The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-09-29

sion and returning to allegiance. How
ever this may affect the extreme South
certainly cannot go UNDECIDED in the Bor
der States, whence slaves may. fly will
reasonable hope of making good their es
cape. We cannot enlarge, but it is still
TO be hoped that there are many in tn,
South who would accept the ALTERNATIVE,
and embrace the only opportunity of res
euing their favorite and peculiar institu
ton from threatened destruction 1t can
not he denied that they have had trouble
with their SLAVES unele4- Ike first tagtttt.
Stare lac. They must have more if the
United States should become as passive
as Canada on the subject. They must
| have still more If the time shall ever come
when the power of the United States shall
be put forth to effect the slave emancipa.
ton, and seeing this they must feel that
there is new reason for a return to the
! Iuion, and the hope that some, already
| inclined to do SO, will thus be induced to
| renew old relations and restore old friend.
ships, justifes the President in making
the proclamation under review. Who
can say that il will not thus wesken the
rebellion. 1t is new point of attack,
who can deny? Who can say that it will
not be successful l.? The President has
wisely taken little time to test its sue
cess, while he, and the anxious people
whom he represents, await The issue with
fervent interest. Will not madness
cease to rule the hourl" Will the re-
luctant Government be pushed to this on
slaueht upon the social relations and
fundamental constitution of the South
In lie ZANE Of our country and for the
sake of humanity it is to be hoped that
such power as the United States shall
never be compelled to attempt the hazard
Gus experiment of such resolution q.
must ensue, and especially for such pur-
pose-a purpose not to better the condi-
ton of the black man, but to overwhelm
and crush the rebel white man, till lie
be compelled to acknowledge and respect
the authority OF the Federal Government.
Should the day of mercy pass UNDECIDED
We ale assured that the ,(ernter resort will |
be taken. that grand move upon the
rear OF the enemy, viii be made ut all
risks nvolved-made in the name OF lib |
erty ane for the defense Of republican in
stltutlons. Whethcrit shall issue in gen.
eral insurrectisn of the slaves and treach.
cry OF their masters, or in the deeper deg
radiation and wretchedness Of the negro, |
or in the conquest of the South and the
restoration of tie Federal government,
md, as incident of the struggle, the free
lom of the slaye-whetber in any or all
i these results, can only be known to the
,reat God but the terrible strength of
he rebellion, now threatening not only
he Union but our Independence and lib
'rty, seems TO justify the attempts to wrest
rom the rebel master whatever the slave
contributes directly or indirectly to the
war. Hence the Proclamation. If we
can take the slave from the field and the
work shop, many must return from the
army to their homes agriculture must be
greatly embarrassed and the resources of
The army limited both as to provisions
and men. The effort to emancipate the
slave and break the power Of the master
is therefore hopeful war expedient JUS
tilted by the terrible necessity OF the
times.
But we pass. Can this proclamation
avail anything? Tie anti. war Democ-
racy complacently tells US that it is pow
eriess-that it cannot effect anything, and
seem to take kind of robel pleasure in
its real or fancied impotence. The man.
date of freedom is in the North. The
slave is in the South. He is under State
control and confederate protection. Can
the power of the oppressor be broken. or
Is the Proclamation a mere "paper mel
et = as your neighbor Of the Constitution
n dersion denominates it2
The confscation bill provides for the
reedom Of the slaves of all rebels, after .
certain date, and it is supposed that this
works the legal forfeiture and freedom Of
most Of the slaves of the seeded States
It may be thought therefore. that the