The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-03-07
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.
dopfion of such policy as this, in obedience
to tsc clamor of anoisy factionof Abolitionists
who have been the worst enemies of our do
mestic peace for the last thirty years, would
diviele the Northern people, now substantially
united in fighting for the Union under the Con-
stituti0n, 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.
Emancipation of the slaves, instead of conclu-
ding our domestic troubles would only recon-
menee them IN more embarrassing form. The
negroes of the South have now a fixed status
sanctioned by the Constitution and there is no
ressnn 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.
OIlr 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 a de-
crsc of universal emancipation, the effect, if
aisv, would be to force upon our immediate at
tehtion the question, what shall be done with
the negroes.
But while the rebellion lasts we do not be-
ll&se that decree of emancipation would have
even this effect. 1t would only divide the North
and embitter the South during the prosecution
Of the war, rendering its result more doubtful
than it now is. The Government would be
eateebled by the utter annihilation of the I'm
ia sentiment still prevalent in portions of the
SBnthern States; the war would assume the
character of conquest or eXtirpation on one side
asd resistance to the death on the other-and
i in spite of these obstacles, it should termin-
ate in the eutjFe suhugation of the rebel States,
instead OF bringing to us peace and quietness, it
vaauld find us in our exhausted and impoyersh-
ed condition, with four millions of negroes on
cue hands TO protect aud provide for. They
- vi RRFeE asSimilate 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, contribute to
their support as free and idle vagrants.
4 nation so extensive and diversified in its
interests rs ours can never he governed by mar
row theories. Our sympathies must be as bound
less as the continent, and our liberation rs ex-
pansive. The Fathers of the republic in their
wisdom comprehended this great truth when
they formed Constitution adapted to all parts
of the comtry-a Constitution enabling the
New England States and the Southern States to
live under one Government, without compelling
uniformity in their domestic institutions And
it is because infatuated men in both sections have
tp
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 embroiled
whole people in fratricidal strife and, until
they are both extirpated, we cannot hope for
peace. The extreme opinions of neither of these
ncendiary factions can ever govern this country
in peace We can never all become Secession
lists, or all Abolitionsts. 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-saveryism so long as it keeps with
in Constitutional limits Upon any other ba-
sis than this-the original foundation of our
Goyernment-we can never expect that peo-
pie inhabiting a continent, and differing in orr
Gin, institutions mental characteristics and edrl-
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 Union of G.
quail States with each exercising absolute con-
troll over its domestic concerns, the aim of the
war is to render us a 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 a great measure, upon the
fidelity with which it adheres to this great OBJ
ject.-Emancipatio would be fatal departure.
-P1t1qot SS Union.
A WOMAN ELECTED MAYoR-At late cleo
ton in Oskaloosa, Iowa, there was but one cam
didate presented to be voted for. The '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.
CT Before her marriage, the Queen of England
was wayward and fitful young woman-sub-
iect to the most variable caprices, and entirely
uncomfortable by her ministers Shrewd politi-
clans have always ascribed the calm and equi-
table course of British policy TO the influence of
Prince Albert, who was one of the most shrewd
and ACCOMPLISHED diplomatists