Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-05
Curreu, Theories of Abolition

1t is q species of social treason in the
North--or is thought to be, which is prac-
tically the same thing-that bigot and black
guard are ready always to combine to pun
ish, to say aught against the propriety or
the feasibility Of any plan, however palpa-
bly, absurd, which any man may devise for
putting down the rebellion, or-to employ
phrase in better accordance with the feel
ings of the hour-bringing the South to con-
dign punishment. We the people of the
North-it is easy to see, though it may not
be very prudent to say so-are growing bit
ter, We have in great measure, recov-
cred from the idea that to conquer and bring
back the South to the Union, is the pleasant
work of leisure day, to be accomplished by
a sort of soldering frolic, with few rhet-
orical phrases about thousands of lives and
millions of treasure. We have discovered
that the work is a great one; and in the per-
so1al suffering, business prostration and
general Impeachment which it has already
occasioned, we see the frstlings of future
that, however distressing it may be to the
enemy, can not but bring upon ourselves
permanent evils Of which we have hereto
fore had no TASTE and have believed unlikely
ever to come within the range Of our expe-
rience.
Whether our courage is rising in proper.
tion as the difficulties which we are to en-
counter increase in apparent magnitude, is a
question upon which there may be differ
ences of opinion. We strive to make our
selves think that it does; bat we are grow
ing bitter, which is an item of testimony in
the opposite direction; and, under the iu-
huence of that bitterness, we listen to the
details of plans to subdue and punish the
South, with an indulgence not in proportion
to their prscticability, but to the damage
which, if carried into effect, they would in.
fiict upon the South, and that totally ire
spective of the reflex injury they would bring
upon ourselves. In a word, we are willing
to be destroyed, so that we can destroy.
The people of the North deny that they
are Abolitionists and yet the desire that the
war shall be made against slavery, with
view TO its eradication, is becoming almost
universal The opinion that the Union can
never be restored until slavery is abolished,
NOoplNu WIN VIC OphAAOh luhb lhO ASEhOLaIlOh
of the Union is the thing of all others to be
accomplished, prevails more than any
probably more than all other shades of be-
lief. They who are in favor of conquest,
urge foTcible abolition; they who are in
favor of concilistion, urge peaceable pur-
chase of the servile population of the South
by the Government; but both agree in this,
that by one process or the other slavery must
be removed.
1t is easy to see the considerations that
have controlled the policy Of the Administra-
tion thus far. The Administration has felt
that in order TO justify war of conquest to
restore the Union there must be something
upon which to predicate belief in an Union
party in the South disfranchised by force
and whose political rights it was bound to
restore. 1t felt that to war against an united
people with a view to reimpose upon them
institutions which they had repudiated, was
thing which the world and the future would
not approve. 1t knew that war declared
or carried on against slavery would unite the
South as one man in resistance 10 the utmost
of its ability; and therefore known anti
slavery men, when invested with adminis-
tFatiye responsibilities, wisely hesitated, and
still hesitate, to do thing so destructive Il
every appearance of legitimacy in the cause
they have undertaken to promote.
Had the policy of the Administration beer
carried out in good faith by its subordnates
and generally approved by the people Of th,
North, there lis reason to believe that tn,
measure of the war would have been great!
different from what it is at presents but tn
people have gone beyond the Administra
tom and they who sought to be the favor