The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-04-24
Freeing the Negroes-More Tax

in the District of Columbia, has
already passed Congress. 1t is as
serted that tie President will sign
it and make it n INV. 1t pro idcs
for paying $500 for each negro
$3.50 to go to the master and the
other half to be paid to the negro.
The number of slaves left in the
| District is about 3,000-mostly old
and deMepi'I, the valuable 81 ives
having been sent INFO Maryland
While the bill vas under discusJ
sion. For freeing the slaves in
the District therefore, Congress
will appropriate one million five
hundred thousand dollars. This
money comes out Of tile pockets of
the people-a people who have
not desired, and do not now wish
to pay any such sum for such an
object. Congress, in its Abolition
liberality in the first place, passed
a law compelling the citizens of
the District to sell u species of
property they do not desire to sell;
and secondly, compcls the people
to purchase this same property
which they do not desire TO pur-
chase. THIS is Republican justice.
One would supposo that with
the expenses Of the Government at
three millions per day, it would be
amply high enough to satisfy all,
yet Il Republican CongI ess is not
satisfied with this amount, and to
carry out the Abolition programme,
coolIy passes laws arpropriating
millions more to abolish slavery
This is Republican economy,
But the expense, bad as it is, is
not the worst feature of the eman.
cipation policy. 1t will, if carried
out, set loose the negroes, who in
seeking fol new homes, will flock
into Ohio-some of the Western
States have passed laws to prevent
their coming inland settle in on
midst. Whether they will be val
liable acquisitions in our commu
nitr, every white man has sens,
enough to decide for himself Sucl
of them as will work, will come
into competition with our working
men, and cheaper and dcgrad,
labor. Those who will not work
will gain Il livelihood by living
4 'EupontlIeir neighbors, stealing ant
begging.
Men may tall, and reason az
they please, the importation of ;
large number of emancipated slaves
into our State, will tend to drag
down the white populalion-es g
cialIv those who labor for a living
without betterlng tle condition
Of or eIevating the negro. Nor is
it merely guesswork to say that
they will come among us. Already
are they crossing from Western
Virginia into the southwestern
portion of the State, in droves
ranging from five to fifty, settling
in Scioto. Lawrence, Jackson, and
other counties in that region. And
these are simply fugilives. W hen
the emancipation act takes effect,
the rush will be much greater.-
Our Legislature is daily receiving
petitions, from those who have felt
the evil effects of a large negro
population in their midst, to pre-
,ent their further immigration in
to this State; but, as is to be
expected, pays no attention to the
appeals. II this immigration be
allowed to continue and increase
it can in the end but result il
bitter strife between the races.
We urge our people to calmly
study this question OF emaneipati,l
and its fruits. We hrge upon oul
Iaboring, classes TO think over The
matter. We urge upon the friends
of the negro, to look at it in all it.
bearings, satisfied that even they
will come to the conclusion, that
looking solely to the interests Of
the black race, it will be II disad
vantage to them. 1t will be ruin,
if carried out, to both white and
black Dayton Empire.