Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-08-02
WATERFOWL REPUBLICAN,.
FRIDAY, AUGUST >, 1861.
Emancipation of Slaves.

being turned upon emancipation Of the
slaves in the rebel States, as means of
bringing them to subsection to the consti-
tuition and laws. 1t is obvious that, were
the slaves Of Virginia, Alabama. Georgia,
and all the other seeded states in which
there is no Union movement. turned loose,
the secesSionists in those States would
have enough to do to defend their own
fresides. The Federal Government has
right to adopt any mode which will reduce
those rebel States to obedience, not ex-
cepting the excitement Of slaves to insur-
rection. If by this means the negroes for
a while were vastly worse off than they
now are, it might be in the end better for
them and tleir posterity. than to be con-
tinued in slavery, at the same time bene
fting humanity at large. To renumerate
the loyal citizens in those States for their
loss by such a measure, the property of
the rebels might be used and to protect
them frem suffering by the slaves, in their
persons or family, loyalists might, by hay
ing suitable warning, flee from the field of
danger, It is manifest that if the rebels
cannot be speedily reduced to loyalty any
other way, this measure will ultimately
be adopted. 1t is a question of vast mag
nitude, vaioh we are not competent to de-
eide. We refer the reader to the follow
ing extract Of an article from the n. Y.
Evening Post. It is truly significant when
such journals utter such language as the
following Il Ed. REPUB.
Il venture to assert that emancipation,
whenever it takes place, must occur on
the soil, and that the emancipatsd must
remain there. The Southern States are
the home of that portion of Americans
called Africans, and there they must live
and die, either as slaves or freemen. The
sooner the people Of the United States see
this subject in its true light the better for
all concerned. Is it asked who can COM
pei such a state Of things? I answer, cir
cumstances are the providence of God
Permit me to state few propositions with
cut, at this time, attempting to demon
strate at length their correctness. They
are thrown out for .Jublie considerations
In my opinion they are inevitable, and l
undertake to predict that time will show
that they are unavoidable as well as condu-
Give to tho best interests Of both the negro
and his white brother.
l. 1t is physically, as well as morally
impossible to colonize four millions CT this
country who are no. desirous Of being ex-
patriated and It would be almest certain
destruction to them, if the removal was
feasible
2. There Is no necessity for such removal
should emancipation take place, because
the negro will be contented to remaia if
be has good treatment and fair wages, and
because his labor is indispensable to the
cultivation Of southern products
3, There is no danger, either to the
black man OF the white man, in peaceful
and equitable emancipation on the soil, for
all history shows that slavery being state
Of war. and emancipation being a state Of
peace, the emancipated are orderly, peace
full, industrious and prosperous, while the
emancipators live in security.
4. Immediate emancipation IS prafcTa-
ble to gradual emancipation, besause the
transition, if gradual, is attended with dis
content, collision and injury on both sides !;
and immediate emancipation, wherever it
has been tried, has been eminently success
ful and beneficial to both the late master
and the late slave.
5. Slaveholding is wrong and freedom
is right and it is always safe to cease do
ing wrong, always safe to do what is right.
The Almighty guarantees peace and safety
in such course. Philosophy and com
mon sense show that safety and prosperity
depend upon conformity to his will and
providence.
Gradual Emancipation was tried in the
British West Indies and failed Immediate
emancipation, when tried in some of the
islands was eminently successful. It con
tinues to be successful Gradual enamel
patton is now under trial in Russia, and
portions Of the serfs are turbulent, because
they understood that full emancipation
was promised by the emperor, and they
find that quasi slavery is to prevail toI
some years 1t has always been so in re
gard to gradual emancipation, and always
must be 50 in the nature of things.
7. Slavery is and has been for half a
century the great bone Of contention in
this country, and will be until the question
is settled, and settled in favor Of freedom.
AS Governor Seward truly said, there is
an sirrepressible confiet'-a moral, politi-
eel. economical confict-between slavery
and freedom, endangering the peace, the
prosperity and the happiness of the whole
people, that cannot and will not cease un-
til the cause ceases. This was well under
stood by President Lincoln when he said
The country cannot expect to exist halt
sIave and half free.
Emancipation On our soil, on terms and
equitable to all parties, would put Ian end
to civil war and to sectional jealousies il
would bind the North and South together
bv mutual interests and friendships il
would lead to unexampled prosperity with
regard to the present slave states ; it would
J gain the confidence and friendship of other
: nations, and particularly those who have
recently striyen successfully for their owr
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