New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-05
COMPENSATED EMANCIPATIOM

To the Editor Of The " T. Tribune.
SIR: have observed that you sometimes admit
into your column Letters from the People ON
various subjects of general interest. should feel
greatly indebted to your courtesy, you would admit
a few statements in reference TO proposition which
has been brought before the public mind pretty ex-
tensivey during the last six months. think 1t may
be safely said that it has been received with much
sympathy and favor by a large number OF persons
belonging to all political parties. 1t has been pro-
scented to public audiences in more than one hundred
considerable towns in the Free States, from Maineto
Iowa. In many of these assemblies, vote has been
taken and full two thirds of those present have held
UP their hands for the adoption of the measure pro-
posed 1t is intended to hold National Convention
in the month of August next for the purpose OF de-
yeloping the proposition more fully, and for pressing
il upon the consideration of the country. As no por
ton Of the community can be interested in any
practical and udcious effort to Slavery from
our land than the large circle of your readers hope
Won will be disposed 10 concede columns space IN
your paper, for a sucenct statement oil ths chIe'
Joints and principles embraced in that plan OF com
pensated Emancipation which Is 10 De ulscusseu ia
The contemplated Convention.
No candid man, North or South, can hesitate TO al,
nit that the anagOnsms and arrangements genera,ed
by the system OF Slavery imperl the lie OF our De-
loved Union far more than a world OF foreign foes
would do.
Fifty YEAS OF the nations experience prove that
peace harmony and brotherly unity can never pervade
hi, great continental family Of States while Slavery
exists: but that, on the contrary the emblttering
struggle will grow more and more intense ana calam-
titus Until some competent measure be adopted Tor
the extinction Of that SYSTEM 49,
If the Union were at war with coalition Of Euro
lean powers, and could only escape subJugauon Dy
lie abolition Of Slavery the Constitution as well as
:ie law Of selfpreseryaOn, would fully sanction mat
summary act Both these sources OF authority would
authorize the Federal Congress TO take equitable and
adequate steps for putting end to the same evi In
order TO yanaush domestic foe more dangerous 70
the Union than all the external enemies tat coo DC
arrayed against II.
If Slavery were abolished in time Of war, a. a
national act Of sefdefense the shareholders OF the
South would claim and receive decentralization 0r the
act Of manunission. II the system is 20 be abolished
10 DESTROY an internal enemy, which Is sappng the
very soul Of the Republic, they should be equally
compensated for the emancipation OF their slaves
For nearly fifty year, the Legislatures oi tne oouth-
ern States have done all that their acts could achieve
10 legslize and sustain Savery-to encourage the
people Il those States to invest their capital In slaves
They cannot now Justly turn around and treat those
,cts az immorates and destroy the property which
tbey have de focto created without compensating IL
present holders for the loss entaied upon them. What
the Southern States cannot do by themselves, con
-istently with justice and equity all the States OF the
Union cannot do together.
The utter extirpstion Of Slavery from American sol
should be achieved in way and in spirit that would
attach all the members Of the Confederation to each
other by stronger bonds than have ever existed be
tween them; which should bequesth to Its numerous
posterity Of States rich legacy Of precious memories
deepening and perpetuating their sense OF iraferhs
relationship, as coheirs Of the nobles chapters "
American biatsy.