Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-05-23
The @ntlana Aerala.
WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR.
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY %.

WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOX.
In gIancing at the foreign news we cannot
fail 10 observe that the apprehension IS quite
too prevalent even among the intelligent
Journalists OF Europe that one of the objects
OF the present contest OF our General Govern
ment against the secessionists is the emanci-
patton OF the slaves, Thus, Paris Journal,
the Rerue liDy De,y Nonde> speaking of the
American crisis, says:
d. Legality (droi), Justice, and prudence,
have been on the side of the Federal Gov
ernment. If this fatal war must break out,
" Weru Europe cannot hesitate between the
two camps its prayers will accompany the
cause of the North, the cause OF human hb-
" ertY, of emancipation, agaInst the cynical
and violent party of slavery
1t is not singular perhaps. that such no.
tons should obtain abroad, for besides the
fact of its being conceded that slavery is the
prime cause and the real occasion of the
present rebellion, the rebels have asserted all
along that the North purposed interference
with slavery IN the Southern States, whenever
it should obtain the control of the national
Government, and it is not surprising that in
telGgent foreigners should have been misled
by this sectional clamor
But while it is true that the South mas reb-
eIled 70, the only purpose OF strengthening
slavery, and Of erecting d Government in
which that institution shall be the recognized
corner stone, as proclaimed by " Vice Presi-
dent Stephens" the object Of the General
Government in waging war j. not TO EXTERN
mate slavery, but simply to vindicate the
right of the Federal Government to continued
existence, TO enforce its laws. and to cause
its authority and its tag 10 be respected
throughout the national borders. The Gov
ernment has no unconstitutional purposes
Slavery exists under the shield of State SOW
ereignty, and the General Government will
not, and does not propose to lay so much as a
finger upon the reserved rights Of the States,
its whole object being to repel reasonable
attacks. to put down rebellion. and admins,
d punishment to traitors so stern and awful
that its memorable lesson shall be warning
and terror to that class of mlscreants tor'a
time And it is important that we of the
North should constantly bear in mind the dis
tinctien that we are waging no warfare
against slavery as it exists in the South, nor
against shareholders, as such, but against reb
els, and traitors, and plunderers OF national
property; against those who would tear down
the pillars Of government and demolish the
temple ofliberty which our fathers, with so
much cost of blood and treasure, erected for
us. We are not "carrying the 5car into If
rica." but into rebel camps and against re-
bellious forces. In the grand contest now
wagng, 1t is no part of our mission to STIR up
a servile insurrection, with all its attendant
unspeakable horrors. May heaven protect
the innocent women and helpless children Of
the South from such an awful calamity. But,
bv the blessing of God attending US, as it did
our fathers in the Revolution, we will use the
whole might OF the national arm, by land and
by sea. in war Of determination upon all
traitors to our glorious government and flag
With our lives and our fortunes we will up
hold the cause Of constitutional freedom
against the assaults of anarchy and despo-
tism-and this is the only real issue involved
IN the conflict.