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small proportion of the region which has yet been brought into
cultivation； and also the large and rapidly increasing amount of
products； and we shall be overwhelmed with the magnitude of the
prospect presented。 And yet this region has no seacoasttouches 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 ourselvesto 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
instalments 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
derangementin fact； from the necessity of any derangementwhile
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 tune； 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 dissatis