Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-14

Thus thwar,ed in their expectations Of aid
from the President, they next sought to ac-
compish their object through Congress. and
on the very FIRST day Of its session a series Of
resolutions was introduced by members Of
Congress in the interest Of this emanoipa-
cipation Of the slaves So great was their
haste to revive the " old issue" as the Free
man terms it, they did not even wait for the
Presidents message To this class Of men
the raising OF troops and fitting them for the
field, and the making haste to suppress the
rebellion, appeared to be secondary to the Sc
curing Of some pledge-either from the Pres
ident or from Congress-that the ultimate
suppression Of the rebellion should result in
the complete emancipation of the slaves
They were not content to trust to the march
of the federal armies and the enforcement Of
the act of the extra session for the coufsca-
ton Of the property Of rebels, slaUes included,
but must force upon Congress and the coun-
try their notions Of the policy Of changing
the " issue to that of unconditional enamel
patton. Determined upon This, they consum-
ed the time, which should have been given
to providing the sinews Of war and replen-
ishing the exhausted treasury, in the fruit
less discussion Of this old issue" and they
did not cease until an empty exchoquor and
bankruptcy stared them in the face
who then is responsible for this old issue
revived 90? Not the Republican party; for
the " ideas upon which the Republican party
was founded, as expressly laid down in the
Chicago platform, looked not to the emanci-
patton Of the slaves in states where Slavery
was already established by local law, bat to
the protection and preservation. for freedom,
Of the public domain not yet organized into
States. This was the question at issue, and
salts factorily settled, in the last Presidential
election. Had the Republican party gone
farther than that, and declared their purpose
to emancipate the slaves and abolish Slavery
from the country, President Lincoln would to-
day have been enjoying his quiet home in
Springfield, H., instead Of giving " dancing
parties in the Presidential mansion.
But, says the freeman and the emancipa-
tionsts, slavery is the cause Of this war -
and we must remove the cause as a means of
suppressing the rebellion. viii it do iti
Would the issuing OF proclamation of eman-
cpation 20 the slaves free single slave while
they are still held in the hands Of the rebels !:
We claim that it would not. but would add to
the rebellion the strength of thousands Of
Shareholders who still retain their love for
the Union, and only await the presence Of the
federal armies to openly declare their HOSTILE
ty to the despotism that is sought to be es-
tablished over them Such proclamation
must be carried and promulgated and enforce
ed at the point of the bayonet. Our armies
would have no less work in hand than before
its being issued; indeed, their work would
be enlarged by the increased strength that
would be given to the rebellion, aud the di-
vided public sentiment that would be created
in the free states. But let the federal armies
proceed in the work Of supPressing the rebel
lion, and wherever they gain possession OF re-
bellious territory put in force the act Of Com
gress confscating the property Of rebels,
siapes Included, and the work Of emancipating
the slaves is accomplished. The institution
would be so completely crippled, where it now
exists, that the loyal Shareholders would find
it for their interest to rid themselves of the
slaves which are TO oe brought in competition
with those already liberated by the confscat-
ing Of the property Of rebels, and who are no
longer working 10 bondage but as free men
paid for their labor. Then would the Free
well entrenched, nor has 1t too much vitality
r..,f. - ,h
W uie Oh i'eell JUST YET lts ueath woulu De
snra and spaadx and that foo u-;tbo,, IN erir.,
tN0'' ''''- '''1' WV "''"O"' "'"'"s
ing single article oil the constitution The
hepnoiean party and the Administrator
could then never be accused OF having carried
on the war Tor the emancipation the slaves
out the responsibility must rest solely with
the rebels themselves VINO have taken up
arms against the government and subjected
themselves to me gallows and their property
TO conhscahon.