The New York herald., 1862-04-17
THE pREs!psSrs POLICY EXPLAINED.
Speech of Colonel Blair, or Missouri.
DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,



DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
APRIL IL, 1862.
Mr. BI AIR, OF MissouriThe chrge has frequently beon
heard here and elsewhere that the rosdent IS without
policy in his administration. shall endeavor to show
that this mpuaton Is unfoundcd 10 explain my conccp
tions of his policy and - demonstrate that IL wise in
every aspect and conmends itself TO tho lovers OF the
Union and freedom. There be no dispute with
spect tho object OF the war; far as he Is concerned
He says in his annual Message that he has bosn anxious
that II eshall degenerate into violent and renorsc
less revolutionary struggle. have therefore, hc adds,
sn every thought proper 70 keep tho integrity Of
the Union prominent the primary object Of tho con-
testD No one can refuse belief 20 this utteranco. If
the President stood his mere dec aration his life has
boen so marked by integrity that all men yield
implicit faith to his words as the truo indox Of his
heart, But tho language truly characterizes his
conduct. II has not been attempted TO show that
he has not endeavored In every way 70 prevent the
struggle from dcgeneratng into a violent end
morseess revolutionary struggle, and, as ts fst great
oh ec maintain tho integrity Of the Union. But 1t Is
by Of those who aided In his election that
he has not aid OF this object made upon ho
of the war; aud dccrood emancipation by IN order az
Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy as al siec'
tive agency in suppressng the rebellion. This
might unquestiouaby be justified II 1t were deemed
cessary cxpcden for the purpose Of accomplishing bis
object and II it could 30 shown that no knew tbs to bo
true he might bs arragned for failing to use this means
But when the record Of his opinions Is examined IL s
easy to understand that he docs not consider the
sure which is regarded so omnpotent by portion Of
his friends likely 70 be effective for the purpose and
think II be show that his Judgment IL probably the
most correct. In his canvass for the Senate with Mr.
Douglas his views respecting tho subject Of slavery
very fully developed, and though not speaking with
reference 70 tho pVsont aspect Of affairs, his
and shows a far deoper insight into the rela-
tons Of the subject than any other OF the day had
then attained In n, M ,Sa a. ia above al things
he showed that he knew that tho excitement occaoned
at tho South by the idea Of emancipation not due to
the Of the loss Of property 1t would occasion to
those holding slaves His birth In State and sub
scdient residence in Indiana and Illinois, among people
largo proportion OF whom also sprung from Tho slave
anIf he pf fba
taught him that the greatest rcpgnance to this measure
to bo found among men who had no such property in
tercst stake. lie knew aso that these for
the most part and the best part, adsny attached to
the Unon and especially In those regions OF the country
where military operations would be difficult TO superb
cal observers who believe that the rebellion grew
out Of slavery, and is, as they torn II,
Shareholders rebellion, aud when 1t IL known to
bo truo that tho nonslaveholdng regions OF the
South are FOR the Union IL Is natural that should
occur TO them that THO proper course to carry all
the nonsavehoders against the rebellion would be to
stratss tho contrary 10 be true such scrutiny de-
nonstrates that tho rebellion originated chiefly with the
non slaysholdcrs resident in the stronghOlds Of the in
sttuton, not spriuging, however, from any love OF
slavery, but from antagonsm OF raco aud hostility 90
the idea of equality with tho blacks involved In simple
emancipation. This idea among non shareholders was
naturally OF greater Intensity In proportion 10 the
number Of slaves about them and its force Ia ncrrsz.
Ing Union feeling diminished as wo approach the high
acquainted with tho facts knows that Il is aacious
to call this "a Shareholders rebellion. II such the
ulVklpnS our ~
without difficulty; the negroes hemssys. could e..ly
put down tho two hundfe1 and niiy thSusand rlayc.
holders but it Is matter Of history that tho slave.
holders, q body, were the last and most rsluc.
tant TO join the rebellion. Tho representative mon
Of that interest, like Badger, of North Carolina
Aikea, of South Carolina, and Alexander H. stephens OF
Georgia. struggled long tbero hope against the
rebellion, and for the obvious that tho entire
interests OF tho Shareholders were put In extreme
jeopardy II tho negro question and not tho slavery
question which made tho neutrality-suspicious. entirely
drrcnt and requiring entirely different trcameut and
is necessary 10 undcrs tand hsdstinctn 70 cnablo
US to doal with II successfully as is that the physician
should know the disease which he s called on 20 treat
md to If the reb on was made by two hupdrsi
and ATTY thousand slaychylacrs, tht sake OF pcrpeu
lting slavery, then IL siigh be complete remedy 10
cxtrpate tho institutions but n the rebellion has grown
,u Of the abhorcncc OF tho onsavoholdes for oman
;ipation and amagamaticn, and their drcado, ncgr.
quality, how VII their discomfort be cured by the very
measure the mere apprehensOnos which has dven the
nto robe lion No wise man Gesres he number
fcneniss TO the state within the hostile regions or divide
IS friends outside. Mr. Lincoln know that decree OF
Emancipation simply would certainly have this effect
h an act ho knew was calculated TO make rebels Of tho
shlr OF tho nonslyeholdcrs of tho South aud at tho
aLc tims D wcaten The sympathy OF Ia 30 number OF