Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-27
emancipation.

NotWtnstanulnB tue pfofes8l0nb, Wnlcn We
doubt not are honest, Of many, 80 called, Re.
publican journals, and In spite Of the equivoca-
tion of others not 30 honest-it is depiorAble
fact, that not few of those called BY that name
manifest disposition to speculate with much
chow Of confidence, upon what they call "The
approaching extinction Of slavery" Quite o
number of these journals, In Massachusetts and
elsewhere, have openly advocated emancipation
as the distinct object of the war. Others, with
out making this the indispensable condition,
have urged that emancipation would naturally
follow as q consequence Of the war; while o
third class have contended that, though they
were really opposed to the emancipation policy,
yet, as q final alternative Of maintaining the
Union, they must accept the emancipation doc
thine, in order to preserve the Union
| We wonder it never occurred TO the conduc,
tors Of those journals and their followers, that
the emancipation scheme was the only serious
obstacle to the settlement OF our troubles-not
Immediately, but in due time--snd that no set
Element ever can take place, in which that idea
Is not thrown entirely out of the question. We
believe, in fact, that there is not the slightest
foundation for any of the voluminous lucubra-
tions produced upon this subject, BY journalists,
preachers or pamphleteers--but that IL Is of all
Others the most unsubstantial and unproftable
speculation ever INDUCED in BY moral enthusi
asts and political schemers. Z.
| We say nothing here of its mischievousness
but how, let US ssk, is such project 10 be
accomplished, even supposing it contained with
| ID itself all the elements Of unmixed good1
We talk of working out great moral revolu-
ton. At present, 1t Is certain that We are on
the defense, though an impregnAble defense, In
1 the maintenance Of the authority Of the GOV
ernment, which Is set completely at defiance in
Ii. k.ko oe H.. TT.sa Il. H.,
ljsct of desperate conflict In three more-and
that the enemy who oppose this idea boldly
marshals his forces at the very threshold of tht
capitol. We may say, with confidence, tina
fifteen out of the thirty-four States are almos
, unanimously against it. The Constitution i
against it, the government is against it, two
thirds of the North Is against it, slavery itsel
is sgainst it, all hope for the Union Is sgsins
|. liz. This Is not an encouraging prospect for
such GAUGE. But the idea thus put forth, day
by day, by men who onght to be amenable tC
reason, does now and always will impede
thwart and desperately imperil the glorious
cause of the Unior-of more real conse-
qaence for its own sake, than the liberty OF
the lives of innumerable millions of slaves
TO whom slavery may be a misfortune--bu
no such misfortune to the country, as tn,
attempt carried out would be to put them on
:
idea, clothed With any sort of real vitality, vii
do what anti.slavery agitation always has don
In this country--tbat is, put OF indefinitely al
prospect Of even partial emancipation. 0ther
wise, in the course of no very long period,
might perhaps again be thought Of, where b
think Of IL would be of some avail. Such is th
wisdom and utility of the course pursued BY th
newspapers in question, and the whole class 0
|; abolition lecturers, preachers and anti-slaver
|. |. sgitstors in general. 1adi o. .
: We have even sagely been told, within no
many days past, by one of our city Journals
which only once In @ while takes up th
.. emancipation idea, apparently 70 counterbalanc
! any more rational opinions which, ct othe
times, it may have promulgatea--that We nee
J not count 90 confidently upon the conservative
!. sentiment of the North, as against the wild an
: : fatal theory which We, for love of the UnioI
= ! 90 constantly deprecate and resist For, Il tel
! us, there are not only Constitutional Unio
men, but even Democrats, who now 60 grea
: way In favor of the liberation of the black
J. What sort Of Constitutional men those can b,
y who are ready to violate the Constitutional
= Union men who are willing 10 take the sur
y means to destroy the Union forever-or Demo
;. Gratis, who would take away from others, the
fellow citizens, their rights under the laws, 70
:. ! the sake of q hallucinahon which would thro
= all Democratic privileges and Democratic inst
= tutions into chaos, out Of which sumo ant
y democratic monster. likely to grind them I
y powder, would more than likely spring-we q
!, not called upon to ssy--beoause such men a
y neither of the one class nor the other, accort
= ling to any just Interpretation Of their polite
z afinities. But this We know and feel, that Il
~ day Ia close at hand when those who sincere
y love and honor the great cause of the Republi
will maintain il with their lives and fortune
= for what IL is now and may be In the futur
- !. and not for any Incidental scheme OF doubtf
y humanity or interest. For the scheme Is
" 'impracticable, that, in applying II to our 81
!, Item, the system itself must be shivered
= atoms. They, then, will be On the one aide
y !. and on the other will be dreamers, scheme
~ and political charlatans, men Of one idea a
= = Of no ideas, those who would dig up tree
= order to get at fruit out Of their reach, tsmpe
VI ers with constitutions made BY viser men tn'
~ themselves. and plotters against the unio
etrying to make q part better than the Who'll
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