The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-01-18
Shall the War be for Union and Freedom
OK Union and Slaveryf
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH OF
HON. MARTIN F. CONWAY,
OF KANSAS.
Delivered in the House Of Representatives
on Thursdays Dec. az, 1861

Mr.. SPEAKER: Il is a source of much re-
greet to the country, that the war should
not be conducted with more effect than has
so far characterized il. While few fell
authorized to question the present delay of
effective operations, or deny its necessity,
all are profoundly dissatisfied with the fact
itself. The war has already been protract-
I'd beyond The limit which the public mind
at the outset fixed for its termination, as
Stunning gigantic proportions. and involving
expense of life and treasure not appiehend-
ed when the struggle began.
The original object of the country was to
put down a rebellion, not to inaugurate
regular war. The authority to make war
being Eot with the President. but with Con-
gress. it was in recognition of his right to
suppress instruction merely that the vol
unteer soldiery of the country responded to
his call. when the Government was menac-
ed with destruction. The intention OF
Congress, in voting such extraordinary
supplies of men and money, was the same.
The spirit of the lamented Gen. Lyon,
manifested in the vigorous and summary
manner in which he subdued the earlier
Secession movements in Missouri, was that
in which the whole nation impa.iently sym
pathized. Il wanted the authority Of the
Government exerted with decision aud eff
feet, SO that rebellion should be crushed in
the she'll, and not be permitted to halch in
to revolution. But the course of the Gov
eminent has not correspondent with the ar
dor of the people. The conflict has now
been progressing nine months, and has
changed it's character from an attempt TO
destroy an instruction into deliberate and
settled war. ...
Up to the present time, we have not en-
countered the enemy in single engage
ment of Importance in which We have won
an unquestionable victory. At Bethel, at
Manassas. at Springfield. at Leesburg, and
At Belmont, we have been defeated. Saw
/ ing two expeditions to our Southern coast,
the Federal arms have been everywhere
overborne, Notwithstanding our volunteers
have displayed gallautry rarely equaled,
even by veteran troops.
| This fruitless campaign has resulted in
defeating the original purposes OF the coun'
try; and the rebels have secured. under the
recognition of nations, belligerent char
acter, in dero cation of their responsible ities
to the Federal Union.
We have been meeting the Confederate
authorities for months. and holding rela-
tions with them through the medium OF
flag of truce-a symbol authorized only by
public law. We hold in our hands hun
dreds Of their prisoners. including some oil
their most eminent men, whom we do not
appear to intend to try for treason, but
whom we design to exchanges for our own
friends held as prisoners of war by them.
,:
Now the evil of our system is the instI'
tuition of slavery. Conflicting with the
rights of human nature, it is required t.
grasp. monopolizA and exercise power de
| specifically. in order to perpetuate its own
existence. 1t has been to Us prolific source
of national disaster. 1t is the sustaining
cause, the object. and chief resource o
this rebellion, at the same time that II Is the
point at which the most fatal blow may bt
Inflicted upon it.
The abolition OF slavery is no longer I
''contraband' proposition. 1t has been ell
waited by events into a measure OF vide
pread importance. demanding the favora
BILE consideration of statesmen. 1t il n
longer the shibboIeth of q sect or party
but the everything necessity of nation
To retain slavery. under existing circum
stances. in our body polite. would. in my
Judgment. evince the very worst kind o
FOLLY or wickedness. To eliminate it forever
should be the UNIV avering determination Of
the Government.
Nevertheless. the Administration refuses
TO heed such counsel, and persists in re
garding the institution as shielded by suct
constitutional sanction as it is not at liberty
TO infra.t. * .aHF'
The President, in his recent message t.
Congress. refers only incidentally to the
subject. and indicates no policy whatevel
for dealing with the momsntous question.
Major General Halleck. within q fev
weeks. departed from Washington 70 super
sede Gen. Fremont in the Weetern Depart
ment; and Immediately upon arriving a
headquarters issued an order excluding al
slaves from the lines of his command, anC
prohi biting their further admission
I cannot see that the policy of she Ad
ministration, as thus exempli6ed. tends, il
the smallest degree. to an anti slavery re
suit. The principle governing it is. tina
lhe constitutional Union, as It existed rriou
TO the rebellion. remains intact; that th,
local laws. usages. and ms itutions Of th,
seeded States are to be sedulously respect
ed. unless necessity 10 military operation.
should otherwise demand. There ia not
however. the most distant intimaiion o
giving actual freedom to the slave in any
event. a
i Il is settled that ths status of slave IN