The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-03-07
THE FOLLY OF EMANCIPATION.

THE FOLLY OF EMANCIPATION.
There is no infatuation less able to stand the
scrutiny of reason and common sense than that
which believes negro emancipation would con-
tribute to the success of our arms, or the res
toration of that fraternity without which peace
could not be permanent and lasting. The a
doption. of such a policy as this, in obedience
to the clamor of anoisy factionof Abolitionists
who have been the worst enemies of our do
nestle peace for the last thirty years, would
divide the Northern people, now substantially
united in fighting for the Union under the Com
sttution, demoralize the army, produce discord
and contention, and force upon the country a
question far more embarrassing than the slave
question-namely, the negro question. The e.
mancipat;on of the slaves, instead of conclu-
ding our domestic troubles, would only recon-
mence them in a more embarrassing form. The
negroes of the South have now fixed status
sanctioned by the Constitution; and there is no
reason why we should trouble our heads about
them one way or the other. They can do us
little harm as slaves, and no good as freemen.
Our policy, therefore, is to prosecute vigorous
war against rebellion, without wasting our
strength upon foreign and extraneous issues.
Should the Abolitionists carry their point and
drive the Administration into issuing de-
cree of universal emancipation, the effect, if
any, would be to force upon our immediate at
tention the question, what shall be done with
the negroes.
But while the rebellion lasts we do not be-
lieve that decree of emancipation would have
even this effect. 1t would only divide the North
and embittcr the South during the prosecution
of the war; rendering its result more doubtful
than it now is. The Government would be
enfeebled by the utter annihilation of the I'm
ion sentiment still prevalent in portions of the
Southern States the war would assume the
character of conquest or extirpation on one side
and resistance to the death on the other-and
if, in spite of these obstacles, it should termin
ate in the entire subugation of the rebel States,
ipstead OF bringing to us peace and quietness, it
would find us in our exhausted and impoverish-
ed condition, with four millions of negroes on
our hands to protect aud provide for. They
could never assin,late with the population upon
terms of equality-never be made citizens of
this nation; and the Northern people would
have either to bear enormous taxation for the
purpose of colonizing them, or contribute to
their support as free and idle vagrants.
A nation so extensive and diversified in its
interests as ours can never be governed by mar
row theories. Our sympathies must be as bound
less as the continent, and our federation as ex-
pansivc. The Fathers of the republic in their
wisdom comprehended this great truth when
they formed a Constitution adapted to all parts
of the country-a Constitution enabling the
New England States end the Southern States to
1--we under. one Government, without compelling
uniformity in their domestic institutions. And
it is because infatuated men in both sections have
sought to force their narrow sectional views up
on the whole country that we are now plunged
in the horrors of civil war. The Abolitionists
of the North and the Secessionists of the South
are the great criminals Who have cmbroiled a
whole people in fratricidal strife and, until
they are both extirpated, we cannot hope for
peace The extreme opinions Of neither of these
mcendiary factions can ever govern this country
in peace. We can never all become Secession
lists, or all Abolitioniss. Our only safety is to
abide by the tolerant and comprehensive princi-
Piles of the Constitution, which are alike remo-
we'd from both extremes. If the Union is to be
preserved, the Southern man must learn to live
in peace with the New England Yankee so long
as he renders his vagaries harmless by confining
them to his own territory and the New Eng
land man must learn to tolerate the most extreme
type of pro-slaveryism so long as it keeps with
in Constitutional limits. Upon any other ba-
sis than this-the original foundation of our
Govcrnment--we can never expect that a peo-
pie inhabiting continent, and differing in ORR
gin institutions, mental characteristics and edu-
cation, will ever live in harmony. If one sec
ton determines to impress its peculiar ideas u
pom the whole nation, and will abide no differ
ence of opinion-if, instead of a Union of e.
quail States with each exercising absolute con-
troll over its domestic concerns, the aim of the
war is to render us homogeneous people in
every particular, we have indeed undertaken an
impossible task. But as the true purpose of the
Government is restoration and not alteration,
its success depends in great measure, upon the
fidelity with which it adheres to this great OBJ
ject.-Emancipatio would be fatal departure.
Patriot & Union.
A WOMAN ELECTED MAYoR.-At a late cleo
tion IN Oskaloosa Iowa, there was but one cam
didate presented to be voted for. The s'boys'
did not like him and were bound to have an
other candidate, and so, more in the spirit of
fun than otherwise, they nominated Mrs. Nam
cy Smith on the day of election, and to the as
tonishment of everybody, when the votes were
counted in the evening it was found that Mrs
Nancy Smith had twenty-one majority over the
regular candidate for Mayor.
G. Before her marriage, the Queenof England
was wayward and fitful young woman-sub-
;oot ,,,oet Ito oonr;cac opd