolls and 248 on the navy rolls. The present number of army +pensioners of this class is 25,433 and of navy pensioners 793. At the +beginning of the year the number of Revolutionary pensioners was 1,430. +Only 12 of them were soldiers, of whom 7 have since died. The remainder +are those who under the law receive pensions because of relationship to +Revolutionary soldiers. During the year ending the 30th of June, 1864, +$4,504,616.92 have been paid to pensioners of all classes. + +I cheerfully commend to your continued patronage the benevolent +institutions of the District of Columbia which have hitherto been +established or fostered by Congress, and respectfully refer for +information concerning them and in relation to the Washington Aqueduct, +the Capitol, and other matters of local interest to the report of the +Secretary. + +The Agricultural Department, under the supervision of its present +energetic and faithful head, is rapidly commending itself to the great +and vital interest it was created to advance It is peculiarly the +people's Department, in which they feel more directly concerned than in +any other. I commend it to the continued attention and fostering care +of Congress. + +The war continues. Since the last annual message all the important +lines and positions then occupied by our forces have been maintained +and our arms have steadily advanced, thus liberating the regions left +in rear, so that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of other +States have again produced reasonably fair crops. + +The most remarkable feature in the military operations of the year is +General Sherman's attempted march of 300 miles directly through the +insurgent region. It tends to show a great increase of our relative +strength that our General in Chief should feel able to confront and +hold in check every active force of the enemy, and yet to detach a +well-appointed large army to move on such an expedition. The result not +yet being known, conjecture in regard to it is not here indulged. + +Important movements have also occurred during the year to the effect of +molding society for durability in the Union. Although short of complete +success, it is much in the fight direction that 12,000 citizens in each +of the States of Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal State +governments, with free constitutions, and are earnestly struggling to +maintain and administer them. The movements in the same direction, more +extensive though less definite, in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee +should not be overlooked. But Maryland 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, it may seek to tear her, but it will woo her +no-more. + +At the last session of Congress a proposed amendment of the +Constitution abolishing slavery throughout the United States passed the +Senate, but failed for lack of the requisite two-thirds vote in the +House of Representatives. Although the present is the same Congress and +nearly the same members, and without questioning the wisdom or +patriotism of those who stood in opposition, I venture to recommend the +reconsideration and passage of the measure at the present session. Of +course the abstract question is not changed; but in intervening +election shows almost certainly that the next Congress will pass the +measure if this does not. Hence there is only a question of time as to +when the proposed amendment will go to the States for their action. And +as it is to so go at all events, may we not agree that the sooner the +better? It is not claimed that the election has imposed a duty on +members to change their views or 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 a great national crisis like ours unanimity of action +among those seeking a common end is very desirable--almost +indispensable. And yet no approach to such unanimity is attainable +unless some deference 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 dearly declared in favor of +such constitutional amendment. + +The most reliable indication of public purpose in this country is +derived through our popular elections. Judging by the recent canvass +and its result, the purpose of the people within the loyal States to +maintain the integrity of the Union was never more firm nor more nearly +unanimous than now. The extraordinary calmness and good order with +which the millions of voters met and mingled at the polls give strong +assurance of this. Not only all those who supported the Union ticket, +so called, but a great majority of the opposing party also may be +fairly claimed to entertain and to be actuated by the same purpose. It +is an unanswerable argument to this effect that no candidate for any +office whatever, high or low, has ventured to seek votes on the avowal +that he was for giving up the Union. There have been much impugning of +motives and much heated controversy as to the proper means and best +mode of advancing the Union cause, but on the distinct issue of Union +or no Union the politicians have shown their instinctive knowledge that +there is no diversity among the people. In affording the people the +fair opportunity of showing one to another and to the world this +firmness and unanimity of purpose, the election has been of vast value +to the national cause. + +The election has exhibited another tact not less valuable to be +known--the fact that we do not approach exhaustion in the most +important branch of national resources, that of living men. While it is +melancholy to reflect that the war has filled so many graves and +carried mourning to so many hearts, it is some relief to know that, +compared with the surviving, the fallen have been so few. While corps +and divisions and brigades and regiments have formed and fought and +dwindled and gone out of existence, a great majority of the men who +composed them are still living. The same is true of the naval service. +The 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, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, +Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, +Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, +Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, east +3,982,011 votes now, against 3,870,222 cast then, showing an aggregate +now of 3,982,011. To this is to be added 33,762 cast now in the new +States of Kansas and Nevada, which States did not vote in 1860, thus +swelling the aggregate to 4,015,773 and the net increase during the +three years and a half of war to 145,551. A table is appended showing +particulars. To this again should be added the number of all soldiers +in the field from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, +Indiana, Illinois, and California, who by the laws of those States +could not vote away from their homes, and which number can not be less +than 90,000. Nor yet is this all. The number in organized Territories +is triple now what it was four years ago, while thousands, white and +black, join us as the national arms press back the insurgent lines. So +much is shown, affirmatively and negatively, by the election. It 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 +important fact remains demonstrated that we have more men now than we +had when the war began; that we are not exhausted nor in process of +exhaustion; that we are gaining strength and may if need be maintain +the contest indefinitely. This as to men. Material resources are now +more complete and abundant than ever. + +The national resources, then, are unexhausted, and, as we believe, +inexhaustible. The public purpose to reestablish and maintain the +national authority is unchanged, and, as we believe, unchangeable. The +manner of continuing the effort remains to choose. On careful +consideration of all the evidence accessible it seems to me that no +attempt at negotiation with the insurgent leader could result in any +good. He would accept nothing short of severance of the Union, +precisely what we will not and can not give. His declarations to this +effect are explicit and oft repeated. He does not attempt to deceive +us. He affords us no excuse to deceive ourselves. He can not +voluntarily reaccept the Union; we can not voluntarily yield it. +Between him and us the issue is distinct, simple, and inflexible. It is +an issue which can only be tried by war and decided by victory. If we +yield, we are beaten; if the Southern people fail him, he is beaten. +Either way it would be the victory and defeat following war. What is +true, however, of him who heads the insurgent cause is not necessarily +true of those who follow. Although he can not reaccept 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 +under the Constitution. Alter so much the Government could not, if it +would, maintain war against them. The loyal people would not sustain or +allow it. If questions should remain, we would adjust them by the +peaceful means of legislation, conference, courts, and votes, operating +only in constitutional and lawful channels. Some certain, and other +possible, questions are and would be beyond the Executive power to +adjust; as, for instance, the admission of members into Congress and +whatever might require the appropriation of money. The Executive power +itself would be greatly diminished by the cessation of actual war. +Pardons and remissions of forfeitures, however, would still be within +Executive control. 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 at the +same time made known that the excepted classes were still within +contemplation of special clemency. During the year many availed +themselves of the general provision, and many more would, only that the +signs of bad faith in some led to such precautionary measures as +rendered the practical process less easy and certain. During the same +time also special pardons have been granted to individuals of the +excepted classes, and no voluntary application has been denied. Thus +practically the door has been for a full year open to all except such +as were not in condition to make free choice; that is, such as were in +custody or under constraint. It 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 in lieu more rigorous measures than heretofore shall be +adopted. In presenting the abandonment of armed resistance 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, I retract nothing heretofore said as to slavery. I repeat +the declaration made a year a ago, that "while I remain in my present +position I shall not attempt to retract or modify the emancipation +proclamation, nor shall I return to slavery any person who is free by +the terms of that proclamation or by any of the acts of Congress." If +the people should, by whatever mode or means, make it an Executive duty +to re-enslave such persons, another, and not I, must be their +instrument to perform it. In stating a single condition of peace I mean +simply to say that the war will cease on the part of the Government +whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who began it. + + +Table showing the aggregate votes in the States named, at the presidential +election respectively in 1860 and 1864. + +State 1860 1864 + +California 118,840 *110,000 + +Connecticut 77,246 86,616 + +Delaware 16,039 16,924 + +Illinois 339,693 348,235 + +Indiana 272,143 280,645 + +Iowa 128,331 143,331 + +Kentucky 146,216 *91,300 + +Maine 97,918 115,141 + +Maryland 92,502 72,703 + +Massachusetts 169,533 175,487 + +Michigan 154,747 162,413 + +Minnesota 34,799 42,534 + +Missouri 165,538 *90,000 + +New Hampshire 65,953 69,111 + +New Jersey 121,125 128,680 + +New York 675,156 730,664 + +Ohio 42,441 470,745 + +Oregon 14,410 +14,410 + +Pennsylvania 476,442 572,697 + +Rhode Island 19,931 22,187 + +Vermont 42,844 55,811 + +West Virginia 46,195 33,874 + +Wisconsin 152,180 148,513 + --------- -------- + 3,870,222 3,982,01 + -------- +Kansas 17,234 + +Nevada 16,528 + -------- + 33,762 + 3,982,011 + -------- + Total 4,015,773 + 3,870,222 + -------- + Net increase 145,551 + +*Nearly. +Estimated. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's State of the Union Addresses, by Abraham Lincoln + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES *** + +***** This file should be named 5024.txt or 5024.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/2/5024/ + +Produced by James Linden + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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