Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-06
E m an C ip a tion.


"No more compromise with slavery"
and raise what would once have been the
startling cry of emancipation. The time
has come for the destruction of the foul
system of American slavery. The time
has come when congress can decree eman-
cipation with perfect consistency. 1t
should be done as a political necessity, If
not for the purer motives of humanity
to the slaves, and to the hundreds OF
thousands of "poor white trash" whom
it brushes through its workings. There
10 no good reason that can be offered for
its longer continuance, while there are
many arguments in favor OF its extinc-
ton. The slaves should be freed because
it would be an act of long delayed justice
to them. They should be freed as a mil
itary stroke, for by so doing we could
transform four millions OF practical enc
mics into active friends of the Union.-
In this war slavery is the great source OF
strength to the south. BY the operations
Of the system the slaves are all produ-
GERS, and this enables every white man
capable of bearing arms to meet US al
any point We may choose, and though
they are vastly inferior to us in numbers,
they have thus far outnumbered our
troops in every engagement. Free the
slaves and you annihilate the southern
armies at little cost Of blood. Rebel
masters may tell us as much as they wish
about the dociity of the slaves since the
commencement of the war; they may
tell how quiet they are, how promptly
they obey orders. 1t may all be true
upon the face, but let our soldiers meet
these same blacks and put arms into their
hands, and tell them TO fight for home, for
life, for freedom, and their rebel masters
will learn too soon that appearances are
sometimes deceptive" Why should this
not be done' They are employed by
their rebel masters TO feed and clothe
rebel soldiers, to transport supplies to
rebel encampments, to build barracks and
10 throw up earthworks to protect rebel
gunners while firing upon loyal troops
We take all other property belonging to
the rebels, horses, mules, cattle, cotton,
guns and provisions. Why not strike at
once at the heart of the rebellion, cut off
the great arteries and let the monster
bleed to death as becomes a giant? 1t
must be done sooner or later. Why not
not do now that which we shall be com
PEELED to do bye and bye? Is it not
better to employ rebel means 10 aid the
Union, when they are ready for our hand,
than let them be used as instruments for
our destruction, as they are? We wish
that the president, his cabinet, and all in
authority, would cease their foolish pa
laver about the " constitution" look things
squarely in the face aud strike a blow
~ becomes the occasion.
This war presents one singular phase.
While north and south are deadly hostile
to each other, as the case now stands
they are really fighting for the same thing.
The south is trying TO break away from
the Union for the sake of founding a gov
eminent whose corner stone shall be
slavery. and the north is forcing the south
TO enjoy constitution which recognizes,
(as we believe) the same thing. South
ern statesmen noD say that our constitu-
ton does not recognise slavery, that it is
a free constitution, hence their desire to
establish a government that does. 1t is
war of separation for slavery by one
party, and war for the Union and
slavery by the other party, while at the
same time the latter losthes and detests it..
Why not decree its abolition and max e
our volunteers the agents of its destruc-
ton? The heart of every soldier would
be in the work. He would be putting in
practice lifelong principle and give Sc
cession a mortal wound. Let il be done
The time and the occasion demand it.
Suppose that in one or two years hence
the rebellion is crushed, the constitution
fully maintained, and slavery still the
black jewel in our crown of shame
What then ? Will the country be less
liable to the attack Of traitors than before
the rebellion! No. Why not? Be-
cause slavery, the great first cause OF all
our woes, will still exist, and our coun-
try will be liable 10 the same scenes now
witnessed south of the Potomac, and in
all the rebel districts. Remove the cause
we say, while traitors offer US an oppor.
tunity, and not stand and argue and pirate
about The guarantees" OF document
which those who claim its guarantees
are endeavoring with terrible strength to
break down. Such talk smacks too
much of the politician, and shows none
of the elements which should character
Use the heads Of those who control ar.