The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-12-10
EXPERIMENTATION.

Emancipation.
We have jus, perused lengthy article
IN tie IrAsburgh Standard IL With the
immediate emancipation Of chs slaves Is
advocated with erea. candor and ability !
and although we cannot fail 70 admire the
intelligence aud moderation which oharac-
terixcs tie above mentioned article, yet we
are unable TO coincide with the views and
positions therein exprcssed,as will present.
ly appear,
In the first place We wish 10 correct What
seems to us gross misapprehenfion with
some on a subject touching the matter un-
der consideration. II is constantly claim
ed by those holding ultra anti-slasery opin-
ions, or a. they are generally denominaled,
abolilonisis, that the present administra-
lion, and The party who broughtil INTO pow
err, have adoptedhetr sentiments and policy
in regard to slavery. In short the abolition
lists claim 10 have converted and control
led the public sentiment Of the free States
and assert that il is 10 their exertions and
influence that slavery has become the great
vital and aIlabsorbing issue before the
country. Now nothing, in our view, is
further from the truth on the other hand,
instead Of gaining strength during the past
ten or fifteen years, the abolition party
have lost IL John g. Birney, their cam
didaie for President in 1910 and 1874, re-
cciyed much larger vote, if we mistake
not, in 1914, IN the State Of New York,
than was cast for Gcrritt Smith, their candi-
date for Governor in that State, at recent
election. The abolition party as an or
ganization has ceased to exist in many
States, where Ii was once quite prominent
il has ceased also TO present presidential
candidates At our quadrennal eleciionsi
while lis influence in determining Tie pol
tiles Of the country, or any portion Of il,
has been and is Of the most paliry and in
significant character. The Chicago plat
form, which by the way, contained M ex
press declaration oflhc fright OF each State
10 control its own domestic institutions"
and denounces the invasion Of such right
as the "gravest Of crimes, WAS not one
whit more ultra or abolition in it's terms
than the State and national platforms Of
the old political parties; the State plat
forms alike OF the wing and the democratic
parties, as well as the State legislatures
bad frequently declared themselves oppos-
ed 10 the extension Of slavery in tie free
territories. Let 1t be remembered for all
time that he present rebellion has been
planned and executed tn The slave States.
II Is an Effort Of sldrery to overthrow the
Government and destroy The Union, not an
attempt Of The Government either to abolish
sidpsry or 10 subjugate The South. II is the
slave States that have undergone change
in public opinion, and il is they alone who
have strayed away from the teachings Of
the fathers.
II theabollionists have been instrument
al in bringing about this rebellion il has
been by the influence they have had upon
opinion al the South, not at the North, an
honor 10 which, We dare say, they viii moi
BE- so ready to lay claim and as for their
assertion Of having converted and directed
public opinion al the north il merely evin.
ces that same incompetency in The domain
OF fact which they have hitherto manifest
cd in the realms of reason and logic.
This war (sAys the Standard, in the above
mentioned arsicie.l presents one singular phase.
While norsn and south Are deadly hostile 70 each
otheT as the case now stands, they really hghi-
log for tho sane thing. The soash is hghting 70
break A4ay Efeu the Cnion f0r the sake az found
ina government whose corner ticne shall DO
slavery. and the north is forcing ihs soath o
icY consultation which rscognsss, As We believe,
De sans thiss'
The Standard evidently believes ihs,
IL emancipation Of the slaves woald b.
unconssisniiOnal, nevertheless il strenu-
oasIy advocates such policy. saying @sLai
.ths time asd the Q casiOn demand IL" and
again. "why adhere % closely to consti-
su,iOu the main provision Of which supports
ard gives life 10 the rebellion" To such
views We can never give our consent. fer
re believe them to be u the most danger.
css sri fa'1. -a1ra0er ne o~,g y sas