The New York herald., 1862-03-09
The Presidents Policy and the Re0rgani-
xation OF Negro Labor 1T the South.

The President's Policy and the ReOrga ani.
zation OF Negro Labor 1T the South.
The proposition of the President, in his recent
Message, is not, as the chief organ of abolition
in this city pretends in tho nature Of an alter
native to the Southern States. He does not say
to them, "adopt my plan, and will put an end
to the war against you. Reject it, and you can
not have peace; for will prosecute the war till
you are compelled to agree to it, or till every
slave is emancipated by the progress Of hostili-
ties" This Is the violent, outrageous interpre-
tation which the Tribune puts upon the Ian
guage Of the Message, which is remarkably free
from ambiguity-so clear in fact, that che who
runs may read"
The President takes his stand upon the con-
stitution. The Iribunerepresentsh him as revo-
lutionist, contemplating its subversion. The
President unequivocally recognizes the sove-
regnty of every Southern State over its own
domestic institutions, slavery included, and he
declares in the most emphatic manner that he
has no intention whatever to meddle with their
system of labor. His words are;-"Such pro-
position on the part of the general government
sets up no claim of q right by federal authority
to interfere with slavery within State limits,
referring, as it does, the absolute control of the
subject in each case to the State and its people
Immediately interested" Mr.. Lincoln then re-
fers to the declaration in bis annual Message
last December, in which he says "the Union
must be preserved" and adds that "a reac-
acknowledgement Of the national authority would
render the war unnecessary, and it would at
once cease" In other words, if the rebels lay
down their arms and cease to resist, the war is
at an end, the Union is preserved, and to the
South its slave institution is saved. IT, on the
other hand, the South persevere in its resistance
then it must take the risk of its peculiar insti-
tuition being broken up-not by any uncon-
stitutional acts of the President or of the
Union generals, but by the natural pro-
prcss of the events Of the war. How
different is this from the fanatical senti-
ments of the Tribune and the abolitionists?
That journal has all along held that the rebel
lous States cannot be taken back into the Union
till they are purged of slavery-that there can
not be any Union with Shareholders Mr.. Lin
coin says they will be taken back with slavery,
the moment they acknowledge the federal
authority, and that it is to preserve the Union"
with the slaveholding States the war
has been waged Greeley says the object
of the war and of Mr.. Lincoln is to prevent re.
union with the slaveholding States, and to estab-
lish new Union by revolution. Mr.. Lincoln
utterly repudiates this idea. But he makes a
proposition for the consideration the Southern
States after peace is restored, in order to pre-
vent the recurrence Of war in the future; and
he presses upon Congress the duty of taking the
| initiatory step, as zone of the most efficient
means Of self-preservation." What does he
| ask Congress to do? Is it to compel any of
| the Southern States to accept the proposition
OF gradual abolishment of slavery" on being
compensated for the Inconvenience public
and private, produced by such change of sys.
tem?" Not at ALL On the contrary, he says
at is proposed as a matter Of perfectly free
choice ,eih he'n," and he "hopes the proposition
may be esteemed no offence" Mr.. Lincoln's
idea manifestly is that if Congress will adop,
his views by acknowledging the sovereign right
! OF each Of the Southern States over slavery
within its own limits, and at tho same time, by
establishing the principle of 'pecuniary con
siderstion" from the federal government to any
State adopting gradual emancipation, the effect
would be most beneficial in speedily restoring
peace and the Union; for the Southern States
being thus assured of their rights by the fede
raj Congress for all time to come, would nc
longer have anything to fight for. The inten
ton of the President is conciliation, and no
menace. On the other hand, he shows Congress
\ that "the federal government would find IL
highest interest in such q measure" In th,
first place, he says il would be likely to brinl
about an early peace; in the second, it woul'
preserve the Union from future disruption; an,