Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-09-26
The Hour and the Nan.
BY MAS. HARRIET REEcHER STOWE.


genuine military ring-tiat martial di-
rectness, for which the heart of the peo-
pie in disturbed times always longs. they I
long for the man without fear-whose /
sword divides a.. meshes of compromise,
all fine spun legal doubts and hesitancies
who is not afraid to take the responsi
bilty of thorough movement in critic
al hour, and who does something splendid
and decided, while the rest of the world
are feebly and perplexedly making up
their minds what to do.
Not often has the opportunity Of so
splendid deed been given 10 any one
mortal To right wrong-to uphold law
Ito give liberty to the slave by one ma
iestic declaration, is the privilege OF one
+ in centuries. Fremont has done it--and
every heart through the nation leans up
at the news, as the human heart always
leaps at what is grand and heroic.
1t is true that we did welcome even the
acute lawyerlike subtlety which, by nam
ing the slave the con:raband OF war, took
him ingeniously from the grasp OF the op-
pressor. We forgave the fallacy OF the
figure for its benevolent ingenuity, and
the heart of the North warmed toward
Butler for using the fine weapons of legal
diplomacy on the side of humanity.
All honor TO Butler-for while he
stopped to call the slave thing, 1t was
that he might use him as a man. He used
the very terms of the Southern law which
/ had stripped the negro of human person
ality and recorded him chattel to build
fortress of protection around him, under
whose shadow his human rights might be
once more restored; and thousands of lib
Grated slaves will bless the name of But
: Ter to their latest day; and when he comes
r to dying hour, we question whether all
military glory will weigh go much in his
eyes rs the thought of the human beings
he has restored to liberty and manhood.
But it is the noble prerogative of the
military chieftan TO declare law without
subtlety or explanation. Fremont does
not call the slave contraband ofwar. That
position, advantageous and ingenious II
. its dav. is now abandoned for higher van
tage- ground. Fremont does not ever
speak of the slave as property. He makes
the Just distinctions: the property of trait
ors he declares confiscated; their slGres
if they have any-lree. There we have
it, fair and square. Out goes his banner
down goes his glove. and if any one doe
not like it, let him try conclusions, sworc
with sword-that is all.
Earth shall not look on sublime
sight than the army of the South an'
West. with freedom to the slave on 1t
banner, as it shall roll maiestically dowI
the Mississippi, with the prayers of tn
oppressed rising like many waters for 1t
success, and the songs of redeemed one
- Weakening like birds as it passes.
The hero of the golden gate who open
cd the doors Of that splendid new Califor
mia world, has long been prcdestined i
the traditions of the slave as their comln
liberator. Fremont and liberty" ar
words that have been coupled in many
l. song before now-and Fremont has mad
good the augury. So tar as We have see
and heard, this proclamation has me
that universal response which the worl
always accords to fitting deed done j
the fullness of time.
We have longed for a bold stsp-w
sighed for victory-and We have got il
II was something to take the shores
North Carolina. Well and gallantly wa
lg il done. But this proclamation is great
er victory than that; it will carry with
a swing and impulse moral force, ~hic
will be felt through all nations.
This will be a burning test of the sill
certv of those in foreign lands who ha'
said, All our sympathies are with th
war when we shall see that it emancipat
the slave. Let US see if it proves 90. l.
II, see II those who carped at Butler, tn
he freed thousands. because be used q
legal technics of slave-law to do 1t, W
respond to the open trumpe;call Of Fr
notwithstanding liberty at breath
sixty thousand slaves.
VIII they meet this great moveme
with generous sympathy, or with unwo
thv detraction7 To Us, now, the quests
matters lttle-to them great deal.
will show to all the world what mann
of spirit they are of!
Let Us pray that this heroic declarati
Of Fremont's find Its echo at once in
Eastern army. We have freed a er'
many slaves and got very little credit
tive have freed them as it were unC
protest,by pretext, by ingenious subtleti
now. let Us free them martially and "
the high hand.
We have had a good lawyer for the
now let Us have a good general. I
heart of the nation longs TO hear in
ldi- East lust such trumpet call rs NE HI
re heard from the West.
that IN. Y. Independent