It is the maxim of natural philosophers, that the natural forces wear out in time all obstacles, and take place:  and ’t is the maxim of history, that victory always falls at last where it ought to fall; or, there is perpetual march and progress to ideas.  But, in either case, no link of the chain can drop out.  Nature works through her appointed elements; and ideas must work through the brains and the arms of good and brave men, or they are no better than dreams.

* * * * *

Since the above pages were written, President Lincoln has proposed to Congress that the Government shall cooeperate with any State that shall enact a gradual abolishment of Slavery.  In the recent series of national successes, this Message is the best.  It marks the happiest day in the political year.  The American Executive ranges itself for the first time on the side of freedom.  If Congress has been backward, the President has advanced.  This state-paper is the more interesting that it appears to be the President’s individual act, done under a strong sense of duty.  He speaks his own thought in his own style.  All thanks and honor to the Head of the State!  The Message has been received throughout the country with praise, and, we doubt not, with more pleasure than has been spoken.  If Congress accords with the President, it is not yet too late to begin the emancipation; but we think it will always be too late to make it gradual.  All experience agrees that it should be immediate.  More and better than the President has spoken shall, perhaps, the effect of this Message be,—­but, we are sure, not more or better than he hoped in his heart, when, thoughtful of all the complexities of his position, he penned these cautious words.

* * * * *

  COMPENSATION.

  In the strength of the endeavor,
  In the temper of the giver,
  In the loving of the lover,
    Lies the hidden recompense.

  In the sowing of the sower,
  In the fleeting of the flower,
  In the fading of each hour,
    Lurks eternal recompense.

A MESSAGE OF JEFF DAVIS IN SECRET SESSION.

CONJECTURALLY REPORTED BY H. BIGLOW.

To the Editors of the ATLANTIC MONTHLY.

Jaalam, 10th March, 1862.

GENTLEMEN,—­My leisure has been so entirely occupied with the hitherto fruitless endeavour to decypher the Runick inscription whose fortunate discovery I mentioned in my last communication, that I have not found time to discuss, as I had intended, the great problem of what we are to do with slavery, a topick on which the publick mind in this place is at present more than ever agitated.  What my wishes and hopes are I need not say, but for safe conclusions I do not conceive that we are yet in possession of facts enough on which to bottom them with certainty.  Acknowledging the hand of Providence, as I do, in all