The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-03-13
THE NE ~ =.

THE NEWS.
The War news continues to come in, better
and more of it. The rebels have abandoned
their main stronghold at Manassas and our
troops have taken possession.
The two main incidents of the week have
been the Sugar Creek fight, in Arkansas, in
which our troops under Gen, Curtis, achieved
another glorious, but dearly bought victory
and the remarkable Naval fight in Chesapeake
Bay.
Tho emancipation resolution of the President
was passed in the House, on Tuesday by 50
to 81
Special Mesange of the President: AM
Important Epoch ia History.
The special message of President Lincoln,
which was transmitted to Congress on the 9th
of March inst, and which will be found in the
columns of this paper, is perhaps one OF the
most important which has been addressed to
Congress for the last half century, or perhaps
since the establishment Of this Government.
Although the subject of slavery has been allu-
ded 10 in the messages Of previous Presidents,
never before has any project for emancipa-
ton been proposed or even remotely limited.
The message of President Lincoln constitutes
new era in the history Of the American Re
pubic At last something tangible has been
pres snted, and the inquiry, what are we fight
ing FOR, is answered. Men at the north who
hsvc hitherto been in doubt, as to what was to
be aimed by putting down the rebellion, beyond
a simple restoration Of the old regime, includ-
iug slavery, will now feel relieved. The great
question is now finally before the people;
proposition for emancipation. has been present
cd by the Chief Magistrate OF the nation.
The message of the President recognizes facts
in The history of the war, which are of vital i'm
portance in arriving at just conclusions, as to
how the war should be ended. Slavery is the
cause of this atrocious rebellion, hence slavery
must be curtailsd of its power to harass the
peace of the people, and to plunge the nation
into civil war. The message indicates that the
securement of future national quietude, is to be
OBJ aimed through gradual, yet positive enamel
pa ion. It is therefore proposed to extend the
protecting arm of the Government, to whatever
State shallinaugurate a system of emancipation,
looking to the ultimate extinction of slavery.
Tie President holds out no promise Of recon
citation with any state, which persists in retus
inI to institute any measures for emancipation.
Indeed, i iiminary STEPS to the abolition of
s.yery, are made conditional to peaceful set
! tsment with any of the now rebel States. To
suoh of the States as hold out against the saiu-
ta,y offer Of emancipation, the worst Of conse-
! q lences. are intimated. The President says ::
" If resistance to national authority continues,
lie war must also continue, and it is impossl
( lie to foresee ali the incidents which may at
tend and the ruin which may follow" turth-
,,lmore the President declares, that in case the
sobes continue to resist, such measures as shall
, promise greater efficiency towards ending the
sruggle must and 1oM be ad0p,ed. Here seems
to be the haac writing on the wall, declaring
ae doom of slavery, as national ecessity,
provided the rebel states, refuse submission to
! me rghtful Government on the terms indicated
The message will inspire confidence, and give
our cause new prestige throughout civilized Eu-
J ope. There Is no conceaing the fact, that
most Of the nations Of Europe, bear strong en- :
| Ii slavery tendencies. and many of the best men
On the other side o! the Atlantic, have regard,
I'd the present struggle in this country with
comparative indifference, because they could
see in it nothing to incic&te whether slavery
would gain or lose anything, whichever side
;riumphej. The atTect Of the message will be.
a.. ,Fa
of our country, where there has hitherto been
no public manifestation Of such a sentiment,
The friends Of freedom will everywhere take
new courage, and eviuce more bold determin-
alton to make this country what our fathers de-
signed it to be-not only free il name, but free
practically.
The message is timely; various propositions
are now before Congress- respecting what shall
be done with slavery; some ofthem propose to
deal tenderly with the institution; others pro-
pose to give it q heavy blow, because of its be-
ing the procuring cause of this war, which has
already cost the sacrifice of so many precious
lives, and the expenditure Of millions OF treas
ure. In common with the great majority OF
hAS PEoplC va bI6 XVI Ill VIC hnNC DCSAA 9ihAOHS
that some tangible compensation should be
promised for tho expense of this terrible war
that liberty should be the gamer and slavery
suffer loss. If liberty is to gain nothing by
the contest, then the sooner the war is ended
the be tier Among the various measures pro-
posed in Congress for treating the rebel States,
the most radical perhaps, is that declaring theiI
state sovereignties forfeited, and the providing
of provisional governments for the rebel terri
tories. This efectually disposes Of slavery as
a state instit ution, because whatever legal au-
thority slavery possesses, it derives from the
State. This measure of treating the rebel ter
ritories although radical, yet if we understand
it Alright, has already in principle been recog-
nized by the President and his Cabinet. The
nomination of Andrew Johnson military
Governor of Tennessee, implies the recognition
of the fact, that the political organization oe a
seeded State, has ceased to exist by its own
act, If Mr. Johnson is appointed Governor OF
Tennessee, it is because the former State of
Tennessee, has no longer the rights of a state
under the Constitution and because there is no
eAlstlhS governments VI SoHetItuIloHaI HethOo
by which the loyal inhabitants can exercise
their just rights.
This is all that we have ever claimed in re-
spect to the rebel states, nor have we ever de.
sired very many more decisive measures, than
have already been recognized by the General
Government. The plan Of emancipation rec
commended BY the President. is doubtless the
wiseSt and best that can be offered in the pres
ent exigenoies of the country. The President
occupies stand peintmore favorable than any
other man, for Judging correctly; be sees the
Idiffienltiss which surround this subiect in all