The national Republican., 1862-08-11
THE POLICY OF EMANCIPATION.
Words Of a True I3smocrat.
LETTER. FROM RoBERfsDALE OWEN.

LETTER. FROM RoBERfsDALE OWEN.
10 As Hon. lalsis M. SIGsion, Sscrssavy of
War:
Ny political antecedents are known TO you.
Always Democrat, but never . pro slavery
Democrat; opposed, 10 principle and feeling,
from my youth up, to human slavery, but be-
lieying, until recently, thai, In the interests Of
liberty itself, II was the part Of wisdom In the
North 10 abstain from Interference with the
danger frsught domestic institution Of the
South, and TO trust 10 time for il eradication I;
opposed, with . hereditary aversion, 70 war, /
was willing, before the sword was drawn, to
make any honorable concessions that might
avert It's horrors.
But political convulsisns bring with them
great lessons and new duties. War would not,
under the Divine economy, have been permit
ted, as in all past ages II has been, n II had not
its mission. But to attain the good II brings,
We must recognize It's necessities. Y Il,
No civil war of proportions so gigantic %
that now raging ever existed in the world be-
fore. II differs from oil others, both 10 the re.
suits sure TO ensue from its protraction beyond
. brief period, and In the conditions under
which, out Of evil, II may eventuate In good.
In calculating thesa, time b al, essential ele-
ment. ",r grs..
Seven or eight hundred millions are spent
At the belt, as much more is likely TO 60. Two
thousand millions or upwards 10 not an impro.
bable total. That is half the national debt Of
England +; and the interest on Il (probsbly at
almost double the rate she payO will make our
animal burden nearly equal to hers. II the
war lasts three years longer, these figures may
unless We are willing to rick national bank
rup,cy. -. ~
How Is II to be terminated
by concession? That b no longer In our
power. We can buy truce, pause, by con.
cession to the South nothing more.
By force Of arms, then? But II by force, II
must be quickly dsne. Delay 10 defeat.
And It must be effsctuslly done. After one
such war the pation may revive, its energies
still elastic; solvent still, and respected. A
second will ruin II financially, TO say nothing
Of worse ruin. To save the country, then, the
war must not terminate without sufficient
guaranty against Its resumption.
How can the war be quickly and e6ectually
terminated? What guaranty is sufficient that
1t will not be resumed
| Gradually, very gradually o. this contest
proceeded, have been approaching the con-
viction that there Is but one such guaranty
the emancipation Of negro slaves throughout
this continent. Perhsps-but as " this am
less certain-that measure Is the only sure
means Of terminating, quickly and effeotually,
this war. The recent reverss under Gen. No
Clellan, the scattered rebel fires daily bursting
forth 10 States which our forces had alread J
overrun, the fact that we are fighting against
l bravo men Of our own race, all Increase the
probability that we must deprive the South ol
q legal right to its four millions Of lsborers
before we can succeed against their masters in
reasonable time and in an effectual manner
am not en- advocate Of revolutionary short
suits out Of adifioulty. lam not In favor Of vio
latiug the Constitution by way Of escaping I
danger. There might bo immediate advantage
but the precedent is replets with peril.
Gould slavery have been abolished, by north
ern action, while peace yet existed between
the North and South, without violation Of ths
Consultation Tin other words, without q revo
lutionary act! Clearly not. Can slavery bt
eradicated now, in war, without such violation
II emancipation be necessary to insure tbs
permanent peace aad safety Of our Government
and II we are willing TO pay to all loyal slave
owners . reasonable price for thsir slaves
clearly yes. -,
For no principle in law Is better established
than this, that when important hjB" .iAs6n,:6 III
.s. sppraaeement, for public use. The open
iag OF street 10 improving city, the running
o. : railroad, are held, IN this aud other civil
laea countries, to be objects Of sufacient i'm.
portance to justify what the French law calls
Rque."' ' "A''' p'''-
put OF Importance how utterly trivial Is the
opening OF street or of q railroad Compared
70 the preservation, 10 Its integritv. nj tha
greatest republic upon earth
Ought we to declare general emanoipation
coupled with provision for the payment. ~
all loyal Shareholders, Of the fairly sppraised
value Of their slavesy This question resolves
itself Into another. Have things gone 90 far
mat the Union. In It's peaceful integrity, and
ne9ro.siavery within its borders. can no longer
Soe1st That Is the great question OF The
gay: think 1t must be answered, even now
In the Affirmative. Every month that pases y
converting hundred of thousands Of moderate
ana conservative and peace. loving men to the
same opinion. They despair Of sectional friend.
snip or national peace, until the teemine csnse
Of mortal hatred and civil war 10 rooted out
tor ever. o"'
Have we the means OF paying loyal slave.
owners fair price for their slaves? II we act |
now, before protracted contest has exhausted |
our resources, yes. live wait the termination |
10. 0'''e"'y'
In that price deportation must not be ssu.
mated. The South asserts that negro slayes ara
Indispensable to her. That 10 only 20 far trne.
hat she does absolutely need hired negro work.
men, and ought not to be deprived ofI
hem. Her agriculture would, for a time be
uined without them. But no good man de-.
Tres settlement under which sny seclIon of
ned. '"-
Nor oan Il be doubted that the South. how
ver strong her prejudices and traditions in
Avor Of owning her laborsrs, has herself been
'rcught, by the perils Of the hour, to thiok
eriouely Of change Of system, as the only ,
,eans left her to obtain aid and comfort from
,orope. Nor can all her leaders be Wholly
lind to the fact. that such change Of system
.ouId advance, In the end, beyond calculation.
or material prosperity. q
suppose decl.retion, to the effect that the \
government urged by the necessity Of seif.pre
srvation, takes. at fair valuation, The slave
roperty OF the South VIII such declaration
ause negro insurrection and indIscrImInste
Of whites throughout the slave q
Eates? The result, so far, has clearly shown n
!at the negro, mild and long suffering. and
ten attached to bis owner, 10 little disposed 10
'sist, under an Organization Of bis own. Once