, 1862-03-11

A0nE5ltSS aHQ t4c a1Ullfe ue 1ldA 1Ol 50 u11-
expcctedly sending in special message,
was to enforce theid idea thathe believed that
the Federal Government had no authority
70 interfere With slavery within the Suites.
This is poor straw for the friends Of
the rebels to clutch at. A careful reading
Ct the Message must conyince every candid
mind that tho following is fair construc-
lion Of its language:
1st. The President divides the Southern
States into Two class:s-those that have not
revclted but remain IN the Union, and
those which have sectaed and rcpudiated
the Union and The Constitution. The
former consists Of Maryland, Delaware,
1ientucky, Missouri aud Western Virginia
ID. The President believes that slavery
IN those border States cndangers their
loyalty. and exposes them to evl and
dangerous temptations from the en1issaries
OF the seeded States; and <sthe Federal
"Government would find its highest in-
tercst in the abolition Of slavery in the
"tnose States as measure Of national
e::fgrc&e7ration." He elaborates this idea
at considerable length .-.-
Sd The President holds that the
Government has no authority to In
tezfere with slavery within States
IN the Union, and in order to abolish it,
the consent Of their people must be obtain-
q. He therefore proposes to hold out
Strong motive to the border States to eman-
cipatc their slaves, by having the Govern
ment Of the United States offer them fair
compensation for the ransom Of s:persons
held to service or labor within those
States. He desires cooperation Of the
Onion with the governments Of loyal slave
6tates, for the purpose Of converting them
into free States and thereby forever remoy-
ing all motive or CAUSE for secession The
plain inference Of the Presidents language
is, that slavery is at the bottom Of the re-
bc1liop, and that wherever it can be eradi-
Gated, sound and enduring loyalty is sure
10 follow.
4.i- The President in1inates that the
rebellion msy be protracted for a
longer period than the public gen
orally suppose, !. and that so long as it
lasts, the border States will be kept il
a feverish and half dialoyal condition, and
that while slavery exists within thei,
limits, the seeded States will be looking
for assistance and cooperation from thcu
But he thinks that If steps could be initiat
ed for emancipation, that the measure
would not only assure their unconditiona
loyalty for ever more, but it wouli
discourage the "dissfected region,
Is it would "1nskc it certain to the secedei
t'E:ates, that in no event will the horde,
"Shtes join the proposed Contedcr4cy."
5:h. The President is careful not t,
deny the authority Of the Government t.
confscate the slaves Of the rebels On :'>
contrary, be declares with great enphasi
that all indispensable measures must b
employed to conquer the rebels. "If rc
sistanee to na6onal authority continues
he says, the @war must also continue
and that it is Impossible to foresee all tn
incidents which may attend and all th
ruin which may follow" He further de
clares that, il the resistance Of the rebel
continues,, such measures as shall promis
greater efficiency towards ending thestrug
gle mus* End will he adopted: There ca,
be but one Interpretation Of this Language
which Is, that slavery should be wiped on
in the rebel States, as measure Of n1i1itat
necessity: for the purpose Of saTing ,th
Union, unless the insurgents soon 10
down their arms and submit to the autho
ity Of the Government. The Presidet
has caamly and deliberately arrived at th
conclusion. He foresces that when tt
blow falls on the reasonable insttutio
that viii grind it to powder, it will plal
the country in very awkward and diff
cult attitude to have slaTery continue
the border States, as there would be str
of Stare territory extending from the a
1antic to Kansas only one State in widt
and containing, all told, less than half
million Of bondmen. On either 81
it would be fanked By Free Stats
On The north there would be a trip1
column Of non-slaveho1ding States, wh;
on the South there would be a block
eloFen emancipatcd States. This peculi
and auamolous condition Of thinrs won
be highly detrimental to the public 70
and national veal And get according
the forms Of the Constitution the Goyc,
mcnt would not have the legal right
abolish slavery in those few slave Stat,
because 1t is only in States that have
-Avi4 ffnr.eof.+n.