The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-06-23
re- Our readers will excuse the pau
city Of editorial matter this week, as it is
owing to the indisposition of the editor.
The Civilian and Emancipation.

AA'S Az Ase~sM uAAu
H Our readers will recolect that the
editor of the Civilian, in a recent issue
of his paper, expressed himself in favor
of emancipation, but under certain con-
ditions. We, in reply, granted the sim
cerity Of that declaration, but asked our
friend why he did not use his efforts to
bring about the conditions which he de-
mands. instead of doing his best, as we
could not help thinking he was, to pre-
vent the consummation desired. This
our friend considers equivalent to asking
him why he don't join the Republican
party, and he then gives us some reasons
why he could not consent to do so. First,
he says: " Though we do not like the
institution of slavery, we do not propose
to resort to any but constitutional means
in our opposing it, and we believe with
northern Democrats that we have no bus
mess to NEEDLE with it in the States nor
IN the territories. a-..f
The first clause Of this sentence shows
no antagonism between our friend and
the Republican party. The latter, no
more than he, proposes to use unconsti-
tutional means in their opposition to the
progress Of slavery. There is difference
between them only upon the last clause,
relative to the Interpretation of the con-
stitution. He says he believes with north
ern democrats, that we have no business
to NEEDLE with it in the States and Terri
tories. The Republican party stands with
him, SO far as States are concerned, but
relative to the Territories, are in conflict
with him. They have the whole policy
of the government, from its inception up
to the passage Of the Kansas Nebraska
bill, the declarations of our most emf
nent statesmen, the opinions of Supreme
Judges, the platforms of the editors own
party. to sustain their views-while he
has, TO back his position, what? nothing.
Not even the present Supreme Court, for
that distinctly declares that Congress
does possess the right Of legislation over
the territories, and distinctly afflrms that
no tribunal acting under the authority of
Congress has right to DENY to slave
property the guarantees which have been
provided for the protection of private
property against the Entertainments of
government; he has not the support of
his own party, for the large mass of it
holds to the doctrine that the people Of
territory have no right to prohibit slav-
cry. Why does not the editor, if he de-
tests slavery, hold to the old policy of
the government, the old Interpretation of
tie constitution, which have tendency
TO circumscribe the institution he pro-
fesses to detest, rather than be found so
ready to accept new Interpretation con-
fessedly adopted to favor the spread of
that institution We think our friend
must realize that this new policy relative
to the government of the territories was
proffered by the leaders Of the Democra-
cy as bid for Southern support. and he
must know that in being so ready to ac-
cept it and SO with that party in its alb
negation to the South, he is strangely
inconsistent with his professions as an
anti slavery man.
The editors previous conditions of
emancipation were, first, that free negroes
should be elevated ; secondly. that the
race should be colonized. We then
showed him that he stood in the way, or,
at least, had heretofore shown no inclna-
ton to help forward, these two predatory
states. In last weeks paper he seems
to consider these conditions unattainable,
and must, as consequence, deem eman-
cipation impossible. He says
''Of some things we feel well settled
that the negro can never associate on
terms of equality with the whites, their
condition must always be one of inferi-
GRITTY, that will prove disheartening and
degrading to them. We do not
believe the negro race can ever rise to
the general level of society if they re-
main among the whites. and we consider
II matter Of a good deal of doubt
whether they will not return speedily
to barbarism if left fully to themselves"
Now here he distinctly asserts that the
negro must always be inferior, must al
ways be degraded. But yet chat they
should be raised beyond this degradation
he considers an indispensable part Of his
plan of emancipation. Will he please
tell us, then. when. by his plan. cmanci-
patton viii be censummsted, or when it
viii commence? gfsr Jtiw 4o5aa ~
Again. he made colonization another
bat now he says ga"
We should most decidedly oppose
heir colonization upnn .bis continent