Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-01
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.

10 his paptr,-tne hiaooiPhi" io''S
in relation to the abolition Of slavery in
the District of Columbia. We wish to
hold this article up to such men as call
themselves Douglas Democrats" in these
hills of Vermont. They come from san
old comrade in arms" The opinions ex-
pressed by Col. FoRNEY we endorse hear
tily, and so should every loyal man en-
dorse them. Especially Democrats, who
like Foney, followed the banner of Doug
las-eyen when it trailed in the dust
Will Douglas Democrats turn their backs
upon their leaders? Let us hear from
the Courier. Do you, Mr.. Cain, stand
by Mr.. Forney? Hear what he says:
Washington, April l6, 1862.
IF by some memorable command, which
could not safely be resisted, certain OF our
public teachers were directed to turn their
faces instead of their backs upon their
records, and forced to re-read and re-di-
gest these records, we should have some
most piteous and pitiable protestations.--
Forrest is playing Shaksperian engage
ment here, and thousands rush to see him
in these wonderful representations of the
works of the unchallenged divinity of dra-
matte literature, whose worldly wisdom
and knowledge of humankind excites the
amazement of all those who carefully
read or patiently study them. He acted
Macbeth few nights ago. The ambitious
aspirant, driven to murder by his wife,
was a true Secessionist. He had all the
qualities of pro-slavery traitor to a just
and generous Government. He lied and
cheated, fattered and fawned. He MUIR
dered his indulgent monarch, after having
invited him to his own castle. with his
own hands taking the lie Of his royal
guest. Here was a genuine seceder.-
What this assassin feared chiefly was to
be recalled to a study of his former deeds !;
of his early pledges and promises, and es-
pecially, of his efforts to compass the
throne. He says:
| lam In bloed
Slept in so far, that, should wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go DER "
Imagine the picture of Jefferson Davis,
Howell Cobb, R. Fl. Toombs, Judah p.
Benjamin, forced to face their votes and
declarations in favor of the Union and the
Constitution they are now trying, not on
ly to annul, but to annihilate. 1t would
be like compelling Macbeth to carry the
dead body of King Duncan on his Shout
ders and if they were asked to drink all
the blood that has flown from their trea-
son they could not be more Mortified
Observe, these men are the gentlemen,
the apostles, the porcelain of the common
Secession clay, and yet they have excel
led in all the arts and atrocities of the as
sassin school. Beginning with the most
violent professions in favor of the Union,
and carrying it so far as to make all con-
ficting with it their personal enemies,
they end in becoming the executioners of
the very cause they claimed chiefly to
champion. Monstrous as this guilt ap-
pears to all good men, it is amazing that
it has not turned against these wretched
traitors the conscience and the courage of
the South.
But there are others, not Secessionists,
who could re-examine their own acts. sig
natures, votes, and words, with iufnite
good to themselves. Hating the traitors
honestly, these men fail to see how pow
erfully they are aiding them. allude to
that class in the South who clamor against
emancipation in this District, and 60 into
transports of rage over any attempt tc
levy a tax upon the property even of {
rebel. To hear some of these men is tt
suppose that the idea of abolishing slavery
in this vicinity was a new thought, borr
of Wendell Phillips or William Lloye
Garrison, or else that it was renewed fol
the purpose of taking the property of oul
best friends. Of course, in proportion as
they rave the traitors take heart Wha
is the plain fact before US? Neither more
nor less than that the removal of slavery
in the District of Columbia has, for near.
ly forty years, been a cherished purpose
of the very class of citizens who now
protest against it. The National Repub
lican of yesterday, the 18th reproduces q
petition sent to Congress in the year 1928
signed by one thousand citizens of this
District, praying for the gradual abolition
of slavery here. Many of the signers
are still living in Washington, and are re-
spected aad influential men. Two para
graphs from this record may be proftably
quoted:
1.-The existence among us Of distinct
class of people, who, by their condition as
slaves, are deprived of almost every in
centive to virtue and industry, and shut
out from many of the sources of light and
knowledge, has an evident tendency to
corrupt the morals of the people, and to
damp the spirit of enterprise, by accus.
toming the rising generation to look with
contempt upon honest labor, and to de.
pend for support too much upon the labor
of others. 1t prevents useful and in
dustrious clasa of neonIa from settlino