Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-27

secret and open, became the ruling power
Of the state, and thus occasionod 4 war of
more strife and bloodshed probably than
any other war which has desolated the
earth. Slavery is still less susceptible of po-
litical character than was the church. II is
as FL, at this moment, for the lumber room
Of the past, as was in 1893 tho monasiry,
tho landed wealth, the exclusive privilege,
6c., of tho Catholic church in France.
/, IL beboves us TO consider as self.gov.
erning people, bred aud reared and practised
in the habits of selfgovernment, whether
we cannot whether we ought not, to reyo-
luIionize slavery out Of existence, without
the necessity Of conflict Of arms like that
Of the French revolution. ~. Ky. .
Indeed, we feel assured that the moment
slavery is abolished, from that moment OH,
southern brethren--eyery ten Of whom have
probably seven relatives in the North
would begin 10 emerge from hateful de.
lirium. From that moment, relieved from
imaginary terrors, their days become happy
and their nights peaceful and free from
alarm; the aggregate amount Of labor un,
becomes greater day by day; property rises
in value; invigorating influences succeed to
stagnation, degeneracy and decay, and un-
on, harmony any peace-to which we have
so long been strangers-become restored,
and bind us again in the bouds Of friend
ship and amity, as when We first begun our
national career under our glorious govern
ment of 1889.
Why do the leaders of tho rebellion seek
to change the form Of your ancient govern.
ment9
Isit because the growth ofthe African ele-
ment Of your population has come at length
to render change necessary
Will you permit the free government un.
der which you have thus far lived, and
which is so well suited for the development
of true manhood, to be altered to narrow
and belittliug despotism, in order to adapt
it to the necessities of ignorant slaves and
the requirements Of their proud and aristo-
cratic ownersG
Will the laboring men of the South bind
their necks to the same yoke that is suited
TO the slave? We think not
We may safely answer that the time has
not yet arrived when our southern brethreR,
for the mere sake of keeping Africans in
slavery, will abandon their long cherished
free institutions and enslave themselves.
1t is the conviction Of my command, as
a part of the national forces of the United
States, that labor-mauual labor-is in
herently noble; that it cannot be syste-
matically degraded by any nation without
mining its peace, happiness and power; that
free labor is the granite basis on which free
institutions must rest; that it is the right,
the capital, the inheritance, the hope of the
poor man everywhere; that it is especially
tho right of FIVE millions of our fellow-coun-
trymen in the slave states, as well as of the
four millions of Africans there, and all our
efforts, therefore, however small or great,
whether directed against the interference of
governments abroad or against rebellious
combinations at home, shall be for free la
Dor.
Our motto and our standard shall be,
here and everywhere, and on all occasions:
Free labor and workingmen's rights"
1t is on this basis, and this basis alone,
that our muni6cent government--thea asylum
of the nations-can be perpetuated and
preserved. ]. w. PHELPS,
Brigadier- General of Volunteers Com
mandiDg.