Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-10-25
Which shall Perish--slayery or the
Government

Which shall Perish--Slavery or tae
Government
That man mus. be doll scholar who
doe 20, .ee the strong probability tina, the
above question may 10 presented TO the
American people as an Alisrnaii'e. Thus
Gar all parties in tie North have seemed dis
posed 70 fsh, rcbellisn, and prcscrr, slavery
In tact, Ia all The slave States. Dor army
oscer. have in some ea.cs gone - far a. 70
return runaway negroes TO their masters,
when the latter have pFciessei loyalty 9, the
Government aud to-day, as We understand
abe natter. thi. elias OF Shareholders are al
loved - 20 over our army lines, and into
our camps. and catch and carry back 70 sery.
i.ude tho.e cigInsrsl by them a. slaves.
The reason. that base operated in the
mind. Of the President and hi, Cahiue; are
well under,tood. Ia has BEEN out Of respect
TO loyai men in the slave State, that this
eour.s ha. been taken IL hN. been u,mip-
any O. .rye them ground 70 stand upon in
their v-u Stats. and among their slave
boiling ncishSOr. and friends. In taking
an. stand. the general government ha. I'M
doubtedly been Actgaied by patriotic mo.
tVes This policy APPEARED TO those en-
trusted with the management Of national
asair.. 10 b. sound in 10 practical opera
tons. Thi. having been the AvoWci policy
OF the government thus far during The war,
it's about time 70 sIamine into 10 a Little.
ant see bow II WORKS.
In the States Of Maryland. Kentucky and
Missouri. il may have given Us little
strength among the Union shareholders.
Bu, Il ihi, war Continues 70 will only be
temporary. While /; has helped the feel
ing. Of certain elias. Of Uni0n men 10 ihe-c
border States. e has given the rrbsl' in those
State. just what they want a'a and com
fort" but how 50? Slave-holdius rebels,
BY the operation Of this policy. have been
made q privileged elA-,-iOr while their
s,.sr property has been 'uhJeei to seizure
and coufsca;,on. their negroes have hecn
,or,-,d % ficn BY The Genrral Government.
They have bad only 10 secP them out OF the
diryri syr,icc-ai home on their plantations
rai.ins produce. cotton and !obScco, and
they were al safe.
BY the eobG.saiiJn ac; Of the las, session
OF Congress, slaves not IN the direct employ
Of the Confederate srny, are no contra.
band !, ian important fact 10 know how
many rebels have bsyu made loyal ~ this
lsni,nt policy toward. shareholders, and
What ha. % done towards pliiiHg tl'sI -
6,iigg '-,ba, b. the qu.s'ion. ~ answer
20 To fr.I part 81 ths iuquiry. We have ~
data from which to reckon; bat one thing
ve % know. many Of Ihe Shareholders hsH. .
,,lrss. o-siu 10 think II, and begin - sAy,
that il ha. failed, and may a. well be aban
dOnej In 10 influence, BY way Of check
ing rebellion and sabluins treason, It has
ben 4 total failLrr. Ia the -ank secession
'Sn,ss 10 has given them immense strength.
So long =. our Government j. careful no; 10
interfere directly or indirectly with the re-
lanOns Of nAssar aud slave just - long they
have comparatively li,,le 10 fear - Tar a.
she Institution is eonesrEsl. They can keep
their slaves at work % their plantations.
aud sh.ls thsY % the fighting. der ne
groes can raisc supplies tor them aud toe
rebsl army.
That slavery is the original cause Of this
rebellion. no man IN his sense, WILL deny.
=. ,is. At the b5tiom VI the rAoie thing. Ii
mas transformed invn into devils, and cor
rupte! the great Southern mind. The Tact
10. slavery vail III time transform tie best
community in the World into a set OF bar
bariah.. And when neu relapse into bar
bari.a, they naturally lJ.e all love Tor free
Institutions. Slavery can exist oulJ by max
ing encrOaehnent. upon other sni better
interests. slavery has ~ corrupted the
Southern nind and morals. tha, i; has work
ed on, just the slA;s Of things ws are how
witnessing.
NV what can b done with this aeeur.si
in.,ita,,ou IN our land Can i, be spared,
and the Union saSed2 II thu rebellion Is
persisted in by the S1utb. and our Govern
ment do what they have started to dO-Pu'
4, dosn.--it appear. quite plain to US that
slavery sud rebellion vlll IN the cod have TO
70 dorm tosaAe'. We have peace party
an tho North who tax abou; eomprOnise
and a re construction Of the gO''rnneni "
in SON, way that will be satisfactory to the
rebels; bu, the rebels themselves scout the
idea. they ask 20 eomprOmi's. aud will
Ascep, none. They say they are fsh'ins Tor
their ind-psndenes and an independent gov
srnnsnt. The only terms upon which they
will negotiate Is direct recognition by our
go,ernmsn, Of Southern COnisderacy. add
that - the issue.
The great question With our soysrnnsnt
nov 10, how can IL bsst sabdrs thsnf IL