Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-09
GEORGE BANCRoFr ON sLAvE-cATcHING.

do not understand turning soldier OF the
limited States into constable to keep the
peace on the plantation of the Sccessionists.
1t is not the part of strength to return them;
it is not the part OF brave man to make
himself police eeficer of that sort. 1t is not
the part of soldier who fights under the flag
of the revelation. 1t is not worthy OF a man
of honor. 1t is not consistent with the duty
of commanding officer in the service of the
people of the United States. We send the
army into the south TO maintain the Union, to
restore the validity of the constitution. II any
one presents claims under the constitution, let
him begin by placing the constitution IN pow
er, by respecting it and upholding it-Hoh.
George Bancroft at the Cooper institute, AoO.
7h
The deliberate expressions of statesman
like George Bancroft, who Studies public
events with an eye to history, are never with
out interest The southwark movement of
federal troops toward the center and heart Of
the slave empire gives to them livelier sig
nfcance and Importance. In this vast move
ment, if there were no considerations otJustice,
humanity, right, honor, forbidding that we
should fight for the STAKEHOLDER, the instinct
of self preservation would be strong enough
to settle the question. There is no strength
in the federal army or in the whole northern
reserve-howeyer vast and incalculable it
may be-to be wasted in slave. catching or
slave returning enterprises. The country
wants all its power Tor the legitimate and
overriding purpose Of selEpreservation If it
has any thing LETT after its integrity is restored
and established it can be profitably devoted
to cuItivating the arts of liberty and peace.
1t is worthy 10 be remembered that the SEN
timents of Mr.. Bancroft which we have quo
ted were spoken at meeting to afford mater
ial aid to the loyal citizens of North Carolina.
1t is asserted that there is considerable body
of people still loyal and true in the old north
state, though nearly crushed by the merciless
despotism of treason. What they now desire
is the assurance of sympathy and means to
keep soul and body together till the time
comes to assert their independence of their op-
pressors. This, at least, is the view taken by
the government and by the best informed OBJ
servers of affairs in that state. Mr.. Bancroft
at least, is not of so short sight and narrow
vision as to hesitate to express the true policy
in regard to slaves through fear that the suffer-
ing loyalists will reject his assistance, and
plunge still deeper into the raging sea of seces.
sion. No Every statesman in the slave states,
who wishes wellto his country every intelligent
citizen who knows what it is to suffer under
the intolerable tyranny of a saveholding aris~
tocracy, will rejoice at every earnest word and
blow which promises that its power shall be
broken wherever it stands in the way of union
and peace. They have no admiration for men
in New York or Massachusetts who find time
to poultiee the wounds which slavery is receiy-
ing in its murGerous and Internal war upon a
government that holds in trust the liberties OF
mankind
There would be striking historical propri-
ETY. in the emancipation of North Carolina
from the magn influences whch now control
her destinies,-frst in the list of states which
are hostile to the Union. Perhaps something
Of the old fire which inspired the Mecklenburg
Declaration of independence in 1775-the
prophecy of the Jeiiersonian declaration
might be re.kindled, and now, as then, prepare
the way for the glorious consummation that
awaits the whole people. Perhaps another
Judge Castor, pure minded, clear-sigbted
nudge patriot, and statesman, might arise TO
teach the state how to make use of its redemp
tion, and to enter upon its new career of pros
perity and glory.