Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-03
Forcibie characterization.

The abolition agitators the radical Re-
publicans, and the political preachers, are
constantly laboring to make the presen.
contest a war for the forcible emancipation
of the slaves. The Republican rress. with
few honorable exceptions, is in favor Of
the adoption of law by Congress author
izing the President to issue proclamation
freeing the negro slaves of the South
And the Chicago Tribune. the leading or
gan Of Republication in Illinois, suggests
that II is the duty of our Government to
put a gun in the hands Of each slave who
comes within our lines, land compel him
to pay the price of his freedom" by fight
ing for it.
Disguise it as they may, the scheme of
many of the leaders of the Republican
party is. to proclaim general emancipa-
ton Of the slaves 10 the insurgent States.
arm them, force" them to fight against
their masters, and to support them by our
armies until the whites are driven into sub
mission, suhjugatei, or exterminated.-
Though this purpose is not openly pro-
claimed, it is none the less obvious and
certain. The fact is, the Wades, the Gree
legs, the Summers, the Lovejoys, the Free
monts. and such like ultra men, are deter
mined to make this war for the liberation
of the sIavcs. and no proposition for peace
viii he entertained or accepted by them
until they have succeeded in their emanci-
patton designs.
Our convictions on this subject of negro
emancipation have been too often expressed
sud are too we'll known TO need repeating
here. We have more than once expressed
our opinions Of the Nervousness of such a
design. No man pretends that there Is
any authority in the constitution for any
such measure on the part Of Government
Even the late Republican Congress passed
a resolution expressing the voice of the
nation that this war is not waged on our
part 10 any spirit Of oppression, or for
the purpose Of oyerthrowiug or interfering
with the rights or established institutions
of the States in rebellion, but for the pur-
poss of preserving the Union. With oil the
dignity. equality, and rights Of the several
States unimpaired. Notwithstanding this.
the effort is being made to turn the blacks
loose, place arms IL their hands, and to
set them to massacreing the whites, show
ing no quarter on account Of sex. age or
condition. This is the grand Republi-
can programme. as laid down by men high
in authority in that party.
Now, while we regard this emancipation
/ scheme as heinous. and characterized by
the most heliish spirit of barbarism and
fiendish bate, We believe it is futile. We
! do not believe we could emancipate the
slaves by force, if the attempt were to be
made. Our armies have been in the field
/ eight months and about three hundred mil
/ lions Of d,lllrs have been expended and
! thousands Of lives sacrificed, yet we have
| gained no access to the slaves Of the South
/ or been able to furnish them with arms, or
! persuade them to murder their masters. -
! Indeed, so far as our armies have entered
s'Iv vu1nIieo' country and the musters hnvo
been frightened away, the slaves have
shown little disposition to take up arms to
fight for their freedom or to aid the Union
forces in Furnishing the enimies Of the Gov
eminent.
It is true at Fortress Monroe, Port Royal.
and other localities where our armies have
gained foothold upon the soil of the coun>
try claimed by the rebels, the slaves have
locked 10 our camps, hut more to obtain
subsistence than for any other purpose--
This shows that in all human probability
every effort which could be made by the
Government TO emancipate the slaves by
force, would result in nothing more than
bringing upon ourselves the disgrace Of
having failed in an attempt to commit the
greatest possible crime against civilization
and humanity. Nevertheless the scheme
of the Abolitionists. and Abolitiouized Re-
publicans to secure victory to Northern
arms by the aid of fOrcihle emancipation
to raise an instruction amongst the ne
groes in order to Suliugate the secessinn-
lists, shows how fearfulIy the civil conflict
has already disturbed the minds and PER-
vaded the feelings of professed humane
men aud advocates Of the Holy Gospel of
peace.
But judging from the proclamations of
Sherman. Dix, llalleck, and other com,
manders Of our armies, we have faith that
the Government AZ Washington is right on
this quesii IN of forcible emanciration.-
The President has sworn to protect the
constitution, aud the constitution does not
authorize the forcible destruction Of the
system of slavery as recognized by the
Stntes. However much the people Of the
North may detes, slavery in the abstract,
large majority of them are not additions
lists They are not fighting for the eman-
CITATION Of the blacks. They know very
well if they were turned loose they would
rush to the North and our whole country
would soon be disgraced by scenes Of bar
barism and brutality horritls to contem-
plate The President knows this; and
will scarcely favor policy So fraught with
evil. We have confidence that his message
will set this matter at rest. and convey the
gratifying intelligence to our brave so.-
diers that they are not fighting tn turn four
millions negroes loose amongst us, bnt to
maintain the Union and the Constitution
and to preserve our institutions as thew
have been banded down to US by our an
ces;Ors.
Opposing the Administration.
The Chica ~ IciLllLne a nd miner Ahnl.;n-.